Many homes even 10 years old, but especially older homes, have inadequate electrical service and wiring to handle the explosion of electric conveniences that define modern life

DENVER, CO – What with the real estate market continuing in the doldrums as a result of – and most likely the cause of — the recession, many homeowners in Colorado are deciding not to sell, but rather to do some remodeling to make their current home more livable for the long haul. Why not add a room, build out a basement, put in a new kitchen, expand the garage, or redo the landscaping? Many homeowners find that their existing homes, with a little work, can be just as comfortable as a new one and even more valuable.

At Allstar Electrical Services we get called in all the time to assist with the electrical needs of these projects and we often find that the electrical system is incapable of handling the increased demand.

And it’s not just for remodeling projects: even when a homeowner wants to add a few new outlets, install a swamp cooler or hot tub, or add exterior lighting for beauty and security, electrical demand becomes a key issue.

The reasons are many, but they start with the changing electrical codes over the years and the simple fact that modern life is far more based on electrical conveniences that far outstrip the electrical demand anticipated by builders – and code writers – even in 10-year-old homes, much less those that are decades old.

Plus, the issue of electrical demand also arises for those homeowners who actually decide to place their homes on the market: in many cases, especially in older homes, the electrical system in the home is so out of date, and out of code, that it needs to be upgraded before the home can even be offered for sale.

A residential electrical upgrade can not only insure that a home is capable of handling all of the electrical demand now and into the future, but it is also an investment in the safety and comfort of the home’s occupants.

It all begins with the circuit box, or the service panel, the centerpiece of any home’s electrical system and usually located outside on the back of the home where the power lines from the utility enter the structure. More than 40 years ago the basic standard for most homes was 60 amp service, and this was more than adequate for smaller homes back then that lacked any large-electrical-demand appliances like air conditioners. The standard switched to 100 amp service in most areas by the 1970s, as the size of new homes increased and more appliances came into vogue.

Today the basic standard, and code in most areas, is 200 amp service. It’s not hard to imagine why: A/C, or at least a swamp cooler, is now almost a given in most homes and literally all new homes, kitchen and bathroom appliances have exploded with an “app” to handle just about any cooking or grooming task, and the sheer boom in home electrical conveniences as computers and related hardware, as well television and entertainment systems replete with myriad add-on devices would boggle the imagination of home planners even 20 years ago. Electrical demand in the home has, quite obviously, expanded exponentially.

While homeowners themselves, with a little handy background, can perform some minor electrical upgrade tasks in their home – new plugs and switches, for instances – it is not recommended that anyone other than a professionally licensed electrician tackle something as complicated, or potentially hazardous, as a service panel upgrade. We at Allstar Electrical do these upgrades all the time, and without fail it drastically improves the electrical operation in any home and provides enough electrical capacity for remodeling projects, new appliances, and any and all lighting projects.

Another area where homes, and again especially older homes, need electrical system upgrades is in a home’s wiring. Wiring standards, and even the type of recommended wire and insulation used, have changed a lot over the last 10 to 20 years, and electricians regularly find wiring areas needing an upgrade even when performing minor repairs and installations. This frequently occurs when adding additional outlets and switches to accommodate a new entertainment system with a large-screen TV, digital recorder, sound system, cable/digital/HD boxes, DVD players and the like. Electricians often find that the room selected for the entertainment area lacks the wiring necessary to handle the job and that replacement wiring is called for.

Upgrading a home’s electrical system is a great investment in the comfort, safety and convenience of any home, and is an excellent and even essential platform for such wish-list items as a hot tub or spa, A/C unit or swamp cooler, and exterior lighting, and, of course, for any remodeling project that will add size to a house. When considering an electrical upgrade, have a licensed electrician perform a home system inspection to ascertain what level of service currently exists, how old and/or up-to-date the wiring may be, and be sure to anticipate the kind of add-ons and wish-lists that involve electrical usage so the home will be capable of handling anything electrical. The inspection will establish the baseline and help any homeowner decide on the type and extent of an electrical upgrade required.

For all of your electrical service needs, from minor repairs and outlet installation to major upgrades and remodeling projects, call of Allstar Electrical Services, serving the metro Denver and Front Range of Colorado for over 11 years with fully licensed professional electricians. Call 303-399-7420 for complete details. 

