IS MY ELECTRICAL PANEL SAFE

Let's talk how about the safety of your electrical panel. 

Many houses built from the 1950's to the 1980's were built with a 60 amp electrical panel.  Some of these houses were built with fuses and knob and tube wiring.  These 60 amp panels and the like worked well with the electronics that were available then.  Today, homes should have at least 150 amps.  With the upgrading of the National Electrical Code laws houses with a fuse box and/or knob and tube wiring cannot be sold unless they are upgraded to circuit breakers.  Home owners who still have this type of wiring are playing Russian roulette with their home and family.

The basics of the circuit breakers inside your electrical panel are designed to guard your home's electrical system against circuit overload, short circuits and outside power surges coming into the panel.  When an overload occurs, a breaker protects you by tripping, thus shutting down the power to the circuit.  However, if a breaker is defective or not operating properly, the risk of fire to the panel and consequently to your home becomes imminent.

During the 1950's to the 1980's many homes were  installed with two potentially dangerous electrical panels and breakers.  These two electrical panels have major manufacturing and design flaws that put homeowners and their families at risk.  They are Federal Pacific and Zinsco Electrical Panels.  These panels were known to overheat and cause fires.  One of the earlier Federal Pacific panel designs was called the Stab-lok residential circuit breakers and panels. There are millions of people today who have panels that are more than 40 years old.  These outdated panels may no longer protect their homes from over-currents and short circuits.

This video is real, from Channel 4 I-Team: Faulty Circuit Breakers in Thousands of Homes Could Cause Firehttp://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/Federal-Pacific-Electric-Circuit-Breakers-Fire-Danger-I-Team-149541115.html

If you think you may have a Federal Pacific Electric, Zinsco, or an outdated circuit breaker panel (including knob & tube or fuses) in your home you u owe it to yourself and your family to contact Sylvia Electrical Contracting for a free estimate to upgrade your electrical service.

Here are a few of the warning signs that your electrical panel needs to be updated:

One of the most important warning signs of an unsafe electrical panel is overheating. This usually occurs at the electrical panel, breaker, switch or outlet. If you open the door to your electrical panel and feel heat, there is a problem. The same applies for switches and outlets.

•  If you have breakers that seem to trip off more that occasionally or if there are burn marks you should call Sylvia Electrical as soon as possible. This could mean there is too much power being used on that circuit. This also applies to a GFCI in an outlet keeps tripping.

• Damage caused by rodents. Rodents have been known to chew through wire insulation in electrical panels (and other areas), creating an unsafe condition. Rodents have been electrocuted this way, leaving an unsightly mess inside the panel.

• Evidence of water inside the electrical panel. Moisture can corrode circuit breakers so that they won't trip, make connections less reliable, and make the equipment unsafe to touch. 

So if you own a home between 25 and 60 years old go and check your electrical panel.  A Federal Pacific panel generally has its name or logo on the front cover. If you look inside you will find the name Stab-Lok printed near the center or side of the panel. The intact breakers will have the signature red strip that runs across the front.  If you find you do have a Federal Pacific panel or Stab-Lok breakers, Zinsco Panel, a fuse box or knob & tube wiring, call Sylvia Electrical Contracting a 978-535-6661.

Be safe, call today.

Here are some pictures of the panels to look for:

 Federal Pacific

Zinsco

 Fuse Box

knob & tube wiring

SERVICES WE OFFER TO OUR CUSTOMERS

Often times we forget just how much we depend on electricians and electrical contractors.  Here are some of the services that Sylvia Electrical can offer both residential and business  owners. 

If your lights flicker, you have had water damage, added an addition or remodel an electrical panel upgrade would be in order.  Perhaps your house was built during the 1950's when knob and tube wiring was currently being used.  In 2012 knob and tube wiring needs to be replaced if you are selling your house or trying to obtain home insurance.  It can be potentially unsafe if not checked and updated.

Are you the type of homeowner that uses extension cords and  outlet strips in your home.  It may be time to have a licensed, insured electrician in your area install additional electrical outlets.  Do you want to update a room?  A quick fix would be to install new fixtures, track lighting or recessed fixtures.  If you would like another alternative to expensive air conditioning, have a ceiling fan installed.  They are cooling and more energy efficient.  These inexpensive updates can seem intimidating to many homeowners.  Call Sylvia Electrical for prices that will make it a worthwhile investment.

As you are aware televisions are getting bigger and bigger.  They no longer sit on a small tv stand in a room.  They are high definition wall mounted televisions.  If you do not want to see wires and wire mold coming down the wall, call us.  Our electricians can install outlets on the wall and hide the wires for a professional clean look.  If you need telephone, cable or internet wiring, we can handle that.

Maybe you have installed a new hot tub, spa, or swimming pool.  Remember that these need special GFI outlets and wiring.  This must be done to comply with the National Electrical code and for safety reasons.  Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.

We have not forgotten our commercial customers.  We are experts at commercial and tenant suit ups.  Our licensed electricians can upgrade panels to accommodate new equipment.  We can install motors, exhaust fans and transformers.  We can offer insightful alternatives to adding energy to help your company move ahead.  Owner Steve Sylvia, master electrician and electrical contractor can design all phases of electrical installations.

Safety is always a concern.  Installing landscape lighting and video surveillance equipment can help to keep family and businesses safe.  Sylvia Electrical can offer a wide array of outdoor lighting ideas and surveillance equipment.  Don't let summer storms or severe winter weather keep you in the dark.  We are certified generator installers.  There are generator for every need.

Call 877-535-6661 for a free estimate to discuss your business or residential needs.

• Electrical Panel Upgrades
• Electrical Outlet and Fixture Installation
• Generator Installation for commercial and residential customers
• Commercial and Tenant Suit-ups
• New and Remodel Residential Construction
• Motors, Exhaust Fans, and Transformers
• Appliance circuits, hot tubs and spas & landscape lighting
• Telephone, cable, and Internet wiring
• Flat Screen TV installation
• Recessed lighting, track lighting, dimmers & cabinet lighting
• Electrical Code corrections
• Designing all phase Electrical Installations
• Ceiling Fan Installations
• Knob and Tube Wiring
• Solar Installations
• Video Surveillance