Electrician in Carlisle
At Kevin’s Electrical Service, LLC, we have been a household name in the Carlisle region since 1986. Our reputation was built nearly four decades ago upon a foundation of exceptional workmanship, and we owe our continued success to the unique approach we take to serving our community. Our locally-operated, locally-owned business is fully insured, bonded, and licensed. We are pleased to offer a comprehensive array of electrical services that span from minor repairs to complicated installs. Our loyal clientele fully trusts our expertise and experience, and we consider your trust the greatest compliment of all.
We always put customer satisfaction above all else. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or problems – we are here to offer quick resolutions. Our prices are unbeatable, and the electricians on our team are the most trustworthy, dependable, and seasoned professionals in the area. Whether you’re in need of a scheduled electrical repair or facing an electrical emergency, we’re ready to assist. Reach out to Kevin’s Electrical Service today and discover the many things that help us stand out from any other local electrical company.
Insights into Your Home’s Electrical System
Knowledge is key, and it’s particularly valuable when it comes to your complex electrical system and all its outlets, wires, switches, fixtures, and diverse components that each have a distinct purpose. While Kevin’s Electrical Service is dedicated to ensuring your system’s tip-top condition, it’s still advisable to understand the electrical aspects of your home. Being acquainted with this information can increase your readiness as a homeowner and enhance the safety of your home. We’ve created this informative guide as a resource for our valued clients. Dive into the details to uncover the intricacies of your household electrical system!
Improve Your Home’s Self-Sufficiency
You’re probably fully reliant on your power company, but have you thought about establishing an emergency plan for sudden outages or leveraging solar energy? Our Carlisle electricians are prepared to help you make your home less reliant on traditional power and more resilient overall.
Generators
Running on propane or natural gas, generators are a dependable and efficient backup power option when emergency strikes. We’ll carefully evaluate your budget and requirements while we help you select a generator that will best serve you. Recognizing the importance of your generator investment, we are committed to giving you thorough answers to all your questions.
Solar Energy
Solar power may not have been on your home upgrade radar, but it’s a growing trend for many good reasons. Your Kevin’s Electrical Service electrical contractor can detail why solar panels are such a responsible, environmentally-friendly, and affordable choice. Realize significant cost savings and reduce your carbon footprint by embracing solar power for your home. Your residential electrician is equipped to help you tap into solar energy so you can improve your self-reliance with a system perfectly suited to your needs.
The Importance of Knowing the Limits of Your System
Put Quality First
While saving money is always appealing, opting for inexpensive electrical components can prove to be both hazardous and costly in the long run. Opting for poorly-made surge protectors, extension cords, switches, or outlets can result in an array of problems, so it’s essential to choose high-quality electrical parts.
Avoid Circuit Overload
In cases of circuit overload, the circuit breaker is designed to trip. If this occurs frequently, communicate with your licensed electrician to discuss potential system upgrades for increasing the maximum load.
Personal Safety
Reach out to Kevin’s Electrical Service when you want the most reputable local electricians in Carlisle. You can endanger yourself, your loved ones, and your home when you attempt to do electrical work without the proper education – particularly if you don’t know all about your electrical wiring or if you forget to turn the circuit off at the breaker box.
Routine Maintenance & Inspections
Your go-to residential and commercial electrician encourages routine inspections and maintenance. Our dedicated team will perform a meticulous assessment, address developing issues, carry out necessary repairs, and maintain the optimal functionality of your electrical system.
Devices & Circuits
Your home is filled with electronic devices, the majority of which run on electricity. Two different circuit types manage your home’s wiring.
Dedicated Circuits
To introduce a heater, dryer, water heater, or furnace into your home seamlessly and ensure minimal impact on overall power distribution, individualized circuits for each appliance are a necessity.
Multiple Device Circuits
The act of resetting a circuit breaker following the sudden loss of outlet power or lights in a room might have already introduced you to the concept of a multiple device circuit. These outlets supply power to many switches, fixtures, and outlets.
Outlets
Your living or working space likely has electrical outlets at every turn. Let’s explore the various types of electrical outlets to further sharpen your system awareness.
15-Amp, 125-Volt
This kind of outlet is the most widespread type in both homes and offices. Two types of 15-amp, 125-volt outlets can be identified – grounded and ungrounded. To identify a grounded outlet, simply look for an opening for the ground pin under the vertical slots. While commonly used, these outlets are typically not the safest choice for bathrooms and kitchens. If this outlet type is present in your kitchen or bathroom, consult your Carlisle electricians for an upgrade that can improve both safety and functionality.
20-Amp, 125-Volt
The unique design of 20-amp, 125-volt outlets is characterized by a small, horizontal slot next to a vertical slot. Engineered to handle substantial power loads, these outlets are the preferred choice for operating major appliances and power tools.
250-Volt
These unique outlets are specifically designed for high-voltage appliances such as clothing dryers and electric ranges.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
To mitigate potential danger and damage from sudden power surges in locations with water vulnerability, outlets with an automatic shut-off are indispensable. Using this specific outlet style is more than a wise decision for places such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces – it’s also a stipulation in building codes when installing outlets in these specific locations. Understanding the risk of water exposure in places like garages, these outlets serve as an indispensable preventive measure in those areas.
