Kel•Rob Frequently Asked Questions
As electricians with years of experience in all aspects of residential work and a specialization in swimming pool automation and landscape lighting, we know how important it is for our customers to have their questions answered and their concerns addressed. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions.
If you have a question, contact us to let us know how we can help you.
Licensing
Q: Do I need a licensed electrician to do work on my home or can my home improvement contractor do the electrical work?
A: Yes, a licensed electrician is required to do all electrical work. Home improvement contractors are not licensed to do any electrical work.
Pool Electrician
Q: My pool contractor told me to give you a call for my pool wiring. I told them I have an electrician I’ve used before, but they insist I call you first.
A: Swimming pool electric has become more involved over the years with salt system wiring, automation systems, and chemical feeder controls. If an electrician is not well versed on wiring sequences of these controls, it becomes difficult for you and your pool contractor.
Landscape Lighting
Q: My landscaper said he could do the landscape lighting around my swimming pool. I’m a little hesitant about this. I thought I would need an electrician to do this work.
A: You are correct. Landscape lighting around pools has some very strict guidelines regarding distances from the water’s edge, limitations near waterfalls, and GFCI protection, which is a must. Even if the work is not around pools, landscapers and sprinkler companies are not licensed to do electrical work.
Pool Bonding
Q: My swimming pool is being renovated and the electric looks okay, but there is a copper wire running around my pool which is broken in some spots and looks very old. Is this something that needs to be replaced?
A: What you are looking at is the main bonding wire for the pool. This is the most important part of your swimming pool’s electrical system. This must be replaced by a licensed electrician and should be inspected so you receive an updated electrical certificate. There have been many changes in bonding codes over the years, and you should get everything updated. Please feel free to have us come out and look at your job.
Surge Protection
Q: Will a surge protector protect my electronic equipment from lightning?
A: No. Nothing can really protect you for a direct strike and nothing is guaranteed. Some light surges from lighting may be protected. There are many different levels of surge protection for homes. The best ones are directly connected to the electrical service. Power strips and mini UPS back-up types are for very light power surges and are not very reliable. We can see what your needs are, and set you up with something that will work.
Saltwater Flooding
Q: The outlets in my home went under water during the hurricane. My house has a crawl space which was under water and I’ve heard that the wiring should be removed. An electrician came in to look and said only the receptacles needed to be replaced.
A: This is something that we have never experienced on Long Island to this magnitude. However, it is recommended that any wiring, appliances, pool equipment, or panel boxes that were under water must be removed and replaced. Saltwater is highly corrosive and eventually all electrical systems exposed to it will either fail or catch fire from overheating.
Generators
Q: My husband and I were thinking of putting in a generator with an automatic transfer switch, but it seems very confusing and expensive. Can you clarify?
A: The first thing I say is not to lose sight of the fact that this is EMERGENCY STANDBY POWER. You will not be running off the generator forever, so look for the best buy for your needs. Automatic transfer switches are now capable of shedding loads so the generator does not overload. These are all considerations when we do a site inspection. We can perform a load test to see what your actual power demand will be.
GFCI Protection For My Pool
Q: Does my pool need to be GFCI protected? My contractor said it is not necessary.
A: All pools need to be GFCI protected. Older swimming pools wired before the NEC code changes did not have to be GFCI protected. This is something that should be addressed immediately.
Water Ground For My Home
Q: My house lost power last week, and the man who came to my house said we lost our neutral to the house. We also noticed that some of our appliances were damaged. The power company told me that my electrical service doesn’t have a water bond and probably no ground rod. What does this mean?
A: They are correct if in fact your house electrical service has not been bonded correctly. We would need to come out and properly assess your electrical system.
Aluminum Wiring
Q: I was told that the house we are purchasing has aluminum wiring. Is this okay?
A: There are many homes that still have aluminum wiring. The problem with aluminum wiring was not necessarily the wire, but the devices not being rated for that wire. Expansion and contraction from heat causes loose wires and eventually causes fires. If proper devices are installed, as well as breakers, there are usually no problems. Also, so called “pig tailing” of wires with copper tails is not an acceptable practice. Years ago it was believed that this would solve the problem, but actually this practice created other problems from mixing dissimilar metals. We would need to come and look at your wiring to be sure.