Are all your electrical system's wiring, fixtures, devices, and other components safe? It's no secret that failures in a home's electrical system are the leading cause of house fires, so it's critical that the electric system is doing its job safely.

The electrical system is out of sight and out of mind for most people. 90% of your electrical system you can't even see because it's buried in walls, in the attic, or underneath your home.

If your home was built over ten years ago, there is a good chance that your home's electrical wiring could be safer. Do you know why? Most homes older than ten years in northern New Jersey do not have Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter breakers and outlets, more commonly known as AFCIs.

The AFCI breaker is the only breaker that can prevent surges and arcs that can lead to a fire. A few years ago, homes were only required to install this type of breaker for bedrooms. Now, the NEC has found that it is essential that almost every breaker in your house should be an AFCI. And you can add yet another layer of protection from possible electrical fire danger by upgrading and installing new AFCI outlets throughout your home.

From 1965 to 1973, aluminum was used in wiring and was sometimes substituted for copper branch circuit wiring in residential electrical systems. Back then, there was a shortage of copper, and it was hard to get. That said, electrical contractors and homeowners started installing aluminum for wiring. After close to ten years of installing this type of wiring, it was discovered that aluminum wiring was not safe.

If properly maintained, aluminum wiring can be acceptable for outside services. Still, many jurisdictions will not allow any aluminum, no matter the circumstances. Aluminum wires are more likely to become defective much quicker than copper due to certain qualities inherent in the metal—neglected connections in outlets, switches, and light fixtures containing aluminum wiring become increasingly dangerous over time. Poor connections cause wiring to overheat, creating a fire hazard and electrical shock.

Problems with aluminum wiring

Aluminum wiring expands and contracts. When current is going through the wire, it heats up and expands. When there is no current, it contracts. After so many of these cycles, the connections at the devices and in the electrical panels will loosen over time, which can cause fires.

Aluminum also oxides or corrodes. If it is misconnected to another type of metal, like copper, it can cause a fire, too. The National Electric Code (NEC) requires that aluminum wire be connected using a special UL-listed device with an antioxidant compound.

Fixtures and devices must all be listed by UL listing authorities, stating that they can be hooked up to aluminum wiring.

Should I purchase a home with aluminum wiring?

It is crucial to know all the facts before buying a home. Homes with aluminum wiring should have a complete rewire due to the dangers associated with aluminum wires in your home. At the very least, all fixtures should be checked, and all receptacles and switches should be replaced in conjunction with UL-listed splicing techniques.

It should be noted that most insurance agencies will not cover homes with aluminum wiring in New Jersey.

I'm sure you've seen it in movies and TV shows: a small child putting his finger or some object into an electrical outlet, shocking his hair into standing up straight. Cute heh? In real life, the results of such an action can be much more severe than just a bad hair day. It could cause serious injury to a person or perhaps even cause death.

Even if you don't have children of your own, you likely have relatives that come to visit or even furry children (pets). Childproof electrical outlets can prevent foreign objects, such as a finger or a pet's tongue, from entering the outlet while allowing a standard plug to fit. No more messing with those annoying plastic covers you must peel off with your fingernails. Leinster Electric can quickly install these "built-in" childproof receptacles for you. While it may seem like an unnecessary precaution, this simple installation can save you from having any incidents later, add a layer of protection to your home, and give you peace of mind.

If you have been given an electrical code violation or your homeowner's insurance is threatening to cut your insurance, do not worry and ask the licensed electrical experts at Leinster Electric for help!

Leinster Electric has been repairing electrical systems and fixing past electrical repairs in New Jersey for many years. When we come to your home, we will thoroughly inspect your electrical system, discuss whether or not you require repairs, and go over what options are best for you (and your budget).

The best medicine for electrical emergencies is through prevention. Code violations and electrical work that a licensed electrician has not inspected can be home to a future problem. Unfortunately, many individuals do not understand or appreciate the dangers involved until a tragedy happens. Amateur electrical wiring that has not been inspected is often responsible for unsafe electrical conditions that result in fire, shock, and even electrocution. Don't be a statistic!

Have you ever thought about how many wires are running through your home? All the electrical outlets, light fixtures, and cable hookups have some wiring to make them work. What happens when these wires get old and outdated? One of the best things you can do as a homeowner, potential buyer, or renter is to hire an electrician for an electrical inspection. You do not want to be on the wrong end of an electrical fire. Home sellers are not required to provide an inspection, so it is always a good idea to do an independent one for your benefit.

