One of the hardest things for us to do is give a homeowner a bill to push a button or reset a breaker. If you are experiencing loss or partial loss of power try the following before calling:
1. Try resetting the circuit breakers. Turn them off and then back on again. If they click and either turn off or move to the middle there is possibly a short somewhere. DO NOT KEEP RESETTING! Doing so may cause sparks at the short that can create a fire or cause further damage.
2. Unplug anything that may be on the circuit that is not working and then try resetting the breakers to make sure it is not an appliance causing the problem.
3. Look for Ground Fault receptacles in the garage and/or bathrooms. These receptacles are usually rectangle with a test and reset button on them. The outside outlets may also be controlled from one of these. Ground Fault outlets are very sensitive to moisture and power surges during storms and trip frequently. Often simply pressing the reset will restore power to these outlets. If the receptacle continue to trips frequently or during wet weather it may need to be replaced or there may be other problems, give us a call and we can fix it quickly for you.
4. Kitchen/Dining Room Receptacles may also be controlled by a Ground Fault Receptacle or Ground Fault Breakers. See if these are tripped before calling, however; if they trip after resetting there is a reason. Do not continue to reset it without finding the problem.
5. Partial Power Loss. If half the power is out in the house check to see if the electric range, Heat/AC or electric dryer are still working. (make sure the dryer heats and not just turns) If they are not working properly there may be a problem with the power entering the home. This could be a utility problem or yours. It is a good practice to see if the utility is having problems before calling us. In most cases they do not charge to check their wiring to the home. If they say that the problem is inside the home, then give us a call. However, if they cannot come out quickly we will be glad to diagnose the problem for a service call fee.
6. Maximize your investment. A good portion of any service call fee covers travel time to and from the job, fuel and vehicle costs. If you bundle as many projects together at the same time you could save a great deal of money. Even if you have an unexpected service call, see if there is anything else you may want done while we are there. Replacing/Installing ceiling Fans, lights, flood bulbs, motion sensors are all things that can often be done at the same time at a reduced rate.
Not sure if there is anything else you can do? Give us a call at 919-859-9588 and we will do our best to help you!