As a solution to the increasing frequency of power outages in the U.S., it would be best to install a home generator. The frequent power outages are partly due to the deteriorating power grid infrastructure and partly due to other causes, such as storms and bad weather. In order to function, electric generators employ the principle of electromagnetic induction. Simply put, electromagnetic induction refers to the voltage induced in a conductor that is placed in a changing electromagnetic field. When buying a generator, it is important to consider access to fuel, convenience, and overall cost. There are five main generator options for homeowners in America: portable, standby, or permanent, trailer mount, PTO, and RV generators. They are thus named depending on their mode of activation and connection.

Standby generators have a transfer switch, which switches between generator power and power from the mains. They can be activated automatically or manually. Portable generators, on the other hand, are stored indoors and are only connected to the load when the need arises. They are activated manually. Trailer mount generators have a variable voltage production, while power takeoff generators make use of a tractor to power the alternator and are ideal for ranches and farms.

When installing an electric generator for your home, office, or rental property, it is important to get a qualified electrician to carry out the generator installation. Faulty connections may result in accidental fires, which your insurance carrier may decline to cover if the installation is not carried out by a certified professional. Apart from fires, faulty generator connections may also cause serious injuries and even death.

Homeowners, real estate developers, and property managers all need the services of an electrician at some point. It is recommended that you go through the electrician’s reviews and ratings before you make the ultimate decision to hire one. This might not be important if you are having a simple electrical problem like fixing a switch. However, it is an important consideration, especially when it comes to the installation of a generator. In this way, you will be guaranteed a professional generator installation service.

For additional questions, click on Generator Options

One of the most inconvenient and costly events is the loss of power for an extended period of time.  Heating and cooling are shut off; food in your freezer and refrigerator can be spoiled and lost; all contact with the connected community is gone; you cannot even recharge your cell phone. You are most vulnerable to those events when there is a widespread outage that affects you and all of your neighbors. We sometimes think of the blizzards that affect more northern climes.  But here in Florida, we have hurricanes. Electric lines are knocked down, and transformers occasionally pop. The cleanup crews diligently go about the repairs, but there are often so many concentrated in the area that it takes several days to get everyone hooked up again.

That is where you need a generator that will keep you powered up for the duration of the outage.  And there are several solutions to the potential problem.  Talking to a South Florida electrical contractor will give you an idea of the installation of the generation that will best service your home. There is the question of just how much electricity you will need to survive the aftermath of one of our hurricanes. And there is also the question of cost. An electrical contractor can work through all of those issues with you so that you can be completely prepared and still stay within your budget.

Being prepared with a temporary power supply means not only that the lights will stay on but also that your food supply will remain intact and you will be able to live in a somewhat more normal way. You will even be able to stay in contact with others, and depending on the way you connect to the internet, you can even keep up to date on the weather forecast.

Contact an electrical contractor to find the best answer for your emergency plans.

For additional questions, click on South Florida Electrical Contractor

It takes only milliseconds for a power surge to travel through your home, potentially leaving behind extensive damage to appliances, computers, electronics, and more. Sometimes, you are alerted of a power surge by noticing the lights blink or your television set turns itself off. By seeking whole house surge protection, you can eliminate the risk of a costly incident in your own home.

A power surge can occur from an outside source, such as lightning or a fallen power line. Something internal, such as a cycling air conditioner or refrigerator, can also cause electrical circuits to burn out, causing a surge. Whole house surge protection isn’t required as part of building codes, but it’s typically something that professional electrical contractors recommend that can add to the overall protection level of your investment.

A few different options are available for surge protection, but the most effective is a whole-house surge protection device, which is installed as part of the circuit breaker box and can block as many as 40,000 amps of electrical current. The current is then sent through a grounding path instead. The device can sense when a surge has occurred and springs into action at that point. For a minimal charge, this form of electrical protection goes a long way.

For people who wish to add even more protection from a power surge, you can use extremely affordable, individual point-of-use surge protectors at different electrical outlets that are home to your more sensitive electronics. A few key factors to look for when buying one of these units is making sure electrical triggers of 400 volts or even less, if possible, are blocked. The unit should also be able to block surges that are coming from your cable or phone jack as well.

Utilizing whole-house surge protection is a great way to make sure you are protecting not only this electrical system but also various equipment and appliances that you have purchased for your home. Power surges show no warning signs, so it’s best to be prepared whenever possible.

For additional information or to contact us, click on Whole House Surge Protection

Lockout – tag out is the practice of engaging in an electrical safety procedure that prevents unexpected start-ups or surges of hazardous energy during maintenance or servicing activities on machinery and equipment.

Any time a property manager or field professional is dealing with the transfer or sales of highly valuable electrical machinery or equipment, it is vitally important to understand the need for and meaning of lock-out-tag-out electrical safety procedures.

