Press Releases Archive - Page 5 of 16

Older House? When a Home Is Saying It's Time to Upgrade the Electric

All the Signals That the Electrical Panel Needs to Be Replaced

Knowing when to replace an electrical panel is crucial for maintaining the safety and efficiency of a home's electrical system. Electrical panels are the heart of a home’s electrical setup, distributing power to different circuits within the house. Over time, these panels can become outdated or damaged, leading to potential safety hazards. Here are key signs that it might be time for an electrical panel upgrade.

Still Have a Fuse Box?

Fuse boxes are considered outdated technology. If a home still uses a fuse box, it signals the need for an electrical panel upgrade. Unlike modern circuit breakers that need resetting when they trip, a blown fuse must be manually replaced. This poses a safety hazard and highlights the inefficiency and inconvenience of fuse boxes.

For instance, if a fuse blows frequently, it can indicate that the wiring is overloaded, which is a fire hazard. Upgrading to a modern electrical panel enhances safety and reliability by preventing potential electrical fires and reducing the risk of manual errors. Modern panels also support higher electrical loads, more effectively accommodating today's appliances and electronics.

It's Falling Apart

Electrical panels that are too old or have visible signs of corrosion need replacement. Over time, corrosion can weaken connections within the panel, leading to unreliable power distribution and increased fire risk. If an electrical panel shows rust or other signs of wear and tear, it is crucial to replace it to ensure the safety and efficiency of the home's electrical system.

Corroded connections can cause arcing, which produces heat and can ignite surrounding materials, leading to a fire. Additionally, older panels may need to comply with current safety codes, which should be updated to provide better protection against electrical hazards. A new electrical panel can handle modern electrical loads more effectively and safely, ensuring that your home's electrical system is current with the latest standards.

The Trek to the Circuit Breaker Box Is Constant

If circuit breakers trip regularly, it could indicate that the electrical panel is insufficient for the home’s electrical demands. Frequent tripping can be due to an overloaded circuit breaker, which means the current electrical panel cannot handle the household's power needs. This can occur when new appliances are added to the home, increasing the demand on the electrical system.

Upgrading the panel can prevent these disruptions and provide a stable power supply to all devices and appliances, ensuring smooth operation without frequent interruptions. Additionally, frequent tripping can cause the breakers to wear out themselves, leading to the need for more frequent replacements and increased maintenance costs. Upgrading to a modern panel ensures that your electrical system is robust enough to efficiently handle your current and future power needs.

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric, based in Montgomery, AL, is dedicated to providing reliable and professional electrical services. Known for their expert technicians, same-day service, and comprehensive electrical solutions, they ensure customer satisfaction and safety in every job. Call them today for electrical panel upgrades in Montgomery, AL.

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Diverse team in company uniforms next to electric vans promoting electrical safety by Trustworthy Electric.

Trustworthy Electric Is Expanding Its Service Area for Its 30th Anniversary!

Trustworthy Electric is delighted to celebrate its 30th company anniversary this year. Since 1994, we have been committed to delivering the finest electrical services and products to customers, earning a reputation for reliability and excellence.

Trustworthy Electric is excited to announce that in celebration of our 30th anniversary, we are now expanding our service area to include the following cities:

Alexander City
Jacksons Gap
Eclectic
Tallassee
Hardaway
Equality
Deatsville

We look forward to serving our new customers in these communities and providing them with the same high-quality service that we have been providing to our customers in Montgomery for the past 30 years.

Company owner Randy Jones began Trustworthy Electric in 1994 after acquiring his Master Electrician’s License. Now, the company is a family business. Randy grew Trustworthy Electric into a profitable business with his wife Shaleta's help, and now, two of their children, son Joshua and daughter Semira, work for the company.

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the Montgomery area since 1994. They provide upfront pricing, on-time service, and a fully licensed, bonded, and insured team. Call Trustworthy Electric for electrical services in Montgomery, AL, and the surrounding areas.

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Expert Tips for Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety Tips to Protect Homes and Families

It’s always important to pay attention to the electrical system in the home and correct any deficiencies to prevent electrical hazards and keep everyone safe. The electrical system in the home is responsible for much of the convenience of modern living but can present some risks of its own when the home isn’t properly protected. Homeowners can take action by implementing these tips for electrical safety.

Prevent Overloaded Outlets and Circuits

Overloading electrical circuits and outlets is a hazard and can lead to a power outage, electric shock, or fire. To prevent this, it's important to distribute electrical loads across multiple circuits. Typically, each large appliance should have a dedicated circuit to help avoid overloading.

If homeowners are unsure about the capacity of a circuit, it's best to consult with a qualified electrician. They can add circuits if the home’s electrical needs have changed to help avoid overloaded circuits and outlets. By taking precautions, homeowners can help keep their homes and families safe from the hazards of an outlet or circuit overload.

Childproof the Outlets

Toddlers and young children are notoriously curious. This can compel them to investigate the electrical outlets that are at their eye level when crawling. Unfortunately, this is an electrical hazard that homeowners should take steps to prevent, as it can cause shocks and burns when children stick items into outlet openings.

The cheapest option is plastic outlet caps. However, these are not as effective as tamper-resistant outlets because a child can learn how to remove them. Once removed, these plastic covers are useless and can become a choking hazard. The best option is installing childproof outlets. A tamper-resistant outlet has tabs or shutters integrated into the slots that prevent the insertion of foreign objects.

