Colorado Electrical FAQ’s

Usually, this means that you have a low battery. However, some smoke detectors are hard-wired into your home and don't need batteries. In that case, a chirping sound could mean a defective model. Or, it may be telling you that it's time to replace it. Home smoke detectors and CO2 detectors typically last about 8 years. Check the date of production on yours, and if it's older than 8 years, call Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric to replace it for you.

There are a few reasons. If you use cheap bulbs, they'll burn out faster than better-quality bulbs. Larger wattage bulbs also burn out faster, as the excessive heat build-up shortens the bulb's life. Or, you could have power surges that burn out the bulb.

Cable and phone companies no longer install wiring in residential homes. Instead, consumers are responsible for hiring a licensed Colorado electrical contractor to wire TV, internet, or phone lines. Give Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric a call to help you add on or move the wiring in your home.

Yes, but be careful how many strands are drawing power from the single outlet. If you have many strings of lights strung together, then you may overload the outlet, pushing it beyond the circuit breaker's capacity. You may need to add additional circuits to handle your holiday decorating, call Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric when you need an electrical panel upgrade.

Yes, while mainline surge protection can protect your home's wiring, there's no absolute guarantee that your appliances and electronics will be safe if lightning hits your home or there's a big power surge.

No, while your surge and lighting protection may offer an additional defense, there is no 100% guarantee of safety when severe storms strike.

Yes, but keep in mind that if the device exceeds the circuit's capacity, then it will trip your breaker.

Yes, but make sure that you ask a licensed electrician to check that the electrical box is braced correctly to hold the fan and that it's rated for its torque. In fact, it's usually best to have an electrician handle your ceiling fan installation from start to finish. Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric has years of experience with ceiling fan installation and troubleshooting!

Flickering lights usually mean that the bulb is almost burned out. Or, it could indicate an improperly installed bulb, or that your home is having minor power fluctuations. If your lights are cycling on and off, then there could be a problem with the ballast, which should be replaced when you replace the bulbs.

Disconnect everything that's plugged into the outlets servicing the particular breaker switch. You may need to redistribute the electronics and appliances to different outlets to prevent the breaker from tripping again. If it's still tripping after redistribution, call a licensed electrician at Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric, as this could indicate a major problem.

If you have ground fault interrupters, which are susceptible to weather conditions and moisture, then your circuit breakers can trip. Otherwise, one of the appliances plugged into the tripping breaker may be causing it to trip.

Aluminum wiring itself is safe, but the problems that come with it involve the connections. Because aluminum is a soft metal, it can come loose as the connections expand and contract with the electrical energy that passes through them. The heat builds up in the loose connections, which eventually causes electrical failure. Usually, you'll need a whole-house rewire.