Electrical Repairs

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device offers added protection against electrical fires as well as electrical shock. While these devices cannot prevent all shocks, they can generally...

Converting your existing electric stove outlet over to an outlet for dryer use is as simple as installing the appropriate outlet. Purchase the right type of outlet to match the plug on your...

Installing outdoor outlets will allow you to have extra lighting for evening barbecues or to run garage tools for a yard project. The two keys to remember when installing an outdoor outlet is to...

Electrical outlets are the key to having access to the electricity we need to power the lights and various devices in our homes. Outlets will need changing periodically as they wear out, and...

Many older homes were built when there were not as many electrical devices as there are today, resulting in too few outlets in the bathroom. Additional outlets can be added fairly easily if the...

A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) device offers you and your family advanced protection against electrical fires and electrical shocks. These devices are required by code to be placed in...

Anytime you are adding outlets within a covered wall or new construction, the task of running the wiring can present some problems. Bulky electrical wire can easily get wedged or stuck in the...

So, you opted for the electric leaf blower instead of the gas model. It's quieter, and you feel good about not burning up that extra gasoline during your outdoor chores. You're excited when you...

Wiring diagrams, or circuit diagrams, are a tool that engineers and electricians use to represent circuits. The symbols on a wiring diagram are standardized so that everyone who looks at the...

What can be worse to clean up than drywall dust when it comes to home improvements? Absolutely nothing! It gets in every crack, on every wall, and is nearly impossible to entirely clean up. There...

Sizing the correct wire for any electrical device is regulated by the National Electrical Code (NEC). Local regulations may exceed the NEC requirements, but they can never enforce a lesser ruling...

Metal telephone wiring has been used since the invention of the telephone, and continues to be used into the 21st Century. However, the chemical makeup of most metals allows for oxidization, which...

Exterior outlets are very convenient for both outside activities as well as yard work. Electrical codes require all exterior outlets be a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) device. These...

Electrical sockets, or outlets as they are usually called, allow us to hook up or plug in the various devices in and around our home to supply the power needed to operate them. Installing a new...

When French chemist Georges Claude first began experimenting with newly discovered inert gasses like neon and argon, he likely had no idea his work would find such an enduring place in Americana....

The National Electric Code (NEC) requires most outdoor outlets be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, which is sometimes shortened to GFI. These safety devices help prevent...

Whether you are working on a remodeling project or new construction, the electrical work is one of the most important parts of the job. Anytime you are install or replace an outlet, you need to...

Electrical receptacles, or outlets, are components in an electrical system that allows us to connect our home or office devices to so they will operate. Overtime, an electrical receptacle will...

Basic household extension cords are made with wires that will support a standard 20 amp flow. Heavier extension cords for the shop or garage can be found that will support a 30 to 40 amp flow...

When renovating a room without a ceiling light fixture, one of the easiest ways of picking up a feed for installing one is by wiring a switch off of an outlet. While this job can be tricky in some...

There are a lot of times that it would be convenient to have a switch at the other end of a room or hallway. To have a switch at every doorway entering a room just makes sense. Fortunately, there...

Some lamps, especially very expensive or sentimental ones, are perfect candidates for cord repair in the event of a broken wire. Considering the alternative is disposing of the lamp, repairing a...

One of the trickier parts of doing your own electrical work is getting the wire from point A to point B. Quite often, there are obstacles in the way and more times than not, a floor or ceiling to...

In many older homes in the United States, the outlets are of the two-prong variety. Since two-pronged outlets are not grounded, it is essential to replace these receptacles with three-pronged...

An extra outdoor electrical outlet adds accessibility to the power you need for your outdoor activities. Whether you are running additional lights or just powering up the lawn equipment, having...

Fluorescent light fixtures have evolved over the last few years. The fixtures no longer require a separate starter to turn the fluorescent light bulbs or tubes on. When the fluorescent light...

Fluorescent light fixtures provide a number of benefits. They're inexpensive, long-lasting and energy-efficient. But, when the fixture stops working, the solution may not be as simple as just...

When remodeling or upgrading a kitchen or bathroom, you may have to replace a regular receptacle with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to come up to code. If you are adding a new switched...

This iron is a very handy tool for use on automobiles, boats, tractors and much more. Once you make this little gem, it can also be portable if you have a jump pack. For those of you who do not...

Double-pole thermostats are used to control line voltage -- electrical power to heating devices. Line voltage is the electricity that comes from the main circuit breaker or fuse panel. When wiring...

Fluorescent lighting is an energy efficient, long lasting technology that continues to improve. Lamp wattages, energy efficiency, and color rendering are much better than even a few years ago....

Many older homes have regular electrical receptacles in kitchens and bathrooms. In order to prevent accidental electrocution, in rooms such as these where water is present, the National Electric...

The National Electric Code (NEC) requires that ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) protect electrical circuits in specific areas, especially where water may be present. A GFCI receptacle...

Telephone wiring in a house seldom breaks along its length. Construction or disruption to walls, ceilings and floors are the most likely causes of broken telephone wires. Problems at the jacks...

In the past, a three-way switch circuit could only be controlled using two three-way switches. But these days, three-way dimmer switches allow you to customize the level of light put out by a...

Circuit breakers are the gateways that allow electricity to flow to and power the various devices in our homes. The breakers allow homeowners to turn on and off power at the main circuit panel....

The process of running wire through conduit is referred to as "snaking" or "fishing" the wire through the conduit. The best tool for this process is called a "fish tape." If the length of the...

According to AllAboutCircuits.com, electrical resistance, measured in Ohms, is essentially electrical friction encountered by electrons as they move through a conductor. Ohms are typically...

Soldering is a skill that can take several attempts to master, but it is one of the most trusted ways to join connections. Soldering is used in many different facets of electronic or electrical...

Wiring a 220/240-volt outlet will allow you to run many of today's heavy appliances or garage tools. The 220 volt, or as it's called today, 240-volt outlet, will carry twice as much current as a...

In the course of redecorating, you may have experienced the sudden loss of a light switch, only to find it hidden behind a large piece of furniture. In this case, you can rethink your decorating...

Since the mid to late 1970s, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices have been required in all bathrooms and wet environments. Later codes require these devices in crawl spaces, attics and...

GFCI devices provide added protection against electrical fires as well as serious and potentially fatal shocks. These devices are required by code in any bathroom area, kitchen counter, outdoor...

The protection of residential electrical wiring falls under the regulation of the National Electrical Code (NEC). There are two basic areas for protecting these current-carrying wires: mechanical...

Three-prong electrical outlets, or grounded outlets, are important upgrades to any home or apartment. Many new appliances or sensitive electronics are strictly wired for grounded outlets, and it...

Working with or repairing electrical outlets is pretty straightforward when following a few guidelines. However, the most important thing to remember is that electricity is dangerous and can kill...

Wiring motion sensors to interior lights is a great way to save energy while adding a little convenience to your home. Interior motion sensors are perfect solutions for controlling the lights in a...

Soldering is a method of joining two pieces of metal using another metal with a lower melting temperature. In the home, some electrical connections are soldered connections. Soldering provides a...

Fluorescent lighting uses less energy and creates less heat than incandescent lighting and is used in many commercial and residential applications. Workshops, garages and factories commonly rely...

Ceiling fans can be a great addition to any room, as they aid in the circulation of air, as well as provide light. A remote-controlled ceiling fan appears and operates much the same as a standard...