SERVING Cañon City, Colorado Springs, & SURROUNDING areas
frequently asked questions
Hiring the right electrician can feel overwhelming, so you probably have a few questions about our services. As a family-owned, local business, Ravenwood Electric is committed to being transparent with our customers about our products and services. Customer service and relationships are extremely important to us, so we’ve created a list of the most common questions we receive so that you can get a better idea of what we do and whether or not we can help you.
Check out our FAQ section below, and if you have any other questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by calling (719) 221-4802.
ELECTRICAL SERVICES FAQS
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If you have an outlet that sparks every once in awhile, this usually isn't cause for an immediate call to an electrician. However, if you see sparks every single time you use that outlet, have a licensed electrician look at it as soon as possible.
Here is what may be happening:
Here is what may be happening:
- Your outlet could be sparking due to a short circuit. Over time, heat from to much current can break down the insulation around a wire which will expose the bare metal. This is a potentially serious fire hazard.
- Your outlet might be old. If your house is on the older side and hasn't been updated or remodeled at all, the outlets (and wires that are attached to them) could have loosened over the years. Loose wires can become disconnected and arc as electricity runs through them, causing fire.
- Your outlet might be normal! Electricity is a powerful thing, and the sparks you see when you plug in a device may simply be a few electrons getting ahead of themselves. A licensed electrician will know for sure.
Sometimes my outlet sparks when I plug in an appliance or device
This problem could mean that the circuits you are using is not rated for the amperage of the appliance. Household appliances, especially larger appliances such as kitchen appliances, washing machines, and vacuums, require a 20A circuit. In fact, stoves/ranges, refrigerators, and your dryers need so much power that they are required to have their own dedicated circuits.
If your kitchen circuit is prone to tripping, there’s a high possibility that some of your appliances may be sharing the circuit. A licensed electrician should take a look and explain a solution.
If your kitchen circuit is prone to tripping, there’s a high possibility that some of your appliances may be sharing the circuit. A licensed electrician should take a look and explain a solution.
My circuit breaker trips when I use my *insert kitchen appliance here*
It’s common to write this issue off as an annoyance, but in reality it’s a far more serious issue.
When you go to plug in and unplug something frequently from the same outlets–as most of us do–the connections that hold the plug in place wear down over time. This is completely normal, but it should be fixed as soon as possible. Loose connections in an outlet can cause sparks and electrical arcs, both of which are fire and electrocution hazards. If this is happening, call a licensed electrician right away to have them fixed.
When you go to plug in and unplug something frequently from the same outlets–as most of us do–the connections that hold the plug in place wear down over time. This is completely normal, but it should be fixed as soon as possible. Loose connections in an outlet can cause sparks and electrical arcs, both of which are fire and electrocution hazards. If this is happening, call a licensed electrician right away to have them fixed.
My plugs fall out of my outlets
Every light fixture has a maximum wattage rating. This is determined by the maximum output rating of the lamp used in the fixture. The higher the watts, the more electrical current flows through the wire.
This means that light bulbs demand electricity based on their wattage. For example, a 100-watt light bulb, requires more electricity than a 60-watt light bulb. If you accidentally use a 100-watt light bulb in a light fixture that has a 60-watt rating, the bulb will demand more electricity than the fixture’s wiring is designed to produce. This can cause an electrical overload which produces a tremendous amount of heat and can even cause a fire.
An electrician will be able to inspect the wiring and fixtures in your home to determine the extent of the damage, as well as make recommendations for how to prevent a fire.
This means that light bulbs demand electricity based on their wattage. For example, a 100-watt light bulb, requires more electricity than a 60-watt light bulb. If you accidentally use a 100-watt light bulb in a light fixture that has a 60-watt rating, the bulb will demand more electricity than the fixture’s wiring is designed to produce. This can cause an electrical overload which produces a tremendous amount of heat and can even cause a fire.
An electrician will be able to inspect the wiring and fixtures in your home to determine the extent of the damage, as well as make recommendations for how to prevent a fire.
My lamps/lights get really hot when they're in use
Losing power during an intense storm is pretty common, especially if you have an overhead electrical service. Flickering lights during a storm, however, can mean there is an issue with the transmission lines carrying the voltage/ electricity to your home.
It's good to visually check your utility connections every now and again. If the connection isn’t secure, the conductors from the power lines could arc and cause a fire. The voltage that enters your home is dangerously high, so only a licensed, professional electrician should investigate.
It's good to visually check your utility connections every now and again. If the connection isn’t secure, the conductors from the power lines could arc and cause a fire. The voltage that enters your home is dangerously high, so only a licensed, professional electrician should investigate.
My lights flicker (or I lose power altogether) during storms
common electrical problems at home
For service calls we charge $160 plus any materials with a one hour minimum.
For larger projects, we ask for a $100 estimating fee to cover the time to design the project with the client. If we are a good fit and everything is a go, we require a 50% deposit to get on the schedule and go from there.
**We offer an 5% early payment discount. This means that we will take 5% off of the total estimate price if the entire invoice is paid within two days of you receiving the estimate for your project.
For larger projects, we ask for a $100 estimating fee to cover the time to design the project with the client. If we are a good fit and everything is a go, we require a 50% deposit to get on the schedule and go from there.
**We offer an 5% early payment discount. This means that we will take 5% off of the total estimate price if the entire invoice is paid within two days of you receiving the estimate for your project.
What do you charge per hour?
Small jobs, like updating light fixtures, replacing an outlet or two, do not require a permit or inspection. Larger jobs, such as kitchen remodels, whole-home rewiring, knob & tube rewire, service upgrades or replacements, and panel change-outs, however, do need a permit and a visit from an inspector.
If your job is complex enough to require a permit, we will handle the permitting and inspection process for you.
If your job is complex enough to require a permit, we will handle the permitting and inspection process for you.
Will my job require a permit?
Honestly, this will depend on how old your wiring is. In some cases, especially if the main electrical panel or wiring in your house in older, the only way to truly fix an electrical problem involves extensive rewiring. If that isn’t something that you can immediately afford (and there aren’t any immediate safety concerns) we will likely be able to design a less invasive (but ultimately temporary) fix.
Try to make a long-term solution a priority, as soon as possible. New wiring or a higher-amperage electrical panel might not be as glamorous as a kitchen or bathroom remodel, but they are always an excellent investment for your home (and your safety!).
Try to make a long-term solution a priority, as soon as possible. New wiring or a higher-amperage electrical panel might not be as glamorous as a kitchen or bathroom remodel, but they are always an excellent investment for your home (and your safety!).
Is this a long-term fix for my problem?
Yes and no. For most electrical work to be done safely, the power will need to be turned off to either the entire house (Service & Panel Upgrades) or just to the room or area where the work is being done. We will let you know what your job requires so that you can prepare accordingly.
Will there be any disruption in my house?
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