Why Whole House Surge Protection?

Lightning Protecting Lightning Storms – Can You Be Protected?

With the coming of spring, the weather has turned very unpredictable. Some areas of the country are experiencing their first snowfall, while here in Myrtle Beach we are having thunder storms with thunderbolts. Last fall a neighbor’s house was struck by lightning and they suffered damage to several appliances including a TV and their computer. That's why you need surge protection. If you are not protected, when thunderbolts hit your home, it actually travels through your home’s electrical system. What is happening is that the lighting is looking for the shortest route to the ground. Not only can it travel through appliances, it can also travel through your plumbing and even through your land line phone. Because a thunderbolt can travel through these devices, you are often advised to avoid using your computer or phone during a storm. The thunderbolt can travel through the phone into your body and can do your bodily harm in seconds, even death. Yes, people have survived such horror stories, but do you feel that lucky? Although lightning can damage simple appliances like electric fans or light bulbs, it can do even great damage to appliances containing microchips such as televisions and computers. This also includes those expensive game boxes you purchased over the holidays.

Preparing For A Storm That May Have Lightning

To prevent damage to appliances, game consoles and computers, you will want to unplug them from your homes electrical system. This will prevent them from being fried in the event of a thunderbolt striking your home. Of course, this does not protect them from damage if the bolt strikes causing a fire. Install a lightning rod. This is a very simple device that in theory will attract thunderbolts and divert it from the house. The rod is grounded which makes a pathway for the bolts to reach the ground without damaging your home. Install whole house surge protection Myrtle Beach. This is the most reliable and best alternative for your home. You may not be home to unplug all of your devices when a storm strikes. A Whole House surge protector is designed to protect homes again transient surges that enter through the home’s electric supply. Whole House protectors are devices that are installed at the meter or electrical panel. These devices require the installation by a licensed electrical contractor. Whole house surge protection is also referred to as a house energy shield. This device will protect your appliances by preventing lightning from doing any real damage. You will also want to consider installing point-of-contact surge protection also. These devices are used to protect specific electronic equipment in the event of a surge in power. This can happen when several electronic devices are plugged into one electrical source or when the power company is rotating points of service. These devices usually come with an uninterruptible power supply that can be used to keep the power flowing to your equipment for a short period of time. This will give you time to properly power down your computer and prevent you from losing a document or other data you are working on. You will want to call your local electrician, Myrtle Beach Electrician Pros, for an in-home quote on installing a whole house surge protection system in your home. With the cost of insurance deductibles today, the price is easily justified by preventing just one major appliance from being damaged. In some instances an insurance company will adjust your premium if you install whole house protection against thunderbolt strikes.

Give MB Electrician Pros a call today for your protection against lightning and power surges.

MB Electrician Pros Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-353-6345 electriciansmyrtlebeach.com

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Electrical Safety Tips During and After Storms

Professional electricians say that natural disasters and severe storms can lead to different electrical safety problems in and around our houses. Floods, downed power lines, and lighting are only some of the serious safety issues linked with storms. But most of these electrical safety problems stay even after the storm itself has already passed. Here are some electrical safety tips provided by the Electrical Safety Foundation International ESFI along with answers to some of the most common questions about storm safety.

Electrical Safety Tips During Disasters

What do you need to do if you are outside during a lightning storm?

• You should find a move mot a light point. If you are in an exposed area, you should move into a crouched position since lighting tend to hit tall objects.
• Tuck your head.
• Cover your ears.
• Don’t get close to trees.
• Don’t hold or avoid any metal objects.
• Stay away from anything damp including grass.
• Stay away from lakes, pools, or anything that has water.
• If there are other people, be sure not to stay close to them.

Should you stay in or out of the car? Electrician Myrtle Beach says it’s better to stay inside your vehicle when there’s a thunderstorm if it’s fully enclosed and comes with a metal stop like that of a minivan. When you’re inside the vehicle, make sure to avoid using radio communications as well as other electronic devices. Are you safe inside the house during the storm? You will be safe inside your house during a storm if you follow some basic electrical safety tips. You have to stay away from doors and windows. Before the storm comes, you should unplug your appliances and other electronic devices. You should also avoid getting in contact with plumbing and water such as faucets, baths, and sinks. Can you talk on the phone during a storm? You can use cellular phones or cordless phones if you need to make a phone call during a storm. Should you leave your dog outside during a storm? If you have pets, you need to bring them inside your home. Chained animals can be struck by lightning if left outside. What should you do if you find a downed power line? If you encounter a downed power line, you should move a minimum of 10 feet through small steps, you have to keep your feet together and always on the ground to minimize the possibility of a strong electrical shock. What should you do if someone else encountered a downed power line? If you see another person come in direct or indirect contact with a downed power line, you must not touch that person. You will be surely the next victim if you do. You have to call for help right away. What can you use to move a downed power line? Stay away from a downed power line. Don’t try to move it using a non-conductive material like wood.