At least three million workers across industries do service and maintenance. These workers are at risk if the lock out – tag out electrical safety procedures are not engaged. This practice has been estimated to prevent 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries every year. When exposures occur, workers miss, on average, 24 working days for recovery. According to the United Auto Workers study, 20% of fatalities that happened to members between 1975 and 1995 were caused by the lack of hazardous energy control and a failure to have lock-out-tag-out electrical safety procedures properly in place.

Today, these procedures are commonly used in the general industry, marine terminals, in construction, and in the long-shoring industry.

In twenty-five states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, there are Federally mandated OSHA-approved plans and adopted processes for standard enforcement policies. Most of these adopted policies reflect the OSHA standards. Some have electrical safety procedures that differ slightly from standards currently used, however all of them are usually compliant with the turn off and disconnect of the machinery that comprise the core of the lock out – tag out electrical safety procedures most commonly used.

The lock-out-tag-out electrical safety procedures involve designated people who are required to turn off machinery and disconnect it from its energy source before performing any form of service or maintenance on the equipment. The authorized employee will then either lock – or tag the isolated device in a manner that prevents the release of any hazardous energy, and then the authorized employee will take the necessary steps to verify the energy has been effectively isolated and can not, for any reason, be engaged.

If you are a property manager, buyer, or repossession professional in the property management industry, anyone who comes into ownership either temporarily or permanently needs to understand the importance of the lock-out-tag-out electrical safety procedures before investigating the working conditions of electrical machinery and equipment.

For additional information or to contact us for questions, click on Electrician South Florida.

Why is it important to hire a licensed electrical contractor?

A licensed electrician should demonstrate proper knowledge of National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements that are created to ensure safety with regard to electrical installations and applications. NEVER hire an electrical contractor without first obtaining proof that they are legally allowed to perform electrical services in your area.

If you use the inexpensive handyman, your neighbor who “knows about these things”, or perform the repairs and installations yourself, you will have the following potential results to look forward to:

• Hazardous conditions can cause property damage, fire, or, in the most severe cases, death.
• Fines from state and local municipalities for failure to obtain permits, meet code requirements, and for not using a properly licensed contractor.
• Loss of homeowner’s insurance coverage until the electrical service is brought up to code or refusal of claim payment.

It is important to understand the differences in the licenses available for electricians:

• A journeyman’s license does not allow the electrician to obtain permits and only authorizes them to work under the supervision of a master or state electrician
• A master’s license allows the electrician to perform in his or her regional locality to pull permits and limits the job size they can perform.
• A state-licensed electrician can perform work anywhere in the state of Florida, can work with any size voltage, and take on jobs regardless of size.

Never be afraid to verify a contractor’s license with the issuing government office.

Why is it important to hire an insured electrical contractor?

One wrong move with electricity and someone could face severe injury or death. Not to mention the potential fire and property damage this could cause, it is not enough to have liability insurance for the contractor, either. A licensed and insured electrician performing service work in your home must have Workman’s Comp insurance coverage to protect their customers. This is because, without coverage, when a technician is injured or otherwise harmed on your property, they can sue you and your insurance company for recompense of medical and other expenses.

Perfect Electric Services, Inc. is a properly licensed and insured electrical contractor. Please feel free to review our credentials, Angie’s List, and your local municipality.

What is a free estimate, really?

A free estimate is really the price a person is told to get the contractor in the door. You can get this over the phone from some companies, and other companies will provide you one at your home or business.

But….there is a catch.

A free estimate is not a contracted price. A free estimate allows for all sorts of other charges to be added at the end of a job, or during the job. This often leads to frustration, confusion, and added financial strain for many customers.

What does Perfect Electric Services, Inc. offer?

Here, at Perfect Electric Services, Inc., we offer our customers an up-front price quote. The difference is that our quote includes everything needed to complete the work, every time. This is one of the many reasons our customers are loyal to us. They know that when they call us, there will be no hidden charges. The only costs not included in our quotes are the permit fees, which are billed at cost when they are incurred.

Is the quote from Perfect Electric Services, Inc. free?

We charge a dispatch fee of $69.50. This covers several things:

• The expense of sending a technician to your home with a fully-stocked work van and most everything needed to correct the electrical problems our customers are experiencing.
• The expense of time for a technician to perform a minor diagnostic and assess problems in your home.

We are not blind to the financial difficulties that have arisen due to current economic conditions, and we recommend speaking to the technician about options that we offer to waive those dispatch fees and provide further discounts through our Service Partner Agreement.

Remember to check out our coupons online to see if any of them can be applied to your service bill. In some cases, the needed repairs can even be completed under your homeowner’s insurance policy.

Knowing that a free estimate does not provide everything you need to make an informed decision related to the safety and security of you and your family, wouldn’t you rather have a quote from one of our technicians today?

Call us at 954-772-7049 or through our CONTACT US form to see how we can serve you.

Did a storm knock out your power? Did the electric company turn it back on? Are you still only getting partial power? Do you have appliances or electronics that are no longer working?