A common mistake is purchasing a home with faulty electrical wiring. This will cause problems in the long run. Even if your heart is set on the home, an inspection will help to put it in perspective and may even give you some wiggle room with the price. As a homeowner, especially if you inherited an old family home, these inspections could save your life. Outlets should be updated to add grounded outlets and to replace any aluminum wire that may exist.

Save yourself the stress of finding these problems later, and have an electrician conduct an inspection. They take just a few hours and are well worth it. The key is being proactive in finding electric problems, so it is certainly worth your time!

Maintenance. It's a word used for cars, lawns, and many other things. But how often does it cross your mind for electrical purposes? Like anything, your home's electrical system must be maintained by a licensed electrician.

When you think about electrical maintenance, you likely think of wires and breakers. These are important parts of the routine, but other smaller items are just as important. Your power outlets are one of the most overlooked items in your home, yet they are the most used. Power outlets provide a steady source of electricity throughout your home to multiple devices. Was your home built in the 80s? If your home is over ten years old, it probably needs some outlets upgraded to GFCIs, which protect from electric shock. An electrician can examine these and pinpoint what should be replaced or updated.

There is also preventative maintenance. Periodically, an electrician should examine your home's generator and circuit/breaker box. Examining these before a significant problem can prevent a devastating event such as an electrical fire or major power surge. Not only will an electrician identify and fix any issues, but it may save you thousands of dollars in the long run!

Remember to talk to your local licensed electrician the next time you decide to do basic home maintenance. When it comes to your home, safety and security should always come first. Electrical accidents are extremely common in the home, but you can prevent them with easy maintenance!

Many older homes in New Jersey have old-style fuse boxes or panels. If you have one of these older-style fuse panels, you know how inconvenient they can be. Picture it: a beautiful Sunday afternoon; all your friends are over, and you are watching your favorite football team. There are seconds left on the clock, and the quarterback throws the ball, and in mid-air, you wait with anticipation, and what happens? Your TV screen goes blank.

So what happened? If you have one of those fuse boxes, you know exactly what happened: the fuse blew. So you race to your fuse box, locate the bad fuse, take it out, and install a new one. With a snap of a few sparks and a quick whiff of ozone, you are back in business, but by now, you have missed the very end.

The fact is that fuse boxes, although good at the time, are becoming extinct. Most insurance companies won't provide homeowners insurance with homes that have these outdated fuse boxes. You might be curious as to why. If so, then take a minute to read how having a new panel with circuit breakers can benefit you today.

New Electrical Panels – Save the day!

When you compare a fuse box to an electrical panel that has circuit breakers, it just does not compare. Modern circuit breaker panels are built with higher safety standards than outdated fuse panels. Circuit breakers provide more protection than the old screw-in fuses. Circuit breakers protect every device in the house with sensitive circuitry that responds quickly if there is a fault, opening the circuit and eliminating the risk of danger and fire.

There is also excellent protection available in the form of Ground-Fault Circuit Breakers and Arc-Fault Circuit Breakers. Fuses cannot give you protection like a GFCI and AFCI breaker.

Older equipment and wiring within your home did not have to support the modern appliances of today's time. Another common electrical hazard that we see is overloading or doubling up circuits in outdated fuse panels and breaker panels. Unfortunately, this leads to fires or burnt-up appliances and circuits.

You can eliminate this potentially dangerous situation by upgrading the power distribution source in your home by installing a new panel with circuit breakers.

Here are some reasons to upgrade your old fuse panel:

• Reduce the chance of an electrical fire.
• Eliminate doubled-up circuits.
• Eliminate the need to replace fuses or the chance to install the wrong size of fuse, which is a common fire hazard.
• Capacity to add additional circuits in the future.
• Increase the resale value of your home.
• Be able to get homeowner's insurance.

What should I get?

There are many affordable options for replacing your old fuse box. Leinster Electric will give your home a thorough evaluation and will help you decide whether you should have your outdated fuse panel replaced with a modern circuit breaker panel and what size panel you should have for your home.

Upgrading your old, outdated fuse box will ensure you get the most out of your home's electrical system and help avoid electrical hazards. And save your Sunday football game.

