Exterior Illumination

It is time to get back into the holiday spirit!  Time to pull out those Christmas lights and start untangling the strands that have been packed away since last year.  There are a couple of ways to prepare for this. 

The first thing you need to do is test the strands, after successfully untangling them, to make sure that all the bulbs work.  Check for any broken bulbs that need to be replaced as well.

Secondly, make sure that you have proper GFCI protection before you start hanging the lights.  GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.  This is a device that is intended to keep you safe if you happen to have water come into contact with the outlet while using it.  When working properly, the receptacle will shut down so power does not continue to flow.  This makes sure you don’t get shocked while decorating.  

To test a GFCI, take a strand of lights and plug them in.  Push the test button on the receptacle and the lights should go off.  Then push the reset button and the lights should come back on.  If you push the reset button and the lights don’t come back on you know there is a problem, and you probably need to replace it.  Sometimes you can have a receptacle that is controlled by a GFCI that is located somewhere else, and you might have to track it down.  These are usually located in bathrooms, garages or kitchens. 

If you live in an older home you might not have GFCI receptacles.  It is a good idea to have these installed for your safety.  You can replace unprotected outlets with GFCI’s to make sure that things are up to code and ready for everything you have planned.  We are always ready to help if you feel like things need to be updated.

Now it is time to create your winter wonderland!

Happy Holidays! 

-Rob

Timeline Tips

Remodeling bathrooms, kitchens, basements....any remodel project... takes a lot of skill and coordination. Especially if there are multiple trades involved in the project.

While hiring a general contractor streamlines the process and removes all stress and coordination from your plate, it can be more cost effective for a home owner to lead their own remodel project if you're up for the task. Warning: acting as a general contractor for your remodel project is not for the faint of heart. :) But, with a little patience, knowledge and organization, it can be done.

We recently worked with a husband and wife team who remodeled their kitchen. They put a lot of elbow grease and sweat equity in to their project, but used experienced contractors for cabinetry, electrical and plumbing work. They were incredibly organized, which was very helpful. However, since they don't work in construction every day, we provided them with some timeline tips and guidelines, from an electrical perspective, for their project.

We hope these tips may come in handy for you if you're in the process of conducting your own kitchen remodel. Keep in mind that if you're in need of an electrical contractor for any project, we'll provide the same careful guidance for you if needed.

Red October

It’s my favorite time of year to live in St. Louis.  The temperatures have cooled off, the leaves are starting to change, the smell of camp fires are in the air, and our beloved St. Louis Cardinals are the National League Central Division champs for the third consecutive year. 

It seems as though seeing our team play meaningful baseball games in October is the norm. The team is such a well-oiled machine in the way they operate, manage, scout, and teach players. It’s pretty impressive to see the amount of success they have, and the loyal fan base they have maintained.  They’ve created the perfect recipe for running a business! One that we try to mimic.

So being in the baseball kind of mood I thought I could relate the Cardinals to a relevant electrical topic.  According to an article published by the Alliance To Save Energy, the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball in the seventh most energy efficient stadium in the entire league. Since Busch Stadium opened in 2006 they have reduced their energy consumption by 23%. The expected savings average $150,000 annually.  

The Cardinals accomplished this by replacing traditional spot and flood lights to LED lamps, saving up to 90% in some areas. They also improved their HVAC systems. They installed smaller units to heat and cool smaller areas more efficiently, which created smaller power consumption. 

In 2012 the Cardinals installed 106 solar panels which produce approximately 32,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy each year.  So next time you order up your hot dog know that it may have been cooked using power created by the sun!

So not only are the Cardinals great at baseball, they are in the forefront of energy aware stadiums.

Lets Go Cards!!!!

-Matt

Are Your Smoke Detectors Reliable?

Smoke detectors are a vital part of your family’s home safety plan.  It is important that you have them installed in all bedrooms, hallways, unfinished areas, and on every level of your home.  The reason so many are recommended, is because when you are sleeping at night, there should be one close enough to alert you. 

