Unsure what can and frequently does go wrong with electrical installations and repairs? The following list can help you understand each process and identify what may have gone wrong:

Insecure Wiring

If the staples holding wiring in place are driven too tight around the wire, locking it into place on the beam or stud, serious damage can occur, including breakdown of the wire itself. This may lead to electrical fires and issues with the lighting or appliances powered through this wiring.

Wiring Size Issues

Using the wrong type or size of wire can cause overheating, as the wire is carrying more current than it was built to withstand. In most cases, the thicker the wire, the more current it can safely carry. If your wires feel warm, sizing issues may be the cause.

Read More: When To Rewire Your House

Improper Wire Length

In order to create a durable electrical connection, wires must be stripped to reveal their metallic core. The length of wire that can legally be stripped is subject to code regulation, and improper wire stripping can cause nicks on the metal that interrupt connections or cause short circuits. At least six inches are recommended to allow for handling within the outlet box.

Unprotected Wiring

Wiring can become damaged if left uncovered and exposed to harsh changes in weather or tampering. For this reason, a common problem for homeowners in particular is an uncovered power box located on the outside of your home. The fix is simple. Purchase and install an outdoor-specific power box to ensure that your electrical wiring is safe and sound.

Connection

Tight electrical connections are a major factor in safe wiring jobs. Loose connections can cause arcing and overheating, which can lead to fires and and personal injury. An experienced electrician will be able to choose a connector that fits the wires and lines up the ends of each with the next, helping you avoid nicked, bent, or twisted connections.

Electrical issues that arise during installation are often the simplest to repair and some of the most dangerous if missed. Consider calling Prairie Electric when you’re working on your next electrical installation job. Our expertise and integrity on every single project and service call make us an industry leader in the Pacific Northwest, and we’re always happy to help.

Squirrels, especially gray squirrels like we have here in the Vancouver and Portland area, have teeth that never stop growing. To keep them filed down, they instinctively chew on anything they can, including wood, plastic, and even the protective insulation around electrical wires. This behavior can lead to serious damage inside your attic, basement, or walls, increasing the risk of electrical fires or power loss.

Why Do Squirrels Chew on Wires?

Squirrels chew on wires primarily to manage their teeth, not out of hunger. Unfortunately, your home’s electrical system becomes a convenient target, especially in quiet, tucked-away areas like attics. The smell or warmth from the wires may also attract them. If you’re asking, do squirrels chew wires?, the answer is yes – frequently and aggressively.

How to Stop Squirrels From Eating Electrical Wires

To protect your home, start by sealing off any possible entry points. Check your attic vents, roofline, and basement for small gaps around wiring. Use steel mesh or heavy-gauge sheet metal to block these areas. Squirrels can’t chew through metal, making this a highly effective barrier.

For wires that run through open or vulnerable areas, consider enclosing them in a metal conduit. While most electrical wiring comes with rubber insulation, that alone won’t stop a determined squirrel. A protective metal sleeve adds a much stronger layer of defense.

Repairing Squirrel-Damaged Wiring

If a squirrel has already chewed through your home’s wiring, it’s important to act quickly. Damaged wires can cause shorts, power outages, or even fires. At Prairie Electric, we can safely inspect, repair, or replace chewed wires and ensure everything is up to code. We’ll also check nearby areas for additional damage and help you prevent future problems. Never attempt to fix exposed or frayed wires on your own. Electrical work should always be handled by a licensed professional.

Natural Prevention – No Poisons Needed

We don’t recommend using chemicals or poisons, especially if you have children or pets. Metal barriers are a safer, longer-lasting solution. They also avoid the health risks that come with pesticides or traps left unattended.

If you’ve noticed signs of squirrel damage or want to learn how to stop squirrels from chewing wires in your home, give Prairie Electric a call. We can inspect your wiring and recommend safe solutions to keep your home protected.

Spikes in your home’s electrical current happen with surprising frequency. Most surges last for a fraction of a second and are harmless — to our service panel, our devices, and ourselves. Yet, while spikes don’t often last long, they can be powerful enough to cause damage to electronic devices and electrical wiring — and even lead to electrical fires.

What Are Power Surges?

A high power surge can happen when electricity is interrupted then immediately re-established. This occurrence forces too much current through the electrical system. Surges have the ability to knock out your delicate electronics, cause fires, and wreak havoc up and down the circuitry of your home or business.

Internal Surges

Internal power surges are the most common type. More than 50 percent of household surges are of this variety. They may occur dozens of times every day. Most surges are too small to be detected by the human senses and not strong enough to interrupt electrical service. They pass through your home’s wires, and no one’s ever the wiser. Fortunately, modern electronics can resist these minuscule spikes and keep electricity flowing.

Refrigerators, air conditioners, and other appliances can cause surges when they’re switched on. This type of problem happens most often when your home has faulty wiring. Tripped circuit breakers and short circuits can also create spikes in current. This kind of internal surge is powerful enough to cause damage.

If you suspect your home has bad wiring, contact your utility company immediately.

