FAQs

When should I consider calling an electrician<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When your life and well being is more valuable than your money. Of all the types of work that can have hazardous effects, immediate and unexpected. The electrical field is the most dangerous. Electrical grounding and GFCI protection is probably the most misunderstood and critical at the same time.

Why would I need a new electrical circuit?

If you are adding equipment that has a large electrical demand it may require its own circuit. It may take a qualified electrician to determine this.

What do I do if my circuit keeps overloading?<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Confirm the electrical demand of each item on that circuit. It may be as easy as moving an item to another location and plugging in to another circuit. If you find that is not an option then a new circuit to split the load may be necessary.

I have too many power strips behind my entertainment center and want to reduce the clutter. How can Pritchard Electric help me?

The best course of action would be to add receptacles in the desired locations to reduce cords. It would also be a good idea to add a surge protection device in the electrical panel to provide the surge protection that the power strip may be providing.

Can you change an existing switch to a dimmer switch?<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In most cases you can change an existing switch to a dimmer switch with no work on the wiring. The exception would be if the dimmer needs a neutral wire and it is not available in the switch box.

Why is a breaker in my panel feel hot to touch?

If a breaker in your panel is hot to the touch the first thing to do is read the amps on the wire connected to that breaker to determine if the breaker is nearing overload. They can operate at 80% of maximum load for an extended period of time with no other adverse effects than the breaker feeling warm. If hot enough you can’t leave your finger on it a loose connection or a bad connection between the breaker and the buss bar may be the problem. Do not ignore this condition. This could lead to equipment damage and is a fire hazard.

How can I tell when an electrical outlet is not safe or needs to be replaced?<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you plug into an electrical outlet and it is loose it should be replaced. If the power is intermittent it is probably loose and loose connections cause heat and heat can cause a fire.

Can I repair my ceiling fan?

Repairing a ceiling fan or ceiling fan light kit is possible. If your ceiling fan runs slow or just sets and hums it is likely a bad capacitor. A capacitor can be found at Home Depot or Amazon. A ceiling fan light kit also has replaceable lamp holders that can be found at any hardware store.