FAQ

Yes.

There are many mistakes that can be made during installation, which may require wiring to be repaired at a later date. Other times wires will become faulty over time and it may need fixing, but repairs on the wiring and outlets is very possible.

An electrician will repair electrical wiring which is damaged or malfunctions.

An electrician may also install new wiring, upgrade hardware (such as fuses), and address other electrical problems. Occasionally, if the problem is severe enough, an electrician may be asked to fix structural changes (which can include rewiring a building).

It depends on what type of electrical problems you are experiencing. A qualified electrician will need to diagnose the problem first before giving you an accurate estimate.

A qualified electrician can help diagnose any electrical problems like flickering lights, tripped circuit breakers, and power outlets that don’t work. The price for repairs or replacement parts depends on what’s wrong with your wiring system, how many light fixtures are involved in the problem, water damage caused by exposure to GFCI outlets, whether the HVAC fans are running correctly after replacing a capacitor etcetera. That being said, it is always best to call for professional help when you have electrical problems so as not to risk injury or fire hazards around your home before they become serious faults.

Yes, you can convert a 120 volt outlet to 240 volts. The more likely question is whether or not you want to.

For example, in the United States, the voltage of power distribution systems varies between 110 and 120 volts. Increasing this voltage requires either of these options: Switching out your supply cables for ones with grounded pins; installing an external step-up transformer (affectionately referred to as “uga” by engineers) with its own grounding pin.

It depends on the problem. If it is a simple switch replacement, it may take about an hour or two if it’s a complex rewiring.

Rewiring an entire house can take many days, or weeks depending on the level of electrical work needed to complete the project and complexity of each area of the home.

If the power goes out in your home the first thing you should do is check to see if your neighbours are affected. This will tell you if the issue is coming from your home or if the power is out in your surrounding area.

Are the lights flickering? Then it’s a brownout and you have power with a reduced supply. It’s not actually a blackout with no power at all.

If it turns out that the power is only off in your home the second thing you should do is check to see if you paid your power bill. This is a very common mistake that people make. Maybe the power company mistakenly marked your bill as not paid. Or, it was not actually paid.

If it’s neither of the above two issues. Find the fuse box to determine whether it’s a fuse, circuit breaker, or power supply problem. Has a one circuit breaker switch flipped? It might be a matter of flipping that switch back on and you’re good to go. If you do this several times you need to call an electrician as you have an underlying problem causing the outage.

If none of the above helps. It’s time to call an electrician. You need a professional to undertake some trouble shooting at your property.

If one of the circuit breakers trips you must make sure all the switches that supply power to that section of the house are turned off. Nothing should be drawing power.

Before touching a breaker box, make sure your hands are dry and that you’re standing on a safe surface. Wear safety glasses to protect against sparks when possible! Now turn the switch in the circuit breaker back on.

Then turn on all the appliances and switches again. If everything works without issue it could have just been a malfunction. It can happen. If a particular appliance or switch trips the breaker again you’ve found the source of the issue.

An incorrect calculation in the circuit may be the cause for this problem. One simplified explanation of how a circuit usually works is that if you want to increase the current (flow) in one part of the circuit, you need to decrease it in another. This is done by having these two areas share an “equalizer” which works like a sieve that only lets the right amount through. If there’s too much or too little going on, then these equalizers can get overloaded and this will eventually lead to a trip—hence why your circuit always trips.

In layman’s terms – You have too many appliances drawing power. Turn some off. The proper solution, if you will be using all of these appliances moving forward, is to call a professional and discuss your options to upgrade. You shouldn’t be purposefully tripping a breaker.

But, like any questions with electrical supply. It could be something else. This is generally the first step of troubleshooting though.

Sadly, electrical fires start for many reasons and can be difficult to prevent. One of the leading causes of electrical fire is faulty wiring, such as a bare wire that comes into contact with metal or water. Make sure that your installation is done by qualified personnel and always maintain proper safety precautions such as not running any cords across pathways or going through doors with an impaired seal.

Electrical fires are often caused by producing sparks with appliances like motors, fans or light switches which come in connection with flames from a different source like a lit cigarette ̶ a gas stove ̶ a barbecue grill outside your house ̶ etc. For this reason, it’s very important that you keep these sources away from those electrically powered devices!

Yes, as the wiring is already in place that can be disconnected from the light and reconnected to the fan. In theory no additional wiring work should be needed.

You also need to make sure that the fan can be mounted securely.

Unfortunately there is no one answer that fits all here. It could be several things such as:

• Problem with the Bulb
• Loose Light Plug
• Faulty Light or Fixture Switch
• Overloaded Circuit
• Voltage Fluctuation
• Electrical Usage from Neighbors
• Loose Wiring Connections

If the issue is only from one bulb it could be the bulb itself. You can check to see if the bulb is loose. If it is, tighten it. You can also take a working bulk from another part of your house as a test. If the issue is gone it’s the bulk that was the problem.

