With the days growing shorter, are your outdoor lights in order? You have not given your electrical panel a once over since the summer heat broke, or perhaps you are wondering what minor repairs to make now to avoid trouble down the line.
We are Mr. Electrician South Texas, LLC and for our homeowners in Greater Corpus Christi we put their minds at ease, making sure the electrical system is safe and functions as it should come whatever season. Our team has been with this community since 2012 and is on hand to assist. You can reach us at (361) 301-4633.
It is not the same kind of fall one sees up north, but the electrical system in your home is not afforded any respite for that reason. The cooler nights, the shift in your routine and holiday plans will all make more of an impression on your wiring, outlets and panel. Some advice on preparing for it follows.
Check Your Outdoor Lighting Now
You are going to be using your outdoor lighting more as daylight wanes. It is no fun to have a fixture go out just as you are coming into the driveway in the dark.
Make a circuit of the property and see if you spot any of the usual suspects:
- A bulb that has given out or is in the habit of flickering
- Housings on the fixtures that are cracked
- Connections by the exterior lights that are corroded or not tight
- Motion sensors not doing their job
- Pathway and landscape lights that have quit
- Timers or a smart switch calling for some reconfiguring to suit the earlier sunsets
Attend to these and your entryways and walkways will be well lit and safe for the duration of the season.
An Eye on Your Electrical Panel
The panel has had a hard year of it, the air conditioning in full force through the long South Texas summers being case in point. Fall would be a fine time to check on it.
Should you hear a buzz or detect a burning odor, or find the breakers tripping with some frequency and the panel warm, put it out of your mind to let it go. A professional should have a look at such things. We are licensed and insured and will tell you if there is need for an upgrade or some repair work.
Holiday Decorating
There are the holidays to contend with, and with them the extension cords, inflatables and so on. One finds plenty of electrical hazards in the form of overloaded circuits during this period.
A few things to bear in mind before putting up decorations:
- Resist the temptation to crowd too much on a power strip or outlet
- For outside work, only put out extension cords made for it
- See to it that none of the light strands or cords are frayed
- Make sure outdoor connections are not in standing water or on the ground
- Leave the rugs alone for your cords; they can overheat
- If you are daisy-chaining cords as of late, a new outlet may be in order
We can put in dedicated outlets for your displays if you like.
Safety Devices
One tends to forget about the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors until called upon. Use the fall as an excuse to test them and put in fresh batteries. Any hardwired detector not in working order is something our electricians can examine.
Then there are the GFCI outlets in the garage, outdoors, kitchen and bathrooms. Hit the reset and test button to confirm they trip. They are there to guard against shock and a defective unit is best replaced.
For Comfort and Convenience
Some projects have been left by the wayside and the weather is conducive to getting them done. Be it a ceiling fan, an outlet for the workshop or home office, or to brighten a room. Get it done ahead of the holiday run-up.
From Portland to Calallen, Rockport, Robstown, Aransas Pass and Port Aransas, we cover the Corpus Christi area. We have military and senior discounts and are bilingual. GreenSky can provide financing for the larger jobs.
Mr. Electrician South Texas, LLC is at your service for a panel inspection or to fix an outdoor light. As a locally run and family business we are here to help. Omar Arispe, a native of Corpus Christi and our Master Electrician, is the owner. We do free estimates and are around 24/7.
Give us a ring at (361) 301-4633 to set up an appointment and be confident heading into the season.