Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Electricity’ Category

Panel Vs. Fuse Box: What’s the Difference?

Monday, February 26th, 2024

An electrician would easily know the answer (or answers) to this question, but it’s not exactly obvious to every homeowner. Some homes have fuse boxes, and others have electrical panels, and understanding the differences between these two systems can seem like a nightmare without a trustworthy source of information.

Well, we’re happy to be your electrical authority for questions like these, and we’ll simply answer your questions down below or over the phone if you’d prefer. Yes, there are some significant differences between a fuse box and an electrical panel, and your home is more likely to function better if you have one of these systems over the other.

Which system is better? Why are we even comparing these types of systems? The answers will be clear down below. Just make sure you call our electricians in Cedar Falls for help with your electrical panel or fuse box.

The Electrical Core of Your House

The fuse box or electrical circuit breaker of your house is the “core.” What we mean by that is every electrical appliance in your home must draw its power from this place which comes from outside of your home. Unless you have solar panels or some other kind of generator creating an inflow of electricity, the panel or fuse box likely receives electricity from your municipality or the power plant.

You just won’t find a home without this kind of thing. Even garages and sheds can have their own circuit breaker boxes or fuse boxes to direct the electrical flow somewhere in the building. They’re a requirement for modern-day living and you need to have one of these in your home. So what’s the difference?

The Invention of the Fuse Box

When electrical appliances were first invented, houses needed a way to limit the amount of electricity that came through the wires and into your devices. Too much electricity could start a fire or short circuit appliances, which was not a good idea. So, fuse boxes were invented to direct the flow of electricity from one central place in your home through a fuse.

If there was too much electricity going through the fuse, it would melt down or blow, which is where the term blown fuse comes from. This was a simple and smart way to monitor your home electricity. But these soon become outdated.

Electrical Panels

Electrical panels, or circuit breakers, do everything that a fuse box does without the need for a blown fuse to stop electricity from flowing. It has its own electrical switch which detects an overloaded circuit and automatically disconnects the power, stopping the chance of a broken device or fire hazard. These units can be easily reset without the need for additional fuses like an old fuse box would.

Additionally, you can just flip the circuit back manually on your panel to get power back on to wherever it was shut down. Electrical panels are just a safer, more modernized version of the fuse box which uses less materials and can monitor a much greater flow of electricity.

After this blog post, we hope we made it clear that your old fuse box could use a major upgrade to a circuit breaker panel.

At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment in the Cedar Falls area, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.

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3 Electrical Repairs to Leave to the Professionals

Monday, January 8th, 2024

Electrical repairs might seem like some of the easiest projects to DIY. Replacing a light bulb, for instance, only requires a quick online search. Most of us practically learned this kind of work from our parents when we were kids, so there have to be other electrical repairs in Cedar Rapids that you can do on your own, right?

Well, yes and no. Light bulbs, tripped circuits, and other small issues can usually be fixed on your own. But anything beyond this gets into some dangerous territory. We’re not just talking about dangerous for your personal health and safety, but the work you do could end up doing more harm than good and costing you more in the long run.

These are just a few examples of why calling for a professional could be the simplest and most cost-effective choice.

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Big Electrical Changes in 2023

Monday, August 14th, 2023

If it’s been a few years since you’ve hired an electrician in Waterloo, IA, then you might be surprised by some industry-wide changes that have been sweeping the country.

Most, if not all of them have been good changes, both for manufacturers and consumers, but they’re still a shock to many people who have been operating with the same technology for decades.

For instance, incandescent light bulbs have recently been banned, as shoppers try to figure out the specifics and information behind the new, longer-lasting LED light bulbs. Also, insurance rates have started to change as wildfires and heatwaves have become more common. An electrical problem could have serious ramifications on especially hot and dry days now.

So, let’s discuss some major electrical changes in 2023, and what you can expect on your end.

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How Do I Read My Electrical Panel?

Monday, July 3rd, 2023

This is a great question and one that we get from many different customers. Some electrical panels are poorly labeled and homeowners are practically searching in the dark for the right switch for a circuit. Other homeowners might have strange numbers or symbols on their electrical panel that can correspond to different types of industry jargon.

As your local electrical experts, we’d like to do a deep dive on reading your electrical panel. The more you know about how it operates and how it should be correctly labeled, the better off you’ll be when something goes wrong or when you’re diagnosing a problem.

