safety upgrades | US Electric

Here’s Why Your GFCI Outlet Won’t Reset

Brad Ormsby — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 17:36:19 +0000

Are facing outlet issues and aren’t sure where to start? It may be your GFCI. Here’s why your GFCI outlet won’t reset, more about what a GFCI outlet is, and what the reasons may be for a faulty outlet.

What Is a GFCI Outlet?

GFCI stands for ground-fault circuit interrupters. GFCI outlets protect people from being electrocuted in their homes. The National Electrical Code requires GFCI outlets to be in every home. It is important to remember that these outlets only protect people from being electrocuted. They do not protect circuits and appliances.

Signs That Your GFCI Outlet Won’t Reset

If you have a GFCI outlet that is not resetting, reach out to a professional to fix it. However, before calling the electrician, confirm that it is a matter of your GFCI not resetting, and not another issue.

Here are a few ways you can confirm that your GFCI outlet is not resetting:

Check if other outlets in the room are working
Try toggling the test and reset buttons
Use a circuit tester to see if power is moving through the outlet
Use a hair dryer plugged into another outlet to remove any moisture from the faulty outlet
Look for any tripped breakers
Check for bad electrical connections in the wiring

Toggling the reset and test buttons will help you figure out if your outlet is not resetting. If it is not working, the reset will not stay in when you push it.

Reasons Why Your GFCI Outlet Won’t Reset

There are a few potential reasons your outlet will not reset. The outlet may have dust or moisture inside, you have a bad electrical connection, or there is an improper connection. If there is no power supply to the outlet, your GFCI will not reset.

While 99% of outlets not resetting are due to ground faults and wrong connection problems, GFCI outlets can still go bad.

Why Your GFCI Outlet Won’t Reset

There are a few reasons it will not reset, including a faulty GFCI, an improper connection, a circuit breaker has turned the power off, or a power supply is absent from the receptacle.

Other Potential Reasons Why a GFCI Outlet Won’t Reset

It may be that the brand or design has quirks that prevent your GFCI outlet from working properly, you might have an overprotection complication, or there could be outlets downstream of the GFCI that have issues.

Many older homes do not have GFCI outlets or have GFCI outlets that were implemented later on as an update. In these cases, old outlets were likely replaced with 15 amp GFCI outlets. These outlets could be faulty or are poorly designed and do not fit into the home.

Got a GFCI That Won’t Reset? Call an Electrician!

If you have completed troubleshooting and confirmed that your GFCI is not resetting, the next step is to call the licensed electricians from US Electric to help! The professionals at US Electric can inspect and test your GFCI outlet and can also handle replacement or upgrades to your outlets.
For over 30 years, many customers have entrusted US Electric to keep their homes and businesses safe with properly installed and functioning GFCI outlets. Call now for a free quote!

Why Do Smoke Detectors Beep at Night?

Brad Ormsby — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 17:17:54 +0000

A smoke detector is one of the most important safety devices in our homes. Around 95% of US homes have smoke detectors installed. They’re essential when it comes to protecting us from fires.

Smoke detectors help prevent deaths. It has been found that 40% of residential fire deaths happen in homes without smoke alarms. Having smoke detectors to alert you may save your life.

Nothing is more annoying than a smoke detector beeping at night! But don’t take it off the wall – read on to find out why it is beeping and how to stop it!

Where To Install Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors should be in the hallways outside of bedrooms and inside bedrooms. In multi-level houses, you should have at least one per level. New homes require the smoke detectors to be interconnected, which triggers all detectors to go off if there is a fire.

Reasons Why Your Smoke Detectors Beep at Night

Several things cause smoke detectors to beep at night including old detectors, old batteries, and temperature changes in a room with an alarm.

Need To Change the Batteries

When the battery is low in a smoke detector, it will chirp at you to let you know. The simplest fix is to replace the batteries!

Your Smoke Detector Is Old

Outdated alarms tend to malfunction. They may go off without smoke or fire present.

You should change your smoke detector at least once every ten years. As the smoke detector gets older, it’ll beep more often.

Test your smoke detector frequently to ensure it still works.

Get your smoke alarm inspected by a professional from US Electric. We can replace it before the beeping starts to disturb your sleep!

