Electrical issues or questions related to your Central Maine home may appear challenging or intimidating. But when you have the experts of AFC at your service, they don’t have to be. Our team of licensed, skilled electricians are able to tackle any electrical project in your home, from installing a light fixture to electrical work for a renovation project and more.
We want our customers to be informed about electrical matters in their homes, so they feel confident coming to us. That’s why we’ve put together this list of questions and answers.
Q. Can a regular light switch be changed to a dimmer switch?
A. Dimmer switches have become popular, especially for living and dining rooms where you don’t always want full light. As long as you’re an electrician, replacing a traditional light switch with a dimmer switch is a straightforward process. Installing a dimmer switch correctly necessitates more than simply replacing the old switch with a new one. During this task, your electrician will also double-check the wiring’s condition, confirm that the switch is properly grounded and verify that the box is big enough to contain the new wiring linked to your dimmer switch. Any time you want to replace an existing switch with a dimmer switch, just call us!
Q. I want my flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, but don’t want visible cords. Is it possible to move a plug to behind the TV on that wall?
A. Most often, you can. Electrical outlets can easily be relocated to a different part of the wall to get rid of unsightly wires. However, this process does involve cutting a new hole in your wall for the new outlet placement and patching the wall where the outlet once sat. Additionally, there are a few constraints on outlet placement, such as the location of studs behind the walls. We’ll come to your home, check out where you want the TV mounted and let you know how it can be done.
Q. If I use my toaster and coffeemaker, and another small appliance is plugged in, a circuit trips. Can this be fixed?
A. This is a problem AFC’s electricians can solve! In most situations, circuits frequently being tripped are the result of older electrical panel boxes that are no longer capable of handling the demand generated by today’s electronics and equipment. Upgrading your electrical panel is the best way to eliminate this annoying problem. Not only will you not have to deal with constantly tripped circuits, but this will also improve the safety of your home’s electrical system and make it easier to add appliances and fixtures in the future.
Q. I have a fuse box. Should I replace it?
A. Fuses are not as reliable as circuit breakers, but the chief issue fuses have today is that they must be larger to accommodate the greater voltage demands of houses. Today’s residences include a lot more electrical equipment and outlets. To keep up with the additional power demand without tripping fuses, fuse boxes must be upgraded to use larger fuses. This is when a fuse box becomes a fire hazard. The circuit was only designed for a specific amount of amperage, therefore putting a bigger amp fuse on a smaller amp rated circuit can be dangerous. Another problem may be that a previous owner of your home had unlicensed, dangerous modifications done to the fuse box over the years to meet their increasing use of electricity. All of this is why we recommend upgrading to a breaker box panel that will safely meet your home’s electrical needs without worry.
Q. I’m buying an electric vehicle. Can I charge it at home?
A. Yes, you can. But charging your electric vehicle (EV) on a standard outlet can take 12 hours or longer. AFC has a solution. We can install EV charging stations at your home or business. Our electricians will make sure that your home can safely handle the demand of an EV charger, make any upgrades needed and expertly install your new charger.
Q. If I have an electrical problem on a Saturday, can you come fix it?
A. Absolutely! We understand that electrical problems don’t just occur during regular business hours. That’s why we offer 24/7 emergency electrical service to all our neighbors, not only AFC customers. Call us any time of day or night at 207-707-6744.
Q. How qualified are your electricians?
A. All AFC electricians are either master or skilled licensed electricians, trained and experienced in the trade to handle any residential or commercial electrical work.
We hope these answers are informative for you. If your question isn’t here, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We’re happy to help in any way we can.