Electrical

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)   By Stephanie Warren Nothing but the facts    Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical receptacles or outlets and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring. Functionality     An AFCIs primary function is to monitor an electrical…

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GFCI

White electrical outlet with GFCI just after it was installed

What is GFCI? A Ground-fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is a device used to turn off an electrical power circuit when it detects an unbalanced current flow. These unbalanced current flows are also known as a short circuit or nuisance tripping and are caused when live wires touch metal conduits.  The GFCI’s main objective is to…

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Outlets

Many plugs plugged into electric power bar outlets

Understanding Grounded and Ungrounded Electrical Outlets What are those holes in an electrical outlet and how do they work? When you look at a normal 120-volt outlet in the United States, there are two vertical slots and then a round hole centered below them. The left slot is slightly larger than the right. The left…

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Electrical Safety

shocked guy - electrical safety

Electricity is an essential part of our lives. However, it has the potential to cause great harm. Electrical systems will function almost indefinitely, if properly installed and not overloaded or physically abused. Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused…

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Common Electrical Issues

While we all would love to believe that a home is complete upon move in, there is always a chance that there are hidden hazards. Unfortunately, the more urgent concerns aren’t visible to the untrained eye. Electrical issues tend to be the most common and the most difficult to diagnose due to accessibility. Here is…

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Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide alarm isolated over white

What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)? According to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission, Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that forms from incomplete combustion of fuels, such as natural or liquefied petroleum gas, oil, wood or coal. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers,…

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