Frequently Asked Questions

It isn’t normal for a breaker to trip on a regular basis. Occasionally, you may be asking for more electrical output than it can provide. But, once you reset it and address the overload, it should not keep tripping. If it does, there is likely something seriously wrong with your electrical system – something that could be a fire hazard.

It is easy to overload a circuit. Anything that produces heat tends to require a considerable amount of electricity. If you’ve got the dryer running, the iron on, and someone turns on a hair dryer, and they are all plugged into outlets attached to one circuit, that’s a good recipe for circuit overload.

Be aware, that appliances with a tendency to overheat can also cause a circuit overload. An overheated air conditioner, for instance, will continue to draw larger and larger amounts of electricity to maintain the same level of performance. Eventually, your HVAC system will die, or you’ll blow a circuit, or both. Have your appliances maintained and inspected regularly to keep everything running efficiently.

Take the risk of fire seriously. If you’ve got a short circuit, you’ve got a serious fire hazard. Outlets with loose wiring or improperly installed outlets overload when they touch, and cause the circuit to break. They also create sparks and can easily start a fire. If you smell smoke or see any discoloration around your outlets, call an electrician immediately.

A ground fault is similar to a short circuit, and occurs when a live wire contacts a ground wire. This is just as dangerous as a short circuit, and requires immediate attention.

Finally, a nearby lightning strike could cause your entire breaker to blow all at once. The power outage typically won’t last very long. But, if the rest of your neighborhood gets their power back, and your circuits keep tripping, get a professional out to take a look. You’ve got something else going on.

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You may need to add a new line. If your lights flicker when you turn on the air conditioning, blow dryer, or other appliance that draws a lot of power, you’re overloading your system. Talk to a professional about possibly running all of your appliances that draw a lot of power to one circuit with enough power to keep them running.

Do you have one, or two, or twelve outlets around the house with adapters plugged into them, and four or five appliances plugged into each adapter? You know you’re asking for trouble, right? There’s almost no chance that your outlets aren’t doing double-duty with this kind of load plugged into them. And, when your outlets are tasked beyond capacity, you run the risk of shock, sparks, and fire. Have a professional contractor install more outlets, and make any required changes to your electrical panel.

We feel like this one should be obvious. If you’ve run a bunch of wires under your carpet, including extension cords, because you don’t have enough outlets where you need them, and you don’t want to have to look at all of the ugly wires, stop doing that right now. Call someone and get some extra outlets installed. Upgrade your panel if you need to. It isn’t an expensive fix. And, what you’re doing can be very dangerous. You’re creating a serious fire hazard.

Do you have a bunch of old outlets with only space for two prongs? Those outlets are not properly grounded. Have an electrician come out and fix those for you. It is a fast, simple fix. You won’t have to fuss with adapters, and you’ll know that your electronics are safe and grounded.

There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. If rust is showing up in or around your breaker box, you have water seeping into or near your electrical system. There is almost nothing more dangerous. Call a professional immediately.

If your home is more than 20 years old, the chances are pretty good that your wiring isn’t up to current standards. It’s worthwhile having an inspection done, even if it turns out that everything is okay. If your house was built before 1975 and you haven’t had your wiring inspected, you definitely should. You could have aluminum wiring, which could pose a fire hazard if it starts to deteriorate. Aluminum wiring should be inspected at least once a year. Better yet, have it replaced and have your home’s electrical system brought up to date.

GFCI outlets may trip due to various factors, with the primary cause often being the detection of a “ground fault.” This occurs when electrical power in the circuit either leaks or experiences a direct short to the ground. When a GFCI outlet fails to reset, it’s typically due to either the lingering presence of the ground fault or a malfunctioning GFCI outlet itself. Determining the actual issue requires a thorough diagnostic assessment of the circuit.

If you detect a strong odor accompanied by smoke or fire, please dial 911 immediately for emergency assistance.

Whether you’re concerned about a potential fire hazard or seeking assurance that your electrical system is safe, reach out to us. Our team specializes in identifying and rectifying issues such as loose connections, faulty components, or damaged wiring. We provide transparent pricing upfront to help you devise a comprehensive plan to permanently resolve these concerns.

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When a microwave consistently trips a circuit breaker, it’s often due to the installer not ensuring that the microwave has its own dedicated circuit. Most microwaves require this setup. In a small number of cases, the microwave itself may be faulty and need replacement.

We know that we are experienced, trustworthy, provide excellent customer service, and stand by our work. But, if you’ve never worked with us before, you don’t know that. We need to earn your trust.

That’s one of the reasons we’re putting this list of tips together for you, so you’ll know which electricians are trustworthy and which aren’t.

So, here are a few tips for hiring a reliable electrician.

• Hourly Rates Aren’t Everything: You may find a wide range of hourly rates when hiring an electrician. Choosing the lowest rate isn’t always going to save you money. If you hire an inexperienced person to handle a complex job, it is going to take them longer to complete each task, and they may need to go back to correct mistakes. Someone charging $50 dollars per hour may take 20 hours to complete a job that someone charging $75 per hour can complete in seven or eight hours. Make sure you understand the level of professional experience your contractor has, and get an estimate for how many hours they expect the job to take.
• Check Reputable Reference Sources: You should expect your electrician to be able to provide references from past customers. Make sure they are recent customers, and that their project was of the same scope as yours. And, don’t forget to check sources like the Better Business Bureau. Any complaints filed against an electrician with the Bureau will be found on their website.
• Check for Miscellaneous Charges: Does your electrician charge for travel time? If so, make sure it is a reasonable expense. One of the reasons that we recommend hiring a locally-owned and operated electrical contractor is that they likely don’t have these kinds of fees. And, if they do, you can usually negotiate with them.

No matter how handy or electrical capable you are, there are some electrical emergencies that are never safe for you to attempt to fix. If you experience any of the following electrical problems, immediately remove yourself and your family from the home and call 911.

• You Smell Burning Wires: Burning wires emit a burning metallic or plastic smell. This is a very serious problem and if it is not corrected immediately, can become fatal. A burning smell is indicative of a pending electrical fire.
• Loss Of Power: While being without power can be considered more of a nuisance than an emergency, if there is no known reason for a loss of power, it becomes an emergency.
• Buzzing Or Humming Breaker Box: Any loud noises coming from your breaker box means that something is attempting to trip and is unable to because of some fault.
• An Electrical Fire Occurred: Once the fire has been handled as we instructed at the beginning of this section and there is no longer an immediate danger to you, your family, or your home, then call your local 24-hour emergency electrician.

Only if it is safe to do so, cut the power to your home. If it is safe for you to do so, you can attempt to use a fire extinguisher to sweep the flames, but NEVER ever use water to put out an electrical fire. If there is no fire and you are able to cut the power, call an emergency electrician right away.

Your home’s energy bill is directly related to the electricity your home uses. Reducing usage is the most effective way to lower costs. If you think your electrical system is contributing to high bills, call your local electrician for an assessment. For an experienced electrician in Gloucester, you can trust, call Asbury Electric now!

• Reduce dishwasher & laundry cycles by running full loads only
• Clean out your dryer filter to improve efficiency
• Change your air filter to allow better airflow
• Reduce screentime for TVs, computers, and gaming systems
• Install dimmer switches to lower lighting usage
• Switch to LED lights, which use about 90% less energy
• Purchase ENERGY STAR appliances for higher efficiency
• Install ceiling fans to support your AC system
• Use curtains & blinds to reduce heat and cooling needs
• Turn down your water heater temperature
• Keep fridges & freezers full to help retain cold air
• Monitor thermostats and avoid extreme temperature settings