Electrician Outlet | Ground Fault Receptacle

A quote from Mister Sparky Electrician Houston with a quotation mark A quote from Mister Sparky Electrician Houston with quotation mark close

Electrical Outlet Repair Houston

For many homeowners, electrical outlets are heavily used but often neglected when it comes time to replace or repair. Loose outlets, smoke or burn marks, dimming lights, loose connection, and unusual noises are just a few of the signs it may be time for electrical outlet repair. It is important not to let these issues go unattended as there are plenty of electrical outlet mishaps that occur each year. Mister Sparky’s licensed electricians can help with electrical outlet repair and spot any potential issues that could arise. 

 

Electrical Outlet Installation

Along with outlet repair, it is essential that your new electrical outlet installation is done correctly and meets your family’s needs. There are many different electrical outlets, including 120 volt, 240 volt, GFCI, AFCI, and many specialty outlets. See a comprehensive breakdown in this article on electrical outlets. It is important to note that two-prong outlets are not up to code and can be a safety hazard. These outlets should be updated to include the third grounding hole. 

Mister Sparky provides, installs, and repairs electrical outlets in accordance with safety standards to guarantee the reliability of your electrical systems. As further measures to keep you safe, our team of technicians installs ground fault circuit interrupters in specified areas of your home, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas with outlets that may come in contact with water. Depend on Mister Sparky for trusted, reliable GFCI wiring and electrical outlet services. 

Schedule Electrical Outlet Installation 

electrical outlet types graphic

GFCI vs AFCI Outlets

GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. Electricity follows the most accessible path toward the ground when it comes out of an outlet, usually the ground. A ground fault can occur when there is faulty or loose wiring plugged into an outlet or water is near the electrical device or outlet. 

To protect you from these electrical hazards, a GFCI monitors electrical currents, turning off an electrical circuit when detecting an imbalance such as a current flowing from an unintended path. For example,  If a hairdryer is dropped into a sink full of water, the electricity will fault to new ground through the water. The GFCI outlet will notice this and stop the power flowing to the device. There is a reset button on the outlet to restore electricity to the outlet and a test button to ensure the outlet is active. 

Tamper-resistant GFCI is also available to keep children safe. These receptacles have spring-loaded shutters that close off the contact openings or slots of the receptacles. When inserting a plug, the springs compress, and the shutters open, allowing the prongs to make contact and create an electrical circuit. The following spaces require GFCI outlets: 

  • Bathrooms 
  • Kitchens 
  • Laundry and utility rooms 
  • Garages
  • Crawlspaces and unfinished basements 
  • Wet bars 
  • The exterior of your home/business 
  • Spa and pool areas 

 

AFCI stands for arc-fault circuit interrupters, and they protect from electrical dangers via heat arcing, which differs from the GFCI.  Arcing can create high-intensity heat, which can ignite surrounding materials such as wood framing or insulation over time. AFCI outlets work to help prevent these electrical fires. You can use the test button on AFCI outlets as well. Pressing the” TEST” button on an AFCI outlet will cause the outlet to trip immediately. You should hear a clicking sound, indicating that the outlet has tripped and is without power. 

AFCI protection can protect you from a variety of unsafe situations, including rodents chewing on a wire, driving a nail through a wire, or a device overheating. If your AFCI outlet seems to have tripped, test the outlet with any device and see if there is any power. If the outlet has a “RESET” button, press it to switch the outlet back on. If there is no button on the outlet, the AFCI reset may be present on the circuit breaker. The 2020 edition of the NEC®, requires AFCI protection in all 120-volt, single-phase, 15 and 20-amp branch circuits supplying outlets or devices installed in:

  • Kitchens
  • Family rooms
  • Dining rooms
  • Living rooms
  • Parlor
  • Libraries
  • Dens
  • Bedrooms
  • Sunrooms
  • Recreation Rooms
  • Closets
  • Hallways
  • Laundry areas, or similar rooms

 

Other Outlets 

Two-pronged Outlet 

These are typically older outlets that provide an ungrounded connection. You can identify them by their two prongs and no third prong or “grounding pin.” Without a third-prong for a connected ground wire, unstable electricity doesn’t have a path to travel safely away from you and your electrical system.

EV Outlet (Most commonly a Tesla Outlet)

Are you driving an electric vehicle (EV)? It is imperative to have a top-notch electric car charger at your home. The recommended home charging installation option for Tesla vehicles is a 240 volt NEMA 14-50 outlet. This outlet is also commonly used for electric stoves and recreational vehicles. 

At Mister Sparky, we continue to receive more requests to install EV charging stations. Whether your breaker box is inside your garage right next to your charger location, or if a circuit needs to be run – we can take care of it all!

USB Outlet 

Mobile devices need charging all the time, so rather than plugging a USB adapter into an outlet, USB outlets combine the best of both worlds. The best choice is one with two regular outlets, plus a couple of USB ports built-in for charging any mobile device.

