Ground Fault Circuit Interruption is an electrical safety feature required by the NEC (National ElectricCode) in certain areas in and around your home to prevent protentional shock hazards. GFCI protection is required near areas of water and unfinished areas of your home like kitchens, bathrooms, basements,and your home's exterior. GFCI protection devices measure an imbalance between your power and neutral (return path) wires. If it senses an imbalance, the device will trip to prevent the potential of an individual being shocked.

Arc Fault Circuit Interruption is an electrical safety device meant to protect the circuit and components from potential fires by sensing arcs of electricity in your wiring or defective devices. These arcs can come from loose connections or damaged wiring and components that you may not realize are compromised. AFCI protection is required on all new circuitry in your home’s dwelling area. A few examples are bedrooms, living rooms, lighting circuits, etc.

Ceiling fans and even heavy light fixtures require special ceiling boxes. If your existing ceiling box is not listed, we will replace it when installing your new ceiling fan. Often times it can be accomplished without damage to the ceiling.

It really depends on your home’s electrical wiring. The majority of 2 prong receptacles are fed by older ungrounded wiring. The simplest solution is to install GFCI protection at the beginning of the circuit which allows the installation of 3 prong receptacles downstream. While this doesn’t necessarily turn your electrical system into a grounded circuit, it is a code compliant method.

There are several possibilities why issues like this happen inside your home. It is best to consult a locally licensed electrician to help find and fix your problem.

Knob and Tube wiring was the original method of wiring homes built up to around 1930. Although it was a sufficient means to wire a home, that doesn’t mean that 100 years later it is still in proper working condition. The rubber insulation can turn brittle and break leaving exposed wiring in your walls, basement, or attic space. Covering K&T wiring with insulation can cause the wires to overheat and possibly melt as well. Homes originally wired in K&T lacked the electrical demand that we need to run a typical home today. If you live in a home with K&T wiring, please call for an electrical assessment.

Over years, your receptacles can lose their ability to retain devices plugged into them. It simply means that it is time to have them replaced. A bad connection can cause an arcing situation that potentially could become a fire hazard if not corrected in a timely manner.