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Considering the fact that most breaker boxes are hidden in the backroom, storage closet, or outside of the house, it’s no wonder we don’t think of them all that often.  But consider the fact that your circuit breaker is the first point of entry for power to your home.  Without it, everything would be connected to the same firehose of electrical power.  Your circuit breaker doesn’t just protect your devices; it regulates them.

Circuit Breaker Function

Most people recognize that your breaker box is a safety device to shut off your power in an emergency.  But it also regulates power to multiple circuits throughout your home.  The outlets you plug into are all set at 110-120 volts, but other outlets aren’t.  Appliances, your HVAC system, and higher-voltage outlets in your garage are typically set on independent dedicated circuits to separate them from the rest of your home.

Large appliances, power tools, and your central heating and air conditioning unit all have heavy power requirements.  The wiring in your home is not able to support these heavy demands (the wires are too thin), so to meet the demand (and save you money on expensive, thicker cables) a dedicated circuit is installed that powers these devices.  The heaviest demands are given their own separate circuit entirely, which is why your HVAC unit is alone while your washer and dryer are listed on the same breaker.

Separating these circuits has the added benefit of making many of your devices cheaper.  Without an electrical panel to separate, adjust voltage and current, and protect against high power loads, each individual device would require specialized and bulky equipment to handle those tasks.

How Breakers Work

Of course, the main function people recognize about their electrical panel is how a quick trip to replace a breaker or a fuse can turn the lights back on.  Your breaker circuit is able to do this because of the effects of current and power in a circuit.  As the power demands on a specific circuit increase, current increases as well.  This increase in current and power increases the temperature of all parts of the circuit.  In each circuit breaker, there’s a small strip made from two different metals.  The metal expands as it heats, but it does so at different rates for each metal.  As heat increases, the strip bends until it forcible pushes the breaker into an open position.

Each circuit breaker is set to trip when a certain amount of current is being pulled through it.  For most homes, this value is 15 or 20 Amps.  If your circuit continues to trip, it’s a good idea to switch a few devices out

Signs of Aging or Damage

Some breaker issues are obvious.  If you cannot physically move the breaker arm to trip or turn on the breaker, then it needs to be replaced.  Melted plastic, a burning smell, or broken casings are all clear signs that something is or has gone wrong and should be dealt with immediately.

But you should also keep an eye out for other problems.  If the breaker is in the on position but you still are not receiving power, if the breaker continually trips as soon as it is reset, or if the breaker box feels extremely warm you should immediately consult an electrician to find the fault and repair it.

Reasons to Upgrade or Install New Circuits

Most problems with your electrical panel don’t warrant a complete replacement.  But sometimes an upgrade to a new panel or a needed installation for a new circuit is necessary.  If you plan to add new high load devices, are upgrading to a more powerful central heating unit, or are building an addition to your home you might need to install a brand new electrical circuit.  Higher power demands sometimes require a new circuit to split the load, preventing an overload.

You may also need a brand new circuit breaker depending on the type you currently have installed.  Federal Pacific circuit breakers were installed in many homes from the 50s through the 90s.  These panels are, unfortunately, prone to failure and dangerous electrical fires.  If your home is still using one of these outdated electrical panels, it’s time for a replacement.

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Whether you need a new panel installed, want an upgrade to a more powerful circuit system, or simply need a repair on your existing panel, Boulden Brothers are your source for quality electrical work!

Give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for any of your Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania home service needs — plumbing, electrical, HVAC, propane, and more!

Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

For more expert tips on maintaining a safe and efficient home, visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

 

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As colder weather arrives, all kinds of smaller animals and insects will seek out warmer places to hide while they wait for spring.  Unfortunately, this leaves your home as prime real-estate for all kinds of pests and vermin.  Many of these animals, while perfectly acceptable outdoors, can cause damage when inside your home.  The nesting habits of mice and other rodents will damage insulation and wiring, and can become a severe fire hazard.  Even if this weren’t a hazard, pests and vermin have the potential to spread disease and can severely increase asthma and allergy problems.

While the autumn seasonal change is ideal for maintaining your home to prevent pests from entering, there are countless reasons for them to enter throughout the year.  So it’s never a bad idea to inspect and maintain your home against their intrusion.

What to Look For

First, examine the outside of your home.  Look for easy access points like holes in corners, damaged screens, or utility entry points for pipes and cables.  For screens and sweeps, replace or repair as needed to seal out unwanted pests.  Many utility entries should be sealed with silicone caulk.  If the gap is too wide to be sealed with caulk, use expanding foam as a sealant.  Any additional holes, punctures, or chewed entry-ways should be sealed and plugged up with steel wool.  Steel wool is difficult for insects to crawl through and is practically impossible for rodents to chew.

General home maintenance is also an effective method for preventing pests.  Loose mortar around the basement or foundation allows smaller insects to sneak through, and is also an avenue for water to seep in and environmentally controlled air to escape from.  Likewise, any damaged weather strips should be repaired.  Both of these are not only good for pest control throughout the year, but for helping to reduce energy costs for your home’s heating and cooling.  The added insulation keeps your air in and the outside air out.

