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Electrical

What to Do When a Tripped Circuit Breaker Won’t Reset

Your home’s circuit breaker protects your wiring from overloading, which can pose a fire risk and damage wires. If a tripped circuit breaker won’t reset, you may assume you have an electrical issue with the breaker and call an electrician. In reality, it’s often a sign that your breaker is working as intended. 

If you’re experiencing circuit breaker trips or a tripped circuit breaker that won’t reset, here are some things that you can try before calling in the professionals. 

Follow the Correct Reset Procedure

Surprisingly, there’s a right and wrong way to reset a breaker after a trip. Turn the breaker handle all the way off until you hear a click. Then you can flip it back on, again, until you hear a click. If your tripped breaker won’t reset after following this procedure, it’s time to do a bit more investigating. 

Are You Overloading the Circuit?

Having too many appliances drawing too much power from one circuit is one of the most common electrical issues behind frequent breaker trips. A circuit breaker is designed to cut the power when it detects a heavy power draw in an effort to protect the electrical system. 

The easiest way to diagnose an overloaded circuit is to unplug your appliances and test the breaker. If it stays up, then start plugging in appliances one at a time. When you find the culprit that trips the circuit, consider putting it on a different circuit entirely. Your appliance may also be faulty. Check if it’s overly hot, which may indicate faulty wiring. 

Check for Short-Circuits

Short circuits are wiring problems that occur when a wire that carries current (called a hot wire) touches a neutral wire. This touching causes both wires to heat up and can lead to electrical fires if left unaddressed. 

If your tripped circuit breaker won’t reset, and you’ve checked for overloading, then you’re likely dealing with a short-circuit. If so, turn off the breaker immediately and call a professional electrician. 

Check Your Breaker for Faults

Some older houses may have old breakers that are well past their intended lifespan. Faulty circuit breakers aren’t common, but they may be your issue, especially if you’ve exhausted other options. 

In the interests of electrical safety, you shouldn’t try to replace a faulty circuit breaker yourself. Instead, call a professional that you can rely on to do the job correctly. 

Call a Professional Electrician

Playing around with an electrical system can be very dangerous, especially if you’re not a licensed electrician. Rather than try to identify the reason why your tripped circuit breaker won’t reset, get in touch with Long View Lighting. They’ll send a skilled electrician in Woodstock, GA, to your door fast to help you troubleshoot and repair your issue with minimal fuss. Call 770-318-4143 today!

Categories
Electrical

How Much Do Electricians Cost Per Hour?

In today’s modern, technology-driven world, the importance of electricity and electricians cannot be overstated. The jobs a master electrician does are essential to almost every part of life. Fortunately, when you need skilled electrical service, hiring an electrician is relatively easy. 

But how much do electricians cost per hour, and what do they do exactly?

How Much Does an Electrician Cost per Hour?

The average electrician cost per hour is between $50-$150, depending on the job performed. The rates also vary based on project complexity, the focus of the job, and the electrician’s skill and experience level. 

These projects give you an idea of the average cost of hiring a licensed electrician:

  • Installing an electric car charging station costs $500-1200.
  • Installing an electrical panel costs $600-2000.
  • Installing an electric fence costs $1000-1500.
  • Adding an electrical outlet costs $150-300.
  • Installing a light fixture costs $150-900.

What Does an Electrician Do?

An electrician is a highly skilled tradesperson who installs, maintains, and repairs electrical systems in homes, commercial spaces, and even public structures, like stoplights.

Some of the electrical work these tradespeople performs is:

  • Reading blueprints for houses and buildings to install light switches, fixtures, outlets, and other electrical features
  • Knowing and following electrical building codes for new and existing structures
  • Installing and testing circuits to ensure connection
  • Testing devices to determine why they are not working and how to fix them
  • Replacing and upgrading old or faulty wiring according to building codes
  • Performing electrical maintenance on fixtures to ensure safe operating
  • Train other electricians to become master electricians

What are the Levels of Electricians? 

Depending on the experience of an electrician and the amount of formal electrical education, an electrician will fall into one of three categories:

  • Apprentice: often has a two-year degree and at least 8,000 hours of job experience under a certified electrician.  
  • Journeyman: has the experience of an apprentice plus a passing certification on the Journeyman’s exam.
  • A master electrician: has journeyman experience plus an additional 4,000 hours of experience and must pass the Master Electrician exam.

What Skills Does an Electrician Need?

Because an electrician is a skilled tradesperson, they require aptitude in critical areas. Electricity is dangerous when mishandled, so knowledge is key to successful proper electrical work. Electricians must possess

  • Basic math skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Good time management
  • Excellent problem-solving skills 
  • Focus on safety
  • Physical endurance and strength
  • Ability to communicate with customers

Now that you understand how much an electrician costs per hour, find out how to hire an electrician from Long View Lighting in Woodstock, GA, at 770-790-3511 for any electrical need.