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ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS Most Require An Electrician
COMMON SENSE - See, Hear, Smell, Touch
1. SEE smoke from appliance, office equipment, receptacle (outlet), or electrical panel. a) Unplug smoking appliance or office equipment b) Turn off circuit breaker (at electrical panel) for smoking outlet c) Turn off main OUTDOOR circuit breaker (adjacent to meter) for smoking electrical panel Do Not Approach Smoking Electrical Panel - Severe Burn & Explosion Hazard
2. HEAR sound like frying eggs from inside an electrical panel. a) Turn off main OUTDOOR circuit breaker (adjacent to meter) for sound like frying eggs. b) Turn off main INDOOR circuit breaker at top of electrical panel ONLY if no smoke present
3. SMELL smoke, burning plastic, or an acrid odor from electrical devices or equipment. a) Unplug device or equipment
4. HOT TO TOUCH electrical device, cord, plug, or panel. a) Unplug device or equipment b) Turn off main OUTDOOR circuit breaker (adjacent to meter) if hot electrical panel Do Not Approach Smoking Electrical Panel - Severe Burn & Explosion Hazard
BLINKING, DIMMING, BRIGHTENING LIGHTS - Electronic equipment destroyed
1. Lights turn on and off for no apparent reason. Possible loose connection - potential fire hazard. Call electrician. 2. Lights become very bright, possibly burn out, when appliances or vacuum are used. Call electrician. 3. All lights become very dim when air conditioning, range, or HW tank turns on. Call electrician. 4. Electronic equipment destroyed for no apparent reason. Call electrician.
ELECTRICAL SHOCK - Line voltage at metal parts
1. You receive a shock when touching a range hood. Turn off circuit breaker. Call electrician. 2. You receive a shock when touching the range, oven, or cook-top. Turn off circuit breaker. Call electrician. 3. You receive a shock when touching a faucet or steel sink. Avoid all plumbing. Call electrician.
LIGHTENING STRIKE
1. Garage door opener failure. (Direct strike to utility line or roof of house) 2. Simultaneous refrigerator and microwave failure. (Strike to utility line) 3. Computer DSL modem failed (only). (Strike to telephone line) 4. Cable modem and TV failure (only). (Strike to CATV cable shield) 5. Cable TV and telephone device failure. (Strike to utility ground within 250 feet of home) 6. All of the above. (Direct strike to utility transformer or ground at or near home)
SPA or POOL Circuit Breaker Tripped
1. GFCI circuit breaker (50 amp) to hot tub or spa is tripped. a) Probable pump, heater, or air blower failure. b) Call licensed spa/pool technician. 2. GFCI receptacle on post near pool is tripped and will not reset. a) Call licensed spa/pool technician. b) Probable pool light failure. c) Pool lights come assembled with 25' or 50' cables. d) Pool light failure requires underwater diver if pool filled with water. e) Expect a large bill (invoice) for this repair.
PORTABLE GENERATOR HAZARDS - Death or manslaughter
1. Never operate a portable generator inside a home or garage. Possible death by asphyxiation or carbon monoxide poisoning. 2. Never connect a portable generator to your home without a LEGAL transfer switch. You may kill a utility lineman.
LEGACY PROBLEMS - Insurance company refuses to insure your home
1. Knob & tube wiring discovered by homeowner insurance policy inspector. a) This usually happens when a new homeowner insurance policy is written. b) You may be given approximately 9 months to rewire before cancellation. c) Insurance cancellation may invalidate your mortgage insurance policy. d) An invalid mortgage insurance policy may lead to bank foreclosure. e) You may be assessed a high-risk monthly premium. f) Don't buy a prewar house unless you can afford a complete rewire. 2. Edison fuse panels with glass fuses discovered during insurance inspection a) Fuse panel replacement required. Probable new service required. b) Also see knob & tube wiring above 3. FPE (Federal Pacific Electric) electrical panels or main disconnect panels a) Panel replacement required. b) Also see knob & tube wiring above 4. Zinsco (brand) electrical panels - especially those with aluminum bus bars a) Panel replacement required. b) Also see knob & tube wiring above 5. Aluminum wiring in homes, apartments, and condos built between 1971 & 1973. a) Special wiring techniques and device replacement required
INDUCED PROBLEMS (Call a licensed electrician)
1. Unsafe wiring practices used by previous homeowner. a) Some rewiring will be required. 2. Unsafe wiring practices used by an unlicensed electrician. a) Some rewiring will be required.
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