Ask Now, Save Later

Seven Add-ons to Ask Your Mr. Electric Service Professional About.

Story by Scott Koegler

Scheduling an electrician to come to your home is probably not something you do every day. Most of the time when you call an electrician, there is one specific task you need done. And even though you can schedule your appointment so you don't have to wait all day, it's likely that you have other things that need to be done, and staying home for the electrician only once is better than scheduling multiple visits.

In order to maximize your appointment, why not have your electrician take care of those other electrical jobs around the house while he is handling the job you originally called for? Not only will you be able to cross them off your to-do list, you can probably save money by having only one service call rather than two or three.

According to Keith Pinkerton, a Mr. Electric franchise owner in Huntsville, Alabama, these seven tasks are among those most commonly requested of Mr. Electric professionals. Check through them to see if any are (or should be) on your list.

1. Security lighting

Even if you live in a highly secure neighborhood, putting motion-detecting floodlights outside the house may be a good idea. Not only will they turn on automatically when someone approaches, they can light your way when you need to step outside to walk the dog or when you come home after dark.

Talk with your electrician about installing these lights on the corners of your home and in other strategic locations like at the back door, at the garage, or aimed at a dark section of your yard. Have your electrician adjust the sensitivity so the lights turn on the way you want them, and stay on for the right period of time. Most lights of this type can be set to stay on for anywhere from just a few seconds to all night long. And make sure they are set so they don't go on for every squirrel or bird that passes by.

You will probably also want a switch just inside your door to control when you want the lights to be active.

2. Surge protection

The electrical power in the average household is far from constant. Every time a major appliance like an oven, microwave, air conditioner, or even an iron is turned on or off, the power to all the devices plugged in to your electrical outlets fluctuates up or down. Most of the time these fluctuations won't cause any noticeable damage, but over time the cumulative effect can shorten the life of some very expensive equipment. Having the right kind of surge suppression devices in place can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the years.

Most households have several multi-outlet extension cords that were labeled "surge suppressor" when they were purchased. These can range in price from $5 and up and provide anywhere from very little to complete protection from power surges. Your Mr. Electric can evaluate the surge protectors you have in place and let you know how much protection you really have, and if your expensive electrical components are adequately protected.

One option to consider is a centralized surge protector. This kind of unit is installed at your fuse box, and will protect your entire house from the power spikes that happen all day, every day.

3. Ceiling fans

You may already have ceiling fans in some rooms and probably appreciate them during the super-heated days of summer. Now is the time to add them to those other rooms so they are in place and ready for this year's summer heat.

Plan ahead and buy the fans you want installed, and ask your electrician to install them for you. When installing, make sure to have both a lamp switch and a fan switch added to your wall so you won't have to use the pull-chains dangling from the fan. For added ambience and convenience, make the lamp switch a dimmer so you can control the lamp's brightness from the wall switch.

Note: Fan speed can't be controlled using standard dimmer switches. If you want to be able to change the fan's speed, buy a model that includes a remote speed control.

4. Dimmer switches

Dimmer switches are easy and inexpensive additions that can enhance your living space, save money on your electric bills, and lengthen the life of your light bulbs. Put dimmers in your dining room, living room, and any rooms or hallways that don't need full lighting all the time. You can select from a wide variety of dimmer types, and will surely find the right ones for your decor.

Note: Only incandescent lights (regular bulbs) can be dimmed. The new compact fluorescent bulbs can only be turned on or off, so don't use them where you want to use dimmers.

5. Replace that noisy bathroom fan

There's no reason to endure the constant rattling drone of your bathroom ceiling fan. Your electrician can replace that old fan and its rusted bearings with a new model. New fans have new bearings, and depending on the model you choose, can operate in near silence. Ask your Mr. Electric which models will fit your existing fan housing.

If your fan is controlled by the same switch as your bathroom light, ask your electrician to add another switch, and separate the light control from the fan control. With two switches, you only need to turn on the fan when you want it on, eliminating the fan noise completely when it isn't necessary.

6. Add GFI outlets.

GFI (Ground Fault Interrupt) outlets can save your life. When properly installed, they can keep you from being electrocuted if you drop your hair dryer into the sink. That's because they are designed to turn off the electricity at the outlet within milliseconds of sensing a short circuit.

All newer homes have these outlets. If you have an older home, consider having GFI outlets installed in the kitchen, bathrooms, at outdoor outlets, in the basement, and in the garage. If your home already has GFI outlets, have your Mr. Electric check them for proper installation and operation.

7. Underground lines

There are always times when it's necessary to run extension cords across the lawn. Think of those times you need to run temporary connections for holiday lighting, hedge clippers, or party lights. And then there are those more permanent wires for low-voltage walkway lights, lampposts, or power to your tool shed. Extension cords should only be used for very temporary connections because they are all too easy to trip over, or even worse, run over with the lawn mower.

If you've been in your home for more than a year, it's likely that you know where you need power during the different seasons. Your electrician can install underground wiring that will eliminate the need to leave dangerous extension cables on top of the lawn. What's more, the wiring can be on their own circuits, providing enough power for the specific needs of each connection.

Your list of electrical enhancements may include some of these items and some that are very different. The important thing to remember when you call your Mr. Electric to schedule an appointment is to walk through your home and take a quick inventory of your electrical use and potential uses. Even if you don't know that a solution exists, write down your thoughts so you can discuss them with your Mr. Electric professional and make that one appointment as productive as it can be.

Scott Koegler writes about electricity and electronics but leaves the high-voltage work to the professionals.