Extension Cord Safety Tips

Help avoid electric shock, property damage or fires from taking place in your home. Consider these extension cord safety tips to help you and your loved ones stay safe around electricity.

Don’t overload and overuse extension cords
Remember not to overload and overuse an extension cord. Overstressed extension cords can deteriorate and create a dangerous shock or a fire. Keep in mind that extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis.

Choose the right extension cord
It’s important to select a cord that’s appropriate for the intended use. Outdoor cords have insulation that protects against moisture, sunlight and abrasion, so using an indoor cord outdoors can create a fire hazard or result in electric shock.

Don’t connect multiple extension cords
Make sure to choose an extension cord that’s long enough, and don’t attempt to extend the length by connecting multiple extension cords.

Don’t force a plug into the wrong kind of outlet
Never try to force a three-prong plug into a two-prong outlet by removing the ground pin (the third prong).

Avoid tripping or fire hazards
Do not run extension cords through walls or ceilings because they may overheat, creating a fire hazard.

Never use a damaged extension cord
Avoid damaging a cord’s insulation by making sure your cords are not pinched in doors and windows or under heavy furniture. Keep in mind that damaged cords can pose a risk of electric shock and create a fire hazard.

Check the cord’s wattage rating
A cord’s wattage rating, or the amount of electricity it can safely transmit, is provided either in watts or in amps and volts. (Multiply the amps and volts together to get the wattage rating.) The cord’s wattage rating must be greater than the appliance’s power requirement, which should be listed on the appliance. If you plan to plug multiple appliances into a cord, add their wattages together to make sure the total doesn’t exceed the cord’s rating.

When is it Time for a New Garbage Disposal?

Most plumbers would tell you that the average life span for any garbage disposal is about eight to 12 years. This, of course, depends on the make, model, and horse power (HP) of the unit you have. It can also depend greatly on how often you use it and for what. If you just use it occasionally and for light food items it will generally last longer. If you use it daily and try to grind up thick items like old chicken bones or orange peels, chances are you’ll either get a clogged disposal or you’ll likely be needing a new one pretty often.

There are several ways to tell if you need to start thinking about getting a new disposal. First, if you notice foul odors coming from the side of the sink with the disposal, this can be a good clue. Chances are it’s working, but not grinding up as well as it used to and leaving remains which should have drained out. Leaving food residue like this causes the smell.

Another way to tell you may need to be thinking about a replacement is due to noise. All disposals make noise, but when yours starts to sound different or like it’s having a hard time doing the job, chances are it is getting ready to go out. This is often accompanied by the smell noted above.

The final way is by telling when you look into the disposal and see food remains. If it’s just a matter of running the water and letting the disposal run longer, that’s not the problem. This is when you’ve run it as you should and you still see items left in there.

Choosing a New Model
Depending on your needs, for example, how often you cook and how often you use the disposal, will determine the actual HP you need. While you can find garbage disposals in as little as 1/3 HP, these really aren’t practical, even for people who rarely use them. They are typically made with cheaper components and they certainly can’t stand up to grinding much up.

The next higher power is ½ HP and this is the lowest HP any plumber would recommend for home use. It is much sturdier than a 1/3 HP and can stand up to daily use by most families. They run about $100 for a decent unit.

A ¾ HP unit will serve most kitchens, even with heavy daily use. They have the power to grind most food, even those with strings like celery. Many can even stand up to grinding potato peels.

A full 1 HP garbage disposal is usually used in professional kitchens, although serious cooks at home may want to consider them. They can hold much more than other models and can grind a wide range of things. The downside is they take up a lot of room under the sink, so you should probably have a good sized kitchen before even considering this.

Electrical Wiring Problems

Electrical malfunctions cause more than 50,000 house fires each year, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International. The majority can be prevented.

To protect your own home, start by checking your fuse box or breaker panel for the date of your last inspection. Most municipalities require an inspection only when a system is modified during a renovation or an addition. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends having a pro look things over every 10 years. Beyond that, be aware of these potential sources and causes of electrical fires.