There are different types of smoke detectors for you to choose from.  One is battery operated which runs only on batteries, as the name states. 

The second kind is a wired smoke detector with battery backup.  This option has 120 volt hardwired into it, and has the battery as backup in case of a power outage.  The nice thing about this option is that they can be interconnected.  If a smoke detector anywhere in your house detects smoke, it will send a signal to the rest of them to trigger all of the alarms.

The last option is a wireless smoke detector, which is primarily chosen in situations where there is no easy way to get wires to the desired locations.  These are things like flat roofs with no attic space, or addition rooms on houses.  This option is also the most expensive of the three.

No matter which option you choose for your home, it is always necessary to change the batteries at least twice a year.  It is recommended to change them when you change your clocks.  By doing this you guarantee that they will operate at their fullest potential.

With all of the choices available, I would recommend the wired/battery backup option.   This option will give you the best overall product reliability.  If you feel like you may need to add smoke detectors to your house, or maybe it’s time for an upgrade of your old ones, give us all call.  We are always happy to discuss options and what would work best for you and your family.  Safety is always a priority for us!

-Rob

Don't Let This Happen to You

While reading my community newspaper last night, I came across this article and thought it would be good to share. Not as a scare tactic, but to show that working with electricity is not the same as other DIY projects. It can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. 

Please be careful if you choose to work on the electrical system in your home. The safest way is to call a licensed electrician who works with electricity day in and day out. 

Our thoughts are with this family as they work to restore their home. We're happy to hear no one was injured. 

Article found in The West Side Leader, Vol. 3, No. 11

Current Meter Base Requirements

The new Ameren required meter base has been raising some questions by homeowners. We hope this short explanation will help identify who is responsible for what when it comes to your electrical service and why the new requirements make your home safer.

On all of our homes, condos, apartments, etc… we have a main electric service. Some homeowners are a little unsure of what they own and what they are responsible for. To simplify things it’s easier to tell you what you are not responsible for.

The only pieces of equipment that Ameren owns is the meter that measures how much electricity is used and the wires that generally attach to your home over head or are buried underground and terminate in a meter base. 

Meter - Ameren property

Underground termination

Overhead termination

You, as a homeowner, are responsible for the main distribution panel, the SEU cable, and overhead riser (only needed on overhead services to aid in reaching height requirements) and meter base that Ameren wires first terminate in. And as of January 6, 2015 Ameren started to require a new style of meter base. 

Meter Base - Homeowner property

This new meter base has to have a lever action bypass arm. Basically this allows first responders to safely shut off power to your home in an emergency situation.  Unless your home was built after January 6, or your service was upgraded since then, your meter base is technically not up to code. The good news is Ameren is not automatically requiring homeowners to upgrade to this meter base. However, if an electrician is changing a main distribution panel or doing any kind of work on the main electric service the meter base needs to be upgraded at that time. 

This new code-required meter base is having the biggest impact on homeowners who are in the process of selling their home. A large number of older homes have a cloth-based SEU cable that is used to bring power into the house from the meter base to the main panel, and from the meter base to the location that connects to Ameren’s overhead service drop. Over years of being to exposed to the elements, the cloth sheathing is showing signs of deterioration. Many municipal inspectors and private home inspectors will cite this as a code violation or need to correct. Prior to the new requirement this would have been a lower cost replacement. Now, under the new guidelines, the meter base needs to be upgraded which is a more expensive repair.  

We educate all of our customers so you can stay informed as new codes are put in to place. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call. 

-Matt Ursch

Should I Worry About Aluminum Wiring?

Aluminum wiring was used in the mid 60’s and 70’s, mainly in residential homes, because copper wiring was in high demand.  Manufactures couldn’t produce copper fast enough. With the Vietnam War going on, copper was going more towards military needs.  They thought of an alternative and it was aluminum wire, which is a little bit softer than copper, but still approved by the underwriter’s laboratory (UL).  The only downfall was it had to be increased in diameter one size to meet current code for individual branch circuitry.

