Thrasher Electric has won the Super Service Award by Angie’s List for the third year in a row. This award is given to top service companies throughout the county that provide excellent customer service. Call the Alpharetta Electrician for award winning electrical service.
At Thrasher Electric, we are staffed and equipped to handle any size renovation. Our company has handled hundreds of remodel projects so we know what to expect. We will help you with your electrical design and layout so that your project goes smoothly. Much time and money is wasted on remodeling projects due to poor planning. Scheduling is also a major part of remodeling. We will help you coordinate your electrical installation with other trades and make sure your project goes in the order it should. Plus, we have the manpower to complete your project quickly. We can put two or three crews on your project with little lead time or notice and finish in a couple of days what would take weeks with a smaller company. Everyone knows when your remodeling, time is money.
Permitting is a breeze. We are registered in every county and major municipality in Metro Atlanta and carry a code compliance bond as required. We work regularly with our local inspectors and have a great track record which is important because failed inspections can really hold up a project. We will handle your electrical permit, coordinate your inspections, and make sure your project stays on track.
A lifetime quality warranty is what really sets Thrasher Electric apart. We provide the best warranty out there, for life. This is important with larger projects where the stakes are high and some mistakes are inevitable. We stand behind our installations and if there is any problem with our work, we will fix it immediately. Our warranty calls get top priority so you don’t have to wait.
Top Ten Questions for Any Electrician
1. Does Your Company have Hundreds of Positive Reviews? Can I see Them?
2. Is Your Work Covered by a Lifetime Warranty on Parts and Labor? If Not, Why?
3. Do you have Worker’s Compensation Insurance, General Liability Coverage, and a Code Compliance Bond?
4. What Awards has Your Company Won for Excellent Service?
5. Are Your Electricians Background Checked? Can I Trust Them in my Home?
6. Are Your Electricians W-2 Employees or Contractors Paid on Commission?
7. Are You a “One Man” Shop? If You Quit, Move, or Get Hurt, What Happens to my Warranty?
8. Does Your Company hold the Highest License Offered by the State of Georgia?
9. Are You Locally Owned and Operated? If Something Goes Wrong, Can I Speak to the Owner?
10. Do You Drive Fully Stocked Vans with the Parts Necessary to Complete my Project?
Bonus Question: Are you one person with a cell phone or a real company with a physical address? How can I be sure you will not disappear on me?
Want a local electrician with the right answers to this questions? Visit the Alpharetta Electrician
Halogen
Halogen bulbs are light bulbs with tungsten filaments (the part that glows) and filled with halogen gas. They burn much hotter and brighter than normal bulbs which makes the light appear clearer or whiter. Halogen bulbs generally last longer and are more efficient than regular bulbs. Because Halogen lights burn much hotter, they are compromised if grease or dirt gets on their surface; so handle with care. Generally halogen is used where bright full spectrum lighting is needed. Common applications are art lighting, headlights, recessed lighting, flood light, and accent lighting.
Florescent
Florescent light bulbs have gas inside of them that “excites” when electricity runs through the bulb. This causes the bulb to glow. These lights are more efficient than Halogen lights because they transfer more energy into light. Because the light bulbs are gas based, florescent lights generally require a ballast to control the flow of electricity through the light bulb. This is why many dimmers to do not work with florescent lights. Florescent lights are generally cooler than halogen lights and have a smaller light spectrum which means they do not present color well. Common applications are closet lights, office lighting, warehouse lighting, and outdoor signs. Many florescent lights contain mercury so handle with care.
Xenon
Xenon Lights are similar to halogen but contain Xenon gas. They are generally brighter and clearer than halogen lights. Xenon lights are relatively new but can be found in under cabinet and art lights.
LED
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. LED lights emit energy in the form of light when current passes through them. These lights are very energy efficient and represent the next wave in lighting. LED lighting is standard in electronics but is now making headway in household lighting.
Did it happen to you? Your old dryer died and you decided it was time to upgrade. Soon you had a shiny new dryer in your home, ready to go. Your savings account was a bit lighter, but your laundry room had gotten an instant face lift and you would soon have dry clothes again. You went to plug in your new dryer and, oddly, the plug did not fit! Your brand new appliance was suddenly nothing more than a useless (although fancy) ornament and you were looking at spending even more money to make it work. I bet you wondered…WHY?!
Before 1996 dryers were wired with three conductors (two “hot” wires and one bare wire). The bare wire was used as a ground and a neutral conductor. This created problems because when the bare wire became loose or there was damage to the neutral line coming into the home, the dryer could become one large metal electrocuting device. Potential current could not flow back to the panel through the bare wire and instead would flow through unsuspecting home owners.