Too many extension cords
Aesthetics aside, there’s a reason electric wires are buried within walls. An undisturbed wiring system will more or less work forever. But when it’s disturbed or altered, there’s potential for trouble. Running an extension cord creates additional points where cords can kink, short out or get pinched, leading to tripped breakers, damaged outlets or even a fire. Use extension cords sparingly and for short periods of time — during the holidays, for example. If you consistently need more outlets, have an electrician install them.

Dimming or flickering lights
Because light fixtures typically draw only a small amount of power, dimming or flickering is rarely caused by a problem with the fixture itself. More likely the issue is with energy hogs like major appliances or space heaters that are wired to the same circuit. Appliances that heat or cool tend to draw a lot of power. So dimming could be caused by a washing machine drawing current to heat water. Consult an electrician about moving lights to different circuits or installing dedicated lines for major appliances.

Funny odors
A new appliance may produce an off-odor the first few times it’s powered up. But if you detect an odd smell coming from an outlet, turn off and unplug anything connected to it. Don’t use it again until you’ve had a qualified electrician check it out. If your fuse box or breaker panel has a weird odor, call an electrician right away.

Sparking
This is never a good sign. How you deal with it depends on where it’s coming from. If a breaker panel, fuse box or outlet is sparking, get an electrician in ASAP. But a sparking appliance may mean that the fixture itself is damaged, in which case you should call an appliance repair person. He can test the appliance and usually the outlet that powers it as well. A service call from a repair person is likely to be cheaper than one from a licensed electrician. Plus, if the appliance is new, it may even be repaired under the warranty.

Hot outlets or switch plates
Even when an appliance is meant to produce heat, like a toaster or space heater, the outlet that powers it should never become hot. Electric current may make a switch plate slightly warm to the touch, but if the outlet is uncomfortably hot, turn off whatever is plugged in and try it in another outlet. If the outlet grows hot even without anything plugged in, it may be wired incorrectly. Consult an electrician, who may advise you to flip the breaker or remove the fuse for that outlet until your system can be serviced.

Frequently blown fuses or tripped breakers
Circuit breakers and fuses are designed to fail as a way to prevent overloading. If a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer routinely trips a breaker regardless of where you plug it in, the appliance is the likely culprit. But if using a single outlet causes you to blow the same fuse repeatedly, the circuit is probably overloaded. Call in a pro to discuss upgrading the circuit or adding a new line.

Buzzing
What does electricity sound like? When things are working properly, nothing. Generally electricity flows smoothly and quietly between connections. But loose prongs, outlets or fraying wire can all cause the current to jump, producing a buzzing sound in the process. If you’re sure a sound is originating at an outlet, stop using it and call an electrician.

Benefits of Circuit Breaker Replacement

Most homes are still operating with old breakers and many are beginning to feel the pinch. Is your old circuit breaker keeping up? Are you blowing fuses right and left these days? Turn to the experts at Dolce Electric Company for a solution to supply all the power your home needs, with a circuit breaker replacement.

Protect expensive electronics, computers and appliances from electrical surges and the risk of damage to the devices

Prevent possible data loss from your computers when electrical supply is interrupted

Avoid interruptions to your Internet connection and other important connections to the outside world

Minimize the risk of fire when your old breaker gets overloaded

Say goodbye to the inconvenience of using just one or two electrical devices or appliances at once to avoid tripping the circuit breaker

Professional Installation is Key to Safe Circuit Breaker Operation

Improper installation can leave you vulnerable to fire, putting you and your family in danger.

You could also experience property loss, through a fire at your home, but also through electrical surges or interruptions from an carelessly installed circuit breaker.

Circuit breakers must be installed to code for safety and insurance reasons.

An unskilled individual could electrocute themselves if they lack the skill and experience of a professional electrician when dealing with high voltage.

After your new circuit breaker installation, you’ll enjoy the freedom to run the microwave, toaster and air conditioner all at the same time. Your home’s electrical power will have a new infrastructure to keep your all your juice-loving electronics up and running.