In the electrical industry when customers hear that they have aluminum wiring they aren't sure exactly what that means, but assume it's not good. Also, when they’re considering buying a house with aluminum wiring in it, they automatically become concerned.  In my opinion, as long as the home has been maintained by a licensed electrical contractor the home will, more than likely, be safe. Usually when an unqualified person attempts to fix a problem with aluminum wiring is when it becomes a potential problem.

Issues with aluminum wiring usually arise when home owners attempt to replace a device (receptacle/switch). Most of the big box stores mainly carry copper rated devices. You have to be careful when you purchase them. One thing you need to look for is what kind of wiring the device is rated for. Copper devices will have a marking on them reading (CU) and an AL with a slash through it. That means it is not rated for aluminum. You will have to look for the devices that have AL with a circle around it, signifying it is OK to use with aluminum, to properly replace them. 

Splicing is another big issue if not done properly. No one carries aluminum wiring anymore so you will have to splice with copper wires. You cannot just splice them together and put a regular wire nut on them. A special purple wire nut/king alumiconn connector needs to be used to correctly connect them together. The connectors have a dioxide gel in them that oxidizes the two dissimilar metals together. This is the correct way to splice. At this point you are able to install a copper rated device.

The very best way to solve any of your electrical needs is to contact the professionals at Wireworks Electric.

-Rob

Entrepreneur Zone

Do you have the entrepreneurial fire in your belly? If so, I encourage you to feed the flame.

Operating a small business is not easy. But it is rewarding.

You can follow suit and what our society dictates. Go to school, get a good job with a good company, stay for 30 years, retire. Or you can carve your own path. We chose the latter. The owners and myself all had the drive and need to work for ourselves. We did get our starts out there in the "corporate world" and by working for other people. Which is great! We learned a lot and were able to take that experience and create the kind of business we believe people like to work with.

There will be bumps in the road when getting started. Guaranteed. That's where the strong persevere and succeed. You don't know what you don't know. And there are things you don't know. Trust me. However, I encourage you to use your resources. Network. Get to know other small business owners in your community. They can, and will, help you along the way. Actually, feel free to call our office if you'd like to bounce any "getting started" questions off of us. We're glad to share our experience.

There are pros and cons just like with anything else. The pros are feeling the direct effects of winning that bid, receiving compliments on your workmanship and customer service, creating your own schedule and watching your business grow. Some cons are having to handle everything. You're the boss now so you get to handle the good and not so good. Long hours are ahead! Sometimes it can't all be accomplished between 8am - 5pm.

After being involved in two start ups, there are a few things I know for sure.

1) You will become a jack of all trades. You may think you just need to know the skill that is your business. For example, jewelry making. Before you know it you will be an accountant, sales person, customer service rep, human resources director, marketing guru, website designer and social media expert.

2) Utilize resources/don't be afraid to ask for help. Score.org is a great resource.

3) Don't take no for an answer.

4) Follow your gut. If other people think you're nuts, that's OK. If something doesn't feel right, change it. Do what's best for your business.

Owning and operating a small business is challenging and rewarding. If this is something you've wanted to do, do it!

-Tiffany

Wall Mounted TV's

One of the most common job requests we receive these days is customers wanting hang TV's on walls and over fireplaces, therefore needing power where they most likely don't already have an outlet. It's definitely doable, but there are some factors to consider.

Our electricians are in and out of different homes everyday and often times we see a nice, new flat screen TV hanging on the wall with a bunch of exposed wires and extension cords running all over the place.

Don't let this happen to you.

The good news is that we can hide those wires and give your wall mounted TV a sleek look.

Nice and Neat!

Most people want the nice clean look where all they see on the wall is the TV and/or a sound bar. This look can be achieved with just a little bit of preliminary planning.