These are signs that you may need whole-house surge protection. Perfect Electric Services, Inc. offers this service. We can install a whole house surge protector for less than you might think and save you thousands in replacement costs for new computers, televisions, DVD players, and stereo equipment, as well as both small and large appliances in your home.

In addition to all of the money you can save, you may even be able to get a discount on your homeowner’s insurance for the added protection and value this brings to your home.

Call our office TODAY at 954-772-7049 or fill out our CONTACT US form for a quote that will get you protected RIGHT AWAY!

If your breaker won’t reset, after you have flipped the switch and still have no power, then you need a licensed, insured, and experienced electrician to come over and fix the problem. There are several problems that can cause this.

At Perfect Electric Services, Inc., our technicians will be able to properly test and diagnose the exact problem and then provide you with the most affordable solution.

Call our office TODAY at 954-772-7049 or fill out our CONTACT US form for a call from our office to schedule you RIGHT AWAY!

Warnings have been issued with regard to the Zinsco electrical panel, Zinsco circuit breakers, or Zinsco-Sylvania electrical equipment. Please DO NOT try to fix anything yourself. There is a strong risk of electrical shock that is potentially FATAL, as well as a risk of fire from arcing between the panel and breakers. DO NOT remove the cover of your panel to check the inside. This is something only a licensed electrician should be doing. The potential of FATAL electrical shock from removing or replacing a panel cover is greatly increased without properly insulated tools and protective gear. Call a licensed electrician IMMEDIATELY if you believe there is something wrong with your panel or if a replacement is required.

Signs that your Zinsco electrical panel and Zinsco circuit breakers may be failing include:

• Flickering lights
• Humming or other noise from panels, switches, receptacles, and fixtures
• The odor of burning electrical equipment, such as:
  • Plastic receptacles
  • Receptacle covers
  • Circuit breakers
  • Electrical wiring
• Hot to touch:
  • Walls near or around receptacles and switches
  • Receptacles and switches themselves feel hot
• Appliances or other electronic devices turn off when others are switched on

You will not find an official recall of the Zinsco electrical panel and equipment. This appears to be due to the fact that the company went out of business prior to these discoveries. Zinsco electrical panels do not meet current safety codes and requirements. The Zinsco electrical panels would not receive the UL listing in today’s world. Certain components of this panel and other Zinsco equipment contain aluminum, which is not compatible with the copper used for most connections and wiring today.

Arcing caused by a lack of connection between the Zinsco circuit breakers and the busbar can start fires and melt equipment installed. The problem arcing causes is compounded by the fact that Zinsco circuit breakers do not necessarily trip when the circuit is overloaded. When the breaker fails to trip, the overload of electricity is passed into the appliances and electronics, causing electrical fires. The pitting that occurs over time from arcing to the busbar can prevent the solid connection to the breakers essential to functioning properly. A breaker is supposed to trip when the circuit is overloaded. The overload can be caused by lightning or other sources of power surges. In cases where the connection has deteriorated, the breakers can be turned off, and the panel will continue to conduct power. The problem this presents is that an unsuspecting homeowner may flip a breaker to turn off power and not be aware that it is still HOT. This presents a risk of FATAL electrical shock or fire hazard.

With any electrical repairs or replacements, the homeowner is always safer to contact a licensed and insured electrician to perform the work. The license is to ensure that the contractor really knows what they are doing. The insurance (especially Workers Compensation) is necessary so that if something does go wrong while they are working on your property, the contractor’s insurance pays for the damages or injury and not the homeowner’s.

There are several warning signs to look for that your electrical service may be either outdated, unsafe, or overloaded.

Outdated electrical service is common in Florida for older homes. While these homes were originally built to meet the code requirements of the times, they would no longer meet today’s requirements. For safety reasons, it is important to get a home inspection to see if everything is still functioning as it should.

One way the homeowner can tell if the electrical service is outdated is by looking at your outlets. If your outlets only accept 2-prong plugs, then your home may not be grounded properly. The lack of grounding presents a shock hazard. Another simple check for a homeowner is the age of the home. If the home is 30 years old or more, you may need to upgrade your service. If either of these apply, then you should call for an electrical home inspection.

To know if your electrical service is unsafe or overloaded, you have several warning signs that should prompt a call to your local electrician IMMEDIATELY to prevent electrical fire or additional damages:

• plastic or metallic burning smell or odor
• heat at switches or outlets
• flickering lights, and the bulbs have already been replaced
• power outage when turning on electronics and appliances
• the constant need to reset your GFI outlets in the kitchen or bathroom

If any of these occur, your safety may very well be compromised.

Perfect Electric Services, Inc. offers an annual Service Partner Agreement to our customers that includes an annual home inspection because we believe it is important to provide a licensed, insured electrician’s eye to inspect and look for signs of danger or damage that an untrained and unlicensed person would be unaware of. Please call us today at 954-772-7049 to schedule your inspection.