An Electrician in Encino to Fix Electrical Outlets in Homes

Many homeowners take the functionality of electrical outlets for granted. They may not even realize that they are showing signs of wear and tear. Generally speaking, electrical outlets need to be replaced every 15 to 20 years or so. However, it depends on how often you use them as well as how often you plug and unplug devices. Hire an Electrician in Encino to help you with this task, and avoid the danger of electrical injuries for you or your family.

It’s a good idea to check if your outlets are due for replacement. Rather replace them than suffer the consequences of a fire. The following signs will show you that something is wrong with the outlets around your home.

Ungrounded outlets

Does your home have any two-pronged outlets? Is so, it is likely that your home isn’t grounded. This is often the case with an older home. If an amateur electrician did the wiring when the house was built, there’s also a chance it may be ungrounded. Two-pronged outlets can be dangerous to you and affect your appliances so you can’t afford to ignore the problem.

If you live in a place like Encino in Los Angeles, you are able to call in a certified electrician to check whether your home is grounded. If necessary, the electrician can install GFCI cables throughout your house that shut off the current when there’s a problem.

Broken outlets

If your outlets are discolored, cracked or broken, you may need to have them replaced. When the outlet is discolored, it could mean the connections are overheating and heat is escaping. A cracked or broken outlet is cause for concern because it can lead to loose wiring. Anyone using the outlet is at risk for a shock if the wiring is loose.

Old-style outlets

Older outlets are not resistant to tampering and this can be a problem if you have small children. All new homes today are built with NEC-compliant outlets that prevent objects other than plugs from being inserted.

Old-style outlets have an open slot and it is easy for a child to stick a piece of metal, such as a paper clip, into the slot and this could lead to serious injuries. A tamper-resistant outlet has doors on the outside that don’t open without equal pressure on both sides.

A loose spring

You may plug your iPhone in to charge it and come back to find that the plug is halfway out of the outlet. If this happens, it could be because the spring inside the outlet is loose and you aren’t getting an adequate connection. This is more than just an inconvenience as it can lead to arching inside the outlet.

Call us

It’s never a good idea to put off the repair or replacement of the electrical outlets inside your home. Loose wiring or overheating can cause serious damage. Hoffer Electric has more than 40 years of expertise. Call us at (323) 922-5205 or (818) 999-4190 if you’d like one of our certified electricians to have a look at your outlets or any other electrical components in your home.

Find an Electrical Contractor in Encino to Fix Flickering Lights

When your lights starting flickering, you’re likely to start thinking that your electricity may be about to go out and wonder whether you need to call in an electrician. The approach you take will depend on the reason for the flickering lights. Here are some causes of flickering lights that will help you to decide when calling in an electrical contractor in Encino may be necessary.

There are a number of reasons why your lights could be flickering, some of which are far easy to resolve than others. Bad or loose light bulbs and an incomplete electrical connection between a bulb and a socket are easy to fix.

Other problems such as the overloading of your electrical circuit, will require you to call out a certified electrician. If you live in an area like Encino in the greater Los Angeles area, a local certified electrician will be able to perform an inspection for you and make recommendations.

Bad or loose bulbs

Fluorescent lights usually flicker more than LED and other types of bulbs. The age of the bulb and the warm-up cycle are common causes of flickering. If a single light bulb is flickering, it’s easy enough to replace it with a new one and this will usually sort out the problem.

If a bulb isn’t screwed in properly, it can result in flickering because the electrical connection is weak. Simply tightening the bulb will fix this problem.

A circuit breaker issue

Other causes of flickering lights may be more difficult to address. Flickering lights could be caused by a circuit breaker issue. In this case, you may need to call out a licensed electrician to do a circuit diagnosis.

If you live in a place like Encino in the greater Los Angeles area, you can call out a certified electrician to check whether you have a faulty circuit. This could be dangerous and must be sorted out or it could cause a fire.

Power-hungry appliances

Appliances that use lots of electricity also lead to flickering lights. The electrical panel in a home may become overloaded if you’re using too many electrical appliances that draw too much current.

It’s a problem if high-demand appliances are on the same circuits as lighting and you may have to add another circuit or two to address the problem.

Problems with your electric company

Of course, your lights could simply be flickering due to problems with your electric company. Find out whether your neighbors are experiencing the same problem and you’ll have your answer. You will need to call your electric company to resolve the problem.

Now you know what could lie behind the flickering lights in your home. If it’s a more serious issue, such as a problem with your circuit breaker, you will need to call in a licensed electrician. Hoffer Electric has experienced electricians working throughout the Los Angeles area.

Contact us at (323) 922-5205 or (818) 999-4190 to schedule an appointment. If you want to install new circuits and breakers, upgrade a panel or simply need some troubleshooting, we have you covered.