The first thing we ask our customers is what do you use your TV for. Cable/Satellite? DVD? Video games? Netflix? etc. Usually, the answer is "all of the above." So then the question becomes where can we put all this equipment? Unlike sitting your TV on a stand or in an entertainment center where there are many cut-outs and shelves for equipment like DVD players and cable boxes, hanging the TV on a wall eliminates those resting places. Customers are also wanting the equipment usable from the recliner, but hidden. In most cases a closet is the best solution.

Now that we have a location for our equipment we have to figure out how we are going to control the equipment without the remote control having to have a direct line of sight to the equipment. There are some fantastic remote controls available that will control all of your equipment, unfortunately, they can be very expensive and difficult to program, especially if you've never done it before.

For most of our customers we will install a simple IR System which allows you to use your existing remote controls to control your equipment as if it was right in front of you. This is definitely a more cost effective, easy-to-use method.

Next we will generally run HDMI cables or internet/TV wires. When possible we like to install a conduit so we can add any new wires or new technology in the future without having to cut drywall. This is especially helpful when a TV is going over a fireplace.

Flexible conduit 

Wall mounted TV's are here to stay and Wireworks Electric is here to help make sure all your installations go smooth and clean. Please have us out for a free estimate and we will be happy to go over all of your options.

-Matt

Top 5 Reasons To Hire a Licensed Electrician

While we could go on and on about why hiring a licensed electrician is worth your hard earned money, you probably don't want to read through our long paragraphs of information. So instead, we're going to make it simple. And who doesn't love a "Top 5 List"?

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Licensed Electrician

5. Licensed electricians have logged a minimum of 12,000 hours of electrical work. 

In order for an electrician to even apply for the Master Electrical exam, he or she must have met the minimum work experience requirements and those hours must be reported by an employer. Therefore, no fudging hours on the application. 

4. Licensed electricians handle electrical work day in and day out.

We specialize in all things electrical, and that's it. We won't install your new electrical panel and paint your living room, too.

3. Licensed electricians have successfully completed 42 hours of training on the most current code.

Electrical codes change. A licensed electrician can easily spot work that is outdated and will know what needs to be completed in order for it to pass inspection based upon current code requirements.

2. Licensed electricians have passed a rigorous exam in order to obtain the title "Master Electrician".

While many contractors claim to be experts in several trades, only a licensed electrician is really an expert in the electrical field.

1. Licensed electricians keep you safe.

This may sound silly, but electricity is no laughing matter and can be dangerous to work with. Leave it to a licensed electrician to handle your electrical needs. It's safer for you and your family. To quote Bob Proctor: "You can cook a mans dinner with electricity; and you can also cook the man." 

Patience

I have been an electrician for a long time now and over the years there are some customers that say “I don’t know how you put up with the stress when things don’t go right."  Most of the time I think to myself, "me either."  There are days where everything goes as planned and there are days where you can’t get anything done. 

For instance, a hung up wire that you have been trying to fish across the ceiling for almost two hours and it just won’t cooperate is not ideal. I always take a minute, go over my options, and come up with the best solution. In this case the solution more times than not is that we have to cut some drywall to access the wire and solve the problem. Yes, it is very frustrating at times, but there is no need to freak out because there are always ways to adjust. 

Another issue that tests your patience is when you open up an outlet box or a switch box and the wires are too short to work on. This means it will take longer and it is very hard to work with. 

I can go on and on about things that can go wrong on a job. For the most part I have been through a lot of headaches on jobs but I am always optimistic. In any trade there are tricks that you learn with experience that make you very productive. They help situations seem like they are not a big deal. By staying calm and keeping my cool, I can make sure that at the end of the day I will always complete the job at hand. This is very important in order to have happy customers. I believe in most skilled trades, and in business, you have to have a lot of patience. 

It is just as important for customers to have patience. I know that it can be frustrating if a job is taking longer or things need to be added, but problems like I described are things we can’t always predict. No matter what, we will always solve the problem and complete the work. 

Patience is a virtue. My business partner and I have it. We will solve any problem and will give our honest opinion on any project that you might have.

