Electrical

Panel Change

Just like the rest of you home, your electrical panel needs a little TLC to keep you and your family safe. When performing an inspection on your panel or a panel change, rule number one is to call a certified electrician. Any certified electrician should be able to provide you with the proper certification card. Residential electrical is a red seal trade and contractors that have this certification have worked hard to get it and are more than happy to show it off.

Regardless of the age, type or size of your panel an annual inspection is something that we highly recommend for the safety of your home. There are many items that are checked during a routine electrical inspection, here are just a few:

Wires – Checking the wires attached to the panel for heat damage and cracks and to ensure all wire connections are tight and connected properly. LOOSE WIRES CAUSE FIRES!!
Breakers – Overtime breakers get old and worn. They also may heat up. This is a sign that they are on the verge of failing. If they are not making a proper connection with the buss bar this will cause arcing and can be a potential fire hazard just like loose wires. Also checking the size of the breaker compared to the load on it. It is very important that the breaker and wire are sized properly to compliment the load. All breakers should be of the same manufacturer as the panel they are in. Fire inspectors will look for this and it could potentially void your fire insurance.
Grounding/Bonding – It is extremely important that your electrical panel be properly bonded.
Holes and Covers – Having the proper covers on your panel and all holes capped is a huge safety issue.

Surge Protection

When it comes to the source of a power surge there is no sure way to tell where they come from. Surge protection for your home is key. Let E.T. Mechanical help ensure that your equipment is protected properly.

Lighting is the most obvious source of a surge however it’s not the only cause. Cycling of heating/cooling systems, generators, motors and appliances can also produce damaging surges.

These units are weatherproof, have a green LED to indicate that surge protection is present and are great for applications such as air conditioning compressors, heat pump compressors, refrigeration compressors, pumps, motors and electro-mechanical devices.

There are a few different options when looking into surge protection for your home. The first option is what is known as a “Unit Surge Protector” (pictured above). These units tie into a specific piece of equipment in your home such as a heat pump and protect it from harmful surges and are normally installed at the equipment or on the electrical disconnect box, they will only protect this one piece of equipment and do NOT protect the entire house. The second option is known as a “Whole Home Surge Protector” and as the name suggests it provides surge protection for the entire home and everything in it. The whole home unit is installed at the electrical panel.