External Surges

External power surges are usually greater than the internal variety. They may happen when trees, tree branches, or anything else, really, fall onto a power line. Lightning strikes are another cause. A single strike near a power line could fry a television or computer monitor.

How to Prevent Power Surges

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) estimates that 60% to 80% of surges are created when large appliances, such as air conditioners, cycle off and on. Appliances such as dryers will cause big power draws when connected to individual circuits. They can also cause major power stoppages when powered on and off. Electronics connected to the same circuit will deal with the same impact across the board.

This is why it is so critical to take advantage of individual power surge protector (or “bricks”) as much as possible. This is especially important when connecting expensive and delicate electronics to the outlet. You don’t want to fry your expensive new laptop or big screen TV because you started the washing machine at the same time.

Get A Home Surge Arrester

The first thing you should do to protect your home from a power surge is to invest in a whole home arrester as soon as possible. It’s basically a house surge protector. They’re a bit more expensive than plugging surge protectors into all of your outlets and hoping for the best. Still, a whole home search device will protect your circuits directly at the electrical panel. It will modulate and control your home’s power and make sure it flows steadily, efficiently, and continuously.

This is the kind of upgrade you want to make with the help of the best electrician in the area. They will have to do all the heavy lifting to install this kind of setup. Once installed, however, you will never have to worry about surges again.

Call the award-winning electrical experts at Prairie Electric today to learn more about how you can protect your home or business!

How Exhaust Fan Fires Start

Over time, dust and lint collect on the fan blades and motor. Even if you’re cleaning your bathroom regularly, dust will naturally make its way into the fan and settle on the blades and motor. This dust layer is more than a nuisance to add to your cleaning list; it can be dangerous and pose a fire hazard. There are several ways that a fire can start due to this buildup of dust:

• Old/worn-out fans are more likely to have faulty wiring. When the fan is running with dust buildup, the faulty wiring can spark, igniting the dust and quickly building a fire inside the fan.
• Motor overheating from the fan running too long, or if the fan is older with a worn-out motor. Worn-out bearings in older units make the motor work harder, producing more heat. This excess heat can ignite the debris and start a fire.
• Improper installation can lead to faulty wiring, which again can cause overheating and fire.

See this Instagram post from Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical showing the aftermath of a laundry room exhaust fan fire:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Daisy Mountain Fire & Medical (@daisymtnfire)

Why Bathroom Fan Fires Are So Dangerous

If a fire starts in your fan, imagine this: While the fan is running and pulling air up and away from occupied rooms, this spreads the fire up and out of sight. The excess oxygen also fuels the fire. These fires often spread in hidden areas like ceilings or attics, causing massive damage before anyone notices in time to put it out quickly. Besides the obvious safety risks involved in a house fire, a fire in the ceiling or attic can easily harm additional electrical wiring and ventilation systems, leading to costly repairs.

How to Prevent Exhaust Fan Fires

• Clean Regularly: Remove dust and lint at least every six months to prevent buildup.
• Use an Automatic Timer: A timer ensures that the fun only runs when needed, such as during and after showers. No more leaving the house with it accidentally and unnecessarily running all day!
• Listen for Odd Noises: Strange sounds may signal mechanical issues or debris.
• Get It Inspected: If you are concerned about anything – such as improper installation, unusual noises or smells, if it’s not working well to reduce humidity, or it’s old – it’s a great idea to have a professional electrician check the fan and wiring.
• Install a High Quality Fan: Don’t skimp when it comes to fire safety. Get a modern, efficient fan that is easy to clean and performs well. Plus, you get the double bonus of having a new fan that actually does its job and reduces the humidity in the room!

This Instagram post from Gilbert Fire & Rescue in Arizona has an excellent breakdown of the causes and solutions regarding bathroom and laundry room exhaust fans and fire prevention.

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A post shared by Gilbert Fire & Rescue Department (@gilbertfiredept)

How Prairie Electric Can Help

Our residential electricians in Washington and Oregon are here to help you make sure that your bathroom and laundry room exhaust fans are installed properly and safely. If you read this and are finally cleaning that dirty fan and notice any red flags, reach out to us. We’ll come out and take a look and see if a new fan needs to be installed. We’ll also install an automatic timer to make sure that it doesn’t stay on for too long.

• Annual Cleaning and Oiling: We clean and lubricate fans to keep them running smoothly and prevent overheating.
• Replacement and Upgrades: We install modern, energy-efficient exhaust fans that meet current safety standards.
• Timer Installations: We install timers so your fan turns off automatically, reducing fire risks and extending the fan’s life.

More Home Electrical Services

In addition to exhaust fan installation, we offer electrical panel upgrades, lighting installations, and whole-house surge protection. Our team ensures quality work and home safety.

Schedule Your Service Today

Don’t let a small issue turn into a big problem. Contact Prairie Electric today to schedule a service appointment or learn how we can help keep your home safe. Your safety is our priority!

