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August 14, 2017 at 9:59 pm

Preparing Your Home for an Inspection

Preparing Your Home for an Inspection - Wire Craft Electric - Edmonds, WA

Anytime you’re inviting someone into your home, it’s natural to be a bit nervous and want to prepare. This is doubly true when you’re bringing in someone for an inspection. Having an electrician come in and look at your wiring and outlets can be a bit nerve wracking leading up to it, but it doesn’t have to be a pain at all. Follow these key ideas to make sure your house is ready for an inspection and make the process go quick and easy from your end.

Know Where Everything Is and What to Expect

It may sound simple, but before your electrician comes to your house, make sure you have a plan. You can even call them beforehand and ask exactly what they’ll want to see. Once you have this information, go through your house and make sure you know where everything is. Everything from the circuit breaker to the individual outlets – including exterior outlets –around your home will likely be looked out, so ensure you know where each thing is. You may live in your house day in and day out, but little things like these often aren’t thought about regularly. Give yourself a little refresher course of your own home and you’ll make the process go by faster once the electrician shows up at your door.

Clean-Up Around the House

Now that you know where everything is, it’s time to make sure it’s all accessible. Chances are you don’t live your life anticipating an electrician poking around your house. You might have shelves in places covering certain outlets or maybe the circuit breaker is blocked in the garage by some storage boxes – or both. In any case, you’ll want to make sure everything is moved and ready for when the electrician arrives. You don’t want to be shuffling things around and slowing down the process.

Have Your Own Questions Ready

Just because the electrician is the expert doesn’t mean you have to standby idly. The more you learn from the electrician and the inspection, the better you’ll understand the changes to make. The more questions you ask, the more productive it will be for everyone involved. If the electrician ends up working on your home, you’ll have a clear understanding of everything. You won’t have to worry about where your money is going.

Are you in need of a home inspection and want an electrician you can trust? The Wire Craft team is located in Shoreline, and services various cities in Snohomish, King, and Pierce County. We would be happy to send one of our expert electricians to your home. They will help you identify any issues that need to be addressed. Give us a call today.

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August 8, 2017 at 10:08 pm

Maintaining Your Summer Home

summer home

If you have a summer home, especially one a good distance away from your primary home, you know how hard it can be to keep it up. More than just brushing off the dust off surfaces, you also need to check and make sure everything electrical is working properly when its been sitting idly for so long. Consider these ideas to help keep your summer home functional and safe even when you’re not there on vacation.

Think Ahead The Next Time You Leave Your Summer Home

With enough foresight, you can make a world of difference in maintaining your summer home. The next time you venture out for a getaway, take some time at the beginning and the end of your trip to do some routine maintenance. Check for rust or condensation in your wiring and clean up any residue. Your vacation time is valuable, but setting aside just a little bit of time can ensure that your home is good for the rest of your trip.

Upgrade Your Wiring and Appliances

One of the best ways to limit electrical mishaps is to make sure you’re home is completely up-to-date. This is especially true for summer homes, which often don’t get nearly as much attention as your main home. If you’re vacation spot is an older home, you may want to consider checking and seeing if you need to rewire the whole thing. Otherwise, upgrading your appliances, outlets, and other electrical devices will minimize the risk of a faulty cable giving you issue when you’re gone.

Hire an Electrician to Inspect Your Home

Sometimes you just simply can’t get out to your summer home as much as you’d like. This is especially if you live a fair distance away the rest of the year. Even if the house is empty, you still don’t want to run the risk of a wiring issue. The best thing you can do is to hire an electrician to come out to your home and do an inspection. You can request a thorough report back. Ideally they’ll come back without much at all. However, it’s better to have peace of mind than a disaster to have to clean up later on.

Looking for an electrician to check out your summer home in the Seattle area?

Wire Craft’s team of electricians can help. Experts in our field, our electricians will check through every nook and cranny to make sure your home is safe. Even while you’re away and ready to go when you return.

Give us a call today.

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July 19, 2017 at 8:48 pm

Dangers of Aluminum Wiring in the Summer

aluminum wiring in the summer

Summertime and the living’s easy…right? That’s not necessarily true if you have aluminum wiring in the summer at your home. There’s a lot of reasons why aluminum wiring has become outdated, but many older homes still have it in their homes. The summer adds even more concerns for your wiring – especially if you’re living in an older home. It’s important to know exactly what those issues are and why it’s important to make a change. We walk through some of them below and give you direction on what to do next.

