Electrical advice from our master electricians on our blog
Electrical advice from our master electricians on our blog
Minneapolis 612-385-7864
Saint Paul 651-587-5512
Lic. EA005137

Archive for the ‘Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting’ Category

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Sump Pump GFCI

Monday, May 20th, 2013

Sometimes the National Electrical Code provides some unusual challenges for us electricians. Many times the electrical code can be difficult to explain to our customers, especially when they have been misinformed prior to our arrival and their expectations about the ease with which a project can be completed are all but untrue.

This brings us to sump pump wiring. If the new wiring for your sump pump receptacle outlet is to be installed in a crawl space or in an unfinished area of your basement the receptacle must be ground fault protected. You may ask, “What’s the big deal?” GFCI’s save lives but there is an inconvenience with ground fault protecting your sump pump. If your GFCI outlet trips, it will not allow power to your pump motor when it is called into duty and your basement could flood. It is the same reason we don’t protect your kitchen refrigerator with a GFCI; if it trips while you are on vacation your food will go rotten.

Answers to common questions:

  • No, we cannot just put a standard outlet there. If the pump needs a 120 volt receptacle outlet in a GFCI required location, we must follow the code.
  • No, we cannot cut the plug off of the cord to bypass the need for a receptacle by hardwiring it. This violates the code and also violates the manufacturers warranty on the pump.

If the ground fault outlet for your sump pump is tripping it is probably a problem with your motor and could be saving you from a shock. If you are thinking of having a sump pump installed in your home please consider the wiring, there are alternatives if you wish to not have your pump GFCI protected. Ask your supplier for a pump which can be hardwired for either 120 or 240 volts. Give us a call if you wish to discuss sump pump wiring at 651-587-5512.

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Posted in Electric Surge Protection MN, Electrician Minneapolis, Electricians MN, Electricians St Paul MN, Emergency Electrical Services, Minneapolis Electricians, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting, Residential Electricians St Paul MN, Wiring Services Minneapolis MN | No Comments »

Be Smart About Doing It Yourself With Electricity

Monday, May 13th, 2013

Electricity has given us all the phenomenal advantages of modern technology. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and electrical innovation must go hand-in-hand with safety precautions in order to ensure the protection of your family and your home.

When it comes to handling electrical problems in your home, most people don’t even know where to start. Just looking at the jumble of wires involved makes the daunting task of DIY seem impossible. And while we certainly applaud gumption, working with electricity isn’t safe if you don’t know what you’re doing.

If you do-it-yourself, make sure you know Minnesota State and national safety code and protect yourself from complications caused by faulty, low-grade hardware. However, it’s best to plug into safety by calling a professional to take care of your residential electrical needs.

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Posted in Electricial Panels MN, Electrician Minneapolis, Electricians MN, Electricians St Paul MN, Minneapolis Electrical Remodeling and Additions, Minneapolis Electricians, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting, Residential Electricians St Paul MN, Wiring Services Minneapolis MN | No Comments »

Warranties Require Electrical Grounding in Minnesota

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

A properly grounded building is very important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, grounding protects everyone in the building from an unpredictable electrical shock. A powerful electrical storm can rocket through a building with zero response time, and the only way to stop it is to redirect that energy with a proper ground.

Another big reason to ground your home is to protect your appliances. This list of appliances found in most every home all require at the least a grounded receptacle, if not a dedicated circuit. They are;

  1. Refrigerators
  2. Dishwashers
  3. Washing Machines
  4. Computers
  5. Televisions
  6. Any piece of equipment with a 3- pronged male-end plug

Unless these appliances are grounded, they will pose a shock hazard, and if surged upon, can become damaged without recourse. Computers in particular are sensitive to electric shock and surges.

Unlike electrical shocks from ungrounded plugs, surges are random spikes in the power flow that happen without notice. Every-time someone turns on an appliance, or makes a large draw on the system, this will offset the flow of electricity, an event known as a ‘surge’.

Surges are inevitable, they happen periodically throughout the day with few people even noticing them. However, if a large, unexpected surge happens to come your way, there is really no way to prepare for it other to have a properly installed surge protector. While surge protectors that are plugged into a standard outlet are OK for most items, unless that plug is grounded, the shock hazard still exists. Protecting your whole home is a more practical thing to do. A professionally grounded home will help prevent shock hazards; and a whole house surge protector will protect you from any rogue surges that might otherwise damage your appliances.

With Edison Electric, a Minneapolis based Commercial and residential electrical contractor, we are able to install a whole house surge protector, and perform inspections that will uncover each plug on your property is not properly grounded and protected from whatever electrical power surge that comes its way.

To learn more bout how we can help you protect your treasured home, give us a call at 612-385-7864

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A Few Ways To Lower Your Electric Bill- Part II

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

When people are concerned about the higher costs of energy in today’s world, there are several things that can be done to help make these efforts effective. Below is a list of just a few items that will help lower your energy bill, and make your home safe and sound for years to come.