If this does not resolve the problem you might have other issues with wiring or overload circuits. And it’s time to call an electrician.

First of all you shouldn’t confuse this with the smoke alarm doing its job. It should go off if there is smoke.

If a smoke alarm is going off and there is no visible smoke in the vicinity one of the following could be happening:

• A dirty sensing chamber
• Environmental factors such as humidity, steam or something else.

If the smoke alarm chirps for 30 to 60 seconds every so often it means the batter is about to go dead. If there is random intermittent chirping with no pattern it means the battery is starting to lose charge but still has some life in it.

In either of these situations the best thing to do is to replace the battery.

The safest place to use or rather the location to install and place a generator is outdoors. Suffocating carbon monoxide will not be emitted into your living space if the generator is used outdoors, and other fumes are often less persistent because there is more than one exit point for them to escape.

Consider site selection carefully. It may help to pick an area where your neighbors are unlikely to raise complaints about noisy equipment or fumes entering their property– you could also contact your homeowners insurance company directly for information on which dwellings are covered by their policy and what they cover in terms of pollution claims. As a general rule, stay at least 25 feet away from any building or structure when running these machines.

If you are installing a generator due to heavy storms it’s best to speak to a licensed electrician about your options to make sure the generator is covered in a special way. And the generator can not get wet at all. But, it’s a two way street as you likely want the generator to keep power on during bad storms. So there are special solutions for this.

Ground-fault interrupters (GFI) are safety switches that will turn off an appliance if their current isn’t running smoothly. GFI devices work by using two circuit breakers – one that’s “off” and another that’s “on” to monitor the cumulative current received from a power outlet.

If there is a sudden, unnatural change in the electrical load on the system detected by these two circuit breakers, it means something has been plugged into this outlet which shouldn’t be the GFI automatically shuts off any power to avoid a potentially fatal shock or circuit overload.

An electric heavy up is when an electrical panel with old wiring, fuses or breakers is upgraded to new circuits and breakers. This creates more space for additional appliances in your home, reduces the risk of fire caused by outdated wiring and may result in lower utility costs.

Anyone who lives in a house that was built before 1980 could greatly benefit from this type of project since most houses before 1980 were wired with knob and tube (a type of electrical system).

The short answer is no.

Some people would rather leave this old wiring in place, instead of running new wire because they want to save money or because it sounds too complicated. But, one day that old knob and tube wiring could cause the house to catch on fire (getting rid of these wires should be done right away).

However, professional electricians. Such as Two Brothers Electrical, can replace knob and tube wiring with a modern day fix.

There are lots of reasons why a fuse might stop working and trip, such as too much demand on the circuit, or excessive heat. Dirty wires or loose wiring also can cause the break. Make sure that you check them to see that there’s nothing wrong with them before replacing your fuse.

Another option is to replace your fuse box which is old technology with an electrical panel.

It’s possible that the light bulbs are being used inefficiently, but it could also be due to a broken or outdated socket.

Ask your electrician if they have any suggestions to remedy the situation and ensure a proper installation. Replacing them with LEDs is another option. This will decrease energy consumption and increase longevity of the bulbs.

Gfci stands for “Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.” It is why you have the little breaker switch in the outlet.

Gfi stands for “Ground Fault Interrupters.” There are two types- one which trips when there is a fault, and another that continuously watches for faults without tripping.

Gfi breakers are used to protect both commercial outlets and residential outlets from fire. When it detects electric flow between the earth conductor ground wire, the circuit automatically disconnects power before current can reach an external ground or water source which could create a hazard situation. This ensures that there is no risk of injury or death in an electrical wiring fault situation.

When you reach for your light switch only to find that it is hot, there may be serious issues hiding behind the walls. If not handled immediately by an expert electrician like Two Brothers Electrical, then a house fire could ensue with devastating consequences for all those who are inside!

To expand on this it could be due to the fact that:

1. The Switch Is Overloaded
2. The Switch Is Failing
3. Faulty Wiring

All of these issues need an expert electrician to take a look.

Or it’s the function of a normal dimmer switch. Dimmer switches get warm, and this is normal. This part of the function that these devices have as they dissipate electricity to brighten or dim lights will make them produce heat which you can feel on your skin; if it feels too much then just call for service because there might be other problems.

This could actually be a very long list with hundreds of items.

