Metro Atlanta Electric

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Frequently Asked Questions

My house has 2 prong ungrounded outlets. Do I need to upgrade my house wiring?

No, it is not necessary to upgrade the existing wiring in an older home where it is quite common to only have a 2 wire (ungrounded) system as long as everything is functioning properly. For any new wiring it is advised that you used the 3 wire system to meet the current Electrical Code. You can also install 3 prong outlets but you have to protect the circuit with a GFCI (either the first outlet in the circuit or a GFCI breaker).

How can I save money on my Electricity Bill?

One of the best ways to save on your electric bill is to cut off the power supply to electronics that use electricity even when you turn them off (TV, DVR, DVD, cable box and others that can turn on and off automatically). Protect these appliances with a surge protector or power strip and turn the power strip off when the electronics are not in use.

How do I know when to change the batteries in my smoke detector?

Batteries in your smoke detector should be changed once a year. A simple way to remember this is to use daylight savings time as a reminder. If you have a 120 volt smoke detector with a battery backup it will chirp as a warning that the battery needs to be changed.

Why do I blow the circuit every time I plug in this electronic or appliance?

The device may be defective or it is overloading the circuit. Try plugging it into a different outlet in another room. If the problem continues, it is most likely the device and not the outlet.

My electrical extension cord is warm. Why?

If an electrical cord is warm to the touch, the cord is overloaded or defective. You can either split up the amount of load you have on that cord or use a higher gage cord.

What do I do if plugs & lights go off in my house?

First take a look out into your neighborhood to make sure it’s not a complete power failure in your neighborhood. Next, check your electrical panel to see if any of your breakers have tripped. When a breaker trips it is usually in the middle of the on/off position. To reset it, turn it off then back on again. If the breaker does not stay in the on position, contact us.

Why do I feel air coming in through my electrical outlets?

Electrical outlets on your exterior walls can be a source of energy loss. Electrical boxes have penetrations that allow wire to enter and also outside air if not insulated correctly. There are ways to weatherproof your exterior wall outlets from inside your home. Not many electrical contractors offer this service so give Metro Atlanta Electric a call and we can provide this service for you.

Why do my lights keep flickering and/or blinking?

A poor wiring connection in the circuit can be the cause of this. You should contact us to troubleshoot the circuit.

Why do light bulbs in my light fixtures frequently burn out?

If your light bulb burns out frequently this could be a sign that the bulb is too high of a wattage for the fixture.

Outlets have gone dead in bathrooms, garage, kitchen, or outdoors, but the breaker has not tripped; what could be the problem?

These outlets in this particular case should be GFCI (Ground-Fault-interrupter) protected. One GFCI can control multiple outlets so look in the area to see if a GFCI needs to be reset. Press the reset button in the middle of the GFCI and it should reset. If that does not fix the problem, call us.

Why does my wall switch get warm to the touch?

Dimming switches usually do get warm; the heat comes from resistance and should not be a concern if it is not overloaded under most circumstances. Usually some residential dimmers are good for 600 watts and you should only use up to 80% of the max wattage of the dimmer.

It is not normal for a regular toggle switch or receptacle to get warm. If they do it may be because of a bad connection between the wire and device, call us.