1. Purchase Energy Star Appliances. This is not just a cute, catchy name for one particular brand. To get an Energy Star rating, manufacturers need to adhere to strict guidelines that make their products energy efficient. Not everyone gets this rating, only those who have proven that their product is truly energy efficient will be endorsed by Energy Star.

2. Seal up your home. Check for leaks around windows, doors, electric sockets and switches. Anything on an exterior wall has the potential for temperature exchange with the outside, and anything on the interior walls has the potential for heating and cooling the dead space between walls; neither is acceptable. Call us your local Minneapolis electrical contractor will be able to help close these gaps with ease.

3. Use common sense. If it is a particularly hot day, don’t cook a hot meal. This will only make the air conditioner work harder, and run your bill higher. Appliances like the stove, oven, dishwasher and the clothes dryer can be down after sundown when it is not quite so hot.

4. Exchange incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescents. This alone can save so much more than people imagine. Not only do CFLs use less energy than conventional bulbs, but they also generate less heat.

5. Close the blinds. This will also greatly reduce the amount of overall heat in the home. Thermal curtains are even better when it comes to controlling temperatures, and they are very affordable and easy to install for anyone who wants them.

6. Installing ceiling fans is the perfect way to reduce body heat, and keep the cool air circulating within your home. Few homes are without ceiling fans these days,
learning how to use them effectively is a great way to help reduce energy costs,
too.

With a little common sense, and help from your local Minneapolis electrician, you will be able to bring your homes expenses under control, and enjoy the summer all season without being concerned for the next months electric bill. Give us a call to find out more- 612-385-7864

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Posted in Electric Surge Protection MN, Minneapolis Expert Trouble Shooting, Wiring Services Minneapolis MN | No Comments »

Fast, Simple Ways To Reduce Your MN Electric Bill This Summer

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

The average MN electric bill is about $1900 a year. This can be greatly influenced by making a few simple changes to your daily routine; changes that we have outlined for you below.

1.  Plan and cook quickly. In the summer, make cold dishes, or use the microwave if you need to heat things up. It uses 2/3′s less energy that a stove, and produces almost no heat.

2. Let your dish washer do the dishes. Believe it or not, the dishwasher uses less water than you do when cleaning up the dinner plates. If you set it on cool dry, this can also add up to more savings over time.

3.  Turn up your thermostat. By adjusting your thermostat so that it doesn’t work so hard while you are at work, you will be saving a substantial amount of money on your electric bill this summer. Even a few degrees warmer will have a great impact. You can save an estimated 1 – 3 percent per degree, for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees

4. Use ceiling and/or stationary fans. These help circulate the air, and keep a more even temperature. Not only will this be more comfortable, but it will help keep your thermostat from turning on and off so frequently.

5. Reduce heavy energy use during peak hours. Peak hours for energy use are typically between 4pm and 6pm. By relaxing your energy use at this time of day, you will be doing your part to help conserve State and city electrical supplies, as well as giving yourself a little break when most of us need it most.

These simple procedures don’t have to cost anything, but save you plenty when you are trying to make the most of the hot weather. Summer is here with record breaking humidity, so having a small arsenal of ideas will always make the hot weather easier to bear. If you should have any electrical issues this summer, be sure to remember Edison Electrical Service in Minneapolis. We are a full scale residential and commercial electrical contractor and  offer 24 hour emergency electrical services all year long. Keep our number handy, we will be here when you need us. 612-385-7864

Commercial Electrician Service, Commercial Electrical Repairs, Commercial Electrical Service, Licensed Electrical Contractor, Electrical Troubleshooting Service.
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Can’t Afford the Electrical Work on Your Home in Minneapolis? No Problem.

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

While it is always best to avoid debt, there are some repairs that need to be made that really can’t wait until the homeowner has the cash in hand. Repairing electrical problems is one of those circumstances. There are times when a serious issue rises with the electrical panel, or someone is doing some remodeling and it is discovered that their wiring needs to be upgraded, or maybe a homeowner just wants to upgrade their electrical panel to allow for more demands.

There are a few reasons why people put off taking care of electrical issues, but the most common one is the costs involved. Ask yourself, would you take care of some electrical issues if you had the money to do so easily? If the answer to this question is ‘yes’, then now is the time to take a closer look. When you do business with Edison Electric Contractors in Minneapolis, we do everything we can to make electrical repairs easy and affordable. We submit your application for credit to the Certified Contractors Network, where your answer will come directly back to you typically within 15- 20 minutes. They will be able to offer you 100% financing on all your electrical repairs, up to $45,000, with no interest or payments due for up to 18 months. This approval is good for 120 days from the time it is granted. All your information is held in strict confidence between you and the bank, so we will not have any knowledge of your personal finances, and you won’t have to address the billing because we will bill the bank directly.

If you need electrical repairs, but are not sure of the costs involved, we will make sure that you get what you need with the terms you want. We also accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, and of course, cash.

So don’t put off what you know you need, Edison Electric in Minneapolis will give you the best of both worlds; first rate electrical contracting and the means to pay for it. 612-385-7864

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