Smart Outlet 

A smartphone can control these electrical outlets. Anything plugged in, such as a lamp, can be turned on or off from anywhere using a smartphone. They require a smart home hub to allow communication between the outlet and the phone.

Dryer Outlet 

In most cases, 3-slot dryer outlets have the ground and neutral wires grouped, which creates the potential for shock. It contains two ‘hot’ wires and a third wire containing both the ground and neutral wire. The NEC now requires a four-prong dryer outlet in all new home constructions; we wire these four-prong dryer outlets as a 120/240-volt circuit. The 120-volt service is for the dryer’s timers, sensors, and other electronics, while the 240-volt service supplies power to the heating elements. 

Electrical Outlet Wiring Methods 

Quick Wiring (Backstabbing) backwiring

Backstabbing is the most common method for installing outlets on a new home build. It’s fast and easy. This method may be used by a handyman or electrician when replacing an outlet as well. Although it’s an acceptable installation method, we do not recommend this back-wire or push-in type of connection point on an electrical receptacle. The method has higher chances of failing in the future, and with more effort and care, a more robust connection can last far longer.  

Side Wiring sidewiring

Side wiring is a technique using the screws on the sides of an outlet. The wires are attached using the side terminal screws. The side wiring method makes a stronger connection point than quick wiring, and it takes a bit more time to complete. However, it’s still not the most reliable method. 

Pigtail Wiring 

pigtail wiringThe safest option to wire an outlet is pigtail wiring. This technique provides power from the circuit to the individual outlet, while also creating a path for the circuit to pass the outlet (in case the outlet is not working). This creates a better experience for the homeowner, who won’t have a string of outlets go out like Christmas lights when there’s a single issue. It also makes it easier to troubleshoot which outlet has a problem

Aluminum Wiring Outlets

aluminum wiring Homebuilders could use aluminum wiring in homes built between 1965 and 1970 as there was a shortage of copper at the time. Aluminum wiring is hazardous and is unfortunately hard to detect signs of trouble. Aluminum wired connections have reports of failure and overheating without any prior indications or problems. If you notice any signs of an issue, please have a qualified electrician determine the cause. To ensure your home is safe, have a qualified electrician retrofit all aluminum wiring with copper connections. 

NEW Ground Fault Circuit Requirements

  • GFCI protection is now required in all 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles supplied by a single-phase branch circuits rated 150-volts or less to ground in eleven* locations of a dwelling. Dryer and range receptacles, common 250-volt receptacles in homes, require GFCI protection
  • *Locations listed in NEC section 210.8(A)(1) through (A)(11).
  • New GFCI requirements include protection in non-dwelling locations and marinas.

 

Mister Sparky’s highly trained, licensed electricians are professional electricians who fix potential hazards before they cause serious damage. We assist in installing new outlets and repairing damaged ones. Make sure to give us a call anytime you require professional electrician services.

Home Surge Protection

Safety Is Our Priority
Home surge protection is vital to the safety of your home. Homes with surge protection save you money if things go wrong. Our electrician’s install both surge protectors for individual outlets as well as whole home surge protection for overarching protection for your home.

Our technicians can help you protect your home and your appliances, and save you money in the long term. Call or book online today and we can help put your mind at ease.

Emergency Electrician

We Are There When You Need Us
The most unfortunate part about emergencies is you never know when an emergency will happen. Our 24/7 Electrician service is equipped and ready to handle any residential electrical issue. Regardless of the urgency we have technicians ready to help you get back to normal.

Regardless of the time of day, night, or issue you are having mister sparky has experience swiftly taking care of the issue. Some of the top electrical emergencies are loss of power, electrical panel sparking, outlet sparking, a surge in your home, and many more.

Electrical Repair

Repair Before you Replace
Not all electrical problems require electrical replacement or electrical installation services. Our Houston electricians will look into repairing most jobs before resorting to replacements.

We try to save our costumes money when we can, but that does not come at the sacrifice of quality and safety. If you are interested in receiving a quote for your electrical repair, book online or give us a call.

Submit your review
1
2
3
4
5
Submit
     
Cancel

Create your own review

Average rating:  
 7 reviews
 by Mary Lock


Jeremy was great. Knowing the history of this house, nothing is as simple as is should be. Jeremy was very thorough. He made sure that everything was in correct working order despite the mess he encountered and took the time necessary to sort everything out. It is a relief to know that the work is completed and done properly.

 by Charles Grovver


Tony was great. Very professional and knowledgeable! We will definitely be calling you guys again if we need further work in the future.

 by Enma Menendez


Phillip did an excellent job like always. Thank you.

- Enma at Builders Auction Company

 by Martha Rosalez


The service was very good. Good attitude.

 by Karen Johnson


We appreciated the fast, efficient service.

 by Becky Moore


Love Mr. Sparky! Timely, careful, polite and knowledgeable. Works for me every time!

 by Roi-Ann Burnham Kidd


We were able to get an appointment quickly. Jeremy did a wonderful job and is very professional. Very pleased!