Know When to Call an Expert

An essential part of electrical safety is knowing when to call an electrician when the home has an electrical problem. Electricity has dangers, so by calling an electrician to fix electrical troubles as soon as they are noticed, the home and its residents will be better protected. Electricians can find the source of the issue and provide solutions to make the home safer. These signs can include:

Flickering or dimming lights
Tripped circuit breakers
Electrical shock or sparking from outlets
Warm or hot outlets, switches, or ceiling fixtures
Burning odor
Humming or buzzing noises

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric has been serving the Montgomery area since 1994. They provide upfront pricing, on-time service, and fully stocked trucks. Call them for electrical services in Montgomery, AL.

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White generator unit in a neat lawn with stone path and wood fence, showcasing Trustworthy Electric services.

How Can a Home Benefit From a Standby Generator?

Why Install a Whole Home Generator?

Homes contain many crucial appliances and devices that are powered by electricity, which is delivered to the home through the power grid. Unfortunately, when the power goes out, it means that people can lose access to:

Lighting
Refrigeration
Climate control
Hot water
Entertainment devices
Medical equipment

Wouldn’t it be great to have peace of mind knowing that a home has reliable backup power? With a whole-home generator installation, a power outage won’t interrupt the lives of household residents. This post will share how standby generators work, why they are needed, and their benefits.

How Do Standby Generators Work?

Losing power can be a stressful situation without a generator. However, even homes with a portable generator can still struggle because of the hassle of setting up a generator and manually turning it on and off. With whole-home standby generators installed, the process is effortless.

Whole-house generators are installed with special devices that sense when the grid fails. They automatically turn on and power the home within seconds, running off propane, diesel, or natural gas. Homeowners can choose to size the generator so that it powers a few critical systems or the entire home in the case of a power outage. The power output hooks directly to the electrical panel in the home for maximum ease. The generator will continue to run until it senses that power is restored. At that point, it will shut down and wait until the next outage.

When Are Generators Needed?

Predicting power outages can be near impossible, as many situations can cause a loss of power. Power outages often occur as the result of weather events like storms, high winds, lightning, and heat. With generators, homeowners don’t have to worry about their power being at the whims of nature.

Power outages can also occur due to high power demand or when there is damage to the power lines or utility poles, whether it’s from a car collision, excavation, trees, or animals. If random blackouts or outages are common in an area, a standby generator can help keep the power on.

Reasons to Install a Standby Generator

Losing power is a major interruption to everyday life. However, a generator installation benefits homes by being able to power crucial systems, devices, and appliances, such as:

The refrigerator and freezer, preventing food waste
Air conditioning and heating systems to provide comfort and protect the family from the elements
Medical equipment
Lighting
Entertainment devices
The water heater

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric has 30 years of experience serving the Montgomery area. They offer upfront pricing, customer education, and on-time service. Call them for electrical and generator services in Montgomery, AL.

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A woman at a desk using a laptop and calculator, with a glowing light bulb, coffee cup, and coins for financial planning.

Transform the Home With LED Lighting Installation

LED Lights Can Save Energy and Money

Incandescent and fluorescent lights dominated commercial and residential lighting for a long time. While both are relatively cheap and are generally a good lighting source, they consume considerably large amounts of energy, don't last very long, and, in the case of fluorescent light, aren't considered environmentally friendly since they contain toxic chemicals like mercury.

It is no wonder that with the arrival of light-emitting diode (LED) technology, a shift in residential and commercial lighting would occur. Since the late 2000s, the number of US households outfitted with LED bulbs is now at about 47%, which continues to rise. This popularity can be attributed to LED lights being more energy-efficient, lasting longer, and being more environmentally friendly than their predecessors. Homeowners considering switching to LED lights are on the right track and could benefit from understanding how the switch works and its benefits.

Understanding How an LED Retrofit Works

Not everyone has the luxury of starting from scratch, and while there are a significant number of new homes coming into the market that are already outfitted with LED lighting, there are still more relatively old homes that are still using outdated incandescent or fluorescent lighting and not benefitting from the advantages of LED technology.

The good news is that these homes can undergo an LED retrofit, essentially converting an existing light fixture into an LED light fixture. Changing an existing bulb and using LED bulbs is usually enough to make the switch. However, this is not possible for some fixtures, and in this case, the entire fixture may need to be removed and replaced with a fixture designed specifically for LED light bulbs.

Advantages of LED Lights

It's easy to see why switching to LED lights benefits home and business owners, as there are more pros than cons to an LED retrofit, the biggest of which is the amount of energy that LED lights can save. LED lights can use over 75% less energy than incandescent lights, and last up to 25 times longer.

So, not only can households save on electric bills by switching to LED lights, but they also have a longer lifespan, so they will not need to be replaced as often, saving more money. Their energy use and life expectancy can yield significant savings. LED lights are also considered environmentally friendly. They aren't made with toxic chemicals and are easier to recycle.

Things to Think about Before LED Lighting Installation

Because LED technology works differently than traditional lighting, there are a few things to consider before diving into an LED retrofit. For one, there are some limitations regarding the availability of LED lighting for traditional fixtures. Some LEDs will not work in existing traditional light fixtures, and changing out the entire fixture may be a good option in some cases.

Another consideration is that a traditional dimmer switch will not work with LED lighting. So electricians may need to install new LED dimmers to replace older dimmers so they are compatible with the new LED lights. It's important to have LED retrofitting and installation done by electricians so that everything is done correctly and safely.

About Trustworthy Electric

Trustworthy Electric is a family-owned electrical services company in Montgomery, AL. They have a team of fully licensed and insured technicians who live up to the Trustworthy name by providing on-time, professional service that exceeds expectations while setting transparent rates upfront. Fully stocked trucks and a full menu of services mean every electrical problem has a solution, no matter how complex. Call them for LED lighting installation in Montgomery, AL.