Get matched with top electricians in Port Gibson, MS

Knowing if and when your circuit breaker is failing or faulty can prevent costly damage. If you notice any of the following signs, call a local electrician to help. 

• The breaker frequently trips

• The breaker doesn't stay in the 'on' position or reset properly

• You hear buzzing or humming noises coming from the breaker

• There's discoloration around the breaker switch

• There's a burning smell or visible signs of damage on the breaker

A 60W LED bulb is likely labeled as “60W replacement” on the package—that’s because it provides about the same light output as a 60W incandescent bulb. In reality, it likely uses less energy—usually 15 watts or less. If that’s the case, then it’s perfectly fine to put a 60W LED bulb in a 40W socket. Your best bet is to read the package carefully. It will tell you the LED bulb’s actual wattage, and as long as it’s lower than the fixture, the bulb will be safe to use.

While most electrical items can be plugged into a GFCI outlet, some appliances with internal or stationary motors, such as refrigerators, vent fans, and fluorescent lighting, can cause nuisance tripping. This happens because they experience a small, normal amount of current leakage, which can cause the GFCI to trip even when the appliance is working correctly. Although this is not a safety hazard, it can be inconvenient and may cause the GFCI outlet to wear out faster. For this reason, it is often better to plug these types of appliances into a standard outlet. Additionally, electrical circuits over 100 feet long can sometimes cause tripping. Some appliances, like hair dryers, have their own built-in GFCI protection, so connecting them to a standard outlet is fine.

The standard copper wire gauge to use with any 30-amp circuit is a 10-gauge wire. The National Electric Code specifies a 10-gauge wire with appliances like water heaters running on 30 amps. If you try to use a smaller gauge wire, such as a 12 gauge, with a 30-amp breaker, you run the risk of the wire overheating and melting or causing a fire. Because of the safety hazards, the gauge of the wire is not an area to try to cut costs when connecting a 30-amp breaker to a water heater.