Author Archives: electric

Schedule an Inspection to Keep Your Property Safe Throughout the Winter

Completing a project during the winter has its upside. Typically, it’s not as busy a time of year for inspectors, contractors and government agencies. Therefore, the construction can get done at a faster rate than it normally would if it were to be done during the spring or summer. Not only that, but the rates of construction materials also decrease due to the occurrence of seasonal sales. Winter is the ideal season to move forward with a remodeling project for your home or business.

It is critical to remember that regardless of what construction project you engage in this winter, the electrical work of the property must be properly inspected by one of our accredited and licensed professionals to attain a certificate of compliance. A legal permit is required for new construction in Pennsylvania. Otherwise, you might require an emergency electrical service for your property in Philadelphia.

To attain a permit in Montgomery County, PA, the project is required to undergo an electrical inspection not just during, but also after the construction to ensure that the requirements of the authorities having jurisdiction are met. An inspection makes sure that the building’s electrical system is safe and meets all the regulations of the local, regional and national codes.

Unwanted consequences may occur if an unauthorized construction project is identified. The failure to secure a permit can result in significant fines and penalties, as well as cultivate a hazardous environment. An intriguing winter project can go bad in a hurry if a mistake is made in the electrical system or the installation was faulty. The defective components of an electrical system might result in an arc flash or an arc blast that can easily cause a fire.

If you hire a reliable third-party agency to execute inspections on your project, this can all be avoided. At A-1 Electric, we are certified by the Commonwealth of PA. We are even listed first by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry as a recommended third-party agency. Our certified and experienced team is more than capable of ensuring that your home or business is safe. If you require an emergency electrical service for your property in Bucks County, PA or another nearby area, please call 800-401-6114.

Remember, we at A-1 Electric are unable to perform both an inspection and electrical work during the same visit. This is due to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania guidelines and avoiding a conflict of interest.

4 Common Winter Electric Concerns

Winter is here again, and if you’re like most people, you probably want to avoid spending time outside as much as possible. Electricity is the unsung hero of our homes and makes the winter season much more bearable.

Unfortunately, winter is also the season in which homeowners may find themselves dealing with more electrical issues. Before you cuddle up with a blanket and a warm cup of cocoa, familiarize yourself with these four common winter electrical issues, so you can be prepared and ready to call our electrical contractors in Bucks County, PA should the power go out in your home.

  • Increased electric bills. The math is simple; more time spent indoors to avoid chilly winter weather and the heavy use of your heating system equals higher electric bills. However, if you notice that your electricity bill is exceptionally high, your system may need repairs to run more efficiently.
  • Blackouts. Winter is the most common season for blackouts, as heavy freezing rain, blizzards and ice storms can bring down a power line at a mere moment’s notice. Keeping an emergency supply hit in your home that includes things like flashlights, warm blankets and a few high-calorie snacks will help to keep you safe if the blackout lasts longer than expected.
  • Electrical fires. Roofing issues or tree collapses can leave you at risk for an electrical fire, a serious danger to both your property and the health of your family. Having your home regularly inspected by a qualified electrical contractor can help protect you against the possibility of electrical fires.
  • Slow electrical service. Thanks to the above three issues combined, many residents have trouble finding an electrician to get them the help they need quickly during the winter. We at A-1 Electric will have a repair team at your door within 24 hours,so be sure to keep our number handy this season!

If you run into any of these common winter electrical issues, make sure you have a team of professionals on your side! Remember, we can’t perform both an inspection and electrical work during the same visit. This is due to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania guidelines and avoiding a conflict of interest.

Give our electrical contractors serving Montgomery County, PA a call at 800-401-6114 to get quick service that will have your home bright and warm again in no time.

A-1 Electric Lights up Electric Expo

This year, A-1 Electric took their team of talented electrical contractors in Bucks County, PA on the road to this year’s Electric Expo!

Sponsored this year by the Electrical Association of Philadelphia, Electric Expo is an annual event that gathers electric professionals from all industries to share their knowledge with their peers, and to learn more about the best way to serve their customers and improve their craft. A-1 Electric is no exception. We went to King of Prussia to share our knowledge with others and to learn a few new things as well!

