Chicago Electricians

If your lights are flickering, dimming, or are going on and off... it's time to call a Chicago Electrician.

And we can help.

Flickering Lights - a Bad Sign?
Yes. If your lights are not acting "normal", it could be a sign that you've got electrical problems. And it's not something you should delay or put off for any reason.

It could be a fire hazard...

A light can sometimes dim when there is a heavy load on the line. For example, if you turn on your vacuum cleaner, it could cause the light in the room to dim for a second. There is "resistance" on the line and some of the current is lost. This is normal.

Frequent flickers or large amounts of flickering in electrical current could mean a bigger problem. Since there is resistance on every circuit, too much flickering means it should be checked out because it could mean something is broken or damaged.

A circuit connection could be loose, a switch could be going bad, or the appliance or instrument could be going bad or have a faulty (fire-starting) connection.

When there are flickers, there can sometimes be arcing. Arcing of electrical current is when the connections are close to each other but not tight and the current has to "jump" to the other connection. Arcing can go for a while without causing problems but eventually there could be a fire hazard.

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Labels: Chicago Electricians, Electrical Repair Services

An electrical contractor can install regular 120 volt outlets in your home. These are the normal outlets where you plug in your TV, computer, or lamp.

But an electrician will install a different kind of outlet in areas that are considered to have a high moisture content. In other words, outlets in your bathroom or kitchen or laundry area. They use what is referred to as a GFCI outlet.

What is a GFCI Outlet?
It stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. It's used to prevent you from a deadly electrical shock. It can detect a problem and trip the circuit to keep you safe. You know how an outlet has a larger slot on the left and smaller slot on the right? And the round hole, that is the ground, below? When electricity is flowing through an appliance, it goes from the "hot" right side and back into the "neutral" left side. The GFCI monitors this flow and any change will make it "flip off" the flow.

Without it, the electricity might flow from the hot side and into you as you would act as the ground wire. This could easily kill you.

How Much Does a GFCI Outlet Cost to Install?
An electrician can replace existing outlets with the GFCI outlets for you for just slightly more than it costs to replace a regular outlet. Depending on where you live, how difficult the installation would be, and how many you have installed, the price could be from $50 to $120 each. It could be more if there is no room to add additional outlets to your panel.

To install a brand new GFCI outlet can run about $75 to $200 per.

Do All Outlets Need to Be GFCI?
No. Only in those areas where a decent amount of water is used. Water can act as a conduit between you and the electricity. You only need the GFCI outlets in and around sinks, faucets, and outdoors where there is a lot of moisture.

What is the Difference in Outlets?
The GFCI looks and works just like a regular outlet, but it usually has a red "Test" and a black "Reset" button in the middle. Pushing the Test button turns off the circuit to show you that it's working properly. Pushing the Reset button turns the circuit back on after it has been automatically shut off.

Can I Install It Myself?
Only if you're are very knowledgable about electricity and are very handy. Working with electricity can be dangerous, if not deadly. Whenever possible, hire a qualified and licensed electrician to perform the work. It will cost you some money but that is better than being injured or even killed doing it yourself.


If you need to find a quality electrical company in Chicago and the surrounding Cook County areas, let us know. At ConstructionDeal.com, we can match you to Chicago electricians at no cost. Fill out the simple form and you'll get rate quotes in a short period of time.

Labels: Chicago Electricians, Electrical Companies, GFCI, Outlet Installation

There are several types of lighting in every room:

• Task lighting is that overhead or directed light that helps you chop vegetables on the counter, do your makeup in the bathroom, or gives you light on your home office desk.
• Ambient lighting gives the room the basic, functional lighting to be able to live and work in an area.
  
• Accent lighting can focus on artwork, on a bookcase, or a table with flowers and vase. It gives the room depth and visual interest.
  

Most people simply have an overhead light and a lamp or two in many of the rooms in their homes. If you're ready to make your home special, you can introduce recessed lighting.

Recessed lighting gives you the option to add all three types of lighting into your home, depending on your needs. A canned light can shine down for a task, it can give your room the general lighting it needs without being harsh, or it can accent a sculpture in your living room.

Everyone loves the look and functionality of recessed lights, so if you have them installed in your home... you could be improving the overall value of your property.

There are many types of recessed lamps and it usually requires the help of an electrician to install them. This is why many do not take the plunge to add character and a special feel to their home -- it might cost too much.

But, keep in mind that it might not be as bad as you think. Talk to a local electrician about it. Now is a great time to find really good deals out there. Many lighting pros have special packages that can save you big money.

Don't know Electricians in the Chicago area?
We can help you with that...

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Labels: Chicago Electricians, Electrical Companies, Recessed Lighting