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)
AFCI outlets act as a protective barrier against arcing, which is a situation caused by faulty wiring or overheating that leads to sparks jumping between wires). Therefore, these outlets improve the safety of your home.
USB
Upgrade your home and make your life a bit easier with USB outlets. By doing away with charging blocks, you can charge your phone and other electronic devices more conveniently.
Switched
Improve your daily life with switched outlets, which give you remote device power control and the freedom to switch on/off at your convenience (when plugged in). These outlets are directly associated with specific household outlets.
Smart
Enhance your living space with the installation of smart outlets by our electricians near you. These outlets connect to apps or remote controls and transform your home into a smart haven where you can effortlessly control lighting, fans, garage door openers, and various other device types.
Wiring
Within the walls of both residential and commercial spaces, concealed, metallic or non-metallic wiring travels through conduits crafted from plastic or metal. While you can’t watch it operate, wiring is the invisible force driving power throughout your property. The installation of wiring by electrical companies revolves around a commitment to building code adherence and industry standards, ensuring that only cables capable of meeting your requirements are chosen.
If your home was built between 1956 and 1972, it may have aluminum wiring. These wires are now considered unsafe due to their association with an increased risk of fires. Copper wiring is a much safer alternative. If you contact us for Carlisle electrical services and we discover outdated wiring in your home or business, a safety-based replacement will be suggested.
Switches
Your home is full of switches that distribute power to devices, outlets, lighting, ceiling fans, and other household items, and each one is connected to a specific electrical circuit. Familiarize yourself with the diverse array of switches that regulate different aspects of your residential or commercial electrical system.
Motion-Sensor
Use motion sensor switches to increase safety in dimly lit areas such as driveways, home entryways, and staircases. When motion is sensed, these energy-saving switches turn on the lights.
Three-Way
Commonly found at the ends of hallways or at the upper and lower ends of staircases, three-way switches provide dual control for a single fixture or light.
Smart
Take command of the lighting in every corner of your living space with smart switches and specialized apps that effortlessly synchronize with your Wi-Fi network.
Single-Pole
This particular switch type can be found in nearly any room of any residence since they are a proven and effective means of controlling outlets and devices.
Dimmer
Effortlessly adjust the brightness of your overhead lighting and create the desired ambiance in your home using dimmer switches.
Disconnect Switches
If you have a disconnect switch, it can normally be found in close proximity to the electric meter. These switches empower your reliable electrician to cut off power when necessary for significant repairs or in emergency situations, adding a valuable layer of convenience. That being said, there’s no reason to fret if your household doesn’t have this capability. Should your home lack a disconnect switch, we’ll just cut off the power at your main panel.
Electric Meter and System Connection
The power supply for the majority of residences in the United States is derived from mains owned by the local power company. These mains, whether placed below ground or above it, connect to an electric meter that is also owned by your electricity provider. The task of measuring your power usage is entrusted to electric meters, which are overseen, installed, and serviced by your utility company. If any concerns or questions about your meter arise, it’s recommended to contact your utility company.
There are three primary types of electrical meters:
Smart
Featuring digital interfaces, smart meters allow for remote reading and meticulous measurement of your household power consumption. They establish a direct line of communication with your utility provider.
Electromechanical
Electromechanical meters incorporate a glass cover, a rotating disc, and a series of dials. Reading this meter involves an in-person visit from an employee of your electric company, who gathers data on your household energy consumption. Although relying on outdated technology, about 75% of U.S. homes still utilize these meters.
Bi-Directional
Those with solar panels installed at home will find a bidirectional meter to be quite practical. Traditional meters are built to measure power consumption only, whereas bidirectional meters excel at tracking both incoming power and the surplus energy you provide back to the utility company. If you’re producing your own energy, having this kind of meter is vital.
Breaker Panels
The distribution of power to the many devices, appliances, switches, outlets, and lights in your home is handled by breaker panels. Also known as breaker boxes, distribution panels, or service panels, these units are the modern substitute for the now-antiquated (but still usable) fuse box.
Main Circuit Breaker
At the helm of your household electrical system, the main circuit breaker serves as the captain, delivering power throughout your home and managing the electricity flow to all the branch circuit breakers in the breaker box. Turning this switch off results in a complete power outage for your entire house.
Branch Circuit Breakers
Within your home, a complex setup of branch circuit breakers is in place. These branches individually regulate power to distinct regions of the property. If these breakers detect an overabundance of current, they will trip and shut off power to that specific area in order to maintain safety. Responsible for overseeing 250-volt current flow, double-pole breakers power appliances such as electric vehicle chargers, clothing dryers, electric ranges, and more. Conversely, single-pole breakers regulate the flow of 125-volt current to provide energy for lights and wall outlets. For most 125-volt residential circuits, the amperage rating hovers around 30 amps, signifying their proficiency in managing electrical loads. The correlation suggests that higher numbers correspond to an increased capacity.
Sub-Panels
Sub-panels are present in select homes, notable for their more modest size and reduced breaker count. Serving as additional service panels linked to the primary panel, they are commonly employed to deliver power to an outbuilding, backup generator, or a recent addition.
Learn more helpful information about your electrical system, seek professional advice, schedule maintenance or a repair, or reach out to Kevin’s Electrical Services for emergency services by calling (717) 243-7904.