The Room Temperature Dropped

Many smoke alarms use alkaline batteries, powered by a reaction between zinc metal and manganese dioxide. This reaction is affected by air temperatures. Both cold and heat negatively impact battery performance, draining them, which can lead to the smoke detector battery alarm going off in your smoke detector.

How To Reduce the Possibility of Smoke Detectors Beeping at Night?

Is your smoke detector outdated? Both battery and hardwired smoke detectors have the same lifespan and should be replaced every ten years. Consider replacing your carbon monoxide detector at the same time.

Replace the batteries in your alarms and test them regularly. We recommend testing them weekly.

When you need your smoke detectors checked, repaired, or replaced, contact us as US Electric for help!

US Electric: Smoke Detector Repair & Installation Experts

If you’ve changed the batteries, your detector is new, and there isn’t a temperature issue, call US Electric! We have years of experience installing smoke detectors and always follow the legal and safety guidelines.

Local customers trust our fully licensed, experienced, and insured electricians to carry out their smoke detector needs. We can check, repair, or replace smoke detectors to keep you and your family safe.
Call US Electric today!

5 Electrical Safety Upgrades You Can Make This Week

Brad Ormsby — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 02:22:00 +0000

Keeping your family safe is probably one of your top priorities. Many homeowners don’t realize that their electrical systems can become a source of danger without proper maintenance.

Thankfully, preventing fire hazards and other electrical issues is easy. Read on to learn more about five simple safety electrical upgrades you can make to keep your family safe.

Electrical Safety Upgrade #1: Home Standby-Generator

Outages are a costly issue. They cost a total of $70 billion each year to the U.S. economy, and experts believe blackouts will become more frequent as temperatures continue to rise.

A home standby generator can power all your important appliances during an outage. It’s a convenient option for keeping the lights on and cooking meals, but it can also keep your family safe by powering your AC on hot summer days if the power goes out.

On average, a household uses over 10,000 kWh each year. Your home might consume more or less, and it’s possible to find a generator adapted to the size of your home and your unique needs.

Electrical Safety Upgrade #2: Tamper-Resistant Outlets

Removable outlet covers can prevent children and even pets from hurting themselves with electrical outlets. Tamper-resistant outlets are a more permanent solution to keep young children safe. They’re also safer since you won’t have to worry about children removing the cover, which can turn into a choking hazard. Plus, it’s easy to forget to put the cap back on when the outlet is not in use.

Tamper-resistant outlets have built-in shutters that prevent children from sticking their fingers or inserting objects into the outlets.

Electrical Safety Upgrade #3: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Outlets (GFCIs) and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) Circuit Breakers

These two simple electrical components will make your home safer.

GFCI

GFCI or Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters trip circuits automatically when they detect a surge in the electrical current. These interrupters can prevent electrical incidents and even save your life. The adoption of GFCIs in the 70s resulted in electrocution numbers dropping by 83%.

Professional electricians often install GFCI electrical outlets outdoors and in areas where exposure to water is possible, including your kitchen and bathroom.

AFCI

An AFCI or Arc-fault circuit interrupter can detect arcing currents. Arcing currents are safety hazards that can result in electrical fires.

An AFCI can detect the presence of dangerous arcing conditions, for instance, if there is damage to insulation inside of a junction box or electrical panel.

AFCIs are a requirement for some circuits, and professional electricians typically install them throughout the house, except in the bathroom and kitchen.

Electrical Safety Upgrade #4: Structured Wirings

More homeowners are embracing the smart home trend. There are now over 258 million smart homes globally.

Structured wiring is an electrical upgrade that can facilitate the adoption of smart home products and technology. With structured wiring, a cabling infrastructure provides power and connectivity for different devices throughout your home.

You should also consider wiring upgrades if you have an older home. Aluminum wiring can also cause fires and call for replacement. Burying electrical power lines makes your home safer.

Electrical Safety Upgrade #5: Dual Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Alarms

Carbon monoxide can result from the incomplete combustion of fuels. If you have gas-powered appliances in your home, you need carbon monoxide detectors.

You can also have dual carbon monoxide/smoke alarms installed. These alarms use a CO sensor and smoke detectors to alert you.

Planning Electrical Safety Upgrades? We Can Help!

These five upgrades are a simple way of making your home safer. It’s best to have a professional with the right knowledge, tools, and experience install these different upgrades.U.S. Electric has a team of certified electricians who can help you make your home safer. Give us a call today to get a quote for your project!