Older homes have an incredible amount of charm and nostalgia. While some of that charm stems from the old-world construction practices of ornate stonework and interesting woodworking, there are also negative aspects of living in a dated home, namely the electrical system. We bought our first older home a few years ago, and it has been interesting to see just how much of a problem the electrical system has been. We knew that we needed to update a large portion of the space, so we started going through and having sections replaced. This website is here to help other people to know when to work with electricians.
Moving into a new office is wonderful, but now you've got to adjust to the new power supply, among everything else. Commercial spaces offer much more electrical power than your typical house. However, they can still pose problems if you don't use the power correctly. Most of the issues you'll face tend to do with overuse and sloppiness. However, you should also look for some warning signs.
Those Warning Signs
Before anything else, keep these signs in mind and call a commercial electrician if you see any of them. Outlets with smoke marks indicate those outlets had some sparking of flame. It's always possible that the problem was solved and the plates never replaced, but call a commercial electrician if you find an outlet like this. Better safe than sorry.
Another problem is flickering lights when there's no obvious cause. For example, heavy rain and strong winds can make electrical supplies shaky, leading to flickering. If only one bulb is flickering, it could be a bad bulb. But if the entire office is experiencing this, call an electrician.
Kitchen Appliances
Now to using power safely. Many offices have a dedicated kitchen, but if yours does not, and you want to add appliances like a refrigerator and a microwave, take note of how many amps are on the circuit in the area where you want the appliances. The refrigerator should be on its own outlet -- nothing else plugged into the same one -- and the microwave should have its own outlet as well. If the circuits there don't provide much power, try to keep the microwave on its own circuit as it can draw a lot of power when it first starts running. If you put it on a circuit with a lot of other equipment, you could trip the circuit breaker. No one wants that to happen in general, much less during lunchtime.
Space Heaters
Many office workers add small space heaters to keep their feet or hands warm in offices where the main heat is kept low. Many of these small space heaters still require a good 15 amps to start and warm up. That can create a huge draw on the system. They can also set carpet on fire if not used carefully. Ask people to keep space heater wattage low. Mini space heaters meant for desk use are available at big box stores, and these appliances require only a couple hundred watts or so. They also have cooler housing, which reduces the fire risk.
Cord Bundles
Get all cords out of the way of feet. With the increase in electronics used in offices, including in each cubicle, the inevitable tangle of cords has only grown bigger. Use clips, hook-and-loop leashes, and more to move the cords where they can't be crushed or pulled by feet. You don't want someone accidentally ripping the insulation on the cords.
If you find frayed cord insulation, see people using too many high-power space heaters, or don't know where to plug in large appliances so that you can have a makeshift kitchen, contact a commercial electrician to evaluate the building's power supply.