Throughout your home, you will often notice plugs in your wall with two buttons on them, a "reset" and "test" buttons. These are called GFCI (or Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor) receptacles, and they prevent you from electrical shock. In newer homes, they are required in kitchens and bathrooms but should be installed in older homes as well, especially anywhere near a sink or water.

The idea behind a GFCI is that the sensor will detect when the current of electricity is not correct or if there is a problem and trip itself to prevent electric shock. These are a great safety feature and an essential update to any home.

GFCIs can be tricky to install, so it is always recommended that an electrician do it for you. The wiring is generally more complex than a standard outlet, and a professional electrician can test that the GFCI is properly working. It also ensures your safety throughout the installation.

Knob-and-tube (K&T) wiring was an early standardized method of electrical wiring in buildings, commonly used in North America from about 1880 to the 1940s. The system is considered obsolete and can be a safety hazard. However, some of the fear associated with it is undeserved.

K&T wiring is designed to dissipate heat into free air; insulation will disturb this process. Insulation around K&T wires will cause heat to build up, creating a fire hazard. The 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that this wiring system can not be covered by insulation. Specifically, it states that this wiring system should not be in hollow spaces of walls, ceilings, and attics where such spaces are insulated by loose, rolled, or foamed-in-place insulating material that envelops the conductors.

Many insurance companies refuse to insure houses with knob-and-tube wiring due to the fire risk. Exceptions are sometimes made for houses where an electrical contractor has deemed the system safe.

Here are some tips for those of you with K&T wiring:

• The homeowner or an electrician should carefully remove any insulation surrounding K&T wires.
• Prospective home buyers should get an estimate of the cost of replacing K&T wiring. They can use this amount to negotiate a cheaper price for the house.
• Have the system evaluated by a qualified electrician. Only an expert can confirm that the system was installed and modified correctly.
• Do not run excessive appliances in the home, as this can cause a fire.
• Where the wiring is brittle or cracked, it should be replaced.
• Proper maintenance is crucial.

If you live in a home with K&T wiring, then call the licensed electrical experts at Leinster Electric today, and we will do a complete evaluation of your electrical system and tell you whether or not it is safe. We will also supply you with other options for upgrading your electrical system.

Electrical panel upgrades are an essential part of every homeowner's duty today. It does not matter if you have an old, outdated panel or if yours is not up to the electrical code; you must keep your panel up-to-date and safe. Leinster Electric has the skills to do the job right the first time.

Some outward signs that you may need an electrical panel upgrade are flickering lights throughout your home and circuit breakers that constantly trip. All of these are safety hazards that could cause smoke or fire, which could harm you or one of your family members.

So, what is an electrical panel? All the power in your home comes from the utility department first, then to your electric service. From there, it goes to your electric panel and then distributed in wires to different locations throughout your home, providing you power where you need it most.

You may not have an electrical panel with circuit breakers; you may have an outdated fuse box or, even worse, an electrical panel that has lost its UL approval because they have been proven to cause fires. If your home is over 20 years old, and you've never had an electrical panel upgrade, chances are you need one.

A couple of electrical panel manufacturers went out of business because they were forced to close by UL because they made inferior and dangerous products. Unfortunately, many of these panels and breakers are in thousands of homes throughout New Jersey.

Circuit breakers are designed to shut off in a fraction of a second if there is a problem. This protects you and your family from electrocution, electric shock, and house fires. With the old-style breakers, some will not trip under a test load for at least one minute; some did not trip (turn off) at all.

Problems arise from electrical panels for many reasons. We will list just a few below:

• Loose connections
• Burnt connections
• Double tapped circuits
• Old, outdated fuses
• Not UL approved

A great way to add value and peace of mind to your home is to install security lighting and a complete home security system. How often do you think of lighting as a security feature? It may seem odd, but having motion-sensitive lighting can help to deter crooks from your home. In addition, adding a security alarm is just one more measure to help keep your home and family safe. Both things can easily be installed by a licensed electrician, like those at Leinster.

Returning home to a dark yard or house can be scary! An electrician can set up security lighting on a timer so that your lights come on at certain times. This will provide light for you and make it seem as though someone is home if any unsavory character were to be watching your home. In addition, they can add an alarm system. This means that you may have to input an alarm code when you open your door. If anyone else were to enter your home without inputting this code, generally, an alarm would sound, and the police would be notified of a break-in. Both systems will add immense peace of mind and safety, so contact us today!