Call MB Electrician Pros right away if you want to make sure that your home is prepared before a storm. Our team of professional electrician can also assist you with your electrical concerns after the storm.

MB Electrician Pros Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-353-6345 electriciansmyrtlebeach.com

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When do you need to get an electrical safety inspection?

Can you recall the last time you had an electrical inspection done by an electrician to check the safety of your home? If it’s been more than a year, then you should schedule one this spring.

When should you schedule an electrical inspection?

• You need to watch out for different signs to help you determine if it’s time to schedule a home electrical inspection.
• Before you purchase or sell a house.
• It’s been a year since your home had an electrical inspection.
• Your home is at least 40 years old.
• You’re making a home renovation or room addition.
• You’re adding a central HVAC system or other major appliance.
• You notice an unusual sulfuric or burning smell near some electrical components.
• You need more power or electrical outlet to accommodate the electrical needs of your house.
• There are switches or outlets that are hot or warm to the touch.
• You hear strange sounds like humming or buzzing from the electrical system.

If you’re experiencing tripping breakers regularly, cutting off electrical power from at least one section of your home, be sure to call an electrician right away. Your house may have a major electrical problem. The same thing goes for strange smells, sounds, and sights that come from the electrical components. You should schedule a whole house or in-depth electrical inspection before you purchase a house or begin a major home renovation project. A trained and licensed electrician can tell you if there are any electrical issues you need to know. MB Electrician Pros suggests scheduling an electrical inspection every year to discover possible problems and find ways to boost energy efficiency while making sure that your home’s electrical system meets the code.

What is included in a home electrical safety inspection?

The electrician Myrtle Beach will check the following during an electrical safety inspection.

• Outlets and switches
• Outdoor and indoor lighting
• AFCI and GFCI protection
• Relays and contractors
• Fuses and circuit breakers
• Electrical boxes and panels
• Electrical wires
• Electric meter

Apart from rooting out electrical problems before they become major safety issues, an electrical contractor will make sure that your home meets the National Electrical Code standards.

DIY Electrical Safety Inspection

There are some monthly electrical tasks that you can do to make sure that your electrical system is efficient and safe. These include testing the AFCIs and GFCIs, testing the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, as well as checking electrical cords for signs of wear and tear. Never use extension cords as your permanent solution for lack of electrical outlets. If you notice that your outlets and switches are making weird noises, discoloured, or warm to the touch, be sure to call an electrical contractor right away. You also need the help of an expert if the plugs of your appliances or devices don’t fit into the outlets.

Schedule an electrical inspection with MB Electrician Pros now. Our professional electricians can also help you with the installation, repair, and maintenance of your electrical system.

MB Electrician Pros Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-353-6345 electriciansmyrtlebeach.com

http://electriciansmyrtlebeach.com/when-do-you-need-to-get-an-electrical-safety-inspection/

Home Projects That Need The Help Of Electricians

Most homeowners must never try a DIY electrical project unless they have experience in the electrical field. Electricity is not just complex but also dangerous. An electrical job that’s done by an amateur may lead to a poor wire connection, faulty grounding, and even overloaded circuits, which can be hazardous to your home and loved one’s safety. Fortunately, you can hire licensed electricians. Professional electricians go through extensive training and are always updated with the most recent electrical codes. Rather than risking it, call an expert for assistance in case you notice electrical problems at home or you would like to upgrade the electricity capacity of your home. Listed below are four common services offered by professional electricians Myrtle Beach.