Understanding Hair Dryer Amperage and Circuit Breakers

Have you ever had your hair dryer trip a circuit breaker while you’re getting ready in the morning? It’s a frustrating scenario—your blow dryer powers on, then suddenly everything stops as the breaker trips. This is often caused by the hair dryer’s high amp draw overloading your home’s circuit. Understanding hair dryer amperage and how to manage it can help prevent these interruptions.

Hair Dryer Amps and Wattage

Modern hair dryers typically use between 1,500 to 1,875 watts, translating to 12 to 15 amps on a standard 120-volt circuit. Compared to older models from the 1970s that only required around 750 watts (6 amps), today’s hair dryers demand significantly more power for faster and more efficient drying.

To calculate how many amps your specific hair dryer uses, divide the wattage by the voltage. For example:

1,875 watts ÷ 120 volts = 15.6 amps

This amp draw alone can max out a standard 15-amp circuit, especially in older homes. Adding other devices to the same circuit increases the risk of tripping the breaker.

Why Does My Hair Dryer Trip the Breaker?

Hair dryers trip breakers because they pull a significant amount of current, especially on circuits shared with other devices. If your breaker trips regularly while using your blow dryer, it’s likely due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Overloaded Circuit: Too many appliances or devices plugged into the same circuit.
• High Amp Draw of Hair Dryer: A 1,875-watt hair dryer on a 15-amp circuit leaves little room for additional load.
• Outdated Wiring: Older homes often have 15-amp circuits that struggle to handle the demands of modern appliances.

Preventing Hair Dryer Short Circuits

To avoid frequent breaker trips when using your hair dryer, consider the following tips:

• Limit Other Devices: Unplug other appliances like heaters or fans from the same circuit. This reduces the overall load and leaves more capacity for your hair dryer’s amp draw.
• Upgrade Your Circuit: If your home’s circuits can’t handle the 15 amps required by modern hair dryers, consider upgrading to 20-amp circuits. An electrician can add dedicated circuits to accommodate high-wattage appliances.
• Use a Lower-Wattage Hair Dryer: If rewiring isn’t an option, opt for a hair dryer with a lower wattage to reduce amp draw.
• Switch to GFCI Outlets: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are safer for high-draw appliances like hair dryers and help protect against electrical faults.

Amperage and Hair Dryer Safety

Using a hair dryer on an overloaded circuit can not only trip breakers but also increase the risk of overheating or electrical fires. Always check your hair dryer’s wattage and ensure your home’s electrical system can handle its amp draw.

If your hair dryer continues to trip breakers or you’re unsure about your home’s electrical capacity, consult a licensed electrician. Upgrading your electrical system can provide peace of mind and keep your appliances running smoothly.

Ready to Upgrade Your Electrical System?

Whether you need help calculating amp draw, upgrading circuits, or rewiring an older home, Prairie Electric is here to help. Contact us today to ensure your electrical system can safely support all your devices—including your hair dryer.

Jump to a Specific Season:

• Fall
• Winter
• Spring
• Summer

Fall: Preparing Your Home for Cooler Weather

Fall marks the transition to shorter days and cooler nights, making it the perfect time to ready your home for the challenges of winter. By addressing potential energy inefficiencies and safety risks, you can prevent common problems before they arise.

Inspect and Maintain Heating Systems

As temperatures drop, heaters become essential. Whether you’re using portable electric heaters, built-in units, or centralized systems, proper maintenance is crucial. Clean your heater’s filters and vents to ensure optimal performance. For portable heaters, always follow manufacturer guidelines and place them on level, non-flammable surfaces. Avoid using extension cords to power heaters, as they can overheat and become fire hazards.

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Fall is a great time to test and replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You may have even heard the mantra “change your clocks, change your batteries.” It’s a good habit to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors each time you change the clocks, so twice a year. It’s important to keep them fully powered and ready to provide critical warnings in case of overheating wires, fires, or gas leaks.

Check Furnaces and Heaters

Furnaces and heaters can malfunction, leading to dangerous situations. Fall is a great time to check your heating systems before you use them this winter.

If you have electric wall heaters, turn off the breakers and then clean them out before using the heater for the first time this season. Remove the cover and use a vacuum and a small brush to remove the dust and dirt build up.

For your furnace, it’s a good idea to have them inspected annually, and the fall is the perfect time to do it before you start using it regularly this winter.

Water Heater Maintenance

Make sure your hot water heater is operating at peak efficiency, which is especially important to check before winter arrives. Generally speaking, hot water heaters last about 10 years. Have a plumber inspect your hot water heater to make sure it’s still working properly.

Use Timers for Outdoor Lighting

Fall’s shorter days often lead to increased use of outdoor lights. Consider installing timers or motion sensors to limit energy usage without compromising security. LED lights for outdoor fixtures can save money compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.

Seal Windows and Doors

Drafty windows and doors can account for a significant loss of heat, forcing your heater to work harder. Inspect for gaps and use weather stripping or caulk to seal leaks. Energy-efficient windows and thermal curtains can further enhance insulation and reduce heating costs.