Simple projects like replacing switches can be done by homeowners, with caution

Working with electricity can be hazardous, but some minor projects can be accomplished by the DIYer; however keep in mind the rule of thumb: when in doubt, call a professional

DENVER, CO – Many people — and let’s be honest, especially men – fancy themselves handy enough to tackle small repair, replacement and enhancement projects like installing light switches, receptacles and lights. Or in some cases it isn’t the DIYer complex, but rather the aversion to spending the money on a professional electrician that drives people to Do It Yourself.

The truth is that simple electrical projects in and around the home can be done relatively easily by the homeowner, and the easiest among these involve installing or replacing light switches, receptacles (“plugs”) and fixed lights connected to switches.

Like everything else involving electricity, extreme care should be taken at all times. Even for the most minor of projects, it is wise to purchase a simple circuit tester to afford some assurance that the circuit being worked on is indeed off. There are also relatively inexpensive testers available at most hardware stores that can identify the “hot” wires and measure the amperes being used in the circuit.

If you are going to add or replace a light switch in a particular area, the paramount first thing to do is to identify the circuit that is supplying the power to that area so you can switch off the power supply at the circuit breaker. If you are installing a new switch, light or receptacle you’ll have to identify the circuit being used to supply the power and make sure it is turned off at the circuit breaker.

The easiest job, of course, is simply replacing a switch, light or receptacle. You take the old one off and rewire it in the same way. Make sure the switch is placed in the box so that “on” is up and “off” is down. For a switch, the black or “hot” wire from the power source leads directly to the bottom connector on the switch, and the white “neutral wire goes on the top. There are generally two ways to make these connections: most modern switches have both a screw (where the stripped wire is wrapped around and the screw tightened), and there is a hole on the back of the switch where a ½-inch stripped wire can be inserted. Then the wire leading out to the light is attached in the same way (wrapped around the screw or inserted in the hole), from the other side, with the “hot” or black wire leading out from the top connection. If the box is metal, attach the ground wire to the box; if it is plastic take all the other wires and cap them off with an electric screw cap.

If you are pulling wires to connect a new switch the job is much more difficult. Pulling wires through an existing wall is a task better left to a professional. If you are placing such a switch in a new wall or one that will be covered with drywall later, then you’re in luck. Make sure the circuit if off and connect all the wires in the same way. For receptacles (“plugs”) the connections are very similar and should be just as easy.  Switches should be 48 inches off the floor for convenience and it is recommended that they be placed in easy-to-reach spots that won’t be hidden by furniture.

When it comes to wiring light fixtures so they work off the new switch, all these same guidelines apply. You can attach the wires on an existing light switch the same way they came off; for a new one follow the instructions included in the light fixture package.

With all switches, receptacles and light fixtures, turn the circuit back on and test them before securing the boxes or fixture in the wall or ceiling

These are fairly simple tasks. It takes a little more skill to install dimmer switches or such room light with multi-purposes like ceiling fans, but these devices comes with relatively detailed instructions that the handy homeowner should be able to handle.

Where it gets tricky to install such devices is when you are putting a light fixture on two switches, like at opposite ends of a hall, both of which can turn on and off the lights. These are called 3-way switches.

First, bring the power supply in to one of the switch boxes (one hot, and one neutral), on a #14/2-wire cable, then run a #14/3-wire to the other switch location. From the second switch, run a #14/2-wire up to the light box. In the first box, splice the neutral (white) wire from the power supply to the white wire in the 3-wire cable going to the other switch. Attach the hot (black) wire to the common screw on the 3-way switch. The red and the black conductor from the #14/3 cable will be called the “travelers”, and will hook up to the two remaining screws on the switch. At the other switch location, you will hook the white wire from the #14/3 to the white wire going up to the light. The “travelers” (black and red) from the #14/3 will connect to the same screws as on the other 3-way switch, and the black wire going to the light will tie on to the “common” screw.

Of course, if you are installing switches and plugs into kitchens, bathrooms, basements or garages, most local codes require these to be GFI – ground fault interrupter – switches; these are called for anywhere there is water in close proximity. These types of devices are wired similarly to regular devices, and the generally come with instructions that can be easily followed.

