Electrical Wiring: Working With an Experienced Professional
Whether you’re renovating a small business or building an entire subdivision, you may be tempted to hire a general contractor to take care of your electrical needs. A contractor may claim to be less expensive than a licensed electrician, but his lack of knowledge and experience with the small details of electrical work can end up costing you in the long run. An experienced licensed electrician can do the correct electrical wiring job for your building project, economically and safely.
Planning
Restaurant retrofits have different wiring requirements than community centers, but only an experienced professional can know all the details needed for each job. An experienced professional electrician will sit down with you in the early planning stages of a project, blending the electrical wiring plans with all other aspects of construction. He knows about specialized wiring plans, depending on the type of business you will be building. Whether you need extra outlets for kitchen equipment or an area with specialized task lighting for an office, you’ll get a job that fits your need better by using someone with experience.
Cost Savings
The cheapest way to go is not always the most cost-effective method when hiring contractors for your commercial building or renovation project. An experienced licensed electrician can save you money in a number of ways when hired instead of a general contractor. While contractors will have some electrical experience as a result of doing a variety of work, a licensed electrician knows all the small details that make up a efficient and complete electrical wiring job.
- Experienced electricians make fewer mistakes, requiring less reworking on a project
- Years of experience means knowledge of multiple methods of doing a job, including the most cost-effective one for you
- Licensed contractors often have relationships with suppliers, and can get raw materials for the job cheaper
- Contractors with experience know the best way to install an electrical wiring job, cutting down on time and money
Ideas
A general contractor may be perfectly competent to follow your directions and install exactly what you are asking for, but an experienced licensed electrician will know enough about the subject that he can offer suggestions that improve on what you’ve already done. Instead of simply being an employee, an experienced electrician can be a partner in your project, showing you improved ways to install electrical wiring and offering suggestions about outlets, lighting, safety, and security. Specialization creates expertise, and experience gives a professional the experiences to find multiple options for your project.
Legality
Each community has its own building codes, for electricity and electrical wiring as well as for structure. Hiring a licensed professional electrician will ensure you work with someone who knows building codes and has worked within them for years. You’ll avoid work stoppages that come from having to redo sections to bring them up to code, and you’ll sail through city inspections once your project is nearing completion.
Read MoreWhat Does a Lightning Rod Do?
Invented by Benjamin Franklin, lightning rods have been a controversial subject for hundreds of years. Unlike the popular view of them, a lightning rod doesn’t attract lightning to a building. Instead, they simply provide a safe way for electrical energy to reach the ground and avoid damaging a building. The state of Florida offers more lightning strikes per square mile than any other state in the country, so the danger of lightning damage is constant, every day of the year. Preventing damage from a lightning strike by installing a lightning rod system is just smart business.
The Way a Lightning Rod Works
Lightning rods don’t attract lightning, nor do they create it or draw it down from the sky. Lightning will strike in any area it wants, despite anything happening on the ground. When it strikes, lightning can be seen to jump around, moving sideways to find the path of least resistance to the ground. Often the path is a tree, flagpole, house, or other tall object. Whatever is the closest object that will lead low resistance to the ground, that’s where the lightning will strike. When a lightning storm is in the area, there is always a possibility that your business might get hit. With a lightning rod system installed, that hit will conduct the electricity to the ground instead of spreading the energy over your roof and building, causing heat damage or fire.
A Professional Lightning Rod System
A lightning rod is actually a very simple system, and one that can be integrated into your commercial building during construction, or retrofitted afterward. It consists of a terminal, that sits on top of a building, along with a wire that leads from the terminal to the ground, and a buried ground pad where the lightning will eventually end. Air terminals today can be as simple as 18-inch rods not much thicker than a pencil, or even a decorative finial set on the roof and integrated into the safety design. A licensed electrical contractor will be able to inspect a commercial building and advise the size of the lightning rod system that should be installed. A building may need one or many terminals, depending on the size and height of the building, as well as its architectural design.
The Benefits of a Lightning Rod System
The obvious first benefit to having a commercial lightning rod system installed is diverting lightning away from a building and into the ground, avoiding electrical damage and fires. Beyond this, commercial electrical contractors advise installing a lightning rod system for other reasons:
- It can save lives. Dozens of people die from lightning strikes each year, and a surprising number of them are inside buildings when they are hit
- It can save your data. Even if you have no heat damage or fire, a lightning strike right to your building can wipe out your computer system, your POS system, and any other expensive electrical equipment you may run in your business, losing any data stored in their memory
- It can save money. Most insurance companies will offer discounts on a commercial insurance package if a lightning rod system is installed, especially in areas with a high incidence of lightning damage such as Florida
When to Get a Lightning Rod System Installed
A licensed commercial electrical contractor can install a lightning rod system at any stage in the construction process, including retrofitting one years after a building is completed. The best method is to incorporate the lightning rod system into the original electrical wiring design for the building. An integrated system can be more attractive, and can be more easily installed if done so during all the other electrical work in new construction. Your commercial contractor can also add a lightning rod safety system to your existing commercial building of any size. Lightning rods are appropriate for buildings of any height, not just skyscrapers and the tallest buildings in town. If you’ve ever seen photos of lightning striking the ground in the middle of a circle of trees, you know it will hit anywhere it wants. If it aims for your building, the smartest idea is to give it somewhere safe to go.
