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UVC light is ultraviolet light with a wavelength between 200 and 280 nanometers. Also called “germicidal” light because it can destroy bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms by disrupting their DNA and preventing replication. UVC light is widely used in water and air purification, food and beverage processing, and medical equipment sterilization. Recently, it has been…
An electrical emergency can be: An electrical fire. A sudden power outage. Sparking outlets. Smoke is coming from an outlet. Burning odors coming from electrical sources and or equipment. Hot service panel. Carbon monoxide leaks from improperly installed appliances. Electrical wires frayed from pests, heat damage, or wear and tear. Power lines are arching (emitting…
If you smell a burning odor in your house, regardless of the location, you need to take action and should not ignore it. People often say the burning odor smells like electrical or plastic burning. If you smell a strange odor coming from an electrical socket, please take caution and be careful. Always be careful when…
Often times people feel a shock when they touch the metal screws on the light switch due to a static discharge. Static electricity is the build-up of electrical charges from the surface of objects. This happens when electrons move from one surface to another through contact and builds up an electrical charge if both surfaces…
There are a number of reasons why your outdoor security lights may not be working. Whatever the problem may be, it’s important that we try and figure it out now so we can resolve the issue, get your motion sensor lights working properly, and keep your home safe! Security light troubleshooting Try troubleshooting your problem with the following…
Great question, considering that there are so many technicians out there! Mister Sparky electricians are selected carefully; we need the best electricians with the utmost professionalism. Personality is everything and it’s what upholds the Mister Sparky reputation. Our team takes part in extensive electrical training which has been nationally recognized as the reason behind our successful…
We see this happen every now and then, most notably with irons. What happens is, there is still current flowing through the circuit so when you unplug a device, you break the electric contact. To try and avoid sparks, turn off your appliances before you unplug them.
Nest thermostats are modern thermostat systems. They are controlled over wifi and optimize your household temperatures to help save energy. Smart thermostats, like Nest, remember your temperature control behavior and adapt appropriately to climate changes. What Nest does is basically control your household’s temperature for you, which allows it to make the proper adjustments in…
We recommend inspecting your smoke alarms once a month for the safety of your house and family. Although everyone has a busy schedule and may forget to perform these tests, it’s vital to check on detectors at some point in the year to ensure your safety in the case of a fire. Check out our…
Yes. When you decide to unplug a device from an outlet, pull the actually plug part. Do not grab the cord and yank it out; this is not only damaging to the cord but there is a chance that the wires could become exposed and give off an electric shock.
Dallas heat is unbearable and when we get home from a long, sunny drive, we want our house to feel like a freezer! Out of habit, many people run to their thermostats to turn down the temperature, and they may intentionally decrease it from 80 to 65. This extreme decrease will not cool your home…
Yes. It is pretty common for technicians to deny customers of an over-the-phone electrical repair quote. The reasons are frustratingly simple and once you see (or have personally experienced) both sides of similar situations, you have a better understanding of why project estimates are not always acceptable. “But you told me it would only cost…
Yes. Carbon monoxide poisoning is just as common during the summer as it is in the winter because appliances such as lawn mowers, propane grills, camp stoves, and boats are heavily used during warmer seasons. Decrease your family’s risk of exposure Carbon monoxide is a deadly, poisonous gas whose dangers hide in everyday appliances used by…
Light bulbs obviously aren’t meant to last forever, but they should definitely have a decent lifespan, not a disappointing one. The electricians at Mister Sparky Dallas are here to give you a few tips to get the most out of your incandescent and LED light bulbs. Dimmers Light dimmers have become a popular solution for expanding…
If you’re living in Dallas or surrounding Texas cities, you’re familiar with how stuffy a home can get during these hot, humid summers. But is there anything you can do to keep them a little cooler that does not involve cranking up the air conditioning? Little tweaks, big difference Believe it or not, there are…
So the short answer this time is once again, yes. Power outages are actually more common during warmer seasons because energy demand and outdoor temperatures are so high. Because Texas is currently in a drought and experiencing hot, humid weather, this may be a great time to practice ways to try and avoid a power…
I have gotten a lot of questions about what to do if a doorbell doesn’t work, and how to troubleshoot the issue. One question I get a lot is, “Can an electrician fix my doorbell?” Of course, calling an electrician will fix your doorbell. But, there is an easy, fast and safe way to troubleshoot…
Light bulbs burn out quickly mostly because of there is too high of a voltage in the light socket. If you are having to switch out light bulbs every few days, this can be a sign of a dangerous situation. You may have too high of a voltage because the light was wired wrong or…
