Residential and Commercial Electrical Services
(774)219-9832
ELECTRICAL SERVICES INFOMRATION
Frequently Asked Questions
At C&L Electrical Solutions, our primary goal is to ensure that the customer has a safely functioning electrical system in their residence or place of business. We sometimes assist customers by providing them with sufficient information to be confident that their systems are in proper working order. On other occasions, the information we provide may enable them to resolve issues independently. There are many instances where our expertise is required to both diagnose and repair or replace components to address the problem effectively. We will never recommend that anyone undertake work that requires our professional skills.
For instance, the solution to frequent tripping of a circuit breaker often involves reducing the number of loads or devices connected to that circuit simultaneously, which is a safe remedy for the customer. In other scenarios, on-site inspections and various measurements may be necessary for us to assist in resolving your issue.
Here, we present a series of frequently asked questions with concise answers. These inquiries come from customers who are conducting their own troubleshooting as well as those seeking information regarding renovations and upgrades. We encourage you to visit this list regularly, as it will be continually updated. Additionally, we welcome your questions through the form provided below.
Some Commonly Asked Electrical Service Questions
We provide most of every electrical service to diagnose problems, repair, and install new components and appliances to homes and small businesses. See our partial list of work here.
We cannot provide hypothetical costs for every type of service we may provide. However, we do offer free first consultations after which we will gladly provide you with estimates. Get your free estimate using the form at the bottom of the page.
The most common cause of electrical fires are overloaded circuits and short circuits of outlets or devices. There are practical measures to follow to minimize risks, such as not adding more devices to an outlet than the designed number, using surge protectors where feasible, and not burying extensions cords under carpets where they may eventually be worn down. If you have any uncertainty about your situation, ask us for a free consultation using the form at the bottom of this page.
Your electrical panel contains either fuses or breakers which take most wear and tear of daily life in your home. However, as families grow, more appliances are added, and more electrical devices in general are put on the market, there is a chance you reach the capacity limit and will need an upgrade. Also, older systems may not pass inspections for purposes of insurance or sale of the home. Codes are upgraded over time, making older designs obsolete.
Technically the answer is no. Massachusetts electrical code will not allow electricians to install fuse panels today. There is no mandate to remove them, they simply cannot be installed new. If we add a new circuit to your home or business, we will require there to be a circuit breaker panel added to your existing system to accommodate the new circuit. We also recommend upgrading the entire panel to a modern style if your budget allows.
Expanding to 200 amp service while upgrading to circuit breakers may save you money in the future. Especially if you have future plans or are simply considering additions like air conditioning, electric heat additions or upgrades from fuel heat, buying an electric vehicle, and more. Your cost to expand to 200 amp service will only increase by the hardware cost. Our labor costs are generally the same.
Either incandescent bulbs or LED lamps are susceptible to both head and vibration. While LED lamps do not generate heat themselves, they may be adjacent to other sources, such as an appliance. Hanging lights may be subjected to higher than normal amounts of motion and vibration. These are some common causes of premature failure.
Circuits will be tripped any time some device or devices on the circuit draw more current than the protection level. Some causes may be obvious, for example when too many items are plugged into one or more outlets on the circuit. You can test this by unplugging all and then plugging them back one by one to see if and when you get another trip. Dead shorts could be another cause. We highly recommend at least asking for a free consultation to help you in determining what your next actions should be. Use the form at the bottom of this page to make that request.
If you try to fully cycle your circuit breaker on and off and back on after a trip and still cannot get service, there is almost certainly a fault in the breaker or with some plugged in device or wiring along the circuit. We highly recommend you ask for a free consultation to start as this suggests a dangerous situation exists. Use the form at the bottom of this page for that request.
Hair dryers require a good deal of power when on heating or high heating settings. Typically used after showers or bathing, they may be plugged in under humid conditions. Likewise, if your bathroom outlet allows you to reset, you have what is called “ground fault detection/protection,” which can me more sensitive than the overall circuit protection at the panel. If you have a persistent problem trying to use your hair dryer, we suggest a free consultation so we can help you explore further the reasons. Use the form at the bottom of this page for that request.
LED lamps are considered to be six or seven times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, using 80% less energy. Because they don’t generate as much heat, they also tend to last much longer before needing to be replaced. More options for emitted light colors are becoming available for LED these days, too.
It is often possible to add more outdoor lighting to an existing circuit. It depends both on how much power is currently be consumed and the type of quantity of lighting you may want to add. Modern LED lighting is much more efficient, so there is even greater flexibility for the homeowner or business to choose to upgrade outdoor illumination without exceeding a circuit or multiple circuit ratings. Contact us with your specific thoughts or plans, and we will gladly advise you on your available capacity.
Have another question for us? Contact us below with additional questions you may have. Use the Message field for your question or clarification. Request a free consultation at any time.