Find A 24 Hour Electrician in Encino to Fix Electrical Outlets

It’s almost inevitable not to need an electrician. Whether you’re doing house repairs, improving existing appliances or just fixing the damage from an electric accident, you need a handy electrician to get to the finish line. Finding a 24 hour electrician in Encino that’s also an expert and still affordable will need a lot of work. You should never fix damaged electrical appliances and other electrical devices on your own. We have a few reasons why.

Why shouldn’t fix broken electrical outlets in your home yourself

It’s tempting to grab a spanner and a couple of wires to try and fix that gaping wall socket your child broke while skateboarding, or to try and add a new breaker on your own. But it’s not advisable.

There are some activities, such as instilling a light bulb or fixing simple wires that an electrician might let you do. The rest are out of bounds because;

You can cause more damage to your house than you imagined

Fixing an electrical outlet on your own might appear simple, but you can cause a lot more destruction than you expect.

A simple, quick fix can lead to a sudden spark that burns a whole wall or that destroys the house’s complete electrical set up even further. Meanwhile, getting an electrician in Encino to help you fix your electrical problem would have been safer and cheaper.

You can shock yourself

There is no knowing when it can happen, but getting shocked while handling electrical devices is common. Electric shocks range from mild to fatal, but the middle ground is very thin. If even the most experienced DIY-ers are prone to electric shocks, so are you. Get an experienced electrician in Encino to fix your electrical outlets instead.

You can start a fire…and lower your home’s value while increasing the renovation costs

There’s nothing easier than starting a fire in a house. The number of house fires caused by electricity and electrical devices only continues to grow every year, which means that many people die and lots of property is destroyed every year from house fires.

Playing around with your electrical sockets under the guise of fixing them yourself is one sure way to start a fire and lower your house’s market value, or just spend thousands of dollars refurbishing it after.

If you’re looking for a good 24 hour electrician in Encino to fix your electrical outlets for you, you’re in the right place.

We at Hoffer Electric have been fixing electrical outlets for all kinds of residential, commercial and industrial properties all over Encino for over 50 years, and we have seen the worst of everything so you can trust us. Also, our quotes are always free, no questions asked. Call us today at (323) 922 5205 or (818) 999 4190 to talk directly to one of our electricians in Encino and get your free quote.

Jobs That Require a Residential Electrician in Encino

The days when any householder can repair or install an electrical system are long gone. For safety’s sake, only qualified electricians can now tackle most electrical jobs. The installation of electrical systems is strictly regulated by law and whoever installs them must be an approved professional. Unless you are a trained and certified electrician please don’t attempt to do any major electrical work either in your home or your office. The results can be devastating, putting in danger those that you love or damaging property. For that reason, we at Hoffer Electrics would like to remind you of some of the electrical work you should not touch and leave to residential electricians in Encino.

Regulations

Electrical work needs to conform to certain standards for safety reasons. Only qualified professional electricians understand these limits and restrictions. This is what you have to keep in mind before tackling any DIY projects. Only professional electricians are aware of these local, state, and national regulations for electrical systems.

Blueprints

Unless trained, most people can’t read electrical schematics or interpret technical drawings.

Rewiring

Rewiring needs to be done by professionals that understand what they are doing, otherwise, it can be done incorrectly and become a danger. This includes switches, outlets, light fittings, and even plugs.

Diagnostics

Only electricians have the knowledge and correct equipment to diagnose an electrical system’s real problems. Problems with light sockets or outlets may only be the symptoms of a much deeper problem. Troubleshooting the correct problem is the only way to find a permanent and lasting solution to potentially dangerous electrical issues. Trained electricians know where to find those faults and fix them.

Installing switchboards

Switchboards are the central hub of any residential electrical system. They control the flow of electrical energy throughout your house. For your system to work safely and correctly, they have to be installed properly, within set guidelines.

Components

Only qualified electricians should install new or replace old components. Each piece has to be tested before it is installed. The average householder does not have the correct equipment to test each component. Installing the incorrect component or faulty equipment will result in greater electrical issues.

Maintaining electrical systems

People who have not been trained in the functioning of electrical systems would not know how to maintain one with any degree of safety. They don’t have the correct equipment, the knowledge of electrical wiring, or the correct tools and supplies.

Experience

Most people do not have any great experience with working with electricity and so are a danger to themselves and those around them if they try electrical work which they don’t understand completely.

The experts

Apart from legal considerations, it is best to leave electrical work to people who are trained and qualified. If you can’t comply with the safety regulations you leave yourself open to prosecution, but worst of all, you may endanger others. If you need a residential electrician in Encino, please don’t hesitate to contact us first at Hoffer Electric through our website.