Does your kitchen lights get brighter when you turn on the garbage disposal? When this happens, it may indicate the neutral wire in the panel is loose. This means that one hot wire is worth more volts than the other, creating an imbalance according to the ground. If your lights get brighter when you turn…
Most times when there are several outdoor lights that do not work, you can blame your GFCI outlet. The GFCI outlet has the black and red buttons that say “test” and “reset”. The outdoor lights and outlets are normally connected on an electrical circuit that relies on the GFCI outlet to work. If you press…
Working with electricity and water is always a dangerous situation. If you need to install pool lights underwater, it will be safest to call a licensed electrician. An electrician is fully aware of every possible safety precaution that will be best when installing or fixing pool lighting. If you must troubleshoot the issue, be sure…
If you are going to re-pipe your older home, you will need to call out a plumber as well as an electrician. You will have you ascertain the piping does not interfere with electrical wiring. Also, a licensed electrician can double check the safety standards to keep you and your family as safe as possible. Re-piping galvanized pipe…
Your first step in changing an electrical fuse is to turn off the main power switch on the fuse board for you safety. This will turn off the power to your entire house but is necessary until you are done changing the fuse. Next, identify which electrical fuse has blown. Sometimes there will be visible…
During the holidays, beautiful Christmas decor lights up neighborhoods. But how many watts can you put on a 15 amp breaker? As beautiful as Christmas lights are, they can cause a trip in the breaker or an outage if you overload the breaker. On average, a 15 amp breaker can run a one 1K light…
Word has traveled fast regarding the benefits of LED lighting systems. As Americans strive every year to find more cost efficient ways around their lives, holiday lighting should be one less thing to worry about. LED lights are ideal for the holidays because: They offer a safer approach as opposed to traditional incandescent lights due…
The UL listed marking appears n a variety of different products, ranging from cameras to house lighting. When a product is marked with an UL Listed it has been recognized as safe for public use. UL is a global independent safety science company with more than a century of expertise innovating safety solutions from the…
To better understand the difference between watts, amps, volts and ohms you need to understand the basics of electricity. Electrical power is measured in watts which is equal to the voltage multiplied by the current. Electricity has three basic units: voltage, current and resistance. The three are each measured differently. Voltage is measured in volts, current is measured…
GFI and GFCI both stand for “Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter” and are used interchangeably. The GFI outlets are the one’s with the test and reset buttons. They are usually found in area’s that have the greatest shock hazards, such as the bathrooms and kitchen. How does a GFCI outlet work? The GFI outlet works by…
A smoke alarm is the only device that can forewarn you and your loved ones about a fire. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association. It is important to maintain your smoke alarm and check it monthly. If your smoke alarm…
A wet circuit breaker can be a very dangerous and serious issue. You should call your trusted licensed Mister Sparky electrician to further investigate safely. The moisture will eventually dissipate. Do not touch any electrical wiring system that is energized that may be wet. Look for signs of smoke as a wet circuit breaker is…
The short answer is yes, cold weather can be the reason for a power outage. There are many reasons that can cause a power outage in the winter months. One reason is because on cold days the electric heaters are turned up throughout the electrical system which can cause an equipment overload. What do I…
Since light bulbs vary in many ways – from the color they emit to the amount of energy or wattage they use – you will need to match the correct light bulb to your light fixture. If you use the wrong wattage not only is it a fire hazard, but you risk ruining your brand…
A great way to start to save money on your electrical bill during the holidays is to unplug your holiday lights before going to bed as well as all appliances and electronics you do not need overnight. Whether you know it or not your electronic appliances/lights will continue to draw power even when not in…
We get a lot of questions concerning the home’s garage door. One concern we get often is, “My garage light won’t work – should I call an electrician?” An electrician can fix this problem but before calling an electrician, you might want to try to replace the light socket. If your light bulb is good…
A thermal insulator essential is an object that reduces heat transfer between objects in either thermal contact or in a range of radioactive influence. In other words – a good thermal insulator is anything that does not conduct heat, or heat up fast. For example, even air is considered to be a good thermal insulator…
The short answer is yes, you do save money by using a space heater versus heating our whole home. How much you save, however, depends on the size of your home and how many rooms are being heated. If you live in a small apartment, your savings may be minimal, however if you have a…
Generally, when your lights flicker when you turn on a major appliance, it is because the appliance is drawing a power causing a temporary voltage drop, taking that power away from the lights. If your lights flicker and remain dim, however, it may be a sign that they are drawing more power than is available…
If you’re looking to lower your energy bill, you may want to know which appliances use the most power.These are the top energy-draining appliances in most homes based on average usage. Air conditioning and heating Water heater Lighting Clothes washer and dryer Refrigerator Oven Entertainment systems (TV/DVD) Dishwasher Computer An experienced electrician can help you…
