Frequently Asked Questions
About Us
Safety
Energy Saving
Outlets
Whole House
General
What are your operating hours?
We are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve your electrical needs. We respond to emergency situations at any hour of the day or night.
How fast can I get someone to do the work?
Our response time depends on our workload, but we’ll get there as fast as possible. Our usual turnaround time for local services is within 24 hours, and up to 4 hours on emergency calls. All our trucks are cell-phone dispatched for instant communication. We will work with you to schedule your service call when convenient.
How do you charge compared to other companies?
Our prices are competitive and affordable. Once we have diagnosed your electrical problem we will give you an upfront price for the total job. We offer a wide selection of promotions to save you money. We also offer a referral program which pays you for any referral you make.
Are parts and labor warranted? How long?
All labor is warranted for lifetime All Parts supplied by USA Electric, excluding bulbs, are warranted for one year unless otherwise noted by the manufacturer.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Checks, and Cash.
Do you provide an in-home estimate?
Yes, in order to keep our rates affordable to our customers, we charge a minimal evaluation fee on every service call. The evaluation fee shall be applied to the final service cost.
Why do you charge an evaluation fee?
We charge a minimal evaluation fee, which shall be applied to the final service cost, in order to protect ourselves against non-paying customers that take advantage of our services with no attention to do any service. Since all of our electricians are licensed contractors we need to make sure they are being dispatched to real customers that have real problems. The evaluation fee pays for an electrician to troubleshoot the problem in order to give you an upfront repair price. Since we get paid for our visit, we don’t look for “unnecessary repairs” that some companies “find” to excuse their high prices. If you have an electrical issue, and want to get a quick estimate, you may call us for a free rough cost estimate over the phone.
What is your limited life time warranty?
Our top-notch trained electricians are friendly, curious and eager to tackle any electrical issue you have. We back up our workmanship by our “CONSIDER IT FIXED!” limited lifetime warranty*, which warrants our workmanship to be done in good and workmanlike manner in accordance with accepted trade practices and the National Electrical Code. Warranty shall extend for the normal life of the installation. Your satisfaction with us is guaranteed.
What should children know about electrical safety when they play outside?
Assume overhead lines are power lines and stay away from them. Do not climb trees, or fly kites near power lines, and never attempt to remove something that may be caught on an overhead line.
Never touch anyone who is in contact with a Get inside at the first sign of lightning. Do not seek shelter under a tree. power line, call 911.
Never touch anyone who is in contact with a Get inside at the first sign of lightning. Do not seek shelter under a tree. power line, call 911.
How do we keep our pets safe from electrical hazards?
Make sure that your pet (s) do not use electrical devices as toys. The same frayed electrical cord that delivers an electrical shock to an adult, have enough voltage to kill a dog or cat. Keep those electrical cords away from puppies and kittens. If you have difficulty getting your pet to stop chewing on the cord, you may want to wrap the cord in a thick plastic sleeve. Keep Halogen lamps away from play areas for pets and children. Some Halogen bulbs can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees. A fire can easily begin, if the lamp knocked over during play.
Discourage pets from curling up for a nap behind warm computer equipment.
Discourage pets from curling up for a nap behind warm computer equipment.
What can I do to prevent arc faults?
You can't prevent arc faults from occurring. However, there is a device that can stop them--by interrupting the electrical current before any damage is done. It's called an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI). It electronically detects any arc fault and stops the flow of electricity in a fraction of a second. No electricity, no heat, no fire. And, by tripping on a specific circuit, the AFCI helps you identify the source of the problem right at the load center.
Do dimmers save energy?
Dimming a bulb by 25% uses approximately 20% less energy, and it will help extend bulb life by up to 4 times as well.
How can I reduce my energy bill?
There are a few things you may do to lower your electrical energy consumption.
1. Unplug seldom used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that contains just a few items. You may save around $10 every month on your utility bill. Unplug your chargers when you're not charging. Keep them unplugged until you need them.
2. Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The "hibernate mode" turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back.
3. Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less during the daytime, and 55 degrees before going to sleep (or when you're away for the day). During the summer, set thermostats to 78 degrees or more. Ceiling fans can make a room feel much cooler without using nearly as much electricity. This allows you to keep your thermostat a little higher in the summer. During the winter, you can reverse your ceiling fan, which will push the warm air back down.
4. Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. Don't preheat or "peek" inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items. Wash only full loads in your dishwasher.
5. Don't forget to flick the switch when you leave a room. Use motion sensor lights inside and outside of your home. Use compact fluorescent energy saving light bulb where possible.
1. Unplug seldom used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that contains just a few items. You may save around $10 every month on your utility bill. Unplug your chargers when you're not charging. Keep them unplugged until you need them.
2. Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The "hibernate mode" turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back.
3. Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less during the daytime, and 55 degrees before going to sleep (or when you're away for the day). During the summer, set thermostats to 78 degrees or more. Ceiling fans can make a room feel much cooler without using nearly as much electricity. This allows you to keep your thermostat a little higher in the summer. During the winter, you can reverse your ceiling fan, which will push the warm air back down.
4. Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. Don't preheat or "peek" inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items. Wash only full loads in your dishwasher.
5. Don't forget to flick the switch when you leave a room. Use motion sensor lights inside and outside of your home. Use compact fluorescent energy saving light bulb where possible.
Does compact flourescent bulbs really save on energy?
Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) that have the ENERGY STAR® label. (Those are the bulbs the look like soft ice cream cones.) Now days, you have many choices of shapes, sizes, and colors of light.
CFLs cost little up front and last up to 10 times longer than a regular incandescent light bulb. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs create savings on your electric bill. Up to 20% of the average home's electric bill goes for lighting. Because CFLs use up to 75% less electricity than a traditional bulb, they lower your bill and provide a quick return on investment. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR CFL, in one year enough energy would be saved to light more than 3 million homes.
This would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 800,000 cars off the road. CFLs also reduce mercury emissions to 1/5th of those generated by the use of traditional incandescent bulbs. Click here for more information about saving energy with CFLs.
Visit www.energysavers.gov for more energy-saving ideas.
CFLs cost little up front and last up to 10 times longer than a regular incandescent light bulb. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs create savings on your electric bill. Up to 20% of the average home's electric bill goes for lighting. Because CFLs use up to 75% less electricity than a traditional bulb, they lower your bill and provide a quick return on investment. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR CFL, in one year enough energy would be saved to light more than 3 million homes.
This would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking 800,000 cars off the road. CFLs also reduce mercury emissions to 1/5th of those generated by the use of traditional incandescent bulbs. Click here for more information about saving energy with CFLs.
Visit www.energysavers.gov for more energy-saving ideas.
What are polarized electrical outlets?
The different sized slots were developed to allow outlets to be polarized as a safety enhancement. The larger slot connects the common wire in the outlet to the common wire in a device. The smaller slot connects the "hot" wires. By forcing the smaller blade of the plug to always connect the hot wires, the outlet is polarized. Devices, such as a table lamp, are designed to minimize the risk of electric shock by keeping the hot wire as short as possible by wiring directly to the switch. The rest of the internal wiring connects to the neutral wire. While this system does not eliminate the possibility of electrocution, fire and electrical faults, it reduces the risk by limiting the path of live current.
What is a GFCI outlet?
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet is a device that adds a greater level of safety by reducing the risk of electric shock. Most building codes now require that a GFCI outlet be used in wet locations such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
I lost power in my bathroom outlet, and all breakers are on. What can I do?
Typically when a house is wired and has two bathrooms, the master bath has a GFCI outlet that protects both bathrooms. The kitchen has one that protects the other plugs close to the sink and there is typically one in the garage that protects the outlets there and perhaps the outside plugs as well. Often times the GFCI outlet will go bad or is faulty, affecting the other plugs downstream as it were.
What Causes an Outlet to Spark?
Sometimes, when you plug an electrical appliance into an outlet, you may notice a small blue spark. In most situations, this is a normal event as the electrons begin to flow into the appliance's power cord. At other times, however, a spark from an electrical outlet could start a fire or severely damage the plug. It is important for to understand why an electrical outlet may spark or short out without warning homeowners
What is an Electrical Outlet?
An electrical outlet is an opening or series of openings connected to a wired power source meant to power electrical equipment and components. The electrical outlet is one of the most commonly used items in a home or building. Electrical outlet provides power to an electronic component by using a wire to take power to the outlet. The plug of the component then transfers power to the device requiring it. Another wire then takes the electricity back to its original location. For simplification, in a home environment, this is the electrical panel. Due to this round-trip routing, it is often called an electrical circuit
My house does not have grounded outlets. Do I need to rewire my house?
