Do you hear a buzzing sound coming from inside your home electrical panel? If not resolved, it could be an indicator of a serious problem.
The home electrical panel is what connects your home’s electrical system to external power. The electrician, opening this panel is a familiar sight. As a homeowner, you may know that the electrical panel helps to distribute power and electricity to different systems around your house. These connections throughout your home can and should be labeled properly.
Inside, you’ll find a series of switches, or breakers, which prevent circuits from overloading and damaging your property and or appliances. It’s also possible that you have a fuse box, which have fuses that blow in case of overload.
Blown fuses obviously need to be replaced, and in most cases electrical switches can simply be turned back on after an overload switches them off. What do you do if you hear humming coming from your electrical panel?
Why Is My Electrical Panel Humming or Buzzing?
There are a few potential causes. The first is that there could be a loose wire somewhere in the box, which can arc and cause friction as well as heat. Another possible problem stems from an overvoltage situation, where one of your circuits has been overloaded to dangerous levels.
Too Many Appliances
It’s possible you may have too many appliances running on the same circuit, in which case you should contact an electrician to install more circuits. It’s also possible that your electrical panel is old and worn out. If this is the case, it needs to be replaced by a qualified professional as soon as possible.
Loose Screws
A buzzing sound can also be caused by loose screws in the box lid or cover. If this is the case, you can tighten them up yourself. Be careful, though: if you’re not comfortable working with electricity, it’s best to call in a professional.
Still Hearing Noises From Your Electrical Panel?
If after inspecting your electrical panel you still can’t determine the source of the humming noise, it’s really the best and safest option to contact an electrician for assistance. This problem should not be ignored!
Here at New England Electrical Contracting, we pride ourselves on troubleshooting and repair of all electrical systems including the electrical panel and everything it’s connected to. Even if you need emergency after-hours work, we are specially trained to deal with emergency electrical situations.
As a homeowner, you know your home’s various systems, such as plumbing, heating, and cooling, as well as electrical systems, are all crucial. Home repairs and maintenance can quickly become pricey! So, some homeowners resort to hiring an unlicensed friend who knows how to install electrical wiring, to try and save some of their hard-earned money.
But hiring an unlicensed electrician can cost a lot more in the long run! Certified Electricians are licensed and have a better understanding of local electrical codes, which is important for your safety. Here’s why certified, licensed Electrical Contractors should be your first choice for the safety of your home and family – and for your wallet!
They’re Certified:
A Certified Electrical Contractor has passed an exam that proves their knowledge in wiring houses safely. The test covers various aspects of residential electricity, such as safety, installation, and troubleshooting. Certified Electricians are licensed to work in your area – unlicensed workers may not be covered by insurance in the event that a fire or electrical problem is caused on their watch!
They Have Experience:
A Certified Electrical Contractor team (like NEEC!) has many years of experience installing residential wiring systems. An experienced electrician is less likely to make mistakes, which can lead to dangerous and costly problems down the road. Certified Electricians are less likely to cut corners or do shoddy work that can lead to worse problems down the road if not found early!
They’re Licensed:
A Certified Electrical Contractor is licensed in your state or province. This means that they have met all the requirements set by the governing body, including insurance and bonding. If an unlicensed worker damages your property or hurts someone, you may not be covered by insurance. Certified Electricians are also required to carry the proper documentation, which is good for homeowner records and in case of an emergency!
They’re Up on Code Changes:
Electrical Codes change from region to region, sometimes even from one neighborhood to another. An experienced Certified Electrician will know what local codes are currently in effect and how to safely work within them. An unlicensed electrician may not be up-to-date on the latest codes, which could lead to costly fines or even having your electrical system shut down!
They’re Affordable:
Certified Electrical Contractors charge a fair price for their services. You may find that hiring an unlicensed electrician may cost you more money in the long run! Certified Electricians have invested a lot of time, effort and training into becoming licensed.
When it comes time to choose an electrical contractor for your home, make sure Certified, licensed, reputable Electrical Contractors are at the top of your list! New England Electrical Contracting would love to be your top choice. As highly experienced and licensed electricians, we can provide a quality service that meets or exceeds the expectations of our clients, save lots of money on costly repairs, and provide a safe environment for you and your family. Make the right choice. Contact us today!
What would you be most worried about if your power went out, right this second?
Keeping the house and water pipes warm during an ice-cold winter?
How to get the car out of the garage?
How to cook food without an electric stove or microwave?
There are many things that can be done to prepare for a worst-case scenario electrical outage before it happens. It is important that you are prepared for any outage in order to keep your home safe and running smoothly.