Home Projects Electricians Can Work On

Circuit Breaker Upgrades Your whole home gets electricity thanks to the electrical panels. When you upgrade your appliances, you may have to upgrade your home’s electrical service panels, too, so that enough power can be supplied. Old breaker boxes may lead to electrical problems such as blown fuses and flickering lights. Hire an electrician if you need help in upgrading your home’s circuit breaker panel, especially if you are adding a new living area or if your house is already old and you notice that your electricity is acting up. Adding USB Ports, GFCI Receptacles, Outlets Electricians can also install more electrical outlets in your house or change any of the ones you already have to GFCIs. In most cases, electoral code needs that you have at least once of this type of outlet in your kitchen or bathroom. GFCI works by shutting down the power in case water will come in contact with electricity or if the electrical load becomes unbalanced, which helps prevent electrical shock. But, many older houses don’t have this feature. You also need to make sure that GFCI is installed in your outdoor outlets. Outdoor Lighting If you would like to install security lighting or ambient lighting, you should also call a reliable electrician. An electrical contractor could assist you in thread wiring outdoors in case there was none before. The electrician will make sure that the wiring is grounded correctly for the outdoors. Apart from that, an electrical contractor can assist you in selecting lighting that’s designed for outdoor use. Light Fixture Replacement A homeowner can change the lighting fixtures. But there are some cases when you need to hire professional help. An electrical contractor will help you in checking the circuit’s amperage and the new fixture’s wattage. Switch and Outlet Cover Installation Little electrical knowledge is required when it comes to installing outlet covers and light switches. Changing outlet covers just needs a screwdriver. You just need to make sure that you turn off the power to the area of your home before you begin. If you are not comfortable in doing this, you should call an electrician right away.

Call MB Electrician Pros now and let us help you with all your electrical problems and projects.

MB Electrician Pros Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-353-6345 electriciansmyrtlebeach.com  

http://electriciansmyrtlebeach.com/home-projects-need-electricians/

Electrician Discusses Preventing Electrical Shock

Your electrician can help ensure your electrical system is up to date and in tip top shape. On the other hand, he cannot always protect you and the rest of your family from electrical shock and other similar and related problems. This is why electricians do not get tired of sharing tips and guiding homeowners on how to effectively use and take care of their electrical systems to prevent and avoid these deadly electrical emergencies. Here are some of the basic things that you can do to ensure you and your family’s safety from electrical shock and other similar problems. Keep these in mind and work with your electrician Myrtle Beach to effectively avoid these electrical emergencies and preserve you and your family’s safety. 1. Cover wall outlets If you have young children and pets in the family, you should definitely consider covering your wall outlets. This is particularly essential in the rooms and areas of the house where your kids and pets play. When outlets are covered, this will prevent the kids from sticking their toys – which may include metal parts – inside the socket as part of their play. Remember that doing so can quickly lead to an electrical shock. If you have not done so already, you should consider having your electrical contractor replace all the outlets in your house to three-pronged ones. This specific type of outlet has an inner covering in all of its slots and it will only start to function – allowing electrical current to flow through – when these coverings are pushed at the same time. Thus, when toddlers try to stick their toys in one of the slots, no electric current will flow through. 2. Avoid using damaged appliance If any of your electrical appliances is damaged, inform everyone in the household to stop using it until it is repaired. You should know that damaged electrical appliances are prone to emitting sparks which may cause tiny bolts of electricity to travel through the person using the appliance. As a result, the person may experience an electrical shock. Immediately bring the damaged appliance to its manufacture for repair or have it replaced at once. A common sign that your appliance is damaged aside from failure to operate is when its wires are frayed, exposed or cut. 3. Learn more about how your electrical system operates It is important that you know how your electrical system is set up and how it operates as this will help you to more effectively use it and to better take care of it. Primarily, you should know where to safely plug in your power tools should you need to use them if you do not have outlets in your garage or backyard. You should also know how much wattage your electrical system can handle to allow you to use the appropriate and most compatible light bulbs for your lamps. As a result, you avoid overloading your electrical system, which can lead to problems and repairs. Work with your electrical contractor to learn more about how your electrical system operates. MB Electrician Pros is always ready to provide guidance and assistance to homeowners regarding their electrical systems. 4. Do not overload your outlets Overloading your outlets basically means plugging in too many appliances in one outlet. Remember that each outlet has a specific amount of wattage that flows through it. Plugging too many appliances and gadgets in a single outlet may cause it to overheat, blow a fuse and start an electrical fire. You will know when you are starting to overuse your outlet if you often use several extension cords or power strips in a single outlet. If you find yourself in a similar situation, have your electrician install additional outlets in the house so you can maximize your use of electricity without putting you and your family’s safety at risk.

For professional electrical contractor services, call MB Electrician Pros now.

MB Electrician Pros Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-353-6345 electriciansmyrtlebeach.com

http://electriciansmyrtlebeach.com/electrician-electrical-shock/