Five Facts About a Professional Electrician in Trumbull, CT That Might Surprise You

Electricity is a vital part of our society. Without electricity, you wouldn’t be able to power on many of your most important devices at home or at work—things like appliances, computers, televisions, heating and cooling systems, lights, Wi-Fi, coffee makers, security systems and a whole lot more. But we usually don’t realize just how much we rely on electricity until something suffers a power failure and we have to call an electrician.

Electricians only need to flip a switch to get the power back to normal, right? Well, it’s not always that simple. In fact, their role as “fixer of power problems” is much broader than most of us know!

Here are a few surprising facts you might not have known about a professional electrician in Trumbull, CT:

  • Master electrician training is long: Working with electricity is a delicate process, and it can become dangerous very quickly. That is why master electricians train for almost as long as doctors do, because even the smallest error can result in a seriously hazardous situation. Classroom and hands-on training go for many years before someone becomes a licensed electrician, and then they need three additional years in the field in order to apply to be a master electrician.
  • There’s more than one specialty to practice: Like in the medical field, electricians have several areas of specialty to choose to work in. First, their main job is to maintain, repair or replace electrical systems in residential homes and other structures. While electricians are specialists in either electrical engineering or maintenance, some professionals train in both. They also get to choose to specialize in the area of residential, commercial, industrial or outdoor power sources, with some electricians working in more than one area.
  • Electricians perform safety checks: While you hired an electrician to safely bring power back to your residence, you need to understand that they will always keep safety in mind when making repairs. They carry out safety checks and adhere to state safety regulations, which are in place to avoid electrical hazards. Professional electricians are well versed in these safety regulations and also follow appropriate building codes during electrical installation or repairs.
  • Electricians have a broad range of skills: From wiring new buildings to rewiring older homes, trained electricians perform a range of functions that go beyond simply installing light fixtures. Many electricians also perform electrical inspections and tests, as well as residential and commercial maintenance, and electrical engineers fix elaborate systems to ensure building safety. Furthermore, they have good math skills and can read blueprints.
  • Electricians are problem solvers: Often, someone calls for electrical help without knowing precisely what the problem is. Luckily, a huge part of your electrician’s job is to identify, diagnose and evaluate issues, whether the problem is immediately apparent or something of a mystery.

At New England Electrical Contracting, Inc., we offer a wide range of electrical services for both homeowners and business owners. Whether you need your home’s electrical system updated or upgrades made to your indoor or outdoor lighting and electricity, our team of electricians can help. Contact us to speak with a professional electrical contractor in Trumbull, CT today!

Five Must-Know Facts About Landscape Lighting in Trumbull, CT

There are several reasons why you may want to install landscape lighting in your backyard or on your business property, but two reasons stand out from the rest. One is to beautify your landscaping with things other than plants, and the other is for safety or security. You enjoy seeing your outdoor space during the daylight—now imagine being able to see your walkways, flower beds, trees, patio, and garden aesthetics at night. Lighting makes it all shine, while this along with security lighting protects and keeps you, your family, and property safe.

If you are looking to enhance your lighting design to create a beautifully landscaped space or a more secure area, then there are a few things you may want to consider before diving into a landscape lighting installation project.

With that in mind, here are five facts about landscape lighting in Trumbull, CT, as well as some important considerations every homeowner and business owner should take into account:

  • Overall cohesiveness: You might have designed your garden space to flow together. This makes it easier on the eyes, instead of forcing you and your guests to focus on a chaotic scene. With the right lighting design, your landscaping will make visual sense as it creates cohesion between plants, architecture, paths, and other types of outdoor lighting.
  • Depth of illumination: A good thing for homeowners and business owners to know is that landscape lighting is about more than just placing a spotlight on areas, fixtures, or plants. You want to get lighting professionally installed to ensure that depth is a part of your setup. For instance, illuminating objects both close up and at a distance adds depth to the landscape when viewed from within a home or other building.
  • Light balance: Another important consideration is balance. Merely lighting up a portion of your landscape and leaving all other areas in the dark will throw off light balance. Instead, the areas of light and shadow should have a synchronized feel. Plants being lit up out of proportion lack a sense of design and can be confusing to viewers.
  • Focal points: Quality landscape lights offer you the chance to highlight specific features in your yard. For example, the pool or a certain tree may be a focal point all on its own during the day. To give every lovely aspect of your garden its time to shine—including fountains, statues, gazebos, arbors, and plants—you can showcase them at night with landscape lighting. The key is to draw nighttime attention to an area or feature.
  • Visual ambiance: Glaring lights, bright bulbs, and oddly placed outdoor light fixtures can ruin a beautiful yard when what you want is constant visual appeal. These things are distracting and will make your lighting design seem ineffective.

