Damaged Electrical Service from Snow and Tree Branches
Today Electric Doctor had an emergency service repair that was caused by the wet, heavy snow that caused several different tree branches to break and fall on the overhead electrical 240 volt line from Xcel and the overhead phone and cable lines from Comcast and CenturyLink. The call came in and this particular repair involved a bit more than electrical as the fallen tree was still over the line. This also caused the gutter an fascia to be ripped off the house and while these issues might deter other electricians, the Doctors went to work and evaluated the existing electrical breaker panel to see if it could be repaired or if it needed to be replaced. This panel looked to be very damaged and after spending some time checking everything, it was decided a repair could be in order. The decision to offer the repair in lieu of replacement potentially saved the client thousands of dollars.
Here are some pictures – before and after (click for full size)
The fallen tree, still on the damaged overhead power line from Xcel
The mast was ripped from the house along with the gutter, fascia and stand-offs that were installed with nails, not lag bolts.
The mast hub that was burned due to the live power line cutting into the metal
The electrical service after being repaired with new wire and roof stand-offs. We even did our best reattaching the gutter!
Why Choose Electric Doctor for Emergency Repairs?
You Get an Honest Evaluation
Electric Doctor will take time to give you an honest evaluation of the electrical problem. If it is safe and does not require an expensive replacement, we will let you know.
Always Prompt Service
Emergency service repairs always get priority. In the situation above, we responded within 2 hours and had the repair ready to be reconnected by Xcel within 5 hours.
The Best Pricing Available
We will give you the best price and safest option possible.
303.973.2551
Finding a Quality Electrician
Years of Hard Work + Experience = Quality Electrician
When you need an electrician, you have options. However going through those options and making the right decision about finding a good, quality electrician can be a daunting task. To become a licensed and experienced electrician takes a lot more work than most people understand and it’s not just about ‘knowing some electrical’…
- Have you ever thought about the service a good Electrician can provide?
- What does the make-up of a good Electrician look like?
If you’re like most people the thought has never even crossed your mind, however if you ever have experienced flickering lights, electrical outages or the smell of an electrical burning odor you know that a professional electrician should be enlisted for help.
I need an electrician, now what?
For insurance and quality reasons, you should be hiring an Electrical Contractor who employs licensed electricians. First and foremost a good electrician will be licensed within the state and/or the local jurisdiction in which you reside or where your business is located. Also, go online or call your local Better Business Bureau and check for ANY complaints and resolutions.
So how does that electrician who works for a quality Electrical Contractor earn his license?
There are different electrical licensing levels that can be achieved by an electrician:
An Apprentice Electrician is the entry level into the trade. The apprentice is required to be registered as an apprentice with the state and/or local authorities. The apprenticeship requires two or four years of a solid employed electrical experience with a licensed electrical contractor, along with some classroom electrical apprenticeship schooling programs.
A 2 year Residential Wireman’s license can be obtained by demonstrating two years of continuous experience as an apprentice wiring houses, condominiums, apartments etc. This type of license permits the wireman to wire residential units unsupervised. It is often skipped over by most apprentices in favor of,
A 4 year Journeyman Electrician license. This license requires four years of progressive experience as an apprentice electrician, in a combination of residential and commercial wiring experience. The testing examinations for this license are extremely difficult and require a great deal of study and preparation on the part of the apprentice seeking this level of licensing. It is not uncommon for the apprentice to take the exam several times before obtaining success. Once the Journeyman’s Electrician license is obtained the “new” professional is entitled to perform any and all electrical wiring in all types of buildings for both residential and commercial applications. Both the Residential Wireman and the Journeyman Electrician licenses are required by statute to be employed under the supervision of the “Master Electrician”.
The final level of licensing is the “Master” Electrician and requires an additional year of experience in the areas of planning and layout. The exam for this license is far more difficult than the Journeyman Electrician exam and requires a higher degree of study and experience. This level of license entitles the Master Electrician to legally own and operate a legitimate electrical contracting company.
Now we know that a good electrician is a locally licensed professional that has completed the required apprenticeships and areas of study to obtain a specific electrical license. That is what a good electrician looks like.
Now what about an excellent electrician? An excellent electrician can provide professional electrical services on a variety of levels. An excellent electrician has experience that goes well beyond the installation of new electrical wiring in a newly built structure. An excellent electrician has been exposed to a variety of complex electrical problems or issues that have developed within facilities and residences. They have developed the skill sets necessary to analyze, troubleshoot and affect repairs in a timely manner. Handymen and multi-service contractors often only train as an apprentice electrician, if they have any certified electrical training at all.
An excellent electrician knows and recommends the correct product or solution for any given electrical situation, whether it is repairing an electrical issue, proposing lighting solutions or assisting with energy saving measures.