Questions, Answers, and Support

Did you know that many of the most common electrical issues can be corrected without dispatching a residential electrician for troubleshooting electrical problems in your home? In fact, about 25 % of all residential electrical service calls could be avoided with a little free over the phone assistance from our local Mesa electricians.

Our experts will ask you a few easy to answer questions to get an idea of what has happened and ask you to try a few safe but important basic troubleshooting techniques that might resolve the issue. If our free over the phone assistance is able to resolve the problem, we are happy we could correct the issue with you and look forward to assisting you in the future with your electrical needs.

If the issue cannot be resolved with our free over the phone electrical support we will have all of the necessary information about the problem you are experiencing and we will have already attempted several fundamental troubleshooting techniques. This will save you time and money if our Mesa AZ electricians need to be scheduled for on-site troubleshooting or repairs.

Your power, wiring, repair, installation and troubleshooting questions are all welcome during normal business hours and will be answered by our in-office electrician in Mesa. We invite you to review our electrical tips section too. It contains specific, and in many cases, simple solutions to many of the most common electrical problems in households.

Tricks to Survive Hot Summer Nights

When summer comes to mind, we almost always focus on picnics, days lounging on the beach, and tasty iced drinks. But hot weather has a gnarly side too. We’re talking about the real dog days of summer, when intense heat and humidity make it impossible to sit comfortably, let alone sleep through the night. Here are some tips to help you get through those sleepless nights:

Choose cotton
Save the ooh-la-la satin, silk, or polyester sheets for cooler nights. Light-colored bed linens made of lightweight cotton (Egyptian or otherwise) are breathable and excellent for promoting ventilation and airflow in the bedroom.

Get cold comfort
Here’s a four-seasons tip for keeping utilities charges down: Buy a hot water bottle. In winter, fill it with boiling water for toasty toes without cranking the thermostat. During summer, stick it in the freezer to create a bed-friendly ice pack.

Be creative
If you thought fans are just for blowing hot air around, think again! Point box fans out the windows so they push hot air out, and adjust ceiling fan settings so the blades run counter-clockwise, pulling hot air up and out instead of just twirling it around the room.

Be a lone wolf
Sorry lovebugs, but sleeping alone is way better than spooning for staying cool. Cuddling with a partner increases body heat, making the bed a sticky, sweaty pit of despair instead of a cool, calm oasis.

Fill up the tank
Get a leg up on hydration by drinking a glass of water before bed. Tossing and turning and sweating at night can result in dehydration, so get some H20 in the tank beforehand. (Pro tip: Just eight ounces will do the trick, unless you’re really into those 3 a.m. bathroom runs.)

Turn off the lights
This tip is pretty self-explanatory. Light bulbs, even environmentally-friendly CFLs, give off heat. Fortunately, summer means it stays light until eight or nine at night. Take advantage of natural light as much as possible, and keep rooms cool after dark by using lights minimally or not at all.

Unplug at night
As in, literally disconnect electronics. Gadgets and other small appliances give off heat, even when turned off. Reduce total heat in the house (and save energy!) by keeping plugs out of sockets when the appliances are not in use.

Ceiling Fan Installation

Are you interested in having a ceiling fan installed? You can consult with our Mesa electricians free of charge about ceiling fans, and installations. They will answer all of your questions about ceiling fan installation cost, wiring a ceiling fan if you’re doing it yourself, and any other questions you may have about ceiling fans.

Ceiling fans, unlike air conditioning and heating systems, don’t change the temperature of the air but circulate it making us feel cooler in the summer or warmer in the winter. The effects delivered by fans help reduce electricity costs throughout the year. Ceiling fans can provide summertime savings on air conditioning expenses of as much as 40% and winter time heating cost savings of as much as 10 % according to several studies. In most cases the cost of the installation will pay for itself in a short amount of time.

Since 1999 Dolce Electric Co has been installing ceiling fans Mesa AZ homeowners and businesses still enjoy today. Our Mesa AZ electricians are experts at ceiling fan wiring installations where the box, brace and electrical wires are still needed or just the ceiling fan where the room is ceiling fan ready. We thought we would provide you with some useful information about ceiling fans and our installation services to help you decide if they are right for you.

