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It is common for homeowners to run into a tripped breaker or blown fuse every once in a while. We often get calls to our service line asking how to reset one, and we are always happy to help! However, we want to give you a written step-by-step guide that you can come back to for future reference.

To begin, you will need to make sure all lights are off in the rooms where power was impacted. Now unplug any appliance (like a toaster) that was recently plugged in in these rooms, as it is likely this was the cause. Make sure this is completed first in order to ensure that you do not trip the breaker again after you fix it the first time!

Next, locate your electric panel. Open it and examine the safety of the situation before you begin. You should have dry hands and be standing on a dry surface the entire time. If at any point you feel unsafe or unsure about what you are doing, please give us a call at 314-441-5200. We do not want you to harm yourself during this process.

Blown Fuse: If you are working with an electrical panel with fuses, begin checking each fuse. You are trying to see if the piece of metal inside the fuse has melted or if the glass at the top of the fuse has become discolored. The glass at the top of a blown fuse will usually be purple or brown. Unscrew the fuse and replace it with a new one that is exactly the same as the old one in size, type, and amperage.

Tripped Breaker: If you are working with a tripped breaker, simply look for any breaker that has moved from the “on” to the “off” position, or that is somewhere in the middle. You have now identified the tripped breaker. Switch this breaker fully to the “off” position and then switch back over to “on”. Your power will now be restored!

To test, plug a few things back in and turn them on to test your new fuse or reset breaker. If everything comes back on, congratulations – you have successfully fixed the issue! If you lose power again while plugging things back in, try moving some appliances to other outlets in the room. It may be that you are using too many amps and the breaker cannot support them. If you do this and it still does not fix the problem, there may be a more serious issue at hand. Please call us at 314-441-5200 if that is the case!

Storm season is upon us, and that means a threat of losing power to your home. It’s important to have a backup plan in case your home goes dark, and that is where having an automatic standby generator comes in.

Like its name implies, automatic standby generators sense when your home has lost power and will automatically turn itself on, even if you are not at home. When it senses that power has been restored, it will shut itself off. That way, there is no need for you to go outside in a storm and turn it on manually. Automatic standby generators are a permanent solution for your home and can last for years with proper maintenance.

KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE DURING LONG OUTAGES

Unlike portable generators, which are handy for power loss for a few hours, an automatic standby generator is designed to provide your home with power for up to two weeks in an emergency. In that time, essential appliances and systems like your refrigerator and AC/heating unit will keep running.

Remember, an automatic standby generator is not a permanent power source. It is designed to temporarily provide power to your home until power is restored.

BE AWARE OF THE COSTS

An automatic standby generator can be a boon during storm season, but it’s important that you be aware of the costs associated with it, like:

• Purchase and installation.
• How many rooms and devices you want it to power.
• How large the generator is, which can range from 7-kw to 150-kw in order to power your desired rooms.
• Fuel costs based on how large of a generator you install.

Before purchasing an automatic standby generator for your home, consult with a professional who will assess your home and area to provide you with a recommendation.

Here we are in the dead of winter so who is thinking about spring? Your St. Charles, Missouri electricians at Grasser Electric have been thinking about spring already.

Even before the “big box” stores start displaying their patio furniture and bar-b-que grills for the new season, your St. Charles Electricians at Grasser Electric are getting ready for the severe weather season.

If you have been considering options for stand by power in your home when the storms start to rumble through our area, NOW is the time to make plans and talk to your Kohler Generator experts at Grasser Electric. Whether you go with very minimal power coverage or want to keep your entire house powered during a storm related power failure, your St. Charles electricians at Grasser Electric have the perfect solution for your needs and your budget.

We have teamed up with Kohler Generators to provide the industry’s best products, built in the USA. Take advantage of pre storm season specials and call your St. Charles generator specialists today and keep the lights on while your neighbors sit in the dark.

The winter holidays are often people’s favorite time of year because of all the beautiful lights and decorations. What’s not so joyous about the season is the misuse of Christmas lights and the associated fire and other hazards.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “Christmas trees were the item first ignited in an estimated average of 210 reported home structure fires per year,” with almost half occurring in December. Whether it’s indoor or outdoor lighting and decorations, you should still:

• Inspect and replace damaged lights and cords
• Turn off all lights when you leave your home or go to bed

DON’T BUY CHEAP LIGHTS

To prevent holiday fires, don’t buy cheap lights—especially if they’re LED. Cheap lights are often made from low-grade material that often can’t hold up to their prescribed use.