The thing to remember about electricity in the home, even on small projects, is that it can be dangerous. There is, of course, the potential of shock, and improper wiring can lead to fire. Some older homes, wired before current codes were in place even just a few short years ago, have wires that would not pass muster in today’s environment, and years-older homes contain wires that were never color-coded. The best rule of thumb is: if in doubt, call a professional.

When you need expert, professional electrical services – from minor repairs and replacements to major projects, emergencies, even remodeling projects – call on Allstar Electrical Services, serving the commercial and residential electric service needs of the Denver are for over a decade. Call 303-399-7420 for complete details.

From minor electrical repairs to simple common sense about the use of electricity in a home, a few safety tips will keep homeowners in the electrical loop

DENVER, CO – The electrical service in any home is at the heart of family’s lifestyle, operating the lights, appliances, the air conditioner, even the hot tub. Everyone understands that, of course, but like everything else that just comes “on” with the flip of a switch, electricity is just one of those things we take for granted – until an emergency or the need arises.

As licensed and experienced electricians serving the Denver metro area for over a decade, Allstar Electrical Services works regularly with all kinds of clients: those who are informed, the misinformed and those who simply just want it fixed or expanded. In any case, when it comes to a home’s electrical service the admonition is for caution. Electricity can kill, injure or create fires if not handled properly, and it pays to know some basic safety rules.

The most basic safety and convenience rule is to know where the home’s electrical service box is located. Most often referred to as the circuit breaker, this is the usually grey box on the back of the house where the electrical service comes in from the utility. The box itself is designed to gather that electric service and then distribute it throughout the home through the many circuits on the box’s panel. These circuits come in different power ratings, like 20 amp or 15 amp, depending on the room or the appliance being served and the electric demand in question (e.g., kitchens typically need a higher power rating to handle the refrigerator and all of the other appliances, and often will be served by two or circuits). It’s good to know where this electrical panel/circuit breaker is in the event a circuit trips and power needs to be restored, and also so the homeowner knows where to turn off a circuit for minor repairs or the whole service in case of an emergency. Of course, we recommend keeping the area around the circuit breaker free of obstructions – patio furniture, plants, etc. – so there is easy access year round.

It’s also good to know how a particular home’s electrical panel is rated. For a long time, and until up to about 15 years ago, the basic standard was 100 amp service. But today most homes, even small ones, require (and may be mandated to have) 200 amp service at minimum. The reason is simple: home electrical demand has mushroomed, with entertainment systems, computers and accessories, and the myriad of electrical appliances and power chargers that have become part of everyday life in recent years. Think about; we used to have a television, and that has been overtaken by a whole system consisting of a TV, DVR, surround sound, DVD, game system, all often drawing power from the “plug” that used to power just the TV.

Knowing what’s there is important. A recent customer of ours, in an older Denver home, wanted to add a few new outlets in the home, add electrical service and lights to his garage, install a ceiling fan, and install a new chandelier. Easy, right? Turns out he had 100 amp service, inadequate (and out of code), that was already a safety hazard to the home, much less with increased demand. We upgraded the home to 200 amp service, fulfilled all of the increased electrical convenience in the home, and now he is poised to be able to add more conveniences (A hot tub? A swap cooler?) with ease. Also, it should be noted, it would have been impossible to sell this home without upgrading to 200 amp electrical service before placing the property on the market.

When performing relatively minor home electrical repair, like replacing light switches or wall outlets, here’s how to keep safe:

• Locate the proper circuit breaker in the circuit box and turn off the electric to the circuit to be worked on. Before commencing work make sure the circuit is off; plug in a lamp in the outlet or one nearby on the same circuit to make sure the circuit is off. If in doubt, don’t proceed. Use a voltage meter to check if the power is off.
• Study up and read the directions. Most electrical devices come with instructions, and it is wise to follow these to the letter. You want to make sure positive is positive, negative is negative, and the ground is installed properly. If the device purchased has scant directions, there are plenty of helpful sites on the internet to walk even the novice through a simple repair.
• Install the right switch/outlet. Bathrooms, kitchens, garages and any location where an outlet or a device plugged into it may come in contact with water require a GFI (ground fault interrupter) that protects against shock. Not only is it wise, it is code in most areas.
• Use tools – screwdrivers and pliers – with rubber/insulated grips or handles. Probably wise to wear gloves, too.
• Never stand in water while attempting an electrical repair.
• Wear shoes with non-conductive soles, like tennis shoes. Also, wear protective eyewear.
• Red and black wires are typically the “hot” wires, meaning the current is flowing from the circuit breaker. White wires are usually the negative or “return” wires, and the ground wire is generally bare. Older homes, however, may feature wires that are not color-coded. In this case you can use a voltage meter (you’ll have to flip the circuit break back on once the wires are exposed) to check.