An excellent electrician understands the importance of customer service and therefore trains and educates the apprentice and licensed electricians within their employ to the “Excellent Electrician” level of professionalism.
An excellent electrical company recognizes and utilizes ethical business practices and employs excellent electricians to serve their customers.
Electric Doctor/Sparky’s USA takes pride in hiring and training professionals who have dedicated themselves to being quality electricians. Our team exemplifies what it means to be an Excellent Electrical Company specializing in Electrical Service and Repair of all electrical issues both big and small, commercial and residential.
Old Breaker Panels – Federal Pacific/Zinsco
Federal Pacific and Zinsco Breaker Panels
Here at Electric Doctor/Sparky’s, one of our most common jobs is answering questions about the dangers of having an older breaker panel (electrical service). Generally, we always recommend replacing breaker panels that are more than 20-30 years old. The most common panels which are mentioned in home and electrical inspections are Federal Pacific Panels (also known as FPE) and Zinsco Panels.
So, how do you know which type of breaker panel is powering your home?
Federal Pacific (FPE) Panels generally have orange breakers but also come in black and brown:
Zinsco Panels are generally multi-colored including blue, red, green and black:
Newer breaker panels are generally labeled better than older services, making it much easier to identify.
Common Breaker Panel Manufacturer’s for Newer & Older Panels:
Cutler Hammer
General Electric (GE)
Siemens (ITE)
Square-D – Homeline
Square-D – QO
Common Breaker Panel Manufacturer’s for Older Panels:
Bulldog (Pushmatic)
Challenger
Federal Pacific (FPE)
Wadsworth
Westinghouse
Zinsco
If you ever have any trouble identifying your breaker panel, feel free to call and ask us. We offer panel maintenance services to help keep your electrical service running at its best for many years. We also offer free estimates on all service replacements, upgrades and repairs.
303.973.2551
Sparky’s – Littleton’s Electrician
Electrical issues are usually of high concern and demand an immediate response from an skilled licensed electrical contractor. Sparky’s electricians are considered to be among the best diagnostic (troubleshooters) in the electrical business. Diagnosis and repair is an area best left to licensed electrical professionals with extensive experience in troubleshooting electrical wiring and branch circuits. Sparky’s unique training and troubleshooting process helps us lead as a professional electrical contractor in Littleton, Colorado and the entire Denver metro area. If you have a circuit breaker that is tripped or tripping repeatedly, you likely have a situation that requires fast, professional attention. The last thing you want to be concerned with at this time is receiving a high pressure sales pitch from a technician.
Signs of a possible Electrical Issue:
- Circuit Breaker Tripped – Not resetting
- Outlets not working throughout home/office
- Bathroom and Garage outlets not working
Sparky’s offers a straight-forward approach for residential electrical repairs. Sparky’s is based as Littleton’s hometown electrician and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you will get prompt, friendly service at a non-shocking price. We have over 50 years of high level expertise as electrical troubleshooters and the majority of service calls we perform in the Littleton, Highlands Ranch and Denver area are resolved for $99.00 in most cases.
As Littleton’s Electrician we understand your time is important. That’s the reason we like to refer to our slogan…
“We’re in, We’re out and You Save Money”
Scheduling service really quite simple:
- Call 303-973-2551 and together, we will arrange a time at your convenience to resolve your electrical issue
- NEVER any travel charge or “service call” fees that mean showing up and charging you to only quote a price!
- Your electrician will arrive at during our scheduled time ready to fix your electrical issue
- No time constraints. Some competitors have 2 hour windows to solve an issue
- If we find that your issue is severe, we will show you and quote you a price for the repair
Upon our arrival we will ask you for any information you may have concerning the electrical problem and then we will get busy making repairs. Upon completion of the repair, we will explain our findings and what measures were taken to correct the problem and answer any questions you may have. We accept many forms payment for our services including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Checks or Cash to make your transaction as simple as possible. We will then be on our way, make sure to look for a Sparky’s Sticker on your electrical panel and we always leave business cards!
That’s it! No Drama! No Scare Tactics! No Sales Pitch! Did we mention that Sparky’s (Electric Doctor) has been awarded the prestigious “Gold Star Award” from the Denver BBB every year since 2003?
Sparky’s specializes in residential electrical repair in Littleton and the Denver metro area. We will return your electrical system to normal operation. Our expertise simplifys correcting electrical issues and you can rest assured that your electrical system is in good hands. When you contact Sparky’s for repairs you will get prompt service at a fair price.
Sparky’s will help you avoid electrical problems from developing by giving your electrical system some TLC in the form of preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is used to avoid breakdowns and keep malfunctions from happening. Sparky’s preventative maintenance service consists of a complete electrical system overview, check up and tune up. We will also provide you with a list recommendations (if any) that may be needed or desired to keep your electrical system current and in peak operating condition. The service is very affordable and will help assure that your electrical system will be there when you need it most!