Summer Heat Expands Wiring

In general, aluminum wiring in the summer will always expand more than the new standard of copper wiring. So when the summer rolls along and heatwaves come in, your home’s aluminum wiring is going to feel it maybe even more than you do. As the wiring expands, it closes in the space between the wire and the connectors. This is a major fire hazard, especially if it comes into contact with any flammable materials that might be within your walls.

Wiring Working Overtime to Keep You Cool

Aside from the external factors of the weather, you and/or your family might be putting strains on your wiring as well. Running A/C or fans means your wiring is working overtime to keep you cool. The more work you’re putting on your wiring, the hotter they’ll get and, well, you now know what that can lead to. There are steps you can take to more efficiently use electricity in the summer months, but if you’re using aluminum wiring then even the best habits can still lead to disastrous results. What do you do then?

Transitioning out of Aluminum Wiring in the Summer

You’re left with a choice – do you keep your aluminum wiring and try to tip-toe around its faults and hope for the best or do you make a change? We’d strongly recommend the latter. No one wants to live in fear of their wiring shorting or causing a fire, especially in the summer when you should be relaxing and enjoying the warm, rare Seattle weather. However, summer is also a great time to rewire your home. Unlike the winter where the electrical downtime can leave you out in the cold, take advantage of the tepid summer and bring in an electrician to get your home set. This isn’t just an investment in getting through the season, but a longterm solution to keeping you and yours safe.

Convinced now is the time to finally rewire your home? Wire Craft can help! Our team of home electricians have helped homeowners across the greater Seattle area.

Contact us today and we’ll set up a consultation and help create a plan for rewiring your home. Summer is fun – so let us take some of the stress out of your walls.

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July 7, 2017 at 9:23 pm

What to do in a Summer Blackout

summer blackout

Typically when we talk about preparing for summer blackout, the conversation centers on how to stay warm and push through the harsh winter. But during a heatwave where circuits are being overloaded from people blasting their AC and fans, you’ll find you a whole other set of challenges to face. How do you keep cool, keep your food, and stay prepared for a summer blackout? We’ll show you how.

Invest in a Generator

First and foremost, if it’s vital that you have power ASAP then you’ll want to have a generator handy.  For families with specific medical needs that require machinery or just people who are running a business from home, sometimes you can’t afford to have any downtime. Whether you invest in a portable or standby generator is up to you, but either will help you get your home running power again quickly.

Stock Up on Water and Non-Perishable Food

Those jugs of water you’ve been keeping in the garage have a purpose. While most plumbing systems don’t require electricity to function, there are some concerns to consider other than lacking hot water. The CDC points out that a widespread power outage might affect water purification systems. You can go through the purification yourself by boiling water, but you can also invest in bottled water and storage gallons to get you through while you wait for the power to come back.

With your fridge temporarily out of water, one of your best bets is investing in non-perishable foods. Typically this means pre-packaged and canned foods that don’t require cooking. If you have an outdoor grill or camping stove handy, you can use those to cook. A cooler will help you keep food for a couple days, but you’ll quickly find yourself running to the store to buy more ice (assuming they still have power as well).

Keeping the House Cool Without A/C During Summer Blackout

We’ve talked here before about keeping cool in the summer without breaking the bank, but what about when you don’t have any power at all? Summer blackouts often happen from too many people trying to run their cooling systems at the same time, meaning it’s pretty stinkin’ hot out! Without power, being in your own house can feel miserable. Instead of hiding in the car and blasting the air conditioning, first take a look around your house. Make sure you have the blinds down so that the sun won’t come in and heat things up. Wait to open your windows at night when you’ll hopefully be able to let in a cool breeze. Also try and stock up on battery operated fans. Having a few handy is always a good idea. They’ll likely be in high-demand if there’s a widespread blackout, so invest in some now before they become a necessity.

Has the power gone out in your home and you’re not sure why? Don’t wait and suffer it out in the summer heat.

Call Wire Craft today and we’ll send one of our expert electricians to inspect your home. We will identify the problem, and help you figure out the next steps. Summer blackouts aren’t any more fun than winter outages – make sure your home is properly prepared this season.

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June 23, 2017 at 9:09 pm

Summer Storms and Protecting Your Home

summer stormsIn Seattle, we often think of summer as the one refuge away from the stormy and gloomy weather. And while Seattle summers can be gorgeous, they also can often result in lightning storms. Is your home prepared for any damage these storms can do to your home wiring and appliances? Here are a few ways to prepare yourselves for summer storms.

