Like upgrades in the cell phone industry, the electrical industry has developed great new ways to serve and protect home owners. One of the best inventions of the past few decades is the GFI outlet.

What is a GFI outlet?

GFI stands for fault circuit interrupter. In layman’s terms it is the little button that sits between the two outlets in a double wall outlet. Some of these have a red test button and white set button and others have two white buttons.

What this means for those who have these new breakers is that instead of blowing a fuse or tripping a circuit breaker during an overload, the button will pop out and there will be no electricity in that outlet. It also will react if an electrical device comes in contact with water eliminating the possibility of shock.

You will find these safety devices around areas that may be subjected to damp areas like bathrooms, kitchens, hot tubs, swimming pools and outside plugs.GFIs are installed on electrical outlets to regulate power and direct currents. In most areas they are required by code to be placed in strategic areas.

What could be wrong?

There could be several different issues. However, we need to inspect a unit. It is not an answer we can readily answer over the phone. It could be the actual receptacle and it could be wiring leading to the receptacle. It is not a DIY job. This is a job for someone who knows how to cut the current so there are no live wires and investigate wall deep.

Underwriter’s Laboratories, LLC says, “By installing GFCIs in every home in the United States, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than two-thirds of the approximately 300 electrocutions occurring each year could be prevented.”

A working unit could save your life or the life of one of your family members. You want a license, bonded professional to handle this repair.

Things to tell your electrician

There are things you can check prior to the arrival of your service professional which may give him a head start on repairs. Are all other outlets in the area active or not? Have you checked your circuit breaker to see if it has not shut down the zone?

There is another thing to keep in mind. If you have an older home or condo you can have new GFI’s installed where you need them – in the bathroom, kitchen or wherever. It is an investment in the value of your home and your peace of mind.

If you’re a busy person, constantly running from one place to another, it can be easy to forget some of the little things you leave behind at home. The thermostat, for example, controls perhaps the two biggest energy hogs in your home, the air conditioning and thermostats help improve your home comfort by offering advanced temperature and climate features as well as remote control that simply cannot be beat. Chances are, you are one of many Americans who uses a smart phone, tablet, or computer with internet access every day. A Nest thermostat learns your preferences for daily operation, but can still be controlled from far away if your plans change throughout the day! Here’s a bit more on those features.

Electrical jobs should never be turned into a DIY project, unless you have formal training and experience in the field. While electricity is extremely useful and necessary, if it isn’t handled correctly, it can be pretty dangerous too. If you get a novice to handle the job for you that can result in overloaded circuits, poor wiring connections or even faulty grounding, which can be extremely dangerous to you and your family and result in a fire outbreak as well. Here are some common services for which you would need to call in an electrician:

The main electrical panels provide electricity to your entire house. If you have older panels with fuses and older wiring, those may not be able to bear the load of any new appliances you decide to install on your property. The latest electrical appliances tend to add heavy loads on the system and your older wiring installations won’t be able to support those loads. If you are getting new appliances, call in a licensed electrician to test and inspect the wiring and circuit breakers on your property.

If you need any new outlets installed or need existing ones converted to USB ports, you would have to call in an electrician for the job. Oftentimes, electrical codes necessitate that a minimum of 1 outlet in your kitchen and bathroom be a GFCI outlet. These are specifically designed to shut off the power in case there is an imbalance in electricity or if water comes in contact with any of the electrical equipment or fittings; this helps in preventing shock in these areas.

It’s important that there be proper grounding as lack of it can result in power loss or a fire. Aside from this, if you require any additional outlets, your electrician will be able to install those for you as well. Installing additional outlets requires replacing a segment of the wiring and cutting into the walls, and this is something you should never do on your own. Many new electrical gadgets come with USB charging systems and you can get the local electrician to replace some of the standard ones with the USB ports, if required.

There are times when homeowners feel that the outdoor spaces on their property can do with better illumination. If you want new security or ambient lighting installations, you should just call in the electrician. He will extend the wiring to the outdoor spaces and ensure that it has the proper grounding as well. They will provide advice on which electrical fixtures would work best in an outdoor setting.

This may seem like an easy job, but it’s best to get a professional electrician to handle this for you as well. The electrician will check whether the amperage is sufficiently high to support the wattage of the new light fitting. If it is lower than that, the electrician will have to extend an additional wire from the main circuit breaker.

Aside from this, even things like fitting powerpoint covers and replacing light switches is something that only a certified and licensed electrician should handle. They will take all the necessary precautions while doing any kind of electrical work on your property.

We at Allround Electrical can provide excellent electrical upgrade and maintenance solutions. For more information, contact our friendly team at this number – 1300 169 263. Alternatively, you can also write to us at this email address.

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An inexpensive way to help ventilate your bathroom is with the installation of a bathroom fan. If you already have one, is it adequate? Homeowners have probably realized an improperly operating or nonexistent bath fan results in excess moisture in the bathroom. This leads to numerous problems including mold growth. An electrician in Los Angeles can take care of the installation or replacement of your bath fan.

Why You Need a Bath Fan

Bath fans are essential tools needed to keep the humidity level down in the bathroom during hot showers. Without a way to pull the hot air out, condensation builds up on every surface in the bathroom, including the toilet paper! This is clearly not something you want to experience. Mold growth can become problematic and leave the bathroom with an unpleasant mildew smell.

DIY or Electrician?

If you have an existing bath fan that needs replaced, it is typically a fairly simple swap. You will need to handle some electric wires as you disconnect the old and wire in the new one. If you are familiar with electrical work this is a pretty easy task. If you have never dealt with wiring, it is advisable you contact your Los Angeles electrician to handle the job for you. You will need to consider your personal safety before embarking on this task.

If there is not a current fan, you have a little more work to do. You will need to properly vent the pipe, cut a hole in the ceiling and bring in an electrical connection to hook the fan up to. This is definitely a job you will want to leave to the professionals. A switch to turn the fan off and on will also need to be installed.

If you are ready to keep your bathroom dry and mildew free, give The Electric Connection a call.