Some quick and easy tips to implement are:

1. Cover up in winter instead of running heating.
2. In summer use fans more vs the AC.
3. Throw away the lint in the clothes dryer. A dry full of lint is not running at peak efficiency.
4. Make sure your furnace is cleaned on a regular basis.
5. Use Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (or CFLs) instead of normal bulbs. They use 70% to 90% less power than normal bulbs. And their lifespan is more than 10x longer.
6. Don’t leave everything in the house on standby mode. Turn off those power strips unless you need to use a device.
7. Keep the fridge running properly. Between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit is the correct fridge temperature. If it’s less than this you are wasting power. Also make sure the coils in the back of the fridge are clean. Check them 2x per year. If they are dirty your fridge can be using upto 50% more power than it needs to!
8. Motion sensor lights. Install them everywhere. If you leave a light on for 6 hours it’s not a big deal. But if it happens 50x per year if 3 rooms it adds up.
9. And finally another thing you can do is hire an electrician to conduct a home energy audit.

If there are other electronic devices that are being used in the kitchen, then the problem may be with one of them. It could also be interference from an appliance near the microwave. It’s always worth checking the manual for directions to follow if your microwave trips a breaker before trying anything else.

If any other appliances are being used at the same time as your microwave, check their power cords and connections. Make sure they’re not interfering with each other or sharing a circuit breaker with another appliance. Check the manuals for each device you have plugged in so you know what settings should work if it doesn’t seem like anyone is to blame but your very patient microwave!

Generally, yes. Any normal switch can be swapped out to a dimmer switch.

You will need to purchase the dimmer switch from your local hardware store, and an electrician should be called in for installation. Or an electrician can provide the dimmer switch.

Regularly checking electrical equipment will not only help catch malfunctions before they get worse, it can also help remove any safety hazards that may arise from a faulty breaker or an overloaded socket.

In most cases, annual maintenance on dangerous equipment is enough to keep your house safe. It’s recommended that you have a safety professional inspect the circuits every three years and fuse panels at least once a year. For less dangerous items like lights and ceiling fans, you can call out a professional for your once-in-a-while box of checks when there’s been a storm or other event outside of routine operations.

It varies from expert to expert, but most electricians that have been in the industry for a number of years recommend replacing a Zinsco panel.

A Zinsco panel is at best outdated and inefficient and at worst dangerous by today’s standards.

Why? The Zinsco breaker panels are dangerous and no longer considered safe to use. These breakers are known not to trip in the presence of overcurrent or short circuits, but this can still cause fires if they melt onto their bus bars due an overheated fuse box!

Fuse boxes are generally old tech. Old technology when it comes to electricity can be unsafe. When a fuse blows it needs to be replaced unlike a circuit breaker that simply needs to be reset.

So they are not inherently unsafe but they are riskier to use compared to modern technology. It’s our opinion that fuse boxes should be upgraded to panels.

Answer: Yes. Whole-house surge protectors are effective at protecting your home’s electrical system in the event of a power grid failure, when voltage spikes may be large enough to create damaging surges in your house’s wiring.

But, the device that is installed that protects your home is only rated to a certain amperage. For example a 40,000-amp surge is what’s generally recommended for whole-house protection, not less than that, for a 200-amp electrical panel.

But, about 15% leakage can occur. This is why you also want to protect your devices with “plug-in” surge protectors. They are quite cheap and small devices such as built in surge protection in a power strip. This protects small devices. All the way up to devices costing 100s or even $1000+ that are designed to protect expensive electrical equipment such as high end computers or even home theatre systems.

Smart Home Services are a growing industry that makes life easier and more convenient than ever before. They include virtually everything needed for homeowners to take advantage of the many home automation features available today.

The services themselves can range from something as simple as installing a whole house alarm or upgrading your existing lighting to automation and video surveillance systems.

Pretty much if you have an idea of something you want automated ifg can be done. Even if you want to dim the lights from an app in your phone as you don’t want to get up from the couch to do it. It can be done!

It’s a good idea to hire an electrician.

In this situation, there are many things that could go wrong depending on the wiring structure of your house and the location of the light fixture. Accidents happen, electrical shocks occur, and fires start all too easily — this is why it’s a good idea to call a professional. Hiring an electrician will ensure that the work is done right and code compliant then having to worry about getting into trouble later on down the road for being negligent.

You can, but should you install it yourself is a better question to ask.

Don’t install an outlet yourself. When it comes to dealing with electricity, the only thing more dangerous than what you don’t know is what you think you do know. You can always call a qualified electrician. This is always the safe method.

Yes and No.

Different types of outdoor lighting projects require different skill sets and experience levels, some require an electrician while others can be installed by a homeowner without difficulty as they simply need to be hung up and plug into the socket without any rewiring work.

But, you should always consult with an electrician. You might think that your outdoor lighting will be ok when it’s just plugged into the socket. But, what about winter? A professional electrician will give you their opinion on what is not only best but safest.