It is common for people to collect antiques and vintage lamps. The issue with a lot of older lamps is that you need to rewire them to work again. To restore a lamp you will have to first inspect it to be sure that all the parts that are need are attached and in working…
Your fireplace mantle is a popular place in the home to decorate, either with lights during the holidays, or with the permanent placement of a TV. Any electrical item will of course need an outlet to maintain power. If you want to add an outlet by your fireplace, there are some precautionary measures. Anytime there…
The National Electrical Code has permitted the use of aluminum wiring since 1901, a mere four years after the first recognized national electrical code was published in 1897. However, there can be safety hazards in an home wired in aluminum especially in older homes. Many homes wired over 30 years ago with aluminum pose a…
Direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) have been argued since the late 1800’s when electricity was be produced commercially. Think I am joking? The War of the Currents was a serious national argument about which current was better. Alternating Current won the war AC came out as being the premier choice because it was…
There are advantages and disadvantages to both overhead and underground wiring. The trick to determining which one is safer depends on which electrical wiring option works best for your situation. Underground Wiring Underground wiring has the advantage of being a cleaner look to your yard because there is not any visible wiring. If you have…
Surge protection draws in any abundance of energy that comes into the electrical system and gets rid of it through your grounding system in order to prevent damage to electronics plugged in during a power surge. A surge protector is a device which protects electronic devices from the effects of a sudden spike in voltage…
A breaker trips when there’s either a short or fault in the system or when you’re using more power than the circuit has available. This could be due to having too many items plugged in, too many lights on, etc. Circuit breakers are designed to trip and turn off power when any of the following dangerous situations…
Help! My outlet went out! When working with electricity, it is always the safest to contact your trusted electrician for the best solution to the problem. If only some of your outlets are not working and there has not been an outage, it is likely that you have a failed connection that is not allowing…
To upgrade my electrical panel, or not… There are quite few different reasons why you may need to upgrade your electrical panel. If it is older than 20 years old, it may be time to upgrade. Another reason for upgrading is if your panel has been improperly installed and is not UL Listed or has…
There are many benefits of using LED lights, so much so that CF-style lighting is fading away quickly. Many people have changed their lighting in their house to LED lighting because they are high in quality, safe, inexpensive, environmental friendly and aesthetically beautiful for interior lighting. Quality of LED lights LED bulbs last longer than…
In electric “arc” is a discharge of current that occurs when the current passes through normally non conductive media such as air. Small arcs can occur through normal use of plugs and switches, however an high-power discharge, also known as an arc-fault, produce heat which can cause an electrical fire. In fact, arc-faults are one of…
A light switch may need to be repaired if there are loose wires connected to it, causing lighting problems. If there is actual damage to the switch or fixture or if it feels loose, it may need to be replaced altogether.
There are many reasons an outlet may need to be replaced. In older homes, basic wear from years of use may be a reason. The more an outlet is used, the more likely it is that the receptacles will get worn or damaged. One sign of this is if plugs fit too loosely in them…
Since electricity produces heat, it is normal for a circuit breaker to feel slightly warm while it is running, however, if your circuit breaker feels too hot to the touch, your breaker could be malfunctioning. Breakers are designed to run at 80% of its maximum power capacity, so if it’s running beyond that, it could…
There are a few reasons why you might need to rewire a house. Ungrounded Outlets It is important to rewire your house if it has outlets with no grounding. An outlet without grounding is an outlet with 2 holes vs. 3 holes. Cloth or Aluminum Wiring You should also consider whole home rewiring if your…
The first thing you should do is turn off all power to your house to prevent an electrical fire or a shock while you’re troubleshooting the issue. Secondly, check to make sure the size and wattage on your light bulb is appropriate for the fixture. Usually the wattage rating for a fixture is printed on…
Although aluminum has its advantages since it is cheaper and easier to work with, it comes with the risk of causing house fires because it is a soft metal with a much lower melting point. In other words, aluminum wiring is much more prone to over-heating than copper wire. When the wire overheats, it will…
If your AC seems to have stopped working, there are ways to troubleshoot the problem yourself in order to assess if professional help is needed. But if you do need an AC repair, find out who to call, the AC repairman or electrician, based on what the problem is. AC Electrical Problems DIY Troubleshooting Make…
A burning smell coming from your dryer could mean your vent is clogged with lint and keeping air from getting out. This can be a serious fire hazard, so be sure to clean out your vent regularly. If you smell burning plastic from your dryer, it could be an issue with the cord or plug.…