Frequently Asked Questions

Cornerstone Electric is always willing to answer any questions you may have about the electrical in your home or business.  Feel free to stop by our contact us page and ask away!

Do I need a new electric panel or service?

If you answer yes to one or more of the following questions, you probably do:

  • Are there one or more disconnects mounted by and fed from the electric meter?
  • Do you have a fuse box with fuses instead of breakers?
  • Do you have a Federal Pacific or Zinsco Panel? (see link for additional information)http://electricianfaq.com/electrical-problems/federal-pacific-electric-panels/
  • Is every breaker spot in your panel used up?
  • Do you have multiple tandem breakers in your panel?

  • Do your lights dim(not flicker) when the A/C or heater turns on?

If you answered yes to any of these questions it would be a good idea to have your electrical system inspected by a professional. Sometimes, the condition of a house’s electrical system is never even thought about until there is a remodel or electrical addition and then there is a huge shock at the cost of a new electrical service. Sometimes, the condition isn’t thought about until it is too late and the electrical system fails or there is an electrical fire.

Do I need to rewire my house?

    I have been asked many times by concerned homeowners if their house needs rewired.Usually the question goes, “My wiring is really old and none of my of my outlets are grounded.”  In most situations my answer is “NO.” No matter how old your electric, if it was installed correctly, it is still acceptable today. Over the years, materials and technology have changed and with that, so have the wiring methods. But even the oldest wiring methods (for example “knob-and-tube”) are still recognized today.(see NEC article 394 for concealed knob-and-tube)

The reason why some houses absolutely need rewiring are:

  1. The house was never wired correctly in the first place. Sub-par installation methods, improper use of materials, inadequate protection from electrical overload and physical damage will quickly destroy an electrical service.

  2. Improper addition or remodel. Sometimes the house was wired right the first time but after improper remodeling projects over the years, the house’s electrical wiring system became a complete mess. Electrical circuits and services that were once adequate for their original design, became overloaded and the additional strain can destroy electrical equipment and wiring over time.

  3. Rodents and Environment.  I have been in the attics of houses that were over one hundred years old and the wiring looked as good as the day it was installed. I have also been in newer houses where the electric was completely destroyed. Rodents like squirrels, can get into walls and attics and usually one of the first things they like to do is chew on wires. In a short period of time your home’s electrical system can be destroyed to the point where it needs rewired. Most times, this can be limited to just the affected areas but if an area can’t be reached, this requires extensive rewiring. Occasionally environment will play a role. Wires and equipment that are exposed to excessive heat, moisture, dirt, sunlight etc. degrade over time and need replacing. Usually if these factors are anticipated, proper materials and wiring methods are selected and it isn’t an issue. But perhaps over the years the environment was changed and methods and materials that were proper at the time of installation, now are no longer suitable.

What about grounding?

    Some people think their house needs rewired because none of their outlets have a ground. Rewiring is always an expensive proposition the truth is most of your appliances and electronics today don’t use a ground. Most of us cannot look around our bedrooms and find any electronics that use a ground- alarm clocks, floor fans, phone chargers and lamps just to name a few. There are usually a select few places where you need a ground- washer receptacle, microwave receptacle, small appliance circuits(most don’t have grounds either), large tvs and computers. In most situations, all that is needed is a few additional grounded circuits to feed this equipment. Which is much cheaper than rewiring a house. If safety is a concern with the ungrounded circuits, a ground fault circuit interrupter can be used. It will protect against electric shock even without a ground.

How much is this going to cost?

    Very few things in electrical service work are straightforward. Parts for older electrical equipment range from expensive to very expensive and parts for newer equipment range from cheap to expensive. Structure type, age and accessibility all play a factor. The best way to get an accurate estimate is for the serviceman to visually inspect the project and price the parts. Usually this also requires a service charge for the electrician to come out and inspect the project. We strive to stay consistent and fair. If the location is close by the project inspection is usually free. If the location is 20 miles away, we have to charge for the trip. We will always tell you in advance if there will be a charge or not. A good rule of thumb is if the project is simple (example. replace a receptacle, switch or light) it is better to have it inspected and done at the same time than to pay for an additional trip. However, if the project is large and complicated(example. a remodel) it is better to have it looked at first.

    I have heard many nightmare stories of an electrical company saying the job will cost around $3,000 to do the work and after the job was completed, charging $7,000. We don’t do that. If we estimate the job and run into situations outside of our control the customer is made immediately aware and if there are to be any additional charges, the charges are discussed before proceeding. I have been the customer who has hired a service company out of the phone book and been ripped off. It is a horrible feeling. We want to be the service company that you trust with your project. The company that you know is going to do a great job for a good price and give you the best value for your dollar. I have been there too and it is a wonderful feeling.

What can I do myself?

    One of the most common questions I get asked by home and property owners is how much of the work they can do themselves. The answer is if you own the home and are living there, you can do all of it. If you are a property owner and the property is for investment or leasing, you are limited.

    My advice to the homeowner is have a professional do the things that are difficult and that you don’t understand. And do yourself the things that are simple and time consuming that you do understand. This way you are paying the professional more for his knowledge and paying yourself more for your time. Many times homeowners will call me as a last resort because they have worked on their own electrical all day and cannot fix the problem. I have come out and in 30 minutes fixed the problem. The homeowner is usually surprised by how quickly and easily I was able to fix the problem.

    My advice for the investment property owner is a little different. In my experience, the governing authorities frown on property owners doing their own electrical work. In many instances, the property owner will have to fight with the authorities over what he is allowed to do. This makes for a hostile work situation. Then when the work is completed, the governing authorities may look for any reason not to approve of the work. Often, these are things they would have normally overlooked. Usually the biggest factor is time. THe longer the property is unusable the less money the property will make. A professional can get the property up-and-running quickly. Which in the long term makes the most financial sense. We are very flexible at Cornerstone Electric and would like to help in any way we can. If you have an electrical problem, we have an electrical solution.

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