Electrical Outlet Installation Services
The modern home relies upon electricity to do just about everything on a daily basis. Whether it’s to power your refrigerator, your TV, your lights, tablets, or the many devices your family uses on a daily basis, electricity is integral to the functionality of your home. But electricity without the appropriate outlets is pretty much useless.
Technology and usage have changed so much in just a few short years. Older homes and even homes less than a decade old may not have adequate or efficient outlets to handle their household needs. A faster pace of life makes it necessary for us to optimize our use of technology to improve our quality of living.
What’s new with electrical outlet installation?
Whether your home is older or newer, there are likely a few upgrades with your outlets that you could benefit from. From USB to GFCI and smart outlets, up-to-date outlets have had many advancements in comparison to the old standard two-pronged models that were originally installed in homes. You can review the different types of outlets below to give you an idea of what you can do at the time of your next electrical outlet installation job.
GFCI Outlets
A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlet is engineered to stop the flow of electricity when a ground fault is detected. A ground fault is a condition where electricity is not following the intended path and causes a dangerous situation.
This type of outlet will keep you from being electrocuted if water is introduced to it, which is the primary reason they’re required in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas near water. They look a lot like a regular outlet, but have two buttons that can be used to reset it when it’s tripped. To protect your family from accidental shocks, it would be wise to have an electrician replace any outlet installed within six feet of a water source with a GFCI outlet.
AFCI Outlets
A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlet is engineered to stop the flow of electricity when a ground fault is detected. A ground fault is a condition where electricity is not following the intended path and causes a dangerous situation.
This type of outlet will keep you from being electrocuted if the water is introduced to it, which is the primary reason they’re required in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas near water. They look a lot like a regular outlet but have two buttons that can be used to reset it when it’s tripped. To protect your family from accidental shocks, it would be wise to have an electrician replace any outlet installed within six feet of a water source with a GFCI outlet.
20A Outlets
Certain devices need a larger amount of power than the usual outlet can supply. Laundry rooms and kitchens typically have some 20A outlets to power appliances with high energy demands. These outlets look just like the regular outlets, but they have a small slit on the left side of the opening to let you know that they are 20A outlets.
USB Outlets
Lots of devices today use a USB cord to provide power, but they are unable to use a traditional outlet without also having an adapter, which is a nuisance for many reasons. There are outlets on the market today that integrate one or more USB ports, which eliminates the need for an adapter. USB outlets typically either have two standard ports and two USB ports, or they can have four USB ports but no standard ports. Depending on what your family’s requirements are and the areas of the home where the outlets are needed. A technician can help you determine some key areas to consider.
Smart Outlets
Devices plugged into smart outlets can be controlled using apps or voice commands. Turning devices on and off is easier and homeowners can set a schedule for the use of lights.
Lights can be programmed to go on and off at a particular time when you’re not home, so it appears as if you are there to deter thieves from breaking in. Another reason to do this is to lower your energy bills and increase the outlet’s efficiency. Smart outlets cost more than normal outlets but their use and advantages are countless.
Floor Outlets
Floor outlets come in many fashionable designs and have many practical uses. Open floor designs are very popular layouts in modern homes. While visually pleasing the layout can lead to loss of practical places for outlets. Floor outlets can be placed in almost any place you need to be able to plug-in devices.
Specialty Outlets
There are just so many new and interesting outlets available for every application. Tamper-resistant outlets keep kids safe by locking out all but exact conforming objects. 360-degree outlets allow plugs to be plugged in at any angle. Pop-up outlets can be installed on a desktop or counter and hide flat when not in use but easily pop up to reveal several outlets. Recessed outlets allow your flat screen TV to hug the wall because the plug is recessed into the outlet. Surge protection outlets help to protect expensive electronics from the eroding effects of surges in your home.
Call An Electrician to Change Your Outlets
If you have an outlet that isn’t working or one that has a visible burn mark, you should have it inspected immediately by an electrician. People who have no experience in dealing with electric work should let the electrician do the job in order to avoid dangerous situations. Contact the electricians here at GB Electrical Services, and we can inspect your electrical needs and install the best electrical outlets fitted for your home. Call us today at (980) 500-2378 and schedule an appointment today.
Residents in the following cities, please be sure to call your neighborhood electrician, GB Electrical. Call us today and book your appointment!
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