Check Outdoor Outlets

Outdoor outlets should be protected from the elements to prevent moisture, dirt, and debris from causing corrosion or short circuits, which can lead to electrical hazards. We recommend bubble covers for protection. They must also be GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protected to safeguard against electrical shocks, especially in wet environments. GFCI outlets detect electrical imbalances and quickly shut off power, providing an essential safety feature for outdoor use where the risk of ground faults is higher. Properly protecting outdoor outlets ensures safe and reliable power for your exterior needs.

Winter: Keeping Your Home Warm and Safe

Winter’s extreme weather often results in increased energy consumption and heightened safety risks. Taking proactive measures can help you manage your utility bills and ensure electrical safety.

>>> Click here for a full guide to winter electrical safety

Invest in Efficient Heating Solutions

Space heaters are a common choice during winter, but they come with risks. Instead, opt for safer alternatives like electric wall heaters or floor heating, which provide effective warmth without compromising safety. Ensure that heating devices meet modern safety standards and have automatic shut-off features.

Backup Generators for Winter Emergencies

Winter storms can knock out power for hours—or even days. A Kohler home generator is a reliable solution for maintaining warmth and powering essential appliances during outages. Generators should always be installed by certified professionals, like Prairie Electric, to ensure safe operation.

Prevent Electrical Overloads

Holiday lights and additional appliances can easily overload circuits. Use surge protectors and distribute appliances across multiple circuits. Avoid plugging high-wattage devices, like heaters, into the same outlet to reduce the risk of overheating and electrical fires.

Use the Dryer Efficiently

Dry your loads one right after the other as this makes the most of the heat already in the dryer. Be sure to clean the lint filter before you run a load. When the filter is clogged with lint, the dryer needs more energy to get clothes dry. It’s also a fire hazard to have a dryer filter full of lint.

Keep Electrical Cords Visible

Electrical cords buried under rugs or furniture can overheat and pose a fire hazard. During winter, ensure cords are placed in open areas and inspect them regularly for signs of fraying or damage.

Lower the Thermostat and Bundle Up

Turn your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees at night and when you’re not home during the day. This one step can result in 10 percent savings on your heating bills over the course of the year. And if you’re using a smart, programmable thermostat, you can automate these settings which is even more efficient. Or, from your phone you can warm the house a few minutes before arriving home instead of cranking it up when you arrive.

Bundle up! Invest in flannel sheets and a comforter for your bed. Your bedroom will be cooler, but you’ll stay warm and cozy even on the coldest nights.

Use Natural Light for Warmth

Despite all the overcast days so prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, the sun does come out occasionally. Solar heat is an excellent—and free—source of heat for your home. During the day, leave the curtains open on windows facing south. This lets in the warmth of the sun and naturally raises the temperature in your home.

When the sun goes down, pull your drapes and close your blinds so the warmth stays inside. It’s basically the same process during the summer, just in reverse. Depending on the age of your home, you may want to consider new energy-efficient windows. This is a pretty big upfront cost but will save you money during the following decades.

Spring: Optimizing Energy and Preparing for Storms

Spring is the season for fresh starts—and that applies to your home’s energy and safety measures too. Simple upgrades and proactive planning can make your home more efficient and resilient.

Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting

As daylight increases, take advantage of natural light to reduce reliance on artificial lighting. Replace outdated bulbs with LED alternatives, which use significantly less energy and last longer. LEDs are available in various tones to match the ambiance of your home.

Spot Ventilation

Everyone knows what it’s like to walk into a condensated bathroom after someone has taken a shower or bath. Yuck. In order to reduce that muggy atmosphere quickly, many people open a window and allow the fog to clear. However, doing so can cool indoor temperatures and trigger your thermostat.

Instead, use a fan, vented to the outside of your home, to spot-ventilate areas like bathrooms and kitchens, reducing the need for compensatory energy use.

Prevent Air Leakage

This was already mentioned in our fall energy saving tips, but it bears repeating: seal those openings! Sealing these leakage points can help prevent your home from cooling or heating without your control and also keep your thermostat from triggering unnecessarily. Caulk or weatherstripping methods are excellent options for sealing those pesky air leaks around your doors and windows.

Even the smallest openings in your home’s exterior can create undesirable flows of cool and warm air, increasing the need for heating or air conditioning. Since we have a range of fluctuating weather and temperature in the spring in Oregon and Washington, it’s a great reminder to get those gaps sealed. The goal is to increase our energy efficiency and lower our energy bills.

Install Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats can help regulate your home’s temperature based on your schedule. By programming your thermostat to reduce heating or cooling when you’re away, you can cut down on energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.

Unplug Idle Appliances

Devices like TVs, microwaves, and chargers draw power even when not in use. This “phantom load” can add up over time. Use power strips to easily switch off multiple devices or unplug appliances you rarely use.

Prepare for Spring Storms

Storm-related outages can disrupt daily life. Install surge protectors to shield sensitive electronics and consider a backup generator for uninterrupted power. Make sure all outdoor electrical fixtures are weatherproofed to prevent water damage.