Chandelier Installation

Chandelier installation is very similar to installing or replacing any other light fixture with one very important difference, its weight. Standard electrical boxes have a maximum load rating of 50 pounds and most are considerably less. While these standard electrical boxes may adequately support some smaller bedroom or bathroom chandeliers they would certainly not be safe for heavier dining room or foyer chandeliers.

Often families moving into a new home will bring a cherished or antique dining room chandelier crafted with beautiful crystals or ornamental iron from their old home and want to reinstall it, but how can you be sure the electrical box will support the weight? This is one of those times when it best to err to the side of caution before installation.

If you are interested in help with your installation give our local in-office Mesa electricians a call. They will answer your questions and provide you with a free estimate for a safe and clean job.

Our electricians in Mesa AZ offer three levels of installation service with chandeliers:

• Complete chandelier installations with support box, wiring and dimmer switch
• Just the support box and wiring (if you feel comfortable hanging the fixture yourself)
• Just the light fixture installation (must have adequate support and wiring already in place)

All work comes with our lifetime guarantee and be sure to ask for our free home safety inspection.

Dolce Electric Co – Legal Info

Choose the information you would like to review by clicking on the links below.

• Arizona Contractors License
• AZ Registrar of Contractors Certificate
• AZ Registrar of Contractors Identification Card
• AZ Transaction License
• Business Consumer Alliance Reports
• Certificate of Membership – Business Consumer Alliance
• Contractors Bond
• Taxpayer Bond

Our Arizona Registrar of Contractor’s license is a class CR11, dual type license, which authorizes us to provide both commercial and residential electrical service and electrical construction throughout the State of Arizona.

Our license number is 295684. If you would prefer to check the status of our license directly, this link will take you to the Arizona Registrar of Contractors homepage.

If you would like additional information about Dolce Electric Company, or about our electrical services, you can contact us by email or give our in-office electrician a call. We are always happy to assist our customers.

Power Problems?

Power losses can affect a single electrical outlet, an entire electrical wiring circuit and on larger scales half of or even all of the power in your home or office. Identifying exactly how much of your power is effected is the first step in resolving the problem.

About Half of My Home or Office Has No Power
This can be caused by several different things but the issue is with the main power. The most common cause of this type of power problem is a failing main circuit breaker. When a main circuit breaker fails it will not allow all of the power to flow through it and into the panel, which supplies all of the other circuit breakers with electricity. In most cases half of the breaker will stop working leaving you with only half of your power. When this happens a main circuit breaker replacement will be necessary to correct your power outage and fully restore your electricity.

Other causes can include a failing electric meter, a loose connection between the electric meter and the main breaker and a partial power loss from the power company.

All of My Power is Not Working
When all of your electricity stops working it is usually going to be an issue that the utility company is experiencing. Here is what you can do:

1. See if your neighbors have electricity, if their power is out too let the utility company know that you are experiencing a power outage.
2. If the homes and businesses around you have electricity and yours does not, check to make sure that your main circuit breaker is turned on. If it is off or tripped, try resetting it back to the on position. If it resets your power will be restored but if your main breaker will not reset it is either worn out or damaged and a replacement will be needed. You can consult with our local Mesa AZ electricians free of charge if you are having trouble with your main breaker.
3. If your main breaker is turned on but you still do not have any electricity check to make sure all of your smaller circuit breakers are turned on. If they are tripped or in the off position try resetting them. For more help with this visit our page about resetting circuit breakers or contact our in-office electrician for assistance.
4. If your neighbors have electricity but you do not and all of your circuit breakers are turned on, it is safe to say that the electricity is not getting to your home or office. You will need to call the utility company to get your electricity restored.

For more help with any electrical power issues that you may be experiencing, call our local in-office electrician in Mesa. He is an expert at troubleshooting and will answer all of your questions and provide you with the solutions you are looking for.