It’s possible for a dead outlet to be caused by your circuit breaker tripping. This will cause electricity to stop flowing with everything on the same electrical circuit, which includes any and all outlets in that particular room or area.

It’s also possible that your outlet is just tired and needs new wiring. To change this most often requires someone professionally qualified, who can jump start it back into life with a little effort.

Another answer is that your outlet is a GFCI. The outlet shuts off when there is a short circuit. It needs to be reset. Make sure there is nothing plugged into the outlet. Press the reset button and plug your appliances back into the outlet. But, only do so if you know the appliance isn’t the one causing the problem.

Or your outlet has a bad connection and the outlet may need to be replaced or repaired.

There are a couple of ways that an electrical outlet can go dead. If the outlet is old and worn, it may need to be replaced with a different one altogether. Check the outlet for evidence of oxidation or burning.

You should call a qualified electrician to replace the outlet. You shouldn’t do electrical work by yourself.

Yes, it is very dangerous to try and fix electrical problems yourself without training or experience. A wrong part may be installed by accident, causing a fire hazard or malfunctioning of the appliance.

Protip: Hire an electrician instead. Your safety is worth more than the savings of DIY work.

Yes, an EV car charger can be installed at a home or commercial premises.

There are three levels. Generally Level 1 and Level 2 are installed for personal use. As a level 3 EV charger will require industrial-level power draw that makes them unavailable to homeowners.

However, you might be able to have a Level 3 charger installed at a commercial property.
We can install EV car chargers. Call us today to get a quote.

It’s a very bad idea to use a loose outlet. That’s because a loose outlet means your protective covering is compromised.

Call an electrician who will quickly inspect the outlet and provide a solution. Maybe with the same outlet, a GFI outlet or even a new age smart outlet.

When the breaker is buzzing it depends on the type of buzzing. If it’s a very faint buzzing that never gets louder, it might be fine. If it gets louder over time though you need to get it checked.

If you heard a medium humming sound or buzzing or a loud buzzing sound you need to call an electrician ASAP to get your panel checked and potentially repaired.

Yes and no, as it depends on what you need power for.

Having a generator is not an absolute necessity if you have access to other types of power such as the grid or solar sources. But any significant fall in those sources can leave your home without lights and electricity. If the goal is to keep your house powered during a blackout, then generators are worth investing in.

Obviously there’s some cost involved there: purchasing the generator itself and paying to install it for safety purposes. Generators may also be worth considering for events like hurricanes or bad snow storms where reliable grid feed will likely not be available.

It depends on the size of what you’re trying to power. This is a question that’s best discussed with a professional.

But the short answer is that 200 amps panels are becoming the norm.

The first time you experience an electrical problem that is frustrating or might be potentially dangerous, it’s a great idea to call on an electrician. This way, they can come out and assess the situation and recommend the best solution.

Whatever your problem may be, whether it’s intermittent flickering lights or tripped breaker circuits in your breaker box, it’s important to contact a licensed electrician with any electrical issue small or large.

Licensed electricians are specifically trained for all of these different types of problems so they’ll be able to identify the most cost-effective solution if necessary.

Never attempt electrical work yourself.

The code requires all kitchen outlets for countertop use to be GFCI protected. GFCI-protected electrical devices are needed in any area where electricity and water may come into contact, including basements or pools! Make sure you protect your device with an outlet that is up-to code by installing one within 6′ of sinks and spas too; it’s the law.

It’s not a good idea to put lights on GFCI protected circuits so you aren’t left in the dark if the circuit trips, but generally speaking equipment such as refrigerators and freezers that cannot go without electrical power for an extended period of time should not be placed on a gfci-protected line because they are very sensitive (and prone) to nuisance tripping.

Fuses and circuit breakers both protect homes and appliances from excess electricity.

However, fuses allow greater electric current to pass through when power surges occur, whereas circuit breakers will shut the power off before anything blows. Circuit breakers also happen to be safer than fuses because there’s less chance of electrical fires or injuries if the device doesn’t get the excess voltage it needs.

The downside of a fuse is that they have a filament that melts. This prevents the electricity from flowing once the fuse is burnt out and replaced.

Circuit breakers are better from a convenive perspective.

A short circuit is a form of unintentional electric discharge which allows electrical energy to flow from an electrode to the grounding system without passing through the load. This can happen when there’s a break in a part of a circuit, such as insulation for wiring or shielding for power lines.

High voltage spikes usually do not cause damage if they are sufficiently brief and low intensity. However, long or high-intensity impulses could result in equipment failure. In the event that an equipment failure does occur due to this type of incident, it will be necessary to use suitable protection, such as surge suppressors or uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), during future excess voltage surges for prevention purposes.