Clean Refrigerator Condenser Coils

Before it gets too hot to want to tackle this annual task, clean the condenser coils of your refrigerator. Check the appliance manuals, YouTube, or do-it-yourself websites for how-to information. It’s important to keep them clean, particularly if the fridge is in an area that collects a lot of dust or pet hair. The fridge won’t have to work quite as hard to keep for your food cold, particularly in the impending hot summer months.

Summer: Staying Cool Without Breaking the Bank

The summer heat can strain electrical systems and drive up energy bills. With a few adjustments, you can keep your home cool and efficient.

Leverage Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans consume far less electricity than air conditioners and can effectively circulate cool air. Set the fan blades to rotate counterclockwise in summer to push air downward, creating a wind-chill effect.

Use Timers and Thermostats

Running your air conditioning 24/7 isn’t necessary. Use programmable thermostats to cool your home only during peak hours, and set timers to automatically turn off appliances when not needed.

Inspect Outdoor Wiring

Summer is the perfect time to examine outdoor wiring, especially if you plan to use exterior outlets for grills, pools, or landscaping lights. Ensure wires are properly insulated and free from damage to avoid hazards.

Seal Windows and Doors

Just like in winter, sealing gaps around windows and doors helps maintain indoor temperatures. Proper insulation prevents cool air from escaping, reducing the workload on your air conditioning system.

Air Dry Clothing

Take advantage of these warm, sunny days and dry laundry outside! It’s a great way to soak up some natural vitamin D while saving energy by using the dryer less often. The sun also is a great disinfectant and sanitizes materials better than laundry detergent and dryer heat.

If you ever line-dry clothing indoors, keep in mind that the moisture that evaporates into your space can potentially cause dampness issues or even mold and mildew. So if drying clothes on the line during rainy days, make sure to use ventilation such as fans to keep air moving.

Year-Round Safety and Efficiency Tips

Regardless of the season, there are universal practices every homeowner should adopt to ensure safety and efficiency.

Schedule Regular Inspections

Have a licensed electrician inspect your home’s electrical systems annually. They can identify outdated wiring, overloaded circuits, or other potential hazards before they become costly problems.

Change Out Air Filters

While using your heating and cooling systems, or even just using the fan for ventilation, your filters will become dirty and need to be regularly replaced. We recommend changing our your air filters monthly. This also improves energy efficiency since your appliances won’t have to work quite so hard to get the air through a nice clean filter.

Upgrade Electrical Systems

If your home still relies on an old fuse box or outdated wiring, consider upgrading to a modern electrical panel. This can improve energy efficiency, handle higher electrical loads, and enhance overall safety.

Install Energy-Efficient Appliances

In addition to conserving energy through the electrical system itself, you should also switch to more efficient appliances. Before purchasing an air conditioner, check its energy efficiency ratio (EER). You may also see SEER instead of EER, where the “S” stands for “Seasonal.” The higher the EER, the better. A score of 13 or more is best.

Educate Your Household

Make sure everyone in your home understands basic electrical safety, such as unplugging appliances during storms and avoiding overloading outlets. Teach children to stay away from outlets and cords.

Adopt Sustainable Practices

Incorporate energy-saving habits into your daily routine, like turning off lights when leaving a room, unplugging unused electronics (or turning off the power strips), and running appliances during off-peak hours. Small changes can lead to significant savings over time.

Trust Prairie Electric for All Your Electrical Needs

From energy-efficient upgrades to expert generator installations, Prairie Electric provides top-notch service tailored to every season. Whether you’re preparing for winter storms or optimizing your home for summer, our skilled electricians are here to help.

Contact us today for a no-obligation quote, installations, and consultations for residential, commercial, and industrial electrical needs in Vancouver, Ridgefield, and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

How Circuit Breakers Work

A circuit breaker is a crucial part of your home’s electrical system. But what do circuit breakers do exactly? Circuit breakers protect your electrical system by automatically cutting off power when the current is too high, interrupting the flow of electricity when needed. Each circuit is connected to a breaker, which “trips” and stops the flow of electricity if the current exceeds its rating.

Here’s how it works:

• Flow of Electricity: Electrical power enters your home through a service panel or circuit breaker panel, often referred to as a breaker box or fuse box. The circuit breaker box contains several individual breakers, each controlling the flow of electricity to a particular part of the house.
• Overload Protection: When you plug in too many devices or appliances, or if an electrical component malfunctions, it can draw more current than the circuit is designed to handle. This is known as an overload. When this happens, the circuit breaker trips, cutting the power to prevent damage to the wiring and electrical devices.
• How Circuit Breakers Trip: Inside each breaker is a spring-loaded mechanism that’s held in place by an electromagnet or bimetallic strip. When an overload or short circuit occurs, the excess current heats the strip or activates the magnet, releasing the spring and causing the breaker to trip. This stops the flow of electricity instantly, avoiding potential dangers.

Resetting a Circuit Breaker: Once tripped, the breaker must be manually reset by switching it back to the “on” position after determining and resolving the cause of the overload.

Do Circuit Breakers Prevent Fires?

