GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupters. This specific type of outlet can help prevent most electrocutions, and are even required in homes near sinks such as those in the kitchen or bathroom. GFCI outlets measure the current flowing out of the outlet and back. If the values vary, even slightly, the outlet with shut down any transfer of electricity. This has saved thousands of lives over the last 40 years. It’s very easy and quick to have an electrician go through your home and replace standard outlets with life-saving GFCI outlets.

If you’ve ever had children, you know how important outlet covers are in the home. While they may not be necessary all the time in a home with only adults, there are many other reasons besides children that these covers come in handy. Outlet covers are simply pieces of plastic that fit into outlets to protect anything from making contact with the available electric current. These covers protect children from putting their fingers in outlets, dogs and cats from licking them, and help prevent the rare accident as well. Pick some up at your local hardware store.

If you’ve ever opened up a light switch panel, you’ve probably seen simple situations that have three wires. One wire is the hot wire which carries electricity to the outlet. The other hot wire is only hot when the switch is activated and carries the electricity to a light or appliance. The third wire is the ground wire. More often than not, especially in older houses, this third ground wire may not be attached to anything. It’s important to make sure this ground wire is properly installed to the switch to avoid things shorting out or electrical fires.

Perhaps your house was originally built without air conditioning or you have added a full laundry room onto your home that wasn’t there when the house was built. If that’s the case, you may have outgrown your home’s electrical panel without realizing it. Adding high energy use appliances can easy place an extra toll on your electrical panel. The best way to know this is if your lights flicker when you start an appliance or you have a breaker regularly flip. It’s time to call an electrician if you think this may be the case.

Kitchens are used more often, and are more versatile, than any other room in the home. In years past, they were used solely for meal preparation, typically illuminated by a single, inefficient ceiling fixture, but the kitchen of today is also used for entertaining, homework, dining, and making memories. With such an impressive resume, this hard working room deserves to shine a little brighter, with lighting that makes a statement, helps to get the job done, and creates a feeling of warmth.

When you are ready to mow the lawn, you may have to pull your mower’s starter a few times before it turns over. In the event of a power outage, of course, you really don’t want to put up with such issues with your generator. Typically, whole-house generators will activate automatically when the power goes out, regulated by an automatic transfer switch. If yours is thus equipped, but doesn’t come on when needed, you are in need of repairs. If you’ve had them done before, though, and are still struggling with this issue, a generator replacement is worth considering.

Your whole-house generator burns fuel in order to power your home in the event of a power outage. If it is burning through more and more fuel during its operation, though, running your generator may simply cost more than it is worth to keep your electricity flowing when the power goes out. Replacing your system with a more efficient model may be advisable.

You need to test your generator and have it inspected regularly to ensure that it will be there for you when you need it most. If problems keep popping up upon such inspections and tests, it may no longer be cost effective to continue repairing your existing system. A replacement generator could offer you greater reliability as well as reduced repair costs.