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David Heintz
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A & H Electric Co.
3505 N. Loop 336 West
Conroe, Texas 77304
Office: (936) 756-0442

Category: outlets

Gain Confidence And Learn How To Replace Your Own Outlets

A&H Electric, Electrical, Electricity 101, Home, outlets

Are you interested in upgrading one or more outlets in your home but have no idea how to? Do you need to replace a damaged outlet? If yes, to either of these questions, then this is the blog post for you!

The idea of changing an outlet usually gets mixed feeling from many people. Some people will either know how to do it with no problems and others may have a fear of getting electrocuted which can prevent them from ever learning how. Whatever the reason, many people fail to learn how to replace an outlet, which is a very simple and basic home repair.

So, whether you are updating an old outlet or replacing a damaged outlet, these step-by-step instructions will help you ensure a smooth replacement while giving you confidence in your actions.

What You Need:

  • Outlet
  • Outlet Cover
  • Flathead and Philip Screwdrivers
  • Wire Stripper

When changing outlets, it is important to remember to shut the power off in the area where the outlet is located.

You can do this by turning off the switch in the fuse box to the specified location. Once the power has been shut off, the next thing to do is test the outlet. Plug a small appliance in the outlet to test if the outlet has no power. If the appliance is off, you have turned off the right circuit switch, if not, go back to the fuse box and locate the correct switch.

Once the power is off, grab your tools and begin replacing the outlet:

  1. Remove the outlet cover with a flathead screwdriver and place aside.
  2. Unscrew the two outlet screws and pull “old” outlet from wall, carefully.
  3. Unscrew one wire from the old outlet and then use the wire stripper to expose more wire.
  4. Take the exposed wire and using a Philip screwdriver, screw the wire onto the new outlet on the same position as it was on the old outlet.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have unscrewed, stripped, and screwed in all stripped wires to the correct location on the new outlet.
  6. Place new outlet back into wall and screw the outlet cover back in place.
  7. Turn the circuit switch to the outlet back on and test the outlet.
  8. Enjoy you’re new and upgraded outlet!

If you would like any advice from your Electrician Experts, please contact us today for your questions at (936) 756-0442.

4 Electrical Issues That You Can Troubleshoot in Your Home

A&H Electric, Circuit Breakers, Electrical, Electricity 101, Home, Lighting, outlets, sparking

Most electrical problems need to be handled by a licensed electrician, like the ones at  A&H Electric.  If you are not a qualified professional, a mistake could be made that could cause an electrical fire and the results could be disastrous!  Every year many house fires are caused by improper electrical wiring, so if you aren’t sure, don’t try to fix it yourself.  There are, however, a few problems that can be safely solved with a little bit of troubleshooting.

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Vampire Energy

A&H Electric, Electrical, Energy Saving, Helpful Tips, outlets, power surges

Is electricity being used when items in your home are plugged into an outlet but not on?

A&H Electric ElectriciansIn order to answer this question about vampire energy, we must first consider a few factors. First thing first, vampire energy is what many refer to as the electricity that is wasted as a result of plugged in items that are still using electricity when off. Depending on the appliance and/ or device, in most cases you will discover that the devices are never truly off. Usually, the device is in a standby mode, which still requires the use of some electricity. The amount used also depends on the device. For example, a large television, like a plasma television, will use more watts than something like a blender because it is constantly processing information.

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Replacing a Light Switch

A&H Electric, Electricity 101, Lighting, outlets

When the word, Electrical, is heard, many people are scared off by the job. This we can understand, because electricity can be very dangerous and life threatening, if handled with incorrectly. For this reason, there are not many things we can recommend to do without a professional electrician.

Nonetheless, there are a few simple task that can be done around the house involving electricity. Have you ever replaced a light switch panel? This needs to be replaced from time to time due to corrosion and/or due to paint. No need to fret, this job can be completed in no time and without injuries, if done properly, of course.

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How Can I Protect My Home From Electrical Surges?

Home, outlets, power surges

Electrical surges can happen in your home for many reasons.  They can result from electric motors switching on and off, static electricity, lightning strikes or the electric company switching from one utility to another; these surges can damage your more sensitive systems due to the sudden changes in voltage. Some signs you might have had a power surge in your home are:

  • Your microwave lost its preset timings.
  • Your computer has faulty output, data loss, or total circuit failure.
  • Any audio/visual equipment’s transistors have been damaged.

If you think this might be the case you might want to invest in surge protectors.  An electrical surge protector is a receptacle that you use to sense high voltage surges and absorb them, protecting anything that is plugged into it.  Surge protectors can come in the form of multi-outlet strips, plug-in adapters, and permanent receptacles. If you aren’t sure what your electrical problem is, feel free to give us a call at (936) 756-0442 or visit A&H Electric today!

Why is my outlet sparking when I plug in something?

A&H Electric, Home, outlets, sparking

A&H Electricians in Houston TexasCauses of Outlets Sparking

Not many people think about it but outlets are one of the most important features in a house; they provide electrical power to all the appliances and electronics in your home.  We’re sure that you have had the experience of plugging a cord into an outlet and it sparks.  There are many reasons why this could happen and none of them are good; this could lead to an electrical fire.  Make sure that if an outlet ever sparks to contact an electrician right away.

Exposed Wiring

The sparking could be caused by exposed wiring this means that the insulation around the wiring has deteriorated or is missing for some reason. These exposed wires touching each other can cause short circuits and sparking.

Improper Wiring

Improper wiring is also a very strong possibility if you are getting sparking in an outlet; this could mean that the terminal wiring is loose or the internal contact is poor.  If the outlet feels hot to the touch this may be the cause of the sparking. Remember that these are just some of the things that might be causing sparking.  You should leave any actual electrical work to a certified professional electrician.

Overloaded Receptacle

Sparking could also be caused by an overloaded receptacle.  Outlets are designed to have two plugs in them so if you have multiple adapters or converters plugged in this could cause instability in the outlet.  If this is the case, try using surge protectors instead.