A question many homeowners ask is, do circuit breakers prevent fires? The answer is yes, and this is one of the main reasons they are installed in every modern home. Circuit breakers protect our homes by shutting down electrical systems when they detect issues, preventing overheating and potential fires.

How Circuit Breakers Protect Our Homes:

• Preventing Overheating: One of the major ways circuit breakers protect homes is by preventing wires and devices from overheating. Excessive current can heat up wiring, leading to melted insulation and possibly starting a fire. When a breaker trips, it cuts off the power, keeping wires from reaching dangerous temperatures.
• Guarding Against Short Circuits: A short circuit happens when an electrical current takes an unintended path, specifically due to two “hot” wires or between a hot and neutral wire. This often occurs due to damaged wires or faulty devices. This creates an excessive flow of electricity, which can quickly generate heat and sparks, causing a fire hazard. Circuit breakers detect short circuits and immediately interrupt the current, stopping this dangerous situation in its tracks.
• Arc Fault Protection: Some advanced circuit breakers, known as Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs), are designed to detect electrical arcs, which can occur when wires are damaged or improperly connected. Arcing produces intense heat, which can ignite surrounding materials. AFCIs trip the circuit as soon as they detect an arc, providing an additional layer of fire prevention. AFCIs are required in all newly built homes, particularly in living spaces like bedrooms.
• Ground Fault Protection: Ground faults occur when electricity flows through unintended paths, particularly through conductive materials like a person or water. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are designed to protect against these dangerous situations. Commonly installed in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor outlets, GFCIs shut off power instantly when they detect a ground fault, preventing potential electrical shocks and fires.

Why You Should Keep Circuit Breakers Maintained

Like any other part of your home, circuit breakers need proper maintenance to function effectively. Here’s why it’s important to regularly inspect and maintain your circuit breakers:

• Ensuring Proper Functionality: Over time, circuit breakers can wear out, especially if they are tripped frequently. An aging or faulty breaker may fail to trip when needed, leaving your home vulnerable to electrical problems and fire hazards. Routine maintenance ensures that all breakers are in good working order.
• Identifying Underlying Issues: Frequent tripping of a circuit breaker can indicate a deeper electrical issue, such as faulty wiring or an overloaded system. It’s crucial to address these issues promptly, as ignoring them can lead to costly repairs or dangerous situations. Regular inspections help spot these problems early.

We highly recommend bringing out a licensed electrician to check your breakers, as they know exactly what to look for and will make the correct recommendations.

Why Choose Prairie Electric for Circuit Breaker Services?

At Prairie Electric, our team of experienced electricians specializes in electrical installation and circuit breaker maintenance. We ensure that your home’s electrical system remains safe and functional. Whether you’re upgrading an old breaker panel or need a professional inspection, our services can help protect your home from electrical hazards.

We also offer generator installation, which can work hand-in-hand with circuit breakers to ensure that your home remains powered during outages. Breakers work with transfer switches to ensure safe power distribution during an outage.

Regular maintenance, such as inspecting your circuit breakers, can prevent unexpected disruptions and ensure that everything runs smoothly when it matters most.

Below, we’ve outlined some of the most common electrical problems and linked to more detailed articles that dive into each issue. Whether you’re troubleshooting buzzing outlets or dealing with power surges, this guide will point you in the right direction.

Keep in mind that these issues are best handled by a licensed electrician, so get in touch with us if you’d like to skip the troubleshooting and get our residential electricians on site to help you out.

Exterior Outlets Not Working

If your exterior outlets have stopped working, it could be due to tripped breakers, faulty GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), or even weather damage. Exterior outlets are exposed to the elements and even wildlife, making them more prone to issues that require immediate attention to avoid potential hazards like electrocution.

Learn more about troubleshooting exterior outlet issues

Dimmer Switch Buzzing

A buzzing dimmer switch can be more than just annoying—it might signal an underlying electrical problem. Common causes include faulty wiring, incompatible lightbulbs, or even a defective switch. While dimmer switches are supposed to run quietly, buzzing sounds often point to something that needs fixing.

How to troubleshoot a buzzing dimmer switch

Electrical Outlet Buzzing

A buzzing sound from an outlet is never a good sign. This issue can be caused by loose wiring, an overloaded circuit, or internal damage to the outlet. Addressing this quickly is essential, as it may prevent more serious issues like electrical fires.

Buzzing outlets and how to fix them

Power Out in One Room of the House

When the power goes out in just one room, it’s often the result of a tripped breaker, a blown fuse, or a loose wire within the circuit. Isolating the problem can be tricky, but it’s a good idea to start with the breaker box and reset any tripped switches.

Troubleshooting power outages in one room

Power Out in the Whole House

A full-house power outage can be the result of more serious issues, such as a grid failure, faulty wiring, or a defective main circuit breaker. While it might feel overwhelming, diagnosing and addressing the problem promptly will help restore power efficiently.

Diagnosing a whole-house power outage

Power Surges

Power surges can be caused by several factors, including lightning strikes, faulty appliances, or issues with the power grid. These surges can damage electronics and appliances in your home, so it’s crucial to prevent them with surge protectors or dedicated circuits.