Hailed as the “Region’s Leading Electrical Industry Exhibition,” Electric Expo helps industry leaders share the best new tips and tricks in regards to safety, energy-efficiency, power management, and much more. A-1 Electric attended this year’s Electric Expo in King of Prussia, and our team was able to learn some new things and share some of our knowledge with local attendees.

Electric Expo consistently hosts over 3,000 attendees and is largely considered to be the best electrical convention on the East Coast. If you’d like to learn more about Electric Expo, check out their site online at http://electricexpo.org/.

At A-1 Electric, our commitment to helping our customers doesn’t end when the business does. We take our work seriously, which is why we’re always on the road to keep up with the latest and greatest technology, so our electrical contractors in Montgomery County PA can bring it right to your door!

If you’re in need of any residential or commercial electrical work, trust the team that’s always putting you first. Give A-1 Electric a call at 800-401-6114 or visit us online.

Just a reminder, per Commonwealth of Pennsylvania guidelines, we cannot perform electrical work and inspection during the same visit due to it being considered a conflict of interest.

Growing to Better Serve You

It’s an experience that’s happened to nearly everyone at some point or another. Your power has gone out, and you need the assistance of electrical contractors in Philadelphia, but you find yourself waiting hours or even days before you’re able to be serviced. You are disappointed to find that the company simply doesn’t have enough manpower or equipment to handle all of their customers within a reasonable period of time.

At A-1 Electric, we don’t think that’s right. That is why we’re constantly working to expand our company’s resources to serve all of our customers better.

Recently, we’ve expanded our fleet and added more bucket trucks to better ensure that our services are always completed quickly and on-time, so you can get back to keeping your home or business running.

For us, it’s just another way to show our commitment to the community. Since 1955, we have provided honest service. Through three generations of serving our area, we’ve instilled a commitment to the time of our customers into the very model of our business.

Whether you run a business or if you’re in need of electrical inspection in Bucks County within your own home, you can rely on A-1 Electric for fast service right at your door! As we continue to expand our team and add new trucks, electrical professionals, and customer service representatives, we’ll be working to retain your business by ensuring that we’re on-time for every appointment.

While our team is excited to provide you with both inspections and repairs, we are unable to provide both of these services in the same visit due to it being a conflict of interest per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania guidelines. Feel free to give our team a call at 800-401-6114 or fill out a contact form on our website. Our team will be happy to make individual appointments for whatever you need!

3 Reasons You Might See a Power Outage This Fall

As the temperature continues to drop, there’s no doubt that summer is coming to a close and the fall and winter seasons are right around the corner. Many home and business owners find that they see an increased number of power outages and short circuits during the fall, making an electrical inspection for your Montgomery County property particularly needed during this season because of the tendency for increased outages to affect day-to-day life.

Here are a few reasons why your business might see more power issues in the fall.

  • Hurricane season. If you’ve turned on the news in the past few weeks, you’ve probably noticed that fall storms have been causing a number of electrical problems and house damage in the United States and down in the Caribbean. Hurricane season is expected to run through the middle of November this year, and the heavy winds and rains that mark the season are likely to bring down a number of power lines this fall, causing widespread blackouts.
  • Animals looking for hibernation. As the fall season gets into full swing, backyard critters will begin to search for places to hibernate, which, unfortunately, can include the inside of your walls. Animals tend to chew through wiring when building nests. If you notice a sudden power outage that lasts more than a few hours, you should call an electrical contractor in Montgomery County PA to help tell if your issue can be attributed to an animal.
  • Increased power usage. Most people tend to spend more time indoors during the fall and winter seasons due to inclement weather and colder temperatures. Naturally, this means that people indoors will be using more outlets, which can lead to increased instances of power overloads and short-circuiting.

If you need an electrical inspection or repair, we here at A-1 Electric are happy to help! However, please note that we are currently unable to perform both an inspection and repairs in a single visit. Give us a call at 800-401-6114 and our team can help you schedule an appointment to get the job done!