On the outside, clear debris away from the home.  Tree limbs, compost and wood piles, unused bricks, or any general mess can create safe havens for pests.  When these are too close to the home, they attract creatures who will eventually seek entrance into your home.  By the same token, you should trim away brush, hedges, and tree limbs from the edges of your home.  Of course, any tree branches which are growing over the roof of your house can be dangerous, so trimming in advance to prevent pests will also prevent future home damage.

Don’t forget that a pet door is designed to let animals in and out of your home.  If you don’t own a pet, seal the flap or replace the door.  If you do still have a pet, then make sure the door is working properly and that it can still keep out insects.

The Short of it:

• Find and repair easy access points
• Fill all holes and gaps
• Keep the area around your house clean

Of course, at Boulden Brothers, we can repair any existing electrical or central air damage cause by unexpected visitors to your home.  If you think you detect the smell of burning wires, or can’t find the source of your flickering lights, then it’s best to call for a professional inspection before anything happens.  One lest method to keep out pests is to make their favorite nests inhospitable.  A dehumidifier placed in the attic, basement, and crawl spaces will make each of these places less desirable while also making them less hospital to mold growth.

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Visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more information on maintaining a Green home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

 

All week we’ve been observation Fire Prevention Week, so we want to round thing out with our own take on ways to improve fire safety around the home.  One of the most common, yet often overlooked, sources for house fires is faulty wiring.  Issues with your house wiring can lead to overheating or sparks which can ignite insulation.  Before you know it, a small connection you can’t even see has become a big problem.  So how do you know when it’s time to get a full wiring inspection or repair?

Check Your Wiring Regularly

Wiring gets old and will eventually wear out.  Insulation degrades over time, connection points develop carbon buildup, and the general structure of a house can change wire stresses over time.  The best thing is to do regular wiring inspections on your home.  This should be done at least every ten years.  You can see when the last time your home was inspected by a professional electrician by checking the breaker box panel.  To clarify:

More than 40 years since your last inspection? Get inspected as soon as possible. Boulden Brothers offers full electrical services including full code and safety inspections.  A home that hasn’t been inspected in the past 40 years is bound to have multiple wiring issues.  Don’t wait to get it inspected.

Between 10 and 40 years since the last inspection? We recommend having an inspection done. 10 years is a long time and many different stresses and events can take a toll on your home’s wiring.  It’s highly advisable that you get your home inspected.

Pests, new home, or getting ready for a sale? Then an inspection is recommended. If you’ve had any issues with mice, squirrels, birds, or any nesting creature in your attic or walls then it’s best to make sure no wiring damage has occurred.  It’s also a good idea to inspect a new home to make sure that the inspection is up to date, regardless of the signature on the breaker panel.

Wiring Danger Signs

As electrical wiring and equipment ages it gives off several warning signs that it’s time for a repair or a replacement.  While many times the sign is “I’m broken and no longer functioning,” many warning signs are simply in the form of strange smells, finicky connections, or inefficient operation.  Whether you’re going about your day or actively looking for electrical problems, here are a few things you should keep an eye out for:

• Regular outages
• Tripping breaker
• Dim/flickering lights
• Loose plugs and sockets
• Insulation damage on wiring
• Any kind of electric shocks or sparking
• Smells such as burning plastic or a strange urine odor

For an in-depth guide on exactly what to look for, and more dangers, we recommend looking at the Consumer Product Safety Commission guide on home wiring safety.

Additional Fire Safety

Beyond regular wiring it never hurts to be too cautious when dealing with possible fires in the home.  Smoke alarms are essential to saving lives in the home.  Make sure that every floor has a smoke alarm that’s properly installed for the best coverage.  Regular maintenance and testing of every smoke alarm should be conducted to ensure that you’re covered in case a fire starts.  The earlier the warning of a fire emergency, the high your chances are of both survival and of saving you home.  Because when a fire starts, it’s a race against time.

Fortunately, Boulden Brothers hires technicians who understand the importance of proper fire and carbon monoxide alarms.  During any safety inspection we perform, we test every fire alarm.  We can also install alarms with long-term batteries or fire alarms which use house wiring to prevent missed battery replacements.

Furnace Safety

Finally, don’t forget to get your furnace maintained.  While not as common an issue as electrical fires, furnaces have been known to cause fires when improperly maintained.  A licensed furnace technician can clean, inspect and maintain your furnace.  For your part, check the filter to make sure it’s clean and remove any objects (especially dry and flammable materials) from the area around your furnace and any vents or registers connected to it.

Home fires are often preventable with simple maintenance or a few repairs.  It’s always better to take the extra time and ensure that your home is properly protected against possible fires.  House fires are no joke which is why you should be prepared, from start to finish.

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If you have any further questions home wiring, talk to the licensed, trained technicians at Boulden Brothers.

Visit us on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ or give us a call at (302) 368-3848 for more information on maintaining a Green home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.

We’ve all seen it from time to time, that tell-tale dimming of the lights in a room.  Usually there’s an action associated with it, such as running a microwave or a space heater, but then there are times when all of the house lights flicker or dim for no reason.  Sometimes this depends on the bulb you’re using, while at other times it has to do with your home’s wiring. [Read more…]