1. How does your electrical panel work? The electrical panel is a major component when it comes to understanding how your home operates, so knowing its anatomy is important. The panel is usually mounted in a garage, basement, or a laundry room.

2. Yes, electrical wire colors do matter. Electrical wire colors probably don’t mean anything to the average homeowner, but those distinctions are actually very important and knowing the proper color coding is essential when performing electrical work. Each color serves a different purpose and you should be aware that all wires, no matter their function or color, can carry a current at some point so they should be handled carefully. 

3. Three-prong vs. two-prong outlet. Modern receptacles now have three slots for safety purposes. This wasn’t common practice many years ago so some older homes may have receptacles with only two slots, which calls for an upgrade. But why? What does that third slot do? Does it really improve safety? 

4. FAQs about electric fireplaces. Electric fireplaces are growing in popularity. They can make any room warm and inviting without the hassle of a traditional fireplace with a chimney, venting, and the upkeep. They can be decorative and provide a nice ambiance. 

5. What do electrical inspectors look for? Whether you’ve built a new home, are purchasing an older home, have done some do-it-yourself work, or you’re an electrician finishing up a job, an electrical inspection is necessary. Having a professional check for problems or defects could save your home or business from potential fires and could save you from shock or electrocution.

6. What’s included in a typical electrical O&M manual. Nickle, along with other contractors, create an Operation & Maintenance Manual for each of its commercial projects and a number of its large service projects. An O&M manual is almost always required for commercial projects stated in the specifications sent out per the contract. Some are more detailed than others depending on what the general contractor/construction manager requests. 

7. Why do my lights flicker? There are few things more annoying than flickering lights. It’s an issue many homeowners experience at one time or another and it should be addressed quickly. There may be a simple fix, but if there’s a serious underlying issue it can cause devastating damage. So what could cause a light to flicker?

8. Electrical safety statistics. Recent data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that, on average, there are more than 400 electrocutions in the United States each year. Of these, about 180 are related to consumer products. 

9. ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator, predicting future work. In 2008 Associated Builders and Contractors initiated the Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) to suggest the amount of work to be performed by commercial and industrial contractors in the months ahead. The indicator focuses on United States commercial, institutional, industrial, and infrastructure construction industries. 

10. The ABCs of common electrical terms. When an electrician comes to your home communicating a sea of terms you don’t quite get, it’s hard to understand what your electrical problem actually is. Life would be much easier if you knew the definition of some of the most common electrical terms. Here is a simple list for your reference. 

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Not only may the wiring of your older home be outdated, but the heavy electronic lifestyle we live today is a load too big for some of these homes to bear. From big screen televisions, to desktop computers and laptops, to home exercise equipment, and central air conditioning, these luxuries were not available in the pre-World War II era, so there was no need for a more advanced electrical system.

Because of the lack of appliance usage many years ago, there are also very few receptacles in older homes compared to newer homes. Another issue is that older homes typically have lower voltage systems that what is standard today. A 60- or 100-amp system used to suffice, but a 200-amp service has been typical for many years now. Not to mention the natural deterioration of materials such as wire insulation over time.

Between 2010 and 2014, United States fire departments responded to an average of 45,210 fires in the home involving an electrical failure or malfunction. They caused annual averages of 420 deaths, 1,370 injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage.

To safeguard your longstanding home from these, and other, dangerous electrical shortcomings, here are a few things you can do:

• Have an electrician install more wall receptacles. Stringing together extension cords or having them run through doorways and under rugs is dangerous. You should have outlets installed every 12 feet or within 6 feet of any doorway to alleviate the need for extension cords.
• Update current wall receptacles. You may find damaged or loose outlets throughout your home, which can cause a fire. You may also come across outlets that only have two prongs instead of three. These need to be changed out for new ones.
• Update your service to a 200-amp panel. You don’t want to overload your system with modern appliance and electronic usage. An electrician can do a load calculation to determine your house’s service size if you’re not sure what you have.
• Make sure circuit breakers are working. If you have a smaller system and your circuit breakers aren’t working, then they won’t properly trip when your service is overloaded.
• Have GFCI outlets installed. It’s now required to have these preventive outlets installed in any potentially wet rooms, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.
• Make sure you have copper wiring, not aluminum. While it’s rare, there are older homes that were built using aluminum wiring. This is very dangerous, as the aluminum connections can loosen over time, causing overheating and fires.

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• FAQs on electrical fireplaces

We answer some of the questions you may have about these popular, decorative items in many homes. From different types, to room sizes, and other features, this article is helpful when trying to deciding if an electric fireplaces are for you.

