Frequently Asked Questions - General

Having a licensed and certified electrician starts with years of training. Training includes 4 years of electrical theory, code, and mathematics. Following schooling, an electrician must have several years of on the job training.

Being in the field we’ve come across many DIY electrical disasters. People may think they are saving money doing a simple electrical repair, but end up spending more in order to fix the issue they’ve caused. That issue can sometimes result in a potential electrical fire. A certified electrician will ensure the job is done safely, up to code’s standards, and professionally done with the utmost efficiency.

There are several ways to save money on your bill.

• Switching to LED bulbs initially will be costly, but that cost will pay for itself over time. LED bulbs state that the average life of the bulb is 25,000 hours.
• Using a timer to control the lights by automatically turning them on and off when you’re asleep or on vacation will cut down on wasted cost. This will also aid in security.
• Occupancy sensors will automatically turn on when a person enters a room, and turn off shortly after they leave. Another nice feature is that you can still manually turn on and off the light fixture. If you’re constantly asking your kids or spouse to turn off the lights, these are a nice feature to add.
• Motion activated security lighting turns on when there is movement. So when someone pulls into your driveway or walks by your house, these lights will turn on. They cut down on the cost of running lights throughout the night.

These are just a few of the many ways to conserve electricity in your home.

There are two main things you can check when you have partial power. Before contacting your utility company or electrician, check the main circuit breakers of your house and the GFCI outlets in and outside of your house. When a breaker is tripped it moves to the center position. If one of your breakers is tripped, first try turning it off completely then turn it to the on position. If the breaker still trips, do not attempt to reset the breaker again. This can be dangerous and possibly cause an electrical fire. Call Brian Millman Electric to diagnose and fix the problem properly.

If you do not have any tripped breakers, the next option is to check all of your GFCI receptacles. These receptacles will be located in the following areas of your home: kitchen, garage, bathrooms, basement, laundry area, and outside. Test your GFCI’s by pushing the “trip” button followed by the “reset” button which are located on the front of the device. If the GFCI will not reset, call Brian Millman Electric to diagnose and fix the problem properly.

Upgrading your electrical service is necessary when you intend on adding larger circuits within your home. For example, adding central air or larger electrical appliances such as an oven, dryer, range or water heater.

Also, if you’re putting an addition on your home and the current service is insufficient, you will also need an electrical service upgrade.

It is essential to keep up maintenance with your Generac generator. Neglecting maintenance will cost you more in the long run and will not guarantee that it will work in the event of a power outage. When a Generac generator is initially installed, the first maintenance should be performed between 6-9 months of installation. This is done to remove the break-in oil the generator is shipped with. The break-in oil is finer in order to lubricate and easily start the generator in the beginning. After the first maintenance, yearly maintenance is required to keep your generator in tip-top shape.

If maintenance on your Generac generator is done by an uncertified technician, Generac’s warranty will become void.