Discover what causes power surges and how to prevent them

Short Circuits

A short circuit occurs when an electrical current strays from its intended path, often due to faulty wiring, appliance issues, or damaged cords. Short circuits are a major fire hazard, so if you suspect one in your home, it’s important to take immediate action.

The causes and effects of short circuits

Defective Circuit Breaker

A defective circuit breaker can lead to repeated power interruptions, flickering lights, or even fires. Breakers are designed to protect your home’s electrical system, so if they start malfunctioning, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible.

The signs of a defective circuit breaker

Discover when should you replace your electrical panel

Lights Flicker When Dryer Starts

If your lights flicker when you turn on heavy-duty appliances like a dryer, it may be a sign of an overloaded circuit or inadequate electrical capacity in your home. This could signal that your home needs an electrical upgrade to accommodate modern appliances.

Read more about why your lights flicker when the dryer starts

Problems Created During Electrical Installation

Unfortunately, not all electrical installations are done correctly, and faulty installations can lead to a host of issues down the road. Whether it’s loose wires, poor connections, or code violations, improper installations should be corrected by a licensed electrician.

Learn about common electrical installation problems here.

Here’s our solutions to common electrical issues during remodeling.

Ready to get your electrical issues under control? Give Prairie Electric a call at 800-573-2750 or fill out the service request form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible during business hours.

The story could be much more dramatic. Fortunately, your building’s well-maintained surge protective equipment isolates the power surge to one circuit. These measures prevent a widespread outage and can even save you from a hazardous fire breaking out.

Whether from poorly designed power systems or intense electrical storms, a power surge can come at any point and wreck your industrial systems. While they last only a fraction of a second, a surge can potentially destroy hundreds of thousands of dollars of sensitive equipment if not properly protected against. This could be computers, networks, high-tech machinery or equipment, and more. Business owners could lose years of customer information, production analytics, sales data, and inventory tracking.

It’s vital to ensure that you have commercial surge protection at all times, which requires working with an experienced commercial electrician to get everything up to date.

Surge suppression vs. Surge protection

While these terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to different aspects of protecting your electronics. Surge suppression specifically involves devices that are designed to reduce the intensity of voltage spikes, minimizing their impact on your electrical system. This is just one component of the broader concept of surge protection, which includes various methods to shield your equipment from harmful power surges. Surge protection might also involve grounding, bonding, and the use of surge protection devices (SPDs) that redirect excess voltage away from sensitive electronics.

Upgrade from off-the-shelf solutions

Standard surge protection devices, such as those found on multi-outlet cords for residential use, will likely not offer the high level of protection your business needs. You need to invest in stepping up your surge defenses. Commercial-grade surge protection is worth it to ensure peace of mind, uninterrupted operations, and a safe work environment. The cost of a professional surge suppression installation could actually save you money on equipment repairs, and also protect your reputation with customers. After all, the long-term impact of lost data or interrupted digital services can be far-reaching.

When it comes to protecting your business equipment, surge suppression is key to ensuring that your electronics operate smoothly, and to prevent costly damages. A building without power surge protection is undefended against power spikes and possible short-circuiting. This could lead to electrical fires caused by electricity that jumps by thousands of volts in mere milliseconds.

Commercial surge protection is critical not just in industrial facilities or data centers, but also retail stores and the healthcare field. If you’re a healthcare professional, you should not rely on off-the-shelf devices to protect patient information or life-saving equipment from power surges.

Is your surge protection up to code?

If you manage a commercial building, it is important to keep up to date with new regulations put in place to ensure your business is safe and up to code.

For example, the National Electrical Code (NEC) introduced new standards for surge protection as recently as 2023. Here are the key points:

1. Mandatory Surge Protection: Surge protection devices (SPDs) are now required for all services supplying dwelling units (e.g. hotels, nursing homes, dormitories). This ensures that electrical systems are protected from unpredictable customer electronics and appliances.
2. Location of SPDs: SPDs must be installed at the service entrance. This protects the entire electrical system of the unit from surges originating outside.
3. Type 1 or Type 2 SPDs: The NEC specifies that the SPDs used must be either Type 1 or Type 2. Type 1 SPDs are installed between the utility service and the service disconnect overcurrent device. Type 2 SPDs are installed on the load side of the service disconnect overcurrent device, including the main panel.
4. Coordination with Existing Systems: When replacing service equipment, the SPD must be installed if it is not already present. This ensures that upgrades and replacements bring older systems up to current safety standards.

These changes aim to enhance the safety and reliability of commercial and residential electrical systems by mitigating the risks associated with electrical surges. Consult the National Electrical Code to learn more about the current requirements for surge protection and other electrical safety measures.

Commercial lightning protection

One bolt of lightning from an electrical storm can damage electronic equipment beyond repair. Installing a commercial-grade lightning protection system can help disperse a power surge and prevent potential damage. Expert commercial electricians can recommend and install the best lightning protection solutions for your facility so that you are ready to keep operating safely through any weather.