Make sure you’re getting a quality landscape lighting installation in Trumbull, CT! Do your homework, know what you want, and hire a professional who’s an expert at installing landscape lights. From being knowledgeable in landscape products to offering exceptional installation services, New England Electrical Contracting, Inc. is here to help. Contact us about your outdoor lighting needs today!

How to Reset Your Breakers

When the power goes out in your home, it can cause a world of inconvenience. Food spoilage and damage to sensitive electronic devices are all common occurrences. A quick and easy way to troubleshoot this problem is to reset the electrical breaker.

If you find yourself in a position where the power goes out, check in with your neighbors and see if their lights are still on. If so, your best bet to resolve this predicament is to reset your breakers. Knowing how to accomplish this task can save you a bill from your local electrician in Trumbull, CT.

Breakers can trip for a myriad of reasons. In most situations, it is the result of too many electrical appliances plugged into one electrical circuit. Heat levels within the wiring become dangerous because it is drawing more electricity through the circuit than it was manufactured to do. When this happens, your home is at a substantially elevated fire risk. Electricians can assist you in determining the appropriate load amount for your home’s wiring.

Resetting your breaker

If you have found yourself in a situation where your breakers have flipped, here are the three elementary steps that will guide you through the process of resetting your breakers:

  • Find your breaker panel: The first step to restoring the power in your house is to find the breaker panel, which will most likely be in your garage. Once you find the breaker panel, switch off every breaker one by one. Modern systems may have breakers that flip automatically when overloaded—keep an eye out for any switch that looks out of place!
  • Reset your main breaker: Once you’ve turned every breaker off, it’s time to reset your main breaker. The main breaker may be located in your breaker panel; if not, it is most likely outside, near your meter. To reset the main breaker, switch it off and on two times. Afterward, leave the switch remaining in the on position.
  • Switch on all the breakers: To complete the reset process, return to your central breaker panel. One by one, switch every single breaker back to the on position. Once that’s done, your power should be restored! If you are continuing to experience an outage, however, you should reset each switch to the off position and wait for an electrician’s help.

Resetting your breaker is a necessary and easy skill to learn that can save you money and help you manage your home more effectively. You should always consult with a qualified electrician in Trumbull, CT before addressing any of your electrical needs, however. If you are frequently experiencing breaker issues, your local electrician may be able to provide you with rewiring services that can help your home withstand a higher electrical demand.

New England Electrical Contracting, Inc. has been providing fully licensed and insured electrician services to communities in and around Trumbull, CT for more than 10 years. We are known throughout the region for our high quality of services and our extreme attention to detail. We are the premier electricians in the region, and can assist our clients with a wide range of needs, including emergency electrical services and home rewiring.

Guidelines for an Electrical Emergency

Natural disasters, adverse weather events and a whole host of other conditions can result in electrical emergencies. If your home is experiencing an outage or other potentially dangerous phenomenon, you should reach out to an emergency electrician right away! Even a simple power outage may be caused by something much more sinister, such as improperly connected wiring or isolated water exposure.

Don’t risk your safety and the safety of your home by attempting to address an electrical emergency on your own. Electrical wires require massive amounts of knowledge and skill to be worked on effectively and safely. A 24 hour electrician in Trumbull, CT can assist you with potential disasters that strike at even the most inconvenient of times!