DO BUY HIGH-GRADE LIGHTS

Instead, spend that extra buck for lights that are high-grade, from reputable sources, and are UL listed. Using damaged lights and cords can increase your fire risk, as the protective casing won’t prevent the exposed wires from possibly sparking.

DO STAY SAFE WHEN HANGING OUTDOOR LIGHTS

Make sure that you use a good ladder on a stable surface with someone below to spot you. They can hold the ladder to help avoid slips and be there in case of an accident. Also, make sure you’re using the right kind of ladder for your working load. An everyday household ladder can hold a maximum of 200 pounds, but always double check the information sticker on your ladder.

DON’T USE NAILS OR TACKS TO SECURE LIGHTS

Sharp objects like nails or tacks can damage the wiring and become a fire hazard. Instead, use light hooks that can be secured to your roof without damaging the lights. In addition, you won’t be putting holes in your shingles or siding.

DO USE WATERPROOF LIGHTS OUTSIDE

Find outdoor lights that are waterproof and don’t let cords or other electrical parts come into contact with water sources like puddles. The moisture can stop the lights from working as well as run the risk of electrical shock, as water conducts electricity. If you find that a cord has fallen into water, don’t touch the cord. Instead, go to your breaker to turn the power off. Then, you can safely unplug the cord and remove it from the water.

DON’T USE OUTDOOR LIGHTS INDOORS

Also, never use outdoor lights indoors, as they generally get hotter than lights labeled for indoor use. The hotter the lights, the more likely they will catch something on fire.

DON’T STACK UP YOUR CORDS

We often take our power outlets for granted—that we can plug in our Christmas lights and other electrical decorations and everything will be fine. Unfortunately, many of us have the bad habit of plugging multiple cords together in what’s known as a “daisy chain”. We usually resort to daisy chains when there’s a lack of convenient outlets. Overburdening outlets with multiple plugs will exceed voltage limits, leading to a power surgeand possibly fire.

To avoid power surges:

• Use low-wattage Christmas lights. LEDs are especially good at using less wattage and energy.
• Use a surge protector strip
• Set a timer. A timer will help keep your energy costs low and is a good addition if you’re prone to forgetting to turn lights off.

In recent years, making your home as energy efficient as possible has become the new homeowner goal. So what’s all the fuss about? Here’s what you can expect when you invest in energy efficient electrical upgrade, no matter how big or small:

REDUCED ENERGY COSTS

Saving money is arguably one of the main reasons homeowners invest in energy efficient electrical upgrades. According to Energy Star, you can save more than $40 in electricity costs simply switching from incandescent light bulbs. That may not seem like much, but those savings can really add up over time. The best part is that you don’t have to invest a lot of money into upgrades in order to reap the benefits.

GOING GREEN

Across the board, new electrical systems are better for the environment than older electrical systems. Not only will you be using up to 30 percent less energy, but reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that pollute the air and harm the environment.

INCREASED HOME SAFETY & COMFORT

Installing energy efficient electrical upgrades is an opportunity to customize the lighting in your home for safety reasons and for general ambience. By creating a well-lit home inside and out, we offer the following lighting solutions for your home to help your home be more energy efficient:

• Occupancy sensors
• Timers
• Bulb replacement
• Dusk to dawn controls

With customized lighting, you won’t have to come home to a dark home and you can easily control your lighting schedule and not have to worry about forgetting to turn a light off.

Don’t know where to start? We will go through your home with you and help you decide which energy efficient electrical upgrades are best for you.

Every year we get calls from very frustrated homeowners and business owners here in the St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri areas that have been affect by either a close or direct lightning strike. TV’s stop working, microwaves, computers, even furnaces and air conditioners. The extreme voltages that pass through your electrical system can and will totally cook electronic devices.

Just today, 10/2/14 a residence in St. Charles, Missouri burned to the ground and the cause according to fire department personnel was a direct lightning strike. A lightning bolt can reach temperatures of 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hotter than the surface of the sun!