Make a Go-Bag
Emergencies are not the ideal time to experiment with new products or ingredients. Storing some food, water, and medical supplies in a small, lightweight backpack is critical for an emergency situation. No one plans for a blackout, but if power is suddenly lost for an extended period of time and roads are hazardous, an emergency supply of several days of non-perishable food could save your life.
The Danger of Winter Cold
Make sure that you have a backup method of heat. If you are depending on electricity to power your heat source, then it is important that you have a backup plan for cold days. Portable generators can be good for camping or brief emergencies, but a winter storm can threaten your safety for days or even weeks!
A whole-home electric generator is not a luxury. It could actually save your life. With the rising reports of powerful storms surging around the globe, it is better to make decisions now that will protect your family.
Review Your Plan of Action
The most important part of being prepared is proper planning. Of course, there are many things that can happen during an outage or disaster, but carefully reviewing your business or household emergency power outage plan will ensure you have peace of mind in the event of an emergency.
Power outages happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to be powerless. Investing in a well-made generator can help ensure your home has power when the electricity goes down. At New England Electrical, our certified Generac whole home electrical generators ensure you stay powered when you need it the most. Contact us today and let us assist you to get your feet on the ground ahead of the storm.
The search for a practical, cost-efficient, and quality standby generator can be frustrating. New England Electrical Contracting is a certified Generac dealer, but what sets us apart over another generator installation company? With the number of options available, why would you choose one of our Generac brand generators?
Consider four major reasons why we guarantee our products and our service:
Cost Savings
The size of your home and number of powered appliances are the primary factors determining the cost of a generator. Regardless of whether you own a smaller home or a larger commercial building, you’re likely still interested in getting the best price for your investment.
Generac home backup generators are on average the most cost-effective on the market. With lower maintenance needs and no need for manual refueling, the initial and monthly costs are greatly reduced in the long run.
Daily Diagnostics
The worst happens: A power outage, whether from storm or snow, and now you’re without power. You have a generator, but it’s not working! As horrible as that sounds, it’s certainly possible without an automated warning system in place.
Generac generators come pre-installed with a monitoring system that works for you automatically, daily, without any extra work on your part. If daily notifications sound like too much, don’t worry! At New England Electrical Contracting, we take an extra step to make the process even less involved: We can take these diagnostic reports on your behalf so that we can make sure you’re 100% prepared in case of an outage.
Proof’s In the …Parts!
Most of us know that engines require oil to stay in operation, but it’s a pain to replace. When you’re relying on a technician for maintenance it can become even more pricy.
Most Generac Generators have pressurized lubrication which prevents even more wear and tear. The enclosures are either sturdy steel or corrosion-resistant aluminum. With generators designed to be as quiet as possible, even the commercial generators offer noise levels less than conventional A/C units at less than 70 decibels.
A Proven Track Record
The fact is, Generac Whole Home Electric Generators are preferred by 7 of 10 homeowners who invest in a standby generator. That makes them the #1 selling brand of home backup generators.
With our local U.S. manufactured generators, and our New England Electrical guaranteed maintenance and service plans, let us help you get set up with an estimate and plan to suit your needs.
If you are a homeowner or business owner, you are likely familiar with scheduled routine maintenance. Lawn care, site cleaning, and restocking essentials are a basic for everyday life. If you’ve already invested in a whole home generator, there will be a few minor things it would be important to keep up with as time passes.
The Danger of Negligence
You’ve got your generator all set up! It’s installed, tested, and you’re confident in the case of an emergency that you’ll be protected and safe. What now? Now it’s time to protect your investment with a maintenance plan.
Leaving maintenance forgotten and neglected can have disastrous consequences. The solution is simple: routine maintenance.
Preparing For Tomorrow
How often should you inspect your standby generator? It’s good to do a visual check monthly, direct maintenance as needed, semi-annual inspections, and an absolute minimum of annual detailed inspections.
Why so often? A visual check should be self-explanatory and takes less than a couple of minutes, but problems can arise when more detailed inspections aren’t done on a regular basis. Home generators require lube oil, battery fluid, coolant, and filters. These need to be regularly maintained, which is a very easy process with our two-tier service plans. Check out our two levels of service on generators at your property. We make the process simple with bi-annual or annual service contracts that take the guesswork out of the health of your whole home Generac generator.
NEEC Helps You Protect Your Home & Property
A vehicle with 150,000 miles has on average been driven for around 2500 hours, but a well-maintained standby generator can last you between 20,000 to 30,000 hours! Likely, your yearly generator use will be much lower than a vehicle and will last you much, much longer. Regular maintenance is essential to getting the most out of your investment.
At New England Electrical, our maintenance plans are proven effective at giving busy owners peace of mind to use their standby generator with confidence. Contact us by phone or our website to schedule a free inspection and learn more about our maintenance plans.