Get Answers to Your Common Questions with an Electric Contractor Q & A

Do you have questions you want answered by an electric contractor? If you do, then you will be glad to know that Sonner Electric is standing by to answer all your questions. Read on for a Q & A with an electric contractor that will answer many of your questions. Then contact us at 661-728-0126 with additional questions or to schedule an appointment.

When do I need to call an electrician?

This is one of the most common questions people ask. After all, there are not that many times when it is appropriate to contact an electric contractor. Of course, if you have an emergency then you should call us right away. Otherwise, the following are signs that you may need electrical help:

• You are constantly resetting your circuit breakers.
• You find yourself changing your fuses frequently.
• Turning on a large appliance (like an air conditioning unit) dims the lights in the room.
• Your lights flicker or go on and off unexpectedly.
• You smell electricity burning.
• You have numerous electronic devices plugged into an extension cord or power strip.
• You have two-prong outlets that you want changed to three-prong outlets.

These are just some of the signs that it is time to call in the professionals.

Should I try to handle electrical work on my own?

That depends on what the job is. In most states, it is legal to do whatever you want to your own home but you may need permits to do so. Worse, if you are not trained as an electric contractor, you could injure yourself and / or cause serious damage to your home. At Sonner Electric we often find that homeowners who wanted to save money by doing the work themselves end up paying more in the long run.

What’s the difference between a breaker panel and a fuse panel?

Both are designed to trip (i.e. turn off) when there is an electrical overload. For example, if you were trying to run 20 amps of electrical load on a circuit that was designed for 15 amp, it would trip. The difference between a breaker panel and fuse box is that a breaker is mechanical. As a result, it can be reset, unlike a fuse which can only be blow one time and then must be replaced.

How do I reset my breaker?

Go to your breaker box and identify which breaker tripped. Then turn it completely off and on again. It often looks as though a breaker is not tripped but it could just be in a neutral stage that does not allow it to function correctly. If you are not sure which breaker has blown, you can turn them all off and on again. It is wise to have your breakers clearly labeled so you know which is which.

Do you have additional questions for an electric contractor? At Sonner Electric we look forward to helping you. Simply give us a call at 661-728-0126.