Frequently Asked Questions

Jakob Electric knows that you have a lot of questions about our services and why we usually recommend using a professional for electrical diagnosis, repair, and installations. We have listed some of the more frequently asked questions below.

An outdated panel is not safe. They must be upgraded to eliminate the risk of fire, short outs, and shocks. As it ages, a panel will begin to degenerate and develop problems. Since many homes have panels over forty years old, your electrical panel could be as well.

The long path for the energy to flow back to ground is on the circuit. But when a shorter path is provided, electricity naturally seeks this route—the path of least resistance. The electricity immediately changes its course to head to ground by this shorter, easier path. This can be caused by a variety of sources,but more importantly, they are extremely dangerous if the human body is introduced as the path of least resistance it can result in injury or death. 

When a particular breaker (or fuse) is overloaded with electricity, the power is automatically shut off. This results in a “tripped” breaker. Some other issues could arise from short circuiting or ground faults. These issues should be resolved by a licensed electrician such as Jakob Electric. 

Sometimes non-working outlets can be resolved simply by resetting your  your circuit breaker panel. The breaker that is tripped will appear to be between the ‘on’ and ‘off’ position. Flip the switch to off, then back to on. This will reset the circuit and potentially fix your broken outlet. More complicated jobs will require licensed electricians to perform a professional diagnosis to troubleshoot the issue.

A loud, continuous hum or buzz most likely means that one of the panel’s circuit breakers is overloaded and hasn’t tripped when it should have. When a circuit breaker fails to trip, the wires can get so hot that an electrical fire can start. This is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention

Sometimes, isolated flickering light bulbs can stem from something as simple as a loose connection. However,  more emergent issues such as a faulty switch box, outlet or wall socket can be the culprit. These issues often trace back to loose wires that may become a dangerous fire hazard unless treated by a licensed electrician.

100 amps is typical in modern homes and is usually enough however, an accurate measurement requires a load calculation. This involves calculating how much electrical power you’ll need based on the size of the house, the fixed appliances you have, and other variable factors.

Any more Questions?