Watch the Weather for Upcoming Summer Storms

The biggest mistakes come from not paying attention. In the summertime, when you get accustomed to all the sun ano clear skies, it’s easy to disregard watching the weather reports or checking them on your phone. Who needs that when you can just look outside and see the sun? Well, as many longtime Northwesterners will tell you, the weather in Seattle can change on a dime. Even if we’re in the middle of a heatwave, you’ll want to double check to prepare yourself and your home. Knowing if there’s a storm coming will give you vital time to make sure you have your home in order and have your electronics setup properly.

Whole-House Surge Protectors

A whole-house surge protector is a device that’s plugged into your homes’s main electrical service box. What they do is monitor what electricity is allowed to come into your house, protecting your appliances and electronics should something like lightning strike. The voltage from lighting could fry your home devices, setting you back more than just a few dollars. Whole-house surge protectors are becoming more and more common in newer houses, typically added in development, but there’s no guarantee that everyone house has one and older homes are less likely to already have one in place. Check your service box to ensure that one is installed – never assume that to be the case.

Outlet Surge Protectors

Whole-house surge protectors aren’t terribly cheap, but they are a worthwhile investment. If you’re not in a place where you feel that you can make that kind of purchase, outlet surge protectors will at least give your home some protection. As the name would imply, these are devices you plug into your wall and then plug your appliances into the device, much like you would with a power strip. This will help block excess electricity from harming your electronics. They can be a great failsafe and back-up should a spike electricity hits your home. These are also highly recommended for people living in older apartments.

Back-up Generators

Even with all the prep you can do for your own home, there’s still a chance that a power line goes down and you’re left waiting for the city to take care of it. Depending on where you live, this can be done quickly or take days. If you can’t afford to have downtime from electricity, it’s a good plan to have a back-up generator on hand. Finding the right generator for your needs can be difficult; thankfully we’ve already created a guide to help you decide what will work for you.

Need help installing surge protectors or buying a generator to protect your home from summer storms? Our team of expert electricians at Wire Craft can help.

Give us a call and we’ll schedule a time to walk through your home and make a plan to get you storm ready.

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June 19, 2017 at 10:41 pm

Preparing Your Home’s Electrical Use for Summer

electrical use for summer

Just like how meter rates typically rise in the winter from people using their heat, AC/fans can take a toll on your electricity bill as well. However, there are steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient in these high usage months. Consider some of these creative ways to keep your house cool and your energy usage low.

Use Fans and A/C Sparingly

Most people know that running their fans or A/C throughout the day is going to cause their bill to speak, but when you’re in the middle of a heatwave it’s easy to push those thoughts to the side and stay cool. That’s understandable and if you have the option to lower the heat, why wouldn’t you just turn the fan on? What it really comes down to is deciding when you’re going to use your cooling systems.

It’s tempting to leave a fan on in the other room so it’s nice and comfortable when you walk in later, but that’s money coming out of your wallet every second. There’s a mild inconvenience waiting for the temperature to drop after you turn it on, but saving your A/C time to only when you’re in the room will benefit you in the long run.

Mind Your Windows

People will often open their windows during the day in the summer months to let a breeze in and naturally cool off the house. This comes with really good intentions, maybe even with the mindset to lower your electricity bill, but it actually can have the inverse effect. Keeping your windows shut during the day will actually help keep out and maintain the temperature in your home. If things cool off at night, you can go ahead and open the windows then and you’ll definitely get the benefit of the breeze without inadvertently raising the heat. Also consider investing in drapes and blinds. By keeping your windows covered, you can block sunlight from entering your home and making you boil.

Create Less Heat Yourself

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” In the summer months, you might want to create your own motto: “If you can’t stand any more heat, limit your time in the kitchen.” Summer heat means you have to change up your own routine to make sure you’re not contributing to adding more heat. Obviously you have to cook sometime, but try and use less time with the oven. Maybe it’s a great time to try whipping up a fresh summer salad or wraps – something that won’t mean turning the oven on.

Dryers can also raise the temperature in your homes. Instead, make the summer weather work in your favor and hang dry your clothes and wash your clothes in cold water. Even when it’s hot out, a warm shower is often preferable to a cold one. There’s no need to force yourself into an icy shower; just change up your routine and take showers at night instead when it won’t heat up your home.

