Malfunctioning outlets can put your family and your house at risk. Don’t take any chances! Call Edison Electric, Inc. for electrical outlet repairs and installations. Our experts can inspect your electrical system and make the necessary repairs and recommendations for your Minneapolis, MN home. When you book an appointment with us, we offer upfront pricing.
Don’t put your electronics at risk during a lightning strike or power surge. Learn about our whole house surge protector services.
Types of Electrical Outlets
Do you have standard three-prong outlets throughout your home? You can benefit from adding a variety of devices, including the following:
- USB Outlets: These provide a convenient way to charge your phones and tablets without having to take up a regular outlet for a prolonged period of time. Using these also means you don’t have to keep track of adapters.
- GFCI Outlets: These units are meant to protect you from ground faults, which can cause burns, fires, or electrical shock. As soon as the device detects that the electricity is moving through water, or a person, it will shut off the circuit and it will need to be manually reset. These should be installed around water sources.
- AFCI Outlets: These are designed to prevent fires caused by electricity coming out of damaged wiring. These are required to be installed in all bedroom outlets.
- Standard Duplex: These are the standard outlets you typically use throughout your home.
- Decora: This is a long-lasting switch and outlet that has a sleek, stylish design.
- Twist Lock: These devices have added security features to keep items plugged in correctly.
- Tamper Resistant: These