Free Electrical Inspection
Free Visual Electrical Inspection!
Sparky’s is all about making sure your electrical system is in a safe working condition. In Littleton, Highlands Ranch and the Denver Metro Area, we go on many service calls to repair electrical problems in homes and offices. During these service calls, our sparkys (electricians) open up and explore your electrical system to find the root cause of the issue. On the hunt for the problem, we often come across other issues or potential problems that should be addressed. If these issues are part of the cause of the issue or they are simple repairs, they will be fixed during the repair of the initial issue. If it is a more complex repair, our electricians will tell you what it will take to repair the issue and provide you with a quote. There may be more issues that we do not come across during a repair that should be addressed and this is why we offer our electrical inspections. Some of those issues can be easily seen by a homeowner but sometimes it takes a professional, licensed electrician to spot and describe a possible repair.
Inspections are great for answering questions you may have:
- How many amps and volts is my electrical service?
- What type of electrical service do I have?
- Is my electrical service safe?
- Who is the manufacture of my electrical service?
- Is my electrical wiring up to code and safe?
- Is my home grounded properly?
Sparky’s Electrical Inspections:
- Visual Electrical Inspection – A visual documentation of your home electrical system – Basic
- Electrical Inspection with Testing – Includes testing plugs, switches and lights – Enhanced
- Electrical Inspection with Maintenance – Includes checking all devices and standard panel maintenance – Complete
Sparky’s offers a FREE visual electrical inspection of your home or office with ANY service call upon request. Give us a call today, schedule your service and let our team members know that you would like to receive your FREE inspection of your electrical system! We perform electrical service and inspections all across the Denver area including Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Lakewood, Cherry Hills, Aurora, Parker and more!
Our standard visual inspection is a $99.00 Value and includes a walk-through of your home or office.
Call Today! (303) 973-2551
Residential Electrical Troubleshooting by Sparkys
Troubleshooting Residential Electrical – Introduction
Here at Electric Doctor/Sparky’s, most of our calls during a week are to diagnose and repair an electrical problem. We also receive calls from homeowners and maintenance personnel simply wondering why something went wrong with their electrical system. Sparky’s new blog section is here to help you understand what individual items are involved in your home electrical system and how they work together to create an entire electrical system. Electrical troubleshooting and repair takes years to understand and many more to master but we strive to give you quality information geared to understanding electrical systems. Knowing terminology and system parts will help you communicate issues more effectively if you do encounter issues and can help save money when it counts!
Basic Electrical System Terms:
- Electrical Service : Your service includes incoming power, a meter and your breakers
- Sub-Panel : A sub-panel is a secondary breaker panel but not all services have sub-panels
- Branch Circuits/Wiring : Branch circuit wiring is run to your home’s electrical devices
- Devices : Devices include outlets and switches but can also refer to light fixtures
Electrical problems can be quite elusive and troublesome. Diagnosis and repair is an area best left to licensed electrical professionals with experience in troubleshooting electrical wiring and branch circuits. If you have a circuit breaker that is tripped or tripping repeatedly you likely have a serious situation that requires attention. Circuit breakers are designed to trip when overloaded. A breaker tripping usually indicates an overloaded circuit or other faulty equipment. It is unwise to reset a circuit breaker that is tripping repeatedly. Doing so can cause the branch circuit wiring to carry more current than it was designed to carry and overheat, or worse, start a fire. Electric circuit breakers are just one area of the electrical system that may experience problems. Switches, outlets, light fixtures, appliances, branch wiring and other items can contribute to mysterious electrical situations popping up. We have seen instances where there were multiple unrelated electrical problems occurring at the same time, which can confound and frustrate even the most experienced, licensed electricians. The comment of having “ghosts” in the wiring from the homeowner is not uncommon in this situation. For example; lights can be going on and off in one area of the house with outlets not working in another and then the lights might stop working altogether. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI or GFI) receptacle outlets and circuit breakers tripping can indicate electrical wiring problems too. While GFCI outlets may nuisance trip (tripping off for no apparent reason) occasionally, an outlet that trips repeatedly should be checked out by a qualified licensed electrician. If you have a GFCI circuit breaker that has tripped we recommend having it checked as it is a somewhat uncommon occurrence. Never attempt to reset an electric circuit breaker if you detect a burning smell. A licensed trained electrician will identify and correct the problem prior to attempting to reset the circuit breaker. Failure to identify the problem prior to resetting the breaker could create a fire hazard and should be avoided.
Sparky’s can also help you avoid electrical problems from developing by giving your electrical system some TLC in the form of preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is a practice developed to avoid breakdowns and keep malfunctions from happening. Sparky’s preventative maintenance service consists of a complete electrical system overview, check up, and tune up. We will also provide you with a list recommendations (if any) that may be needed or desired to keep your electrical system current and in peak operating condition.