On another note it is spring and camping season is here.  Let’s go BLUES and let’s go CARDS!

-Rob Reiner

LED Bulbs Explained

If you've been in one of the large “big box” remodeling stores lately, one of the first things you'll notice is a long section of shelving about 8ft high and at least 40ft long full of light bulbs. Different styles, brands, brightness, size, color, etc. You'll also notice shoppers staring at this wall of bulbs with the same overwhelmed and confused look on their faces. I too, as a master electrician, am overwhelmed with the amount of options that are available now. 

It seems like there is a new type of bulb that is being introduced to the marketplace every week and also one that is being removed. Our federal government has issued mandates on energy efficiency and the light bulbs that we all grew up with are the first to be phased out. The traditional 100 watt incandescent bulb is no longer available for purchase. Some of the halogen bulbs have had their wattage ratings reduced to become more energy efficient. 

Initially we all thought that the solution to our future lighting needs would be solved by CFL bulbs (compact fluorescent lamp). It turned out that a lot of people do not really like this style of bulb. One issue is that they have a warm up time in order to reach full brightness. Another problem was that they do not dim well at all. Even if they are rated “dimmable” they only have a small range of dimming capability. And there is also the issue with the trace amounts of mercury each bulb contains and what is the proper way to handle and dispose of them.

Thankfully LED bulbs (light emitting diode) are here to save the day! LED bulbs have been around for quite some time.  Only recently have they slowly made there way into our homes and business as a suitable replacement for our old style incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.  It seems to me that almost a quarter of all the bulbs on the intimidating wall of bulbs are now of the LED type. 

There are LED replacement options for almost every type of bulb you could imagine.  There are dimmable bulbs, color changing bulbs, and even bulbs you can control from your smart phone. I recommend LED bulbs to all of our customers as the best replacement option and I’m confident that LED bulbs are here to stay. 

I do however caution customers that LED technology is still very new and ever changing and improving. The first LED bulbs were very bright and almost produced a blue light. Most people would prefer a warmer color light. You can now by a 60 watt LED bulb that can produce an almost identical light that a 60 watt incandescent bulb could produce. The biggest difference is the LED only uses 11 watts and is rated to last 22 years! 

Some good news is the lighting manufacturers have started putting what almost looks like a food nutrition label on each bulb box. It will clearly tell you how bright the bulb is, how much energy it uses, how long it will last, and most important what color light it will produce. 

I usually advise customers to replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs as they go out to help keep initial costs down, as LED bulbs are still more expensive than their less efficient counterparts. As for customers that are doing a larger lighting project, LED bulbs are a great option if your budget allows. For some projects the cost of the bulbs are more expensive than the light fixture itself. If you are planning to stay in your home/business for a long period of time I truly believe that the investment is worth it. It is good for your pocket book and the planet!       

-Matt Ursch

Your Real Estate Transaction & Wireworks Electric, Inc.

Buying and/or selling a home can be a daunting task. Not to mention stressful. Dealing with contracts, deadlines, inspections, and so much more can lead to frustration.

Wireworks Electric, Inc. can help alleviate some of that stress when it comes to the electrical system in the home you are hoping to sell or looking to purchase.

As a seller, you can have us perform an Electrical Safety Inspection before you put your home on the market. This way, you have an opportunity to remedy any items that may need it and provide the prospective buyers with peace of mind that all is well in the electrical department.

For both sellers and buyers, we are available to remedy any issues that are noted on the inspection report in order to help move your transaction towards closing. Are there issues with the panel? Are the outlets not working? Did your inspector recommend having something checked out/fixed by a licensed electrician?

We also gladly work with real estate investors. If you just found your next "fixer-upper" we welcome the opportunity to inspect the electrical system, upgrade the system or make any repairs needed so you can sell/rent the home fast.

Because we work with several real estate agents in the St. Louis area, we understand that time lines are critical. We'll work with you to accommodate your transaction schedule and closing date. 