Do you know the difference between carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors? Unfortunately, many homeowners believe that if they have one, they're protected from the other. This is definitely not the case! Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that puts a new meaning to the phrase "silent but deadly." On top of that, the benefits of a smoke detector should not be disregarded. Both are equally important for maintaining a safe living environment.

Changing the batteries in your smoke detectors is a crucial step in preventing out-of-control fires. However, smoke detectors do have an expiration date. Having an electrician install new smoke detectors with hard wiring as a backup can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your home. Though batteries work, a hard-wiring backup prevents you from removing and not changing old batteries. The wiring causes the detector to beep until you replace the batteries, which keeps you safer. If your smoke alarms aren't working, you are nine times more likely to be injured due to a fire in your home.

Carbon monoxide detectors are essential in homes with furnaces, generators, and fireplaces. While it's essential that homes with these features have detectors installed, all homes should be equipped with them. An electrician can ensure these are correctly installed and in the correct location. They should be placed about 5 feet above the ground since carbon monoxide is lighter than air.

Contact your local electrician to schedule a home fire inspection if you have any doubts as to your home's level of preparedness. Not only can they ensure you're safe and sound, but you'll also receive peace of mind knowing that a qualified professional is taking care of you.

Are you experiencing electrical problems of any kind? Have you ever noticed how electrical problems seemingly always happen at inconvenient times? No matter how big or small the task, Leinster Electric has the background knowledge to get the job done right the first time. We understand that no matter when the problem occurs, you need an experienced professional to solve it. You can count on Leinster Electric to come out and fix the electrical issue for you, guaranteed!

Good troubleshooting is what separates a good electrician from a handyman. Good troubleshooting knowledge only comes from years of experience in the trade; there's no other way around it. Leinster Electric is so confident in our electrical troubleshooting abilities that we will give you an up-front price on all repairs before any work begins. Other companies charge by the hour, and if their electricians do not have good troubleshooting skills, the clock keeps ticking, and your bill will be higher than it should be. With us, whether the job takes 30 minutes or 3 hours, the price we quote before the job begins is the price you will pay when the job is finished. And we warranty all of our work. So, if any issue creeps up down the road with our work, we will come back and fix it.

Leinster Electric has fully stocked vehicles to ensure we can take care of your problem today, and we never charge you for getting parts if required. We believe that electrical contractors should be prepared for any job so we can get in and out as quickly as possible and return to normal life as soon as possible.

Whether from a rain storm or a snowstorm, a power outage can be an irritating, if not dangerous, occurrence. Having a backup plan in the case of an emergency can ensure your electrical appliances, medical equipment, and communication systems are up and running the moment your home loses power. A backup generator should always be your solution.

Across the board, a home standby model is the best option for a home generator. The type of backup standby generator your home needs varies depending on your home's current electrical usage, and any usage increases in months where power outages from snow or rainstorms are likely. A home standby model is installed on the exterior of your home, eliminating the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and can power several appliances at once, including your refrigerator, stove, heater, television, and more.

When you contact Leinster Electric and speak with a dedicated service professional, a representative can be dispatched to your home to evaluate your current energy usage, your energy-powered necessities during a short or long-term outage, and your installation needs from beginning to end. We care about your family's safety, and our professionals are ready to work with you to provide valuable information regarding an emergency safety plan, quick access to your backup generator, and around-the-clock customer service to answer any questions.

Our homes possess many electronics, from our phones to our stoves. What would you do if, one day, all of these devices had to be replaced? It's a situation that only some would be prepared for. You may think that power strips protect you, but surprisingly, these do not do much in the event of a severe power surge. Instead of relying on these small products for protection, consider having your local electrician install a whole home surge protector.

Though we often think of severe power surges, small, unnoticeable surges happen constantly throughout the year. These cause damage throughout time and can also be controlled by installing a whole home surge protector. The protectors can be installed at the utility meter or the breaker box. It's best to install them in both areas. Surge protectors act like a pressure relief valve, immediately diverting excess energy to the ground. The investment in protection is worth not having to replace thousands of dollars worth of appliances and electronics later. Leinster Electric can advise you on the best solution for your home.