Read MoreReasons to Use a Licensed Commercial Electrical Service Contractor
Whether you’re renovating a restaurant or building an entire subdivision, hiring a commercial electrical contractor can save you both headaches and money. A licensed commercial electrical contractor will have the knowledge and experience to work with you throughout your entire project. He’ll help you to draw up plans that integrate the electrical system with the rest of the inside of the building, then work to install the wiring and appliances and make sure it’s all up to code. While it’s natural to think of a commercial electrical service when planning new construction, other occasions will occur when it’s natural to hire a licensed professional instead of a general contractor.
Renovation and Remodeling
Many cities in South Florida are enjoying a period of gentrification, going from run-down neighborhoods to upscale eateries and housing. The bones of these old buildings may be solid, but the wiring is likely to be unsafe and unusable. Only someone experienced in dealing with multiple wiring setups can inspect your situation and decide whether it can be repaired or needs to be replaced. In addition, most home remodeling projects call for electrical upgrades due to increased power needs for modern families, updated lighting inside and out, and an upgraded circuit breaker system to replace old fuse boxes.
Lightning Protection
From bars to hospitals, all commercial businesses are run on electricity every day of the year. Florida has more lightning strikes per square mile than any other state in the union, so protection from lightning strikes is crucial for your business. Your commercial electrical system should be connected to a lightning protection system consisting of an air terminal, which used to be called lightning rods, a grounding system, and an upgraded surge protection to make sure your equipment is safe even if lightning does hit your building. A commercial electrical contractor has the experience to create a system that’s unique to your business, retrofitting the equipment within your existing plan.
Standby Generators
Every business has electrical equipment that needs to be in use during the business day, from lights and POS systems in gift boutiques to emergency medical equipment in clinics and hospitals. In south Florida we have a unique combination of circumstances that face us each year, every one of which is likely to cut our power at any time. Lightning strikes, tropical storms, hurricanes, and even accidents with power lines can all create a power outage, leaving your business suddenly without its crucial equipment. A standby generator is the answer to this problem, and commercial electrical contractors can draw up a plan with you, depending on your emergency needs. Whether it’s keeping lights and air conditioning going in a retirement community or making sure an emergency room continues to function, the correct standby generator system can be integrated into the existing electrical system, making sure you’re still up and running when the power fails.
Maintenance and Service
Preventive care is always less expensive than emergency repair, and that applies to electrical systems as much as anything else. A commercial electrician has the training and knowledge to inspect your business and set up a maintenance plan to avoid most electrical problems before they start. He can inspect commercial electrical wiring on a regular basis, change light bulbs before they burn out, do regular maintenance on commercial machinery, and inspect the entire electrical system on every visit.
No matter how much maintenance your commercial electrician does, emergencies will sometimes happen or machinery will break down over time. Having a commercial electrical contractor on call can give you peace of mind, knowing he can repair your existing equipment. You lose money every minute your equipment is shut down, so hiring a commercial expert can save you money over time.
Read More4-Point Checklist for Critical Electrical Maintenance in Your Business
Electrical down times cost your business money, through higher repair bills and loss of business if you have to close. The best way to prevent most electrical system problems in your business is by creating and following an electrical maintenance service schedule.
Find a service professional who will walk through your business with you and find all the systems and equipment that need maintenance on a regular basis. From basic lighting to intricate machinery, your business’s electrical equipment will have fewer problems if you anticipate them and take care of the problems before they arise. Follow this 4-poimt electrical maintenance checklist to make sure you don’t overlook anything important:
#1: Generator Maintenance
The danger of a power outage in Florida is high in any given week, and much more so during the six months of the year that make up hurricane season. Lightning, tropical storms, hurricanes, and even traffic accidents can cause your business to lose power, and without power you’ll probably have to close your doors. Whether you need lights and air conditioning in an office or refrigeration to keep thousands of dollars of expensive food safe in a restaurant, it’s crucial that you keep the power running, no matter what happens outside.
Maintaining your backup generator should have the biggest priority on your service list, and your contractor will determine what maintenance will be needed, the lifespan of your generator’s parts, and how often the unit should be serviced.
