Frequently Asked Questions
You will find answers to all of your most common Electrical Services related questions located here.
Federal Pacific (FPE) panels are known to malfunction, causing risk of electrical fire. FPE panels can continue to send electricity through the circuit when breakers are in the off position. Federal Pacific is no longer in business and their UL Listing was revoked. It can be very difficult to obtain property insurance if your home is powered by an FPE panel. We strongly recommend replacing your existing FPE panel with a safer alternative.
Whole-house surge suppression adds a significant layer of protection for the electronic components in all your appliances and technology devices. In fact as of June 2021, surge suppression is an NEC code requirement in the Pikes Peak Region.
Every situation is different, there are several factors to consider. When the main panel is short of space or too many wires are on a single breaker, a sub-panel can add more configurable space. You'll need to consider the amount of service at your main panel and how much is being utilized, do you have the capacity necessary to add a 100-amp subpanel? Centrally locating the sub-panel helps to lessen the voltage drop that would occur on smaller wires over a long distance. There are benefits when running a larger set of panel feeder wires to the area where the power distribution is needed, rather than run multiple wires a longer distance.
Smoke detectors are typically installed on their own electrical circuit, but each device requires battery back-up in case of power outage. These batteries should be replaced every year, even if the expiration date has not been reached. The entire smoke detector device should be replaced every 10 years. There is now an option to purchase smoke detectors with a 10-year back up battery, these are more expensive but you don’t have to replace the batteries each year.
Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets and breakers protect you from electrical shocks or electrocution in wet locations. They are typically located in kitchens, bathrooms, basements and outdoor areas. GFCIs are an essential safety device that should be installed in each of these locations. Homes that were built before electrical code required GFCI protection can be updated by replacing the existing outlets with GFCI protected outlets or breakers. Call us today for free consultation.
Unlike a ground fault, where the danger is mostly shock, an arc fault's primary danger is its ability to cause an electrical fire. AFCI circuit breakers and outlets protect against electrical fires that may occur from arcing, and are required by current electrical code in many areas. Where the code requires both GFCI and AFCI protection, combination GFCI/AFCI circuit breakers can be installed to protect against both ground faults and arc faults.
There are many advantages to installing a smart, Wi-Fi enabled thermostat. You’ll be able to control the temperature inside your home remotely from your smart phone or other devices, track your energy usage, design separate schedules for heating and cooling, or take advantage of the self-learning capabilities of the smart thermostat which can observe activities in your household and set the schedule accordingly. Smart thermostats can also be added to existing home automation platforms and security systems, for remote monitoring through centralized application.