No, in home wiring, prior the 1960’s, it was quite common to only have a 2 wire (not grounded) system. The NEC allows the installation of GFCI outlets either at the first outlet of the circuit or at every outlet. They must however be labeled “ungrounded receptacle”.
What does the ground do?
The Another improvement in safety came with the addition of a ground wire to the outlet. This serves as an alternative return path for electricity and is referred to as the equipment ground. Ordinarily current flows from the hot wire and returns via the common wire to ground. However, if the hot wire comes in contact with a metal part of a device, the outercabinet housing of a washing machine for instance, current could flow through you to ground. The ground wire in a device connects to the housing and provides a return path. The current could still travel through you, but the ground wire probably has lower resistance and so chooses that path over through you.
Are AFCIs required by the National Electrical Code?
Yes. As of January 2002, arc fault circuit interrupters are required by the National Electrical Code on all new bedroom circuits. But, you can protect you existing home too! By installing AFCIs now, you can get peace of mind from their added fire protection.
How does a generator work?
When the power goes out, a generator creates electrical power without using a utility's electrical source. Typically, a generator runs on fuel, like diesel, natural gas or LPG.
When a generator is installed in your home, one main breaker is connected to your home's load center and the other main breaker is connected to your generator. The generator panel is then connected to circuits for critical electrical loads - furnace, refrigerator, lights, sump pump, etc. - that you designate need to remain on during a power loss.
When a generator is installed in your home, one main breaker is connected to your home's load center and the other main breaker is connected to your generator. The generator panel is then connected to circuits for critical electrical loads - furnace, refrigerator, lights, sump pump, etc. - that you designate need to remain on during a power loss.
What type of generator is right for my home?
The first step in purchasing a generator is to identify the things you absolutely cannot live without during a power outage. Usually high on the list will be the refrigerator and the freezer, a well pump, the furnace fan if you have natural gas or oil heat, and maybe some lighting.
USA Electric can share more details with you, just give us a call to find out how you can protect yourself against power losses.
USA Electric can share more details with you, just give us a call to find out how you can protect yourself against power losses.
My electric bill is too high. is my electric meter spinning faster then it should?
No, all electric meters are calibrated once by their manufacturer. Your meter is designed to spin by the electrical energy that passes through it. Therefore, it is not possible that the meter is “over spinning”. In some cases mechanical meters may spin slower then they should due to gear issues.
My Smoke detector keeps beeping. What should I do?
Detectors start chirping when either of the following happens: 1. the battery that is in the smoke detector is dying, or 2. The smoke detector is dying. (This can happen in dusty conditions more such as having your home painted etc.) Our recommendations are the following is to have us replace your smoke detectors throughout your home with Smoke / carbon monoxide detectors with Lithium batteries installed. They should last a good 5 years. The average life span of smoke detectors is 5 years and it is recommended by manufacturers to replace them every 5 years. The national fire protection agency suggests every 10 years.
Do fuses and circuit breakers serve the same purpose as AFCI's?
No. Fuses and circuit breakers cannot detect low-level arcs. Only AFCIs are specifically designed for that purpose.
What surge protector is right for me?
Each type of surge protector focuses on a particular type of wiring: electrical, telephone or coaxial cable. There are two AC power surge protectors, allowing you protection regardless of the brand of load center in your home. Ask your USA Electric’s electrician what type of protection is right for you and your home.
What causes a power loss?
Power loss may be caused by any unforeseen event that disconnects the power from your electrical system like energy shortage, a winter storm, or problem with a power line.
Why do circuits breaker trip?
When too many appliances are plugged in or turned on in the circuit, you will experience an overload which makes the circuit breaker trip. Other reasons are faulty wiring or appliances that cause a short circuit.
What Causes A Power Loss?
A. power loss may be caused by a winter storm, an energy shortage, a summer brownout, a downed tree falling on a power line, an earthquake or any unforeseen event that cuts off the power to your electrical system.
How can I prepare for Power loss?
You can install a backup power system, consisting of a generator connected to a switching panel. USA Electric installs all sizes of emergency home generator systems according to your home needs.
