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Electrical, Home Improvement Library
I urgently advise you to get your aluminum wiring checked for arcing and fire risk, NOW. The static on your AM radio may be a warning of wiring problems. This is serious and may be a fire warning for you. Aluminum wiring is a problem at the connections to the devices,...
Electrical, Home Improvement Library
It’s time to change that panel. I suggest you find a licensed electrician and replace your electric panel with a larger size. The 200 amp size is now the standard for circuit panels. Federal Pacific breakers have been identified as a fire risk and are recognized...
Electrical, Home Improvement Library
Electric wires and outlets are sized and rated by wattage and load delivered to the plugged in appliance. I suspect several things that may affect your hot electric outlets. First, use a space heater sized small enough to operate safeley where it is plugged in to the...
Basements, Electrical, Home Improvement Library, Plumbing
Yes, battery backup sump pumps are available, important, and require some knowledge of check valves to correctly and effectively install. They are powered by a 12 volt, deep cycle, car-type battery mounted in a plastic case. The battery is powered by a battery charger...
Electrical, Home Improvement Library
Generators come in various sizes, features, fuel types, power quality, noisy vs. quiet, automatic vs. owner connected, portable, permanent, power on monthly self-test vs. no tests, various brands, and ease of use. It is like buying a car: all have 4-wheels, seats, and...
Electrical, Home Improvement Library, HVAC
Q: How much electricity does a gas furnace need? A: A gas fired, forced air home furnace typically requires a small amount of electricity to ignite and operate in your home. Most gas heat furnaces use less than 600 watts of electricity, or less than half of a typical...
Electrical, Home Improvement Library
Yes, do something now! Hot electrical outlets and especially the bake-lite smell (a heat indicator) is the pre-fire warning from arcing aluminum wiring. The heat is the result of arcing from loose electrical connections. You must immediately change to the approved...
Cleaning, Electrical, Home Improvement Library
Built in vacs are great, especially for allergy or asthma sufferers because they suck up dust mites, dust etc. and blow the “exhaust” outside the house. Regular cannister vacuums just recycle the dust into the same rooms. A central system exhausts outside...
Electrical, Home Improvement Library
Whole house surge protectors are costly to buy and then to install. They are wise investments when located in a high elevation or other locations of higher incidence of lightning strikes. They also only protect from the source, upline surge charges (intake through the...