Anything subjected to that temperature even if for a millisecond will burst into flame.
Often these fires start on the roof or attic where the strike occurred. They can slowly work from a smoldering hot spot to a fully involved house fire within hours if not detected early.

All new houses in St. Louis and St. Charles are required to have smoke detectors in bedrooms, hallways and other areas. But what about the attic? What if a lightning strike occurs while you are sleeping or away? The only way you will know you have a fire is to look up in the attic or a passer by sees it. Often news paper delivery people or a passing police officer will observe these fires in the middle of the night which was the case earlier today.

We can install whole house surge protection on your electrical service panels that will stop the extreme high voltage surges generated by a lightning strike. In some cases the manufacturer offers a “money back” guarantee to off set insurance deductibles in the event of a loss with their equipment in place.

Grasser Electric also has Lightning Protection contractors at our disposal that can install lightning rods on your home. Old technology? Yes. Does it work, apparently so. Most all government and commercial buildings today are equipped with lightning rods. In Florida, the lightning capitol of the country, lightning rods are a familiar sight and according to folks there, they do work!

Call Grasser Electric to discuss protecting your house from the problems that can arise due to lightning.

Now that we are in the second half of the summer season, your St. Louis electricians at Grasser Electric are already looking forward to the fall and even early winter months.
Though colder weather seems so far away we all know it will be here in the blink of an eye. Now is the time to begin thinking about your electrical needs as the days get shorter and the temperatures eventually start dropping.

We often get calls to obtain quotes for automatic standby generators in the middle to late fall. People begin to worry about winter storms, in particular ICE storms which can damage the power grid to the point that power can be out for days. We suggest you begin thinking about that NOW instead of later in the fall. From the time we provide your quote to the time the generator is on the ground, installed, tested, inspected and approved, four weeks can elapse. We can help you “budget” for a standby generator system and even provide financing assistance.

Other colder weather projects like installing outdoor outlets for Christmas lights are projects we can also assist with.

We are always thinking ahead so we are prepared for the problems we will be confronted with in the next few months. We want you to be prepared also. Give you St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri electricians at Grasser Electric a call today.

In today’s world, the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacle is being required in more and more locations throughout the home. These devices are designed to protect you from electrical shock hazards.

Many people think that your circuit breakers or fuses are supposed to do that but that is not the case. Circuit breakers and fuses merely protect the wiring from overloads and short circuits. They don’t prevent you from getting a nasty shock form a faulty appliance or other electrical device.

In the past these devices were required in bathrooms and locations that were considered to potentially be wet like garages, unfinished basements and outdoor outlets. Today the codes have been revised to include some plug in appliances, kitchens, garage door openers just to name a few. As a St. Louis and St. Charles electrical service contractor that deals with these issues on a daily basis we feel some of the new required applications for GFCI receptacles are problematic at best however we are obligated to follow the new codes.

GFCI’s can be a life saver in a critical situation where a shock hazard exists. However in other cases they can be a “pain in the……..” In some newer homes less than a couple of years old, we are being required to install GFCI protection on outlets with garage door openers, freezers, refrigerators, and other appliances, even sump pumps. The issue we have with these applications is the problems people have when the GFCI ‘trips’ when no one is home. Can you imaging coming home to find your refrigerator/freezer to be at room temperature with a huge puddle of water on the floor and all your food items spoiled? How about driving up to your garage door in a torrential rain storm only to find out that the door won’t open because a GFCI tripped? And there is that water issue in your basement when the GFCI on a sump pump circuit trips and the sump pump no longer works.

We have been asked by homeowners to remove GFCI’s in such locations that have been causing problems. We feel your pain but as a licensed contractor, we can not honor requests of this type. If there was an event such as a shock or fire and we had removed a GFCI previous to the event, we could be held liable for the damages.

When requirements such as these newer GFCI requirements come up, we along with other contractors throughout St. Louis, St. Charles take time to talk to the people that write these new codes and requirements perhaps getting them to think about unwanted consequences of a particular paragraph of code.

If you are having problems with GFCI receptacles or other electrical issues, please let us know so we can assist you in relieving that problem.