There’s certainly a lot to be enjoyed about a Florida winter season. The mild weather, the festivities—it’s all quite nice. But just because the season brings some advantages doesn’t mean you have nothing to be concerned about regarding your home’s electrical! There are some challenges unique to this time of the year, and at Hoffman Electrical, our team is dedicated to ensuring you’re completely prepared.

If the motor seems to be fine, attempt to reconnect it to a load. For motors spinning in the wrong direction that are three-phase, swap any two leads either in the starter or in the motor connection box to reverse its rotational direction. Motors that struggle with a load may have something plugged up or jammed in the load itself. A mechanic may be required to check fans, belts, or pumps that are powered by a motor. When a motor trips the overload device, attach an anmeter to measure the current during startup and operation. Check the FLA on the motor nameplate to see what the expected current draw should be. If it is high, the motor may simply be overloaded. If not, the overload protection device may be set too low or may need replacing.

By following these basic ac motor troubleshooting tips, any electrician can quickly determine the cause of most problems in an AC motor.

Benjamin Franklin, in his time, invented many things that he never quite understood but the one that changed our lives forever was electricity. Electricity pretty much rules our lives to this day. It is impossible to imagine our lives without the little technological advances we use in our everyday lives. From a toaster, to a smart television to Wi-Fi, without these, life would, as some say, cease to move forward.

While electricity is extremely beneficial and useful, it is equally as dangerous. If you are facing an electrical issue at home, you might be tempted to manage it yourself to save the money you would otherwise have to spend on calling in an electrician. You should know that the professional electricians are there for a reason.

They know and understand the dangers that come with the job. They are licensed and have proper training, which you do not. Working with the wiring of a house is much like brain surgery: one wrong move and the entire body can get paralyzed.

Now that paints quite a picture, doesn’t it? It is quite hectic to find an electrician when there are countless people out there that claim to be a master in the trade but actually do not even have a license. They do it just for the money. This has made electricians underdogs. Essential as they may be, they are underrated.

Before discussing how much you should pay an electrician, it is first important to understand what an electrician does in the first place and also why you need to hire one whenever there is an electrical problem. Now, let’s suppose that you walk into a room and flick the switch on. You expect the room to be instantly lit. But what would you do if the lights don’t come on? It is common behavior that many would immediately assume the power went out and check if that is the case.

If it is not, they call an electrician. It is important to keep in mind that a qualified electrician is the only one you should call for any kind of electrical job, which can range from installing small light fixtures to total rewiring of the house.

If you hire an unlicensed electrician for the job, you would be compromising on the quality of the work done and there would be safety hazards as well. One should know that electrical work, much like any other job, requires training. In most cases, an electrician is required to complete 5 years’ worth of education as well as roughly 10,000 hours of on-the-job training to get a license.

Surprised now, aren’t you? These electricians are taught vigorously how to work safely with electrical systems as well as how to abide by codes and laws, which is something an uncertified electrician would never know.

This job brings many hazards with it and so electricians are superheroes that put their lives at stake to bring your life to ease. In Oregon, an electrician on average makes $42,000 a year, which is fair considering the risks. Not to mention, they have spent the best part of a decade honing their craft to obtain their license and they have to make up for the time and cost involved in that. So, as you can see, the price they charge is worth paying because you get the best possible service.

So, before you think about how much you should or shouldn’t pay an electrician, think of the dangers that come with the job and what you would have to go through if you didn’t have an electrician to fix your problem, be it a high-voltage one or a low-voltage one. Hence, it won’t be wrong to say that they are competent professionals who possess certain skills which the average homeowner in Oregon doesn’t.

This is why it is important that you call an electrician every time you face an electrical issue at home. If you try to repair the problem yourself, you put your wellbeing at risk. Not to mention, any mishap with the electrical system can lead to a fire breaking out. In fact, your inexperience can actually cause more harm than good, resulting in you spending more on getting the work done than you would have to in the first place.

By Hannah Haseloff

Candles can be a homeowner’s best friend, especially around the holidays. They can add style to a room, create mood lighting, and make a house smell delicious.  They are also useful to have during those emergency power outages and can help you find your way in the dark.  With the introduction of electric candles, candles are increasing in popularity. But what is the difference? Are electric candles safer than traditional ones? Which is better? Maybe our guide to electric candles can help you to decide for yourself!

One drawback to traditional candles is the fire hazard that comes with having an open flame. Knocking over a candle or placing flammable objects too close can have disastrous effects. Between 2007 and 2011, there were over 10,630 started by candles in the home. Although electric candles present much less of a fire hazard, they can still be dangerous. Small children can easily remove the button sized batteries from the candles and swallow them. It is a good idea to tape over the battery access panel and keep the candles out of reach.

Candles are great for setting mood lighting and traditional ceremonies. In an emergency, candles can be used as a source of light. Traditional candles produce more light than electric ones; however, electric candles still provide a good source of light.

Both electric and traditional candles can be used as a calming agent using aromatherapy.

Electric candles can be placed on a timer and can be set to turn on automatically.

One nice thing about electric candles is that they won’t melt or ever lose their shape. Traditional candles can create a mess when they melt or be rendered useless because of their distorted shape.

Electric candles not only have a variety of fragrances, but can also serve as an insect repellent. For people who love candles, but do not love the scent, unscented electric candles are also available.

One advantage of electric candles is that they come in more variety than traditional candles. Another advantage is that electric candles be placed in areas were traditional candles could not because of the fire hazard. For more candle styling tips, visit My Home Life Magazine Pinterest board.

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