In case of an outage

It’s never a good sign when your lights are out, but your neighbors seem to be consuming electricity just fine. If you are experiencing an isolated power outage, there’s a good chance that your wiring or an appliance in your home is to blame. Here are some simple steps to keep yourself safe while you wait for professional help to arrive:

  • Flip the breaker: The first thing that you should attempt to do is examine and turn off your power breaker. Flip all of the breaker switches to the off position while you are waiting for help. Even if your power is out, your wiring could still be hot.
  • Call the utility company: While you’re waiting for your emergency electrician in Trumbull, CT to arrive, it’s a good idea to call your utility company and let them know about the problem that you are experiencing. They may be able to provide you with additional insight.
  • Unplug sensitive devices: Major appliances, sensitive electronics and more should all be unplugged while you are waiting for help, and throughout the duration of your repair operation. This will protect them from damage caused by energy fluctuations.
  • Close the fridge: Now is not the time for a midnight snack! Keep your food cool and edible by keeping the fridge door closed. Spoilage can occur quickly during a power outage, and the best way to maintain your fridge’s temperature is to leave it alone.

Other electrical emergencies

More serious electrical emergencies, such as electrical fires, will require a call to 911 as well as a call to your local emergency electrician in Trumbull, CT. Never attempt to diffuse an electrical fire with water; use only baking soda or a chemical fire extinguisher.

If someone has come into contact with a live indoor electrical wire, they must be separated from the wire. Use something made of wood or other non-conducting substance to separate the victim from the wire, and move them to safety while you wait for assistance.

For more than a decade, New England Electrical Contracting, Inc. has been serving communities in and around Trumbull, CT. We are known for providing high-quality services at affordable rates. We are the premier 24 hour electricians in the region. If you are experiencing what you believe may be an electrical emergency, you should reach out to one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members immediately. We can assist you with diagnosing the issue at hand, and then send a talented technician to address your problem.

How Big of a Generator Will I Need?

Disaster can strike at any moment, and your power can go out without any warning whatsoever. Are you prepared for such as situation to arise? Unless you have a generator at your home, the answer is no! A generator can be a lifesaver when your power is out and you need the assistance of an emergency electrician in Trumbull, CT to get you back on the grid.

However, generators aren’t one-size-fits-all appliances. They come in a wide variety of sizes, and choosing the right one for your needs can be tricky if you’re not sure what to look for. This handy guide will help you determine the right generator for you and your budget:

  • Make a list: When your power goes out and you’re waiting for a 24 hour electrician in Trumbull, CT, which appliances do you think you’ll need or want to keep using? There are basically two schools of thought: you can choose to just power the essentials (lights, air conditioner, hot water, fridge, etc.), or you can power everything in your home and live as though nothing happened if the power goes out. If your power is usually out for a long period of time after a storm, it may be a good idea to consider adding more appliances to your list (like laptops and TVs). On the other hand, if your power is typically back on rather quickly, there’s no point in spending more for a larger generator.
  • Determine wattage: Regardless of how many or how few appliances you put on your list, your next step is to determine how much energy it takes to power each item. Do this by adding up the running and starting wattage for each appliance. For the layman, starting wattage is the amount of electricity it takes to turn the appliance on, and running wattage is the amount of electricity it takes to keep it running continuously. Starting wattage is typically two to three times higher than running wattage. We know that you probably don’t have this information off the top of your head. Luckily, you can find the wattage info for a lot of appliances online.
  • Add wattage together: Once you’ve added all of your necessary wattages together, you can hit the store to buy your new generator! For example, if you’ve decided to go with the essentials and you’ll need 10,500 kilowatts of energy, you probably only need a backup generator. On the other hand, if you’re hoping to power everything in your home, you’ll need a whole-home generator. While it’s better to have too much energy than not enough when you’re waiting for an emergency electrician in Trumbull, CT, larger generators cost quite a bit more than smaller ones.

Go out and buy a generator today so you can be prepared for any freak power outages this summer. If your power does go out, be sure to give New England Electrical Contracting, Inc. a call right away. We’ll send a 24 hour electrician in Trumbull, CT to your home as quickly as possible to get your power back up and running.