This problem was solved with the addition of the fourth wire (a ground). This wire provides a solid path from the metal frame of the dryer back to the panel and then outside to disperse safely into the earth. So, if there is ever a problem inside the dryer, the electricity gets diverted away from the dryer frame into the ground, which generally causes the breaker to trip in the meantime and prevents any additional electricity from flowing into the dryer. Unfortunately, many homes still have obsolete (and dangerous) 3-prong dryer outlets.
The solution is to hire a local licensed electrician to install a new dedicated circuit and 4-prong outlet for your dryer so you can safely plug it in. Never fall for the big box store “handyman fix” and simply replace the plug attached to your dryer! This is against National Electrical Code standards and while it may be a quick and easy fix, its a risky move. A newer dryer run on a 3-prong system is an electrical hazard at best, even if nothing goes wrong, and a disaster if there is a short or loose wire.
Generally, we recommend a whole house safety check before deciding whether a home needs to be rewired. The most important factors are age of wire, condition of wiring, and the safety of the home. Homes with cloth wiring or without a grounding system are prime candidates for rewiring. Most homes built before the 1960’s contain cloth wiring. Cloth wiring deteriorates over time and exposes the live wires inside the cloth coating. An electrical inspection by a certified electrician is the best way to know the type and condition of your wiring system and if that system is safe. You can also check yourself by looking at the electrical wires running through the studs and rafters of your crawlspace or attic and inspecting the outside cover of the wires for wear. Common signs are exposed metal, fraying, and cracks. If your home is especially old, you may have metallic cable or “knob & tube” wiring. These ungrounded systems were installed prior to cloth wire and should be replaced because they lead to serious problems.
Ungrounded outlets are outlets that do not have a ground wire to protect you from electric shock. A ground wire provides a safe path away from you and back into the ground if there is a short. Grounding also protects your appliances from electrical damage. This is why many appliances come with a three prong plug. A two prong outlet signifies that there is no ground wire and prevents a homeowner from plugging in appliances or electronics that require grounding. In some cases, uninformed persons will replace a two prong outlet with a three prong outlet without adding a new ground wire. This creates a major hazard and is potentially dangerous to anyone using that outlet. This is why replacing a two prong outlet with a three prong outlet without running a new wire is illegal throughout the county and in Georgia. The only way to properly and legally fix an ungrounded outlet is to rewire the outlet.
A good electrical company can rewire your entire home without damaging your sheetrock. Generally, only a few 4″ x 4″ holes will need to be cut when an entire home is rewired. You’ll need an expert at fishing wires through walls and ceilings. Also, a good electrician will make sure the power and lights stay on in your home during the rewiring process. Depending on the size of the home, a complete rewire can take between one and two weeks to complete. This includes scheduling the necessary county inspections and completing the work. Larger homes can take two weeks or slightly longer.
Rewiring your home is a major aesthetic and life style upgrade, but the most important benefit of a rewired home is safety. A complete rewire removes any doubt that there are electrical problems within your home. Plus, it includes looped smoke detectors, a new panel, GFI protected outlets, grounded outlets, and plastic coated wire that will last a lifetime. Did you know that home insurance companies give better rates to homeowners with new wiring systems? They know the danger of old wiring better than anyone.
For more information about rewiring your home visit Thrasher Electric, LLC
Happy Labor Day from The Alpharetta Electrician. We hope all is well with you and your family. Remember as you work in the yard or cookout, that electrical extension cords lead to many serious electrical injuries. Inspect your electrical cords for worn spots or rips before using. Be sure to keep them out of the reach of small children and pets, and never overload your cords. Electrical extension cords come in varying sizes. If you plan on running many things on your cord, be sure to get a 14 gauge or larger cord. If you are using a cord outside, be sure its plugged into a functional GFI outlet. Lastly, never roll up an electrical cord while its still plugged-in. Happy Holidays.
1. What is a GFI Device?
A GFI is a “Ground Fault Circuit Interrupting” device. (Pretty fancy, huh?) This means it interrupts power to the outlet when it senses any electricity leaking out of the circuit. Basically, this means the device shuts off power when its senses that electricity is going somewhere other than back to the power grid. Which is good, because sometimes that electricity is escaping into a person!