Many people also attempt, with varying degrees of success, to do more complicated jobs like installing a ceiling fan or putting in a new outlet or switch themselves. Ceiling fans, particularly those with lights as well, are complicated, and we get a ton of calls to finish up where the homeowner failed. Our advice: read the directions closely, and then again, build the fan on the floor first, and make sure you fully understand the wiring. Also, beyond wiring, make sure the anchoring bracket can handle the job and that the fan is installed properly on the bracket; a fan creates momentum and can easily throw itself off an unsecure bracket, creating a myriad of problems.

Additional light switches and/or outlets require cutting into the wall, locating the feed wires and tapping them, and perhaps pulling additional wire. Study up because there are code requirements about distance off the floor, what kind of wire to use, etc. And often such a job requires a permit to be pulled from the local government jurisdiction and a demonstration that the installer knows more than the basics about such an installation.

For these things, the Allstar Electrical Services recommendation is to call in a professional, licensed electrician so there will be confidence in the outcome.

Here are a few other, more basic electrical safety tips:

• Extension cords are meant to be temporary, not a component of the house wiring. They tend to heat up over time and should never, ever be placed under carpets, rugs or furniture. Never staple an electrical cord into place to keep it off the floor; should the need arise, there are U brackets which don’t pierce the cord for this purpose.
• Don’t overload circuits. If you experience tripping circuit breakers frequently when turning on multiple appliances (e.g. the microwave and the toaster), that circuit is underpowered or you need an additional circuit in that area.
• Power surge extension cords may protect the device plugged in from a power surge, but remember that if you plug multiple devices into the surge protector (e.g. computer, printer, keyboard) they are all still being plugged into a single outlet. Not recommended.
• Keep portable heaters and space heaters well ventilated and away from things that can burn, like carpets, furniture, newspapers/magazines and the like. And never operate them if no one is around.
• Unplug appliances – and, yes, charger cords – when not in use. Not only is it a potential electrical hazard, even a toaster plugged in but not in use is drawing power and wasting energy.

Electricity is, of course, a wonderful commodity that fulfills our lives in big and small ways each and every day. But it is also potentially dangerous and should be handled with care. With a growing demand for electrical devices in every room of the house, keep in mind that most Americans are continually adding to the strain on a home’s electrical system, and like anything else it should be inspected by a professional  periodically to make sure it is in tip-top shape. Second best just won’t do.

Except for the most minor repairs, it is not recommended that homeowners perform electrical work. It is dangerous, of course, but also there are a ton of rules and regulations that must be followed that only professionals keep fully abreast of. We at Allstar Electrical Services perform the full gamut of home electrical tasks, from the minor to the very complex, including inspections, to ensure everything is in order. Phone us at 303-399-7420 for complete details on any electrical project.

DENVER, CO – The housing bubble that led to the worst U.S. recession in decades and shows only the slightest signs of recovery after more than two years of stagnation has a bright side for those people able to take advantage: housing costs are down considerably, mortgage and construction-loan rates are the lowest they have been in decades, and a whole host of general contractors and subcontractors are hungry for work and pricing their services accordingly.

While the conventional wisdom is that buying a home in this environment may offer the best combination of pricing and lending rates ever seen, it may be even a better time to consider building a dream home or to extensively remake an existing home into a new castle.

For new-build homes, the same positive economics that apply to the real estate market in general come into play: low acquisition costs of an older, smaller tear-down home or a building lot, and 30-year mortgage rates well below 5%. The added advantage is that builders, jam-packed with business at inflated fees just a few years ago, are in a mood to deal just to keep the business operating. Same for remodeling projects and the many subcontractors who work on both new-build and add-on projects: they take business wherever they can find it, and the market is so competitive the fees charged are some of the lowest seen in more than 20 years.