• 3-prong vs. 2-prong plugs

Modern receptacles have three prongs. But what’s different between old school two prong outlets and new three prong plugs?

• Nickle celebrates 30 years

The company was incorporated in 1986. This is a highlights of the past 30 years Nickle has been in business, including fun pictures.

• What is construction pre-planning

An important part of project success is all the work done ahead of time to prepare for the project. Here we cover the details of pre-planning and its many benefits.

• What do electrical inspectors look for

Be prepared when you hire an electrical inspectors, whether you’re buying a new home, purchasing an old one, or looking to sell yours.

• Nickle wins big at ABC Excellence in Construction awards

The company acquired four more awards this year. Check out highlights of those projects in this post.

• Nickle company picnic

We hosted our bi-annual company picnic in October at Lums Pond State Park. This is a highlights of the fun family event.

• Electrical Safety Month 4 – Temporary Power 

One of the videos made during May’s Electrical Safety Month regarding temporary electrical power on the job site, hosted by Safety Director Mike Anderson and Foreman Rob Basara.

• What is design-build

This rapidly growing project delivery system is picking up steam. Read this post for more information on what design-build really is.

• What is a GFCI and how to reset one 

Junior Estimator Scott Estep discusses ground fault circuit interrupters, where they should be located in your home, and how they should be reset.

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The best way to assure you’re entering a safe home is to call a professional. They have the knowledge needed to assess damage in the home. You and the professional should avoid contact with any water that remains after the tragedy. The electricity should be turned off at the fuse box if it’s deemed safe to do so. Damaged appliances should be unplugged and moved away from any area that was affected by the water. And services such as the electricity and the gas shouldn’t be turned on until it’s safe to do so.

Any repair work should be undertaken by a professional. Water damage shouldn’t be taken lightly and definitely isn’t a fun do-it-yourself home project. An electrician will be able to determine if equipment and appliances can be dried out and restored or if new installation must be done.

Any rooms affected should be completely dry and retain how humidity. An area with high humidity will make it easier for moisture to be reabsorbed into equipment, wring, and appliances.

Flood water is typically contaminated with sewage, chemicals, silt, and other debris, which makes the damage worse. Those toxins will affect the performance of any electrical equipment or appliances and will increase the chance that complete installation or replacement needs to take place. And if anything is not cleaned thoroughly, it can cause future corrosion and problems.

When everything is complete and the home is back up and running, it’s important to test everything. Make sure lights are working and remain on and test circuit breakers by intentionally tripping them with the proper technology. Infrared testing can also be done to make sure there are no system overloads or damaged equipment. This type of testing and inspection should be done on a regular basis in the year following damage.

NEMA has published a free guide, detailing water-damaged electrical equipment. While this is helpful for the homeowner to read, it’s still important to stress that a professional, not the homeowner, should always inspect and assess the damage.

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When to call an electrician

• When circuit breakers trip frequently – there is something faulty with the wiring and/or in the electrical panel
• When your lights randomly flicker or dim – large appliances draw a large current, and when they’re turned on, it can trigger a problem that’s easily repairable by an electrician
• If you have overloaded circuits – this is a dangerous problem, so an electrician should install additional circuits and/or receptacles
• Some older homes don’t have three-prong outlets – your home may not be properly grounded
• Hot-to-the-touch switches or outlets that may give off a small electrical shock – this means there is either a large demand on the circuit or an older home may still have aluminum wiring
• If you’re using multiple extension cords in place of permanent wiring – this means you don’t have enough outlets or they’re too far away from each other
• When there is a lack of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) – these should be placed in any room where there is potential for wet surfaces, such as kitchens and bathrooms

When to call the power company

• When your power goes out during obvious severe weather – this kind of outage is almost always caused by thunderstorms, blizzards, heat waves, or other weather-related conditions and you’ll have to wait until the power company can get everything up and running again
• If you notice that your neighborhood block or your neighbors’ power is also out – this is a job that extends beyond an electrician
• If the power goes out and you turn the main breaker off then back on again and get no result – this means the power company is having trouble
• If you can’t identify a source in the home that might have caused an outage (tripped breaker, severe weather, etc.) – a power company can probably tell you if there’s a problem with the grid or not
• If you see a downed line – there’s nothing an electrical contractor can do about this; a special response team from the power company is needed
• When you have no idea – start with the power company, they can tell you if it’s their problem or not and can probably give you some troubleshooting tips for free before you have to call an electrician and pay for service

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Electric fireplaces are growing in popularity. They can make any room warm and inviting without the hassle of a traditional fireplace with a chimney, venting, and the upkeep. They can be decorative and provide a nice ambiance.