2. Why Have GFI’s?
Simply put, GFI’s save lives. In the event of an electrical shock, current runs through the victim away from the source. GFI’s sense this and shut off automatically. Since their inception in the National Electrical Code, GFI’s have saved hundreds of lives. The US Consumer Safety Committee reports that two thirds of the 300 household electrical deaths
that occur each year could be prevented with proper installation of GFI devices. Click Here to read The US Consumer Safety Committee’s Fact Sheet on GFI Devices in The Home.
3. Where Should I Have GFI’s Installed?
Kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor locations, especially near water, are a must. Garages, unfinished basements, and crawlspaces are also required in most jurisdictions. These are places in the home where ground faults commonly occur and people are the most susceptible to electrical shock. Did you know that only half the homes we inspect have GFI’s in the kitchen (shocking…isn’t it!).
4. How Do I Know My GFI’s are Working?
On the GFI outlet there is a button labeled “test.” Press the test button and you should hear a snap as the outlet shuts off. Press the “reset” button to restore power. If your GFI does not shut off when tested, get it replaced. The only way to really know if a GFI is working is to test it with a GFI tester (you can get one at your local hardware store). GFI testing is standard in our whole house electrical safety checks.
5. My GFI Trips All The Time, is The GFI Bad?
Maybe, but it’s probably just doing its job (protecting you from ground faults). Get the circuit checked out to make sure there is not a ground fault or leak somewhere in the wiring. Often appliances that have ground faults (electrical leaks) will cause a GFI to trip. It’s a good idea to have any appliance that is tripping a GFI checked out.
For More Information on GFI outlets visit Thrasher Electric, LLC
Heavy storms hit Alpharetta this last week and, like always, brought with them major lightening strikes. These storms are deadly to the expensive electronic equipment that is so common in today’s homes. Growing up, you may have heard “unplug the TV, it looks like its going to storm!” Well, now there is a better and more sure proof way of protecting your home during a storm without unplugging every device you have – Whole House Surge Protectors. Here is an excerpt from The Alpharetta Electricians website about surge protection. For more information visit www.TheAlpharettaElectrician.com.
“Whole house surge protectors protect every appliance and electronic in your home from damaging electrical surges. Electrical surges are spikes in the electrical voltage coming into your home. These spikes are generally caused by your power provider, electrical problems inside your home, or lightening strikes. Surge protectors work by monitoring the flow of electricity through your house. When the voltage goes up, the surge protector drains the excess voltage into the ground and away from your sensitive electronics. If you own a digital microwave, flat screen TV, A/C unit, or similar appliance, invest in a whole house surge protector. Even small surges coming from your local power company damage electronics
and reduce the life of your equipment. Whole house surge protection is inexpensive and protects the most expensive items in your home.”
Smoke Detectors have saved thousands of lives and, though often ignored, are the most important appliance in your home. For this reason, modern building standards require smoke detectors throughout the home, and in Georgia residences, smoke detectors are required in every bedroom, hallway, garage, and basement.
The most important safety feature of modern smoke detectors is their ability to link to each other. Linked smoked detectors all sound together when one smoke detector senses smoke. This means a fire down in the basement or out in the garage will sound the smoke alarms in all of the bedrooms upstairs or on the other side of the house. Many homes were built before this method became standard and have only stand alone battery powered smoked detectors, if any at all. Unfortunately, a smoke detector is only effective if someone hears it. A smoke detector sounding in the basement doesn’t do any good for a person sleeping on the second floor.
In 2007, a deadly John’s Creek fire took the lives of a Fulton county firefighter and a homeowner. News outlets report that the fire may have started from candles on the back porch and then spread to the rest of the house. The homeowners woke after hearing their dog barking but only one homeowner was able to escape in the thick smoke. Their house was built before modern smoke detector standards were put in place and no mention was made of working smoke detectors or their locations.
A National Fire Protection Agency study found that the death rate of reported fires is twice as high in homes without working smoke detectors than in those with working smoke detectors and the installation of working smoke detectors in every home would save more than 800 lives each year. While almost 100 percent of homeowners report that they have at least one smoke detector, fewer than 70 percent actually do. Battery operated smoke detectors account for most of the non working smoke detectors these homeowners are relying on to save their lives in the event of fire.
Given these facts, test your smoke detectors. Check the batteries and use the test button. Make sure you have a smoke detector in every bedroom, hallway, garage and mechanical room. When you test your smoke detectors, all of the smoke detectors in your home should sound off together. If they do not, your smoke detectors are not looped and your home is lacking protection.
If you need your smoke detectors inspected or new detectors installed visit Thrasher Electric, LLC – The Alpharetta Electrician.