However, as always, caveat emptor: let the buyer beware. While contractors are keeping fees low in a hyper-competitive marketplace, there is also the potential of the cutting corners to maximize returns. Anyone contracting to build a new home or to substantially remake an existing one would be well advised to insist that subcontractors hire by general contractors or developers to perform critical elements of the building project be fully licensed and capable of the task at hand.

One of the key aspects of any home construction project, whether new or remodel, is the electrical contractor charged with wiring the new home or addition. Modern lifestyles call for the addition of a myriad of appliances, home theater systems, home-wide entertainment systems, security systems, extensive cabling for entertainment and work spaces, outdoor decorative and security lighting, HVAC units, and more – in other words, the modern home is a marvel for wiring and cabling, with electrical demand far exceeding what was the norm only a few years ago. Not every electrician has the experience and expertise to handle a high-demand electrical job, even though most of them will say they do. Best to check the level of experience and all references to insure a new home or extensive remodeling project is done correctly the first time. The best contractors and developers will supply all the necessary background on subcontractors before work commences and are open to make a switch to one the client prefers.

Building a new home or making a new home out of an existing one is a daunting undertaking, but the stars are all aligned and indicate this may be the best time ever to build the dream. Make sure, however, that each and every contractor and subcontractor has the expertise to fulfill that dream, or it could become a nightmare.

Allstar Electrical Services of Denver is a premier electrical contractor, serving the residential, commercial and industrial with cutting-edge, professional and fully licensed electricians with vast experience in new build and remodeling projects.

Allstar Electrical Service installs new service in older homes to boost the home’s ability to run more electrical appliances

Do you love Victorian architecture, older homes and mature landscaping? The thing that lures people to buy a home is rarely the electrical service or features, and that’s hardly ever the case when buying an older home.

And one of the first things new homeowners of older homes discover is that there aren’t enough electrical outlets to service a modern day lifestyle. Even more dismaying is learning that the wiring in your older home is outdated or made of aluminum. And if the overall power system is inadequate, it could be that you will need to add new electrical service to increase the capacity…even to run the most basic electrical appliances.

Gary Stone, founder of Allstar Electrical Service in Denver, Colorado and in Colorado Springs, Colorado, often gets calls for estimates of “what it will take to get the right electricity in our home.”

His first question is, “How old is your home?”

Older homes with only 120-volt service less than 100 amps can’t support major improvements and additions to the electrical plan.

Unique to older homes that haven’t been upgraded to new service is the problem of too few outlets. The National Electrical Code requires outlets every 12 feet or one per wall. Some older homes that have been retrofitted with electrical service don’t feature outlets on exterior walls. The lack of such outlets, says Stone, nearly guarantees inconvenience. In-room lamps can’t be positioned near enough to an outlet and using extension cords isn’t necessarily desirable especially when they’re strung across a room becoming a tripping hazard.

The first electricity was generated and sold out of a plant in Appleton, Wisconsin. It was 1882 and the Appleton plant was the first in the area, extending only as far away as a mile.

It’s not uncommon for homes in some of the older neighborhoods in both Denver and Colorado Springs to date back to 1875. Homes were heated mostly by coal until the 1930′s to 1950′s when electrical service began to be retrofitted into residences. Some types of home construction, particularly plaster exterior walls, didn’t accommodate wiring being installed underneath and it’s not unusual to find a room in one of these older homes with conduit running around the perimeter of the room, outlet to outlet.

The cost of new service in an average-size home can run from $8,000 and more, a big tab to an unsuspecting homeowner who discovers that his/her new abode needs such service.

Of course, says Stone, you can contact Allstar Electrical for a review of your property and its current electrical service before you come to the closing table. But often people fall in love with the address of a certain home and too late discover that upgrades and lighting fixtures exceed their budget so soon after making a home purchase. Still other lenders will require that a home be upgraded to full-capacity code-passing electrical service prior to closing. And as frustrating as that can be for all parties involved to have a closing stalled because of this requirement, it makes living in the residence much more comfortable right from the get-go.

Call Allstar Electrical Service today and inquire about their Premiere Customer Service Agreement, available for an annual fee of only $79, are like an insurance policy—protecting customers against the worry that they’ll ever be left literally in the dark or without other electrical service when an emergency arises.