Upgrading Appliances to Improve Electrical Use for Summer

For a long term solution, maybe it’s time to upgrade your home appliances. We’ve extolled the virtues of Energy Star appliances before and how they can help lower your bill. It’s important to note that you won’t likely reap the benefits right away – it takes a while before the savings outweighs the upfront cost of buying a new dishwasher. But this is a step to preparing for those future summer months and other year round savings you want to take advantage of.

Need some help getting your home read to beat the heat? Wire Craft can help. Reach out to us today and we’ll have one of our electricians help you walk through your home and find ways to make your home more energy efficient.

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June 9, 2017 at 7:10 pm

How to Find the Right Generator for Your Home

How to Find the Right Generator for Your Home

As electricians, we don’t ever hope for someone’s power to go out. However, sometimes an issue or violent weather happens that makes it unavoidable. This is especially true in the Northwest, with winter windstorms and occasional snow leaving many without power. Seattleites may even remember the equipment failure earlier this year that left 20,000 people without power. Situations like these are unpredictable, even if you’re doing everything to try and save power.

If you do want to prepare yourself for the unexpected, maybe it’s time to start considering investing in a power generator. There’s nothing worse than being stuck without power for days on end and many homes within city limits aren’t equipped to handle your needs without electricity, relying on central electric heating. Having a generator handy can make all the difference. It’s not something you ever really want to use, but having a generator in your garage can be the difference between being stuck in the cold and staying safe and comfortable. Generators don’t have to be a massive, complicated investment, either. We’ll walk through what specs to look for and how to stay within your budget.

Portable vs. Standby

There are essentially two types of generators you need to know: portable and standby. You can infer a lot just from their names. Somewhat obviously, portable generators are ones that you can move around from place to place. If you’ve ever watched someone pull a generator out of their garage to get the power going again, this is a portable generator. In contrast, a standby generator is one that’s implemented more-or-less as a permanent fixture outside your home. They automatically will start running as soon as the power goes out.

Whereas you can sometimes get a portable generator for as low as a few hundred dollars, standby generators are going to start in the thousands range. What it comes down to is how much you’re willing to invest and what your commitment is to ease of use. What’s nice about the standby generators is that you don’t have to lift a finger. They’ll take care of themselves and you won’t miss a beat. However, if you’re not planning on living in your home for the long haul then it’s a costly investment that you can’t take with you. A portable generator will stick with you as long as you want to move it around, but it requires much more work to use and can be especially annoying when you’re trying to set up in the dark during a snowstorm. There’s no right or wrong answer here – it’s about what works best for you.

Decide How Much Power You Need

Is your refrigerator running? Well you better go… get the proper generator to accommodate its electrical needs. Jokes aside, one of the main factors in buying a generator is going to determine on your intended use. Do you want a generator that’s just going to keep the lights on or are you trying to keep everything from your HVAC to freezer working? If you’re leaning toward the latter, double check your appliances and see what their wattage needs are.

How Long Will You Need Power

How long do you like to keep you appliances on?

Some people are fine with turning on their generators at key times. This is just to get some basic housework on-going, like cooking or using the washroom.

However, if for whatever reason you need to keep the power on for longer than you need a generator. You can also check your home’s electrical panel to see what the maximum wattage your home can take. After that, find a generator that matches those needs.

Feeling like it’s time to invest in a generator but not sure what’s right for the limitations of your home? Wire Craft can help so just give us a call.

Our team of electricians will help you find the right generator for you. We can also help proof your home from other potential issues like wiring and repairing faulty outlets.

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June 2, 2017 at 12:49 am

Maintaining Your Exterior Outlets

Exterior Outlets

Your exterior outlets always come in handy. You can plug in all of your electrical yard equipment to get some yard work done more effectively.  Plug in your stereo for the BBQ so that everyone can listen to the big game or dance to the music. There are so many benefits to being able to plug things in outside, but often, our exterior outlets get overlooked when it comes time to maintain your home on an annual basis. The problem with this is that problematic exterior outlets could cause electrocution or an electrical fire. Make sure you follow these tips on how you can maintain your exterior outlets, as an ounce of prevention goes a long way in keeping your home and family safe.

Tips on How You Can Maintain Your Exterior Outlets

Inspection

One of the first things that you need to do to keep your exterior outlets in good working shape is to inspect them regularly. You want to make sure that the cover doesn’t show any wear or tear, and that the outlet is protected from the elements safely. Check that there are no exposed wires showing.  Also, you want to look for any gaps that have opened between the outlet and the wall. You’ll want to make sure that if you do find any holes or cracks that they are repaired if possible or replaced completely.