Remember, knowing this kind of information does not replace professional electrical panel service in Cedar Rapids, IA. In fact, customers can seriously injure themselves or ruin electrical components of their home if they’re not careful. This guide is meant to inform you so you can better know when a pro is needed, or if you just need to flip a switch.

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Top 5 Tips for Indoor Lighting

Monday, July 3rd, 2023

Where would our homes be without lights? Seriously, since the stone age, we’ve been able to do more every single day thanks to the ability to use light and see during the night when the sun isn’t out anymore. Our homes are as cozy and comfortable because we can see them using lighting systems that are affordable, simple, and easy to operate.

Instead of approaching lighting like the miracle that it feels like, let’s talk about some of the nitty gritty. After all, some of our customers might have a broken light or some lighting fixtures that need to be upgraded. This can be frustrating, and you could have people telling you to avoid calling a professional for this kind of work.

Today, we’d like to give you some tips on lighting and general electrical repair in Cedar Falls, IA. We’d like to show you why we’re the qualified team of experts to call, and how our experience can lead you to having a more comfortable and safe home.

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Dalton’s Guide to Generator Safety

Monday, June 12th, 2023

Generators are a tricky subject. Everyone knows what they do and why they’re important, but it’s all theoretical until you open the system and actually take a look.

Don’t actually do that, though; opening your generator can ruin the warranty, be dangerous, and cause parts to malfunction. You’ll need to trust an expert and your own research to figure out just how this system works.

Why is it so important to learn how your generator works? Because the process requires the burning of fuel (like natural gas or gasoline) in order for electricity to be produced.

Just like a car, this process can be dangerous if done incorrectly. For instance, running a generator in your garage is a terribly dangerous idea and we’ll explain why down below.

For now, just make sure you have our number on hand in case you need generator services in Mount Vernon, IA. And keep reading to learn about our generator safety tips.

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Get Rid of that Knob and Tube Wiring!

Monday, May 8th, 2023

When it comes to the structure and general format of our homes, electrification is quite recent. We know, it might be impossible to imagine the world without our handy devices and our television sets, but back in the day, there was no electricity to be used!

People used to light their homes with oil lamps, walls and windows were drafty, and life was just a lot different. The invention of the “board game” and sing-along songs was due to the fact that people didn’t have as many fun devices or the internet to help with enjoying spare time.

However, at the turn of the 20th century, homes in America became electrified in rapid succession. This old form of wiring, known as knob and tube wiring, was the only way to set up a home for electricity. Unfortunately, this type of wiring is now considered a hazard and should be removed from your home by a licensed electrician in Cedar Rapids, IA.

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3 Common Electrical Panel Problems

Monday, February 6th, 2023

For a time, electrical panels were the new and improved version of a fuse box. Those old systems aren’t really used anymore and you should first make sure that your home has an electrical panel before looking into repairs. But for most of us, that’s already a reality.

Your electrical panel is the box that has all of the labeled circuits of your home in one location. It serves as a centralized hub, a place where you can always check to see if a certain electrical circuit is on or off, or you can even see how many circuits there are in terms of your power load. If all of the power of your house is going to one outlet, then you can identify which labeled part that is in your electrical panel for an upgrade.

But sometimes you’ll notice bad things, like corrosion or a broken switch, and those are signs that your electrical panel in Cedar Rapids, IA needs repairs.

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“How Can I Lower My Electricity Bill?”

Monday, March 21st, 2022

One of the most common questions our professional electricians get is, “How can I pay less for electricity?” Let’s face it, powering our homes is one of the expensive parts of homeownership. This is especially true in the last decade or so, with the addition of devices and entertainment systems. If your home is anything like the average American home, this is true for you too.

The good news is, there are many ways to improve energy efficiency in your home, and therefore lower your electricity bills.

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Is Your Home Asking for an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

Monday, January 3rd, 2022
electrician-hands-working-on-wiring

Your home’s electrical system simply could not function without this very important component–the electrical panel. Of course, you might still have a fuse box instead, so your electrical system may still be functioning–but not as safely as possible (more on that below!)

The electrical panel serves as the “central station” for all the voltage coming through your wiring that gets separated into different circuits. Breaker switches in the panel help protect the electrical system from electric shorts in your home.

The thing is, no electrical panel will last forever–this is especially true with the increasing demands that homeowners put on their electric systems these days. The panels wear down as electrical demands in a house grow, and it’s not a great combination. Read on as we uncover some signs that your home is basically asking for an electrical panel upgrade:

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