Contact Allstar Electrical Service, Inc. today to enroll in the Premiere Customer Service Agreement and rest assured that you’ll get priority service if and when an electrical emergency arises. Call Allstar Electrical at 303.399.7420 in Denver and 719-314-9419 in Colorado Springs. Or email President Gary Stone at gstone@allstarelectrical.com.

Colorado’s foreclosure rate isn’t as bad as in previous years, according to a report by John Rebchook in the Rocky Mountain News dated Tuesday, March 11, 2008. Viewed several ways The Mortgage Bankers Association has ranked Colorado No. 24 in the nation for seriously delinquent loans in fourth quarter 2007, down from 15 in 2006. To get to that number, the Mortgage Bankers Association estimates the percentage of mortgages that are 90 days or more delinquent that have started into the foreclosure process.

Using a different method of calculation, Rebchook writes, Colorado was No. 5 in the nation for foreclosure rates in 2007 and No. 1 in 2006. These figures were reported by RealtyTrac which counts the number of foreclosures as a percentage of U.S. Census housing data.

The Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association prefers to look at the positive news in the findings from the Mortgage Bankers Association, Rebchook reports that Chris Holbert, president of the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association, contends are more accurate when comparing Colorado foreclosures to other states.

The effect foreclosures has on the new construction industry is obvious. New home starts are down and some long-standing new home builders are permanently closing their doors.

But that means that homeowners who aren’t a candidate for foreclosure have choices to make if their current home doesn’t suit their immediate needs or desires. Gary Stone, president of Allstar Electrical Services, Inc. explains that homeowners weighing selling their current home in order to upgrade their residence are more cautious about making that decision these days. They don’t want to get stuck holding two mortgages, and the competition to sell their existing home can be keen.

So many of the homeowners who would sell and move up in a more certain economy are choosing to remodel their residence to bring it up to date and to provide the amenities, particularly electrical improvements, to their home that a newer-built home would likely include.

Improvements to an existing home average $80/square feet compared to $175/square feet of new construction, reports www.myonecall.com.

Tom Kraeutler, host of The Money Pit Home Improvement Show, reports that the top remodeling projects homeowners are considering for 2008 include:

• Flooring
• Plumbing
• HVAC
• Walls and ceilings
• Windows and siding
• Kitchen and bath
• Roofing
• Basements and crawl spaces
• Mold eradication
• Insulation and ventilation

Some of these improvements, like removing old wallpaper and painting walls and ceilings are jobs that homeowners can do themselves. Other improvements require a professional, Kraeutler urges.

Before starting any remodeling project, particularly projects that a homeowner takes on with the hope that the improvement will increase his/her home’s salability or value, the Real Estate Journal recommends that homeowners do the following:

Ask an experienced Realtor to help you gauge your home’s current value before you put more money into it by remodeling.

Get a home inspection so that you are aware if any repairs, particularly structural ones, are necessary

While you may be inclined to remodel the interior of your home, you would be wise to study the exterior as it will make the first impression on a possible buyer

Consider investing in the bathroom. It’s the one room that buyers say they want to be able to use right away without having to remodel it first. Small improvements can have big impact in the bathroom.

Don’t go overboard remodeling the kitchen. Even though Realtors will tell you that a kitchen can sell a house, remember that people have different tastes, and yours may not be the same as a buyer. Stay as neutral as possible with improvements intended to help you sell your home faster, urges Gary Stone, president of Allstar Electrical Services, Inc. serving all of Colorado’s Front Range from the Denver metro area south to Colorado Springs.

Allstar is an award-winning electrical contracting firm that specializes in residential and commercial electrical work.

Pricing out improvements before you wield an ax at your current room may influence your decision about what room to start with:

• For example an 800 square foot poptop runs an average of $140,000.00
• 500 square foot addition including a new kitchen averages $87,500.00

Depending on the scope of your project, you’ll want to retain an architect or a design build firm like Allstar Electrical Services Inc. that does design build electrical contracting work. Allstar Electrical’s president Gary Stone explains that money savings can be significant if a homeowner uses a professional electrician’s design-build capabilities.

“Our services include reviewing the flow and use of a household before we recommend the most effective route to pursue,” says Stone. “We can suggest improvements to a homeowner that will allow him to expand the scope of his improvement without necessarily expanding the cost of the project. That’s because we keep on top of the newest technology—alarm systems, whole home wiring packages, etc.—and we’re familiar with the brands that have superior performance versus lesser-known cheaper brands.”