Often, it’s a good idea to have a professional come out to handle these repairs or replacements whether they are in your home or business.  They can better determine what the best fix is for the problem, and ensure that your wiring is up to the housing codes.

Damaged or Incorrectly Installed Outlets

Some of the biggest problems that result in electrical accidents are outlets that are either damaged from use or are incorrectly installed.  As soon as you notice a problem with your exterior outlet, it needs to be replaced. That means any cracked or chipped corners should be replaced right away. Outlets that can be jiggled or plugs that are loose when plugged into the outlet can also show that there is some type of damage here that needs to be replaced.

Updating Your Outlets

You may find during your inspection that while your exterior outlets don’t look damaged, but they may be outdated. Updating your outlets is a great idea. This is the perfect time to get more up-to-date wiring installed. One sign that you need new outlets is if you still have two-pronged outlets as these older outlets should be replaced with three-pronged outlets. Three-pronged outlets are grounded outlets that work better for many electrical appliances.

Calling in the professionals when updating your exterior outlets is another good idea because of the grounding wire. You may find that there isn’t a grounding wire in your outlet to be used with your three-pronged outlet. Take note that this needs to be added before installing these types of outlets.

In addition to updating to a three-prong outlet, there’s also the option to use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets. This is a safety feature that works to prevent electrocutions.  It works in that the outlet will stop the flow of electricity if it detects a ground fault.

Using Plugs Safely

You will also want to make sure that you’re using your exterior outlets safely. You don’t want to use them in inclement weather as water and electricity don’t mix.  Make sure also that you never touch the outlet with wet hands. There’s a good chance that even with updated plugs you may be electrocuted. Water acts as a conductor and is dangerous to have around your outlet.

You’ll also want to make sure that you plug in the electrical plug in securely, and when you’re ready to unplug it, don’t pull it. This can cause damage to your outlet or your electrical plug. This can cause wires to break and plugs to be bent on your favorite appliances, but there can also be potential damage inside of the outlet where you can’t see it.

Children and Exterior Outlets

Did you spent lots of time putting plastic plugs to keep your young children from playing with your interior outlets? But what about your exterior outlets? You’ll want to make sure that your children don’t have access to these outlets. As they get older, you teach them to only use a outlet under the supervision of an adult.

Problems With Your Exterior Outlets?

Are you having problems with your exterior outlets?  Wire Craft Electric can help. Our Seattle-based electricians can remove your exterior outlet wiring worries by repairing, replacing, or even updating your current exterior outlets. Need some exterior outlets installed?

Right now is the perfect time to have us come out to handle your exterior outlet needs. Get your home ready for the coming summer. Spend your days outside enjoying your backyard without worrying about the safety of your outlets.

Contact us today to set up your appointment for your exterior outlets.

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May 31, 2017 at 10:32 pm

Saving Money & Keeping Your House Cool During Summer

Tips on keeping your house cool with Wire Craft Electric

With an average high of 74 degrees, it would seem that concerns related to rising electrical bills during summer here in Seattle would not be that prevalent. The reality is that there are a couple of factors that can drive power costs up during summer, and area residents need to be aware of them. Keeping your house cool is one thing. Saving is another thing.

First off, despite the average summer temperature hovering pleasantly around the mid 70s, there are days when it may stretch up into the high 80s and low 90s. Compounding this is the reality that there may be less that 10% of Seattle homes that have air conditioning.

Short of incurring the costs of having either a central air condition system or window air condition units installed, it may appear that there’s not much that can be done to lower those summer electricity bills, which often rise by as much as 5 percent. But this is a false assumption. There are steps you can take to help lower power usage costs.

Here’s a few that can help you keeping your house cool and save money.

Break out the fans

While it’s true that box fans and other portable fan options certainly help to circulate air in the home, they aren’t as effective as ceiling fans are in cooling the home and helping to lower power costs. If your home doesn’t already have ceiling fans, you might be well advised to consult with a professional electrician about having them installed. Here are some ways a ceiling fan can cool your home while helping to lower summer electric bills.

• Ceiling fans should be set to run counterclockwise during summer as this prohibits hot air from collecting near the ceiling and allows for the fan to circulate the air throughout the room which helps to equalize the temperature.

• Ceiling fans also work to lower temperatures by making people feel physically cooler. Because they cool by evaporation, ceiling fans can make a room feel over 5 degrees cooler.