What types of fireplaces are there?

You can purchase a typical electric fireplace installed on a single wall, a mantel fireplace that looks more like the traditional fireplace, media console, electric stove, or a gel fireplace. Keep in mind, these fireplaces are used as supplemental heat sources and shouldn’t replace any primary heating source.

 What is the difference between a gel and an electric fireplace?

Gel fireplaces use gel cans or bottles to produce a flame, while electric fireplaces must be plugged in and they come with a blower that provides the heat. Gel typically doesn’t provide as much heat as an electric fireplace. While they are less expensive than electric fireplaces when it comes to upfront cost, you will have to continually purchase the gel cans or bottles.

Are there benefits to getting an electric fireplace?

Absolutely. They’re easy to install, a chimney and venting isn’t required, upkeep is minimal, they’re inexpensive compared to a regular fireplace, they’re easy to use with just the flip of a switch or push of a remote control button, they’re eco-friendly, and still provide a realistic appearance. The only maintenance electric fireplaces require is the replacement of bulbs of every few years.

What if I already have a fireplace?

If you’re tired of dealing with a real fire and the upkeep of a traditional fireplace, there exist electric fireplace inserts that can be installed within your traditional fireplace. You should use a professional to install any time of insert or electric fireplace and have to make sure you have the dimensions correct. Then it will work just like an electric fireplace with the look and feel of a traditional one.

What size room can the fireplace heat?

The average size of a room that will benefit from an electric fireplace is about 400-square-feet. The bigger and more expensive you go, the bigger the room can be, and vice versa. Though it depends on other factors too, such as insulation in the room, the location of the electric fireplace, outdoor temperatures, and more. But federal law states that an electric fireplace cannot have a capacity larger than 1,500 watts, or about 5,000 BTUs, as they become dangerous beyond that limit.

Can you treat the mantel and media console fireplace the same as a regular fireplace?

Yes. Mounting a television, decorations, or painting on or above an electric fireplace is safe. Just be sure the mantel or console can handle the weight and size of the items you choose.

What other cool features come with an electric fireplace?

Some electric fireplaces allow you to turn the flame on without the heat, if you’re just looking for ambiance. You can also turn on the heat without the flames if you’re only interested in keeping a room warm, instead of staring at the flames. The glass on electric fireplaces typically stays cool to the touch, unlike real fireplaces that get hotter and hotter as you get closer, making it safe for children and pets. Fancy electric fireplaces have the option to change the color of the flames. You can also purchase a remote for an electric fireplace, which is definitely something you cannot do with a traditional one.

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https://youtu.be/IQS0ROFGA1Q

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For those new to the industry or unfamiliar with PPE standards, distinguishing between flame-resistant and non-flammable equipment is difficult. It sounds like they could be interchangeable, right? Unfortunately not. There are distinct differences and making sure you’re using the correct PPE can save your life.

Flame-Resistant

This type of equipment has certain fibers sewn into the clothing, or has a certain type of chemical finish, that makes the material flame-resistant. The fibers don’t support fire and can defend against heat. Since the material doesn’t absorb a lot of heat, flame-resistant clothing doesn’t support combustion. This means the suit can be set on fire if the flame is big enough, but it takes longer to do so. It also self-extinguishes when the source of the heat is put out. Most flame-resistant clothing can protect against about three seconds of fire exposure. OSHA requires flame-resistant PPE in any occupation and area where the risk of clothing catching on fire is high. Clothing made of artificial materials, like polyester and nylon, cannot be worn in these situations as they can melt onto the skin if worn in high-heat environments. Flame-resistant clothing is extremely durable and won’t get worn out, even after going through multiple laundry cycles.

Non-Flammable

Non-flammable PPE won’t break down under extreme conditions, like flame-resistant material can. Those with occupations, like firefighting, wear non-flammable equipment as it’s heavier and has higher resistance to flames. The only downside to this equipment is that it’s extremely challenging for heat to escape the material, just as it’s challenging to let heat inside the material. It can be difficult to breathe in and cause your body’s core temperature to rise. It’s not recommended to wear non-flammable PPE for a long period of time. Most non-flammable gear can protect against about 10-15 seconds of fire exposure. This clothing is extremely durable and won’t melt or burn, even after intense exposure.

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