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GIFs & Plugs
Updating your electrical system to handle higher energy usage and installing GFCI outlets in older homes is essential for safety; trust Laughlin Electric Santa Barbara's 30 years of experience for reliable and expert service.
Updating Your Electrical for Higher Energy Usage GFCIs and Plugs Electrician in Santa Barbara, CA
You may have fewer outlets in older homes or standard outlets in kitchens or bathrooms when they should be GFCIs. GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are responsible for tripping the outlet if it comes into contact with water. You may need new GFCIs and plugs electricians in Santa Barbara, CA for multiple reasons, but this is just one step in creating a safer home for you and your family. Laughlin Electric Santa Barbara goes above and beyond for our customers with 30 years of experience that you can trust.
Troubleshooting Your Outlets
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You may not notice how important the electrical outlets are for your home’s most basic tasks until they stop working. If the problems you’re experiencing are isolated, it may be a dead outlet. This is a fire hazard, and if your home still has its original wiring, it’s past time to upgrade your electrical components. Any home older than 1971 didn’t require GFCI outlets in bathrooms and kitchens. Laughlin Electric Santa Barbara can install these outlets to protect your home from an electrical fire.
A dead outlet in your home is not a good sign. However, there are a few ways to troubleshoot a dead outlet, including measuring power in your other outlets. You can use a voltage tester or switch lights on and off to see if there are various places you have lost power. Unplug anything connected to the dead outlet to prevent an overload if it resets.
Next, look at your electrical panel and see if any circuit breakers have tripped. This happens occasionally and isn’t something to worry about. A tripped breaker indicates that the last appliance you plugged in required too much power for that circuit. Either move that accessory to a different circuit or unplug unused appliances in that area.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, look for the GFCIs in your home, typically found in bathrooms, garages, kitchens, and basements. Test and reset each outlet to see if that fixes the problem. If it doesn’t, it may have gone bad or has completely lost power. If you still have issues after troubleshooting, it’s time to call the professionals at Laughlin Electric for expert solutions concerning your GFCIs and plugs in Santa Barbara, CA.
When Should I Replace Outlets?
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Outlets age just like the other electrical components of your home.
Signs It's Time to Replace Your Outlets
- You insert a plug, and it falls out
- Outlets are hot to the touch
- It sparks or smokes when you plug in appliances
- The plug cover is cracked
All these symptoms are significant signs of damage and electrical hazards that are unsafe for you and your family. Don’t attempt DIY solutions or avoid using an outlet expecting these problems to disappear on their own.
Even if you’re not having these problems with your outlets, you may consider updating or replacing them with USB outlets to maximize space or increase safety after electrical code updates. If you’ve recently bought new appliances, they have required higher energy levels that your outdated outlets cannot manage safely. No matter why you want to improve your GFCIs and plugs in Santa Barbara, CA, we’re here for you with expert electrical service.
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