How surge suppression protects your equipment

Surge suppression is key for any business that utilizes sensitive technology or heavy machinery. Prepare your commercial building’s electrical system for large equipment to turn on or off unexpectedly. The building needs to handle the resulting destabilization of electrical currents. The amount of electrical power needed to start the machine can cause an internal surge in other electrical devices such as servers, computers, climate control, and more.

Make sure that your electrical system is covered by power surge protection for the safety of key equipment, and to prevent the loss of critical data and productivity. When hard-drives lose power unexpectedly it can cause irreversible damage to data.

Power surges can damage servers and hard-drives in a number of ways, including:

1. Hardware damage: The intensity of large power surges can melt metal and plastic components. Circuits get “fried” so completely that the data stored becomes irretrievable. The repair and replacement of this complex equipment comes with a hefty price tag.
2. Data loss: Customer data or services can go down in a power surge. You risk losing the trust of long-term clients and customers, ultimately impacting the future of your business.
3. Overheating: Power surges can damage the HVAC systems which are vital to keeping servers and data centers functioning. Without proper cooling the temperatures of perfectly functioning IT equipment rises quickly and can cause damage. Data storage devices can go into meltdown if they reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Overheating can also cause internal damage that leads to shorts in devices.

Commercial surge protection solutions

Data and heavy machinery form the backbone of so many businesses. Therefore, it is important to consider a secondary line of defense against power surges which goes beyond the individual devices used. Installing surge suppressors at the main electrical distribution panel for your business can act as an all-encompassing measure against power surges. It will redistribute dangerous levels of current and help even out more powerful machinery use over the entire system. This will prevent flooding the electrical network all at once.

However, surge suppressors do not act as emergency failsafe systems for power outages. Invest in a backup generator for the best protection when a storm or other catastrophic power outage strikes your business. Run a generator during an outage in order to shut down heavy machinery safely and back up stored data before crucial information is lost forever.

Also tie surge protection into a strategy of ongoing maintenance. Then, your building’s electrical system is always prepared for the unexpected.

Commercial Electricians in Vancouver, WA

Interested in protecting your business from electrical surges? Contact Prairie Electric to find out the best surge suppression system for you. Whether you run a small business, a large company, or are constructing a new business in the Vancouver, WA area, we can help you design and install a power surge protection system. This will ensure your business is safe from dangerous spikes in power output plus unexpected lightning strikes and power outages.

Why You Might Need to Rewire

Old wiring can be a real problem. It’s not just about flickering lights or a circuit breaker that trips every now and then—though those are signs to watch for. The real concern is safety. Did you know that around 46,000 building fires in the U.S. each year are caused by electrical issues? That’s a huge number, and it mostly happens in homes.

Older wiring systems just weren’t built for the demands of modern life. Think about all the gadgets we use now that didn’t exist when your house was built. More power means more strain on the system, and that can lead to serious problems, including fires.

Signs It’s Time to Rewire

So, how do you know if your house needs rewiring? Here are some clear signs:

1. Your House is Over 50 Years Old: If your home hasn’t had an electrical inspection in the last 40 to 50 years, it’s overdue. Homes built before the 1970s often have aluminum wiring, which can lead to increased fire risk compared to copper wiring used today.
2. Frequent Power Outages or Tripped Breakers: If your circuit breaker is constantly tripping, it’s a sign that your system can’t handle the load. This is a major red flag that you might need to upgrade your wiring.
3. Flickering or Dimming Lights: When lights flicker or dim when you turn on certain appliances, it’s a signal that your wiring could be outdated or faulty.
4. Burning Smell or Discolored Outlets: A burning smell or outlets that are hot to the touch are signs of overheating—something you definitely don’t want to ignore.
5. Electric Shocks: Even a mild shock when plugging in a device is a sign that something’s wrong with your wiring.
6. Arcs, Sparks, and Buzzing Sounds: If you see sparks when plugging in devices or hear buzzing from your outlets or switches, it’s time to call in a professional.
7. Major Home Renovations: Planning a big renovation anyway? That’s the perfect time to consider rewiring. New appliances and added rooms can put extra strain on an already outdated system.

Why Rewiring is Worth It

Rewiring your home is more than just a safety measure—it can also increase the value of your property. Buyers are more likely to be interested in a home with modern, safe wiring. Plus, a new electrical system is more efficient, which means lower energy bills and fewer burnt-out bulbs. It’s well worth the cost to rewire to ensure safety.

When to Call a Pro

Rewiring your home is a big job, and it’s not something you should take on yourself. A licensed electrician can assess your current system, point out any potential hazards, and let you know if rewiring is necessary. They’ll make sure everything is up to code and safe.

It might seem like a big expense, but the peace of mind you’ll get from knowing your home is safe is priceless. If any of the signs mentioned above sound familiar, or if your house hasn’t had an electrical check-up in a while, it’s time to bring in an expert. If you are concerned that your home may need electrical rewiring, or you have any other electrical concerns, contact Prairie Electric.