 • If you decide to have ceiling fans installed, consider choosing Energy Star-rated fans. Due to advances in design these fans are capable of moving air up to 20 percent more efficiently, as well as reducing heat by as much as 75 percent from Energy Star-rated ceiling fans that come with light fixtures that are 50 percent more efficient.

• If your home has an attic, consider consulting with an electrician about the benefits of installing a whole-house fan, which can help cool down your home during nighttime hours when the temperature has dropped below 70 degrees. The energy savings of a whole-house fan, as compared to an air conditioning system, is substantial and can greatly defray the cost of having one installed.

Let there be proper lighting

Believe it or not the lighting fixtures in your home can have a considerable impact on electrical bills, especially during summer months.

• Changing light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, can reduce heat in the home substantially.

•  With consultation with an electrician, you may opt to have Energy Star Certified light fixtures installation. This can result in up to a 75 percent decrease in energy consumption while generating 70 percent less heat. In addition, these fixtures allow the use of CFLs which last as much as 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

• Don’t forget your porch light. While it can be one of the most used lights in the home, it also consumes a lot of energy. It is a perfect candidate for having a new Energy Star Certified light fixture installation to replace it.

What about wiring?

Seattle’s cold winters are not particularly friendly to your home’s wiring. Make sure you are aware of the condition of your existing wiring. After that, decide if you need to have an electrician inspect it. Of course, not only for reasons of efficiency, but for safety reasons as well.

• If your wiring is faulty it can have a substantial impact on your power cost. Wires with damage and problems associated with cold weather should not be taken lightly and may, in fact, need replacing. This is especially true in older homes.

• It is also possible that there may be undetected problems with your temperature control system’s thermostat. This may cause an increase on power consumption.

Are you sick of paying higher electric bills during summer while keeping your house cool? Are you not ready to invest in an air conditioning system?

It may be time to call in a professional electrical services company for a home inspection.

Here in Seattle, Wire Craft Electric is an award winning electrical company serving the city and surrounding areas since 2004. They pride themselves on their same day service and on their up front pricing policies.

Keeping your house cool matters to us. At the same time, saving you bucks in the long run matters more to us.

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May 19, 2017 at 7:09 pm

Home Wiring: Knowing Your DIY Limits

DIY Limits | Wire Craft Electric

When it comes to maintaining your home these days there is a strong emphasis on “doing it yourself.” Just turn on the television and start flipping through channels and it won’t be long before you arrive at one of many DIY programs to be found. Many homeowners have proven and effective DIY skills in many areas of home improvement and repair. But one area that demands a cautious and honest assessment of your DIY limits on skills is electrical wiring. To fail to do so is not only dangerous, it can lead to unexpected expenses. Know your DIY limits!

There are two considerations concerning DIY wiring in your home, and the most important of the two is concerns for your safety and the safety of those who reside in your home. Any time you are exposed to live electrical wires there is a danger of being shocked or even electrocuted.

Here are some common electrical problems in the home when you are assessing whether to DIY or call in a professional electrician.

  • A sign that circuits are drawing too much electricity is breakers that trip constantly. This is not a DIY fix. It’s a potential fire risk requiring an electrician‘s training and skillset, so pick up the phone and make an appointment with someone you trust.
  • If any of your outlets are not working, it’s a sign of poor connections and something you want to avoid fixing unless you know exactly what you’re doing.
  • An immediate concern that warrants calling an electrician is when fixtures and switches are warm to the touch. This is a common electrical problem, and should never be ignored.
  • Another indicator of poor connections would be flickering lights, or lights that go dim for no reason. Unless you know how to safely DIY, call an electrician. We don’t want you electrocuting yourself in the process. Chip Gaines may make it look easy, but it can be far more complicated than what you might assume.
  • Light bulbs eventually burn out, but if one is doing so frequently: you’ve got a problem with a loose connection in either the circuit or the socket itself. Call an electrician to help you solve this problem.

Aside from concern for safety, there is the need for conforming to code. All electrical work must conform to the National Electric Code and, here in the Seattle area, the Seattle Electrical Code.

Failure to do so may impact your pocketbook in a big, bad way.

What if you try to sell your home and it is found to have electrical systems? It simply do not conform to these codes during an inspection, corrective repairs must be performed. It will now be re-appraised and could even halt the selling process.

Knowing some DIY limits will save you much time in the future.

Are you in Seattle? Are you seeking the services of a professional and licensed electrician? Be sure and check out Wire Craft Electric.

We serve Seattle and surrounding cities in King and Snohomish county, and we’re available right now.

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