FAQ
There are several reasons why your lights might flicker. With so many mobile devices, home electronics and appliances, electrical service panels in your home might not be equipped to handle the load. Because of this, we have often seen old or improperly installed wiring that is to blame as homeowners try to “fix” the issue. DO NOT RISK A FIRE. Call Orion Electric today for a free inspection and estimate at (305) 521-9091.
Yes. This is a common occurrence when large motor/compressor loads start, such as that of your air conditioning unit. These devices cause a minor momentary voltage drop, which is when your lights blinks. This has no negative effect on the electrical equipment within your house.
If your smoke detector is chirping, and there isn’t any smoke in your home, this could mean one of two things:
- An intermittent chirp is probably an indication of a defective smoke detector.
- A consistent chirp is probably an indication of a low battery condition and the smoke detector requires a new battery.
It is unfortunate when natural disasters strike, which may cause major damage to your home or property. If your electricity goes out during a natural disaster, it can be for any number of reasons, including: downed power lines; FPL shuts down service due to unknown reasons; or electrical feedback to your home or property’s electrical panel, just to name a few. Please visit www.fpl.com or your local utility’s website for information on any power outages in your area. If your home does not fall under a utility power outage, then you might have an electrical problem in your home and you should contact a licensed professional.
It is important that you contact your utility companies before you begin any major digging project. In Florida, you can contact 811, which is a free service that reaches out to all utility companies who have potential facilities in the area of your digging project. Within 2-3 business days, each utility company will send out a representative to locate and mark the approximate location of your underground utility lines.
This is absolutely not normal. You should never get even a minor shock when touching an electrical device. If you do, unplug the device immediately and consult a professional.
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet, also called Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) or Residual Current Device (RCD) is a device that shuts off an electric power circuit when it detects that current is flowing along an unintended path, such as through water or a person. GFCIs are required in residential, commercial and industrial settings, including: bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages, pool areas, unfinished accessory buildings, unfinished basements and outdoor locations. Distance to water is also a factor and varies with each space. If you are in the process of upgrading the outlets in your home or business, please contact a professional electrician today.
Is a particular circuit breaker constantly tripping? Sometimes, you might think a circuit breaker has gone bad, but the truth is that circuit breakers trip to protect you from electrical issues. First, let’s make sure it is truly damaged by following a few simple steps: Identify what circuit the breaker is protecting, based on the label next to the breaker that is tripping. Unplug all electrical devices on that circuit so we can rule out a circuit that might be overloaded (i.e., too many devices in use at once). This can include: device chargers, lamps, TVs, computers, kitchen appliances, etc. Reset the breaker by flipping the breaker to the “on” position. If the breaker does NOT trip immediately, you have an overloaded circuit. This means you are using more electricity than the circuit is rated for. The quickest resolution is to move some electrical devices to a different circuit. If the switch flops back and forth and there is not definite “on” or “off” position, the breaker is probably bad. In the event that you have a bad breaker, you should seek a professional electrician to help you fix this problem.
In South Florida, an electrician is needed to handle most residential, commercial and/or industrial electrical needs. Some common issues that require an electrician include: when you have more than four devices plugged into one outlet; when your air conditioner turns on and the lights flicker in the room; when your lights constantly flicker; when you see sparks or burn marks on your receptacle outlets; if your breaker(s) keep turning off when you turn on more than one electronic device; or when you need to install new light switches and/or receptacles. If you have any doubt on electrical needs, please contact us and we’ll help you.