And always remember that a licensed electrician is the safest way to go when it comes to dealing with electricity.

To schedule an appointment call 636-671-9399.

-Tiffany Ursch

How to Reset a Breaker

Most people will call an electrician when something is suddenly not working at their house.  Just last week we had a service call where there was no power to some receptacles in the kitchen.  All I did was reset a breaker.  I’m going to give you a couple of quick things that you can do to save yourself time and money.  

The first mistake some homeowners make is not fully resetting a tripped breaker in their panel.  If a breaker somehow gets tripped, it can’t just be pushed back over to the on position in the panel box.  When you find a breaker that isn’t all the way over to the right, you have to flip it to the left to turn it completely off.  You will hear it click and then you know that it is ready to be pushed to the right.  This is how you fully reset the breaker to make it work properly.  If you don’t do it this way, things will still not work correctly.

After you have turned it to the off position completely, turn it back to the on position.

In some cases you will not see a breaker tripped at all.  This is most common in older electrical panels. This one is a little trickier and what I would call a "$50 dollar tip."  At this point all the breakers are to the right so gently slide your finger along the breakers almost like you are going to turn it off but not doing so.  In some cases you will find one that is kind of flimsy and then you have found the culprit.  Reset it and you’re on your way.  If it doesn’t reset and it flips back into the off position you have a bigger issue going on with the circuit.  That is when you call Wireworks Electric!  Hope this helps some of you out.

 -Rob Reiner

                                                                        

Experience the Difference

The term “customer service” is used quite a bit by companies in service-based industries. A lot of businesses like to advertise that their company offers quality customer service or that they specialize in customer service.

Unfortunately the term “customer service” can be interpreted in many different ways. The definition of customer service is “The assistance and advice provided by a company to those people who buy or use its products or services.”

In many situations companies that provide a service feel that completing the job they were hired to do is the customer service.

In my mind customer service applies to more situations than strictly to the services that said company was hired to do.

In the construction industry there are a lot of opportunities for customer relations to break down. I have a personal experience that is happening right now where the customer service from my hired contractor is horrible at best.

We have hired a company to replace some exterior items on our house that were damaged during a hail storm. As a consumer I did my due diligence and received multiple bids, checked references (BBB, Angie’s List) and “interviewed” multiple contractors. In the end I chose who I thought was the best contractor for the job.

The damage occurred in July 2014, the contract was signed in August 2014. Fast forward to today, January 9, 2015 and the job is still not complete. It was supposed to be wrapped up by mid October. 2014 

There have been some delays due to product not being available, the wrong quantity of product ordered and some delays due to weather. However, I never received a phone call to inform me of the situation and the company will not rarely return calls that I place to them. Basically I’m left waiting for the work to be done.  

The contractor has an “A” with the BBB and not enough negative reviews to throw up a red flag. What I didn’t know is that this company offers zero customer service. It’s amazing what a simple phone call can do to put a worried customer at ease. If only this company understood that.

The work that has been completed looks good and I’m sure that this contractor will qualify that as providing good customer service. In my opinion, its good workmanship, thanks to his crew.

This process has given my wife and myself plenty of stress and anxiety to last a lifetime.

As a customer, there is no chance that I will ever refer this contractor to anyone, which unfortunately for this contractor, is a missed opportunity to obtain new business.

I share this story because, as a business owner, I have the opportunity everyday to provide the stellar customer service that I want as a customer. 

At Wireworks Electric, Inc. we know how stressful a construction project can be. We understand that customer service goes beyond just the work we are hired to do. It includes constant communication on the status of the project, sending respectful electricians to your home, cleaning up our work space when we're finished, getting to know you so you're confident your best interest is our best interest, thanking you for your referrals and appreciating that you chose us. We believe in creating life long customers.

I can blog all day long about how well you’ll be treated when you’re our customer. But actions speak louder than words. Give us a call the next time you need an electrician and experience the difference for yourself.

-Matt Ursch