One of the overhead lights in your house is making a buzzing sound. Is it the bulb, the fixture, the switch, or something else? You might be able to stop the buzzing simply by changing the bulb or by using a different type of bulb. Or you may need to call in an electrician to […]

Whenever you try to heat up a cup of coffee in the microwave the circuit trips. What’s going on? Here’s what could be happening—and how an electrician can help fix it—when your microwave is tripping your circuit breaker. Why is My Microwave Tripping My Circuit Breaker? Overloaded Circuit Think your microwave is pulling too much […]

If your circuit breaker is hot to the touch, what does that mean? A hot circuit breaker, says Capital’s lead electrician, Scott Terry, could be a sign of a fire hazard or some other problem with your breaker, electrical panel, or wiring. This shouldn’t be confused with a warm circuit breaker. A slightly warm panel […]

You may be wondering if there are any risks associated with using a charger for your electric vehicle. EV chargers are designed to be safe but there are still steps you can take to make sure you’re using yours in the safest way possible. Get Your EV Charger Installed By An Electrician If you plan […]

Image by Leviton If you want to be able to manage the energy flowing in and out of your home, a smart electrical panel designed for residential use is a great way to go. “You can control every circuit in your home from one centralized dashboard,” says general manager Dean Schmidtke. What’s A Smart Electrical […]

You’ve seen electrical outlets with “test” and “reset” buttons in your home. These are GFCI outlets, designed to keep people from getting shocked or electrocuted. GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.  How Do GFCI Outlets Work? According to SafeElectricity.org, “If a person’s body starts to receive a shock, the GFCI senses this and instantly […]

Image by Generac As much as you might want it to be, your home generator is not a set-it-and-forget-it piece of equipment. It takes some maintenance and upkeep to ensure that it’s in shape for an emergency. Generators are small combustion engines. Just like a car, they need oil changes, upkeep, and exercise.  But they […]

Home electrical inspections are designed to make sure your electrical systems are safe. That’s why they’re required when you buy or sell a home. In Washington State, inspectors check general circuitry, AFCI and GFCI protections, wiring methods, services, and more to make sure everything is ship-shape. (You can take a look at the Homeowner’s Residential […]

Every three years, it’s a good idea to bring in an electrical professional to check out your home by performing an electrical safety assessment to make sure everything’s safe.  That’s according to this article in Forbes, which explores the potential cost and reasons to set up regular home electrical safety inspections.  A professional electrical professional […]