#2: Lightning Protection Maintenance
Florida receives more lightning strikes per square mile than any other state in the country. This not only poses a danger to the power grids, it is also a threat to your business building itself. A solid lightning protection system can ensure that any lightning strikes that hit your building are directed away and into a grounded portion of the property, reducing or eliminating the chances of property damage from the storm. Like any other equipment, lightning protection has to be properly maintained:
- The physical parts of the system must be inspected on a regular basis, tightening fasteners and replacing worn parts, as needed.
- Surge protectors should be checked and tested regularly to make sure they’ll function properly when called upon.
It may seem like an inert system, but lightning protection should be an important part of your electrical maintenance schedule.
#3: Lighting System Electrical Maintenance
Changing a light bulb can seem like a simple task, but if you lose your light at a crucial part in your work day, you can lose a substantial amount of money, or worse. The correct lighting levels can make your clients happier, and will create a more productive work place, so keeping your lighting at optimum levels is a key part in maximizing your profits.The best way to ensure this is happening is to schedule regular lighting system maintenance with a professional contractor.
An experienced electrical professional will know how to replace older incandescent bulbs with newer, energy efficient LED lights. He’ll check and replace bulbs, inside and out, on a regular schedule. Wiring can become a problem, especially in older businesses, and inspection and repair will be an important part of your electrical maintenance schedule. Stopping problems before they start is the most cost-effective way of doing business, and keeping your power on is the best way to keep your business safe and open, without incurring expensive repair costs.
#4: Equipment Maintenance
Every piece of equipment in your business has a recommended maintenance procedure, from checking and maintaining gaskets to lubricating moving parts. A commercial electrical professional contractor will inspect all the equipment on your property and determine an efficient and effective schedule of electrical equipment maintenance tasks. Your equipment represents a major investment, and even those minor pieces that are only used on an occasional basis can cost a lot of money to repair.
Following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance plan not only ensures the best possible chance that the equipment won’t break down, it will keep your machines within their warranty guidelines, possibly lowering or eliminating any repair or replacement costs. Besides, well-maintained electrical equipment helps you to realize the industrial energy savings you want.
Read MoreHow to Achieve Integrated Electrical Services in a South Florida Home or Business
Doing a comprehensive electrical job such as rewiring a building or renovating a business can involve multiple parts and services. All of these pieces need to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle for your project to work smoothly once it’s finished. A good electrical project manager has the knowledge and experience to plan your entire project and to supervise installation of each system and piece of equipment, making sure they work together as one unit. Your goal in renovating or building a new structure should be to achieve integrated electrical services, and a professional electrical manager will make this happen.
Residential Installation
A large residential project such as renovating an entire house requires a delicate balance between electrical loads, and knowledge of how current and projected future use will affect the system. For example:
- Homes built as little as 30 years ago are out of date, in terms of electrical usage;
- More wattage may be needed on the exterior of the home;
- Extra outlets may be needed for multiple kitchen appliances, and
- Constant computer usage adds to the power drain that needs to be planned for.
Your project manager will sit down with you to plan out your entire renovation or new house installation, discussing your lifestyle as well as future plans for the use of the house. Family growth, home office use, and even hobbies and passions can affect residential installation, and each part of the plan needs to work well with all the others. It’s smarter and more efficient to install wiring and appliances you’ll need in the future right away, rather than replacing them piecemeal years in the future.
Generators
Residents in south Florida live with a constant danger of lightning, tropical storms, and hurricanes knocking out power for days at a time. Savvy homeowners and those with businesses know that an installed generator is the best way to ensure a constant power source in case of an electrical emergency. Alternate power sources are the smart way to keep your family comfortable and safe, or to ensure your business is up and running when the power goes out. Electrical project managers know how to determine the size of generator you need for your home or business, as well as how to provide integrated electrical services by combining the generator’s ability with the rest of the systems you are installing.
Energy Efficient Appliances
Homes, restaurants, and even hospitals use appliances on a daily basis, and all can benefit from energy efficient appliances. The savings from installing official Energy Star approved appliances can be significant, and they can have a positive impact on the environment at the same time. The time to install these appliances is when you begin your project, when you and your project manager can coordinate their power usage and fit it in with the general installation plan. Your electrical professional can advise you on the size and style of appliances that fit most with your needs and lifestyle.
Building Codes
Every community has its own particular building codes, and community inspectors must certify that your plans are up to code before allowing your project to go forward. A certified electrical professional knows all about local ordinances, will adapt your plans to fit into existing codes, and will supervise all work to ensure standards don’t slip during the installation.
Project Management
The earlier you contact a professional project manager, the better and more smoothly your project will proceed. An electrical professional is your best ally in creating a coordinated whole-building electrical system. Rather than add or subtract portions of the electrical system piecemeal, he’ll oversee the big picture and set up integrated electrical services from outlets and lighting to circuits and wiring. He’ll ensure that all electrical systems work together, the circuits installed can carry the projected load of all installations, and the entire job is finished and operational in a timely manner.
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