Professional installation isn’t just about knowing your circuit breakers, voltage or LED lighting. Performing clean electrical work is as much about being meticulous with installation and clean-up, particularly when it comes to remodeling in residential homes.

Gary Stone, president of Allstar Electrical Services, Inc. based in Denver, Colorado with satellite services in Colorado Springs, Colorado, insists that his electricians, from master electricians to apprentices, leave an immaculate work area when they’re finished with an electrical upgrade or installation. If the job takes more than one day, it means cleaning up at the end of each day too, stresses Stone.

That organization on a surface level also filters down to demanding organization within electrical boxes. The point of that kind of detail-oriented management of electrical installation is that it ultimately makes it easier on the homeowner or building manager when they need to check the electrical box, whether that’s to trip a breaker after a power outage or if additional electrical services are added down the line.

It’s not unusual for unprofessional electricians to leave a breaker box unmarked or wiring to an outlet unfinished.

Stone won’t stand for that.

“Our clients remember us for the professional manner in which we show up on time, dressed in clean uniforms, driving fully equipped vans, and foremost how we engage with the customer as professionals,” Stone, who founded Allstar Electrical Services, Inc. based on the premise that too few electrical contracting companies were willing to go the extra mile investing time into proper job preparation and clean-up.

As part of the job done by Allstar Electrical Services’ electricians, the electrician calls to confirm timely arrival on the job site. After the electrician has reviewed the service area, he will inquire of the homeowner the best route to enter and exit the house so as not to be disruptive to the people living there or the activities ongoing in the home. Dogs and small children can be curious, and the Allstar electricians secure the work area so as not to endanger any pet or child.

Once the work is completed, Allstar electricians will vacuum or sweep the work area, taking packaging materials with them when they leave versus leaving the boxes and scrap wrapping materials on the floor for the customer to tidy up.

“It’s our belief that an overall professional electrician, one that presents professionally to the customer is also the superior choice for competent electrical installation. When the job is finished, we want our customers to remember the event as pleasant, well-managed and thorough. We bring a package offering to the client’s location and the reward is the excellent feedback we regularly get after every job is finished,” adds Stone.

Allstar Electrical Services can be reached by calling Colorado Springs office at 719-314-9419 or Denver at 303-399-7420 to schedule an estimate or a repair.

Death and injury are not imagined when it comes to in-home accidents each year. Estimates show that each year $1.6 billion in residential electrical fires take their toll each year. More than 500 deaths are attributed to residential electrical fires as well as 6,000 injuries annually. More than 140,000 home fires nationally are blamed on faulty electrical or other electrical failures.

The extent of injuries spreads to the workplace too with nearly 4,000 workplace injuries due to electrical hazards.

Many of these accidents and losses could be prevented if homeowners and business owners would use professional installers to make repairs or to check electrical services on a routine basis, says Gary Stone, President of Allstar Electrical Services in Denver, CO with services also in Colorado Springs, CO.

Outdate wiring, underground wires, outlets that may have been installed by a prior homeowner all can be blamed. But a professional, licensed electrician knows what dangers to look for when tackling a repair or remodeling project, explains Stone. Besides being equipped with voltage detectors, trained electricians know what problem areas to research prior to beginning any work on an electrical service call.

No matter how small the project you have planned for your home or business, trust it to a professional, licensed electrician. At Allstar Electrical Services, even apprentice electricians have the resource of a master electrician to answer any questions that may come up.

“Bottom line, knowing when to ask questions or thoroughly research power, service, outlets or fixtures before proceeding is the sign of a true professional,” cautions Stone.

To arrange for an inspection of your next project, contact Allstar Electrical Services at 303-399-7420.

Q: I’m thinking about doing a little remodeling myself. Is there a proper height to locate outlets and switches to conform to code?

A: There are requirements if your installation needs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but other than that, locations are determined more by custom than by code. There may be local codes that specify heights for certain rooms like a kitchen or bathroom, so check with your local building department to be sure.

The main thing is to try to achieve consistency both within a room and throughout the building. It looks bad to have these things at different heights in the same room unless there’s an obvious reason for it.

Measure the distance from the floor or countertop to the center of your existing switches and outlets as a guide for placing others. By using the center as your measuring point, you won’t have to worry about whether the one you’re installing is the same size as the others.

Running power to outlets and switches is something that needs to be done by someone who understands wiring pretty well, so don’t undertake this sort of project unless you do. It’s safer and easier to have a licensed electrician do it unless you’re experienced at it.

Q: Winter is coming and I’d like to have my outdoor lighting come on as soon as it gets dark rather than wait until I get home. What is the best way to do that?

A: That depends on how the system is wired. If it’s powered by a standard electrical plug-in outlet inside your home or a dry area such as a garage (not recommended for best safety and performance), you may be able to use a standard indoor light timer. Just be sure that the timer is rated for the load your system will put on it. The timer should have a wattage rating stamped on it somewhere. If the wattage of your outdoor lights exceeds the timer rating, don’t use it. If you don’t know, don’t use it.

If it turns on with a normal wall switch, a timer will have to be wired in like the one you may have on your sprinkler system. This may be beyond the skills of a typical DIYer.

You may also be able to use a light sensor switch that activates when the light level outdoors goes down in the evening and switches off in the morning.

A licensed electrician can inspect your system and recommend the best solution to you.

Q: When my hair dryer tripped a breaker I went to the electrical panel, but couldn’t find anything wrong. Is there someplace else I should look, or is something wrong with the outlet?

A: You probably have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) integrated into one of your wall outlets. This is a safety device that is now required for all outlets located in higher-risk areas like bathrooms and kitchens. It detects current leakage on that branch of the circuit and trips like a regular circuit breaker before any harm can be done. Look for an outlet that has a small button on it. It might not be on the outlet you were plugged in to, but should be near it. Next to the button you should see the word “Reset.” Once you have disconnected the device that caused the problem, push the reset button to restore service. If it trips again you may have a more serious problem and you should call a licensed electrician to find and fix the situation that’s causing the problem.

Q: I’m interested in saving electricity, but I’ve heard that compact fluorescent bulbs have mercury and other pollutants in them. Is that true and if it is, are there other bulbs I can use that do less damage to the environment?

A: Compact fluorescent (CF) lamps use considerably less energy than incandescent bulbs, but they do contain a small amount of mercury (about 5 mg) and environmentally-aware consumers should consider recycling them to keep it out of landfills where it might enter the groundwater.

An alternative you might consider is using low-energy LED lighting. It’s more expensive initially than CF, but the cost is coming down and the energy savings are considerable. They use half the electricity of standard bulbs of similar brightness, last over 20,000 hours, are cool to the touch and come in many standard sizes and shapes so they can be used in your existing fixtures. Allstar Electric is proud to be among the first companies to specify LED lighting for its residential and commercial projects.

If you choose to use CF lamps, check with your local energy company or search the Internet for recycling sources.

Q: We just recently moved to an older home that has some outlets and switches outdoors. Should I be concerned about “winterizing” them?

A: If they are approved devices for outdoor use and are in good repair, they should be fine for the winter without any special attention. Some older homes and remodels may not have been fitted with devices that meet code, though. There’s really not much you can do to weatherproof them short of replacing them with approved devices. If you suspect your outdoor switches or outlets are non-conforming or look damaged, you should have a licensed electrician inspect them and upgrade them if needed.

Q: Our child is about to take her first steps. As exciting as the prospect is, I also worry about her safety. Is there anything I can do to make our home’s electrical system safer for her?

A: Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Yes, there are several things you can do to make sure your child’s first steps don’t lead to danger when it comes to electricity.

A simple place to start is by childproofing your home’s electrical outlets. You can buy plastic outlet caps anywhere home hardware or accessories are sold and they’re a very effective way to insure that your toddler doesn’t get shocked by sticking something where it doesn’t belong.

Electrical cords not only present a tripping danger (remember, the little tyke can walk in places you wouldn’t consider), but they can also be tempting things to pull on, either to help get back up from a fall or just out of pure curiosity. Since there’s usually something at the other end of the cord you don’t want crashing down on junior’s noggin, be sure the power cords to all your lights, appliances and other devices are routed safely away from harm’s way.

There are literally dozens of potential electrical hazards to children in the home (adults, too!). A good place to get more information is the website for the Electrical Safety Foundation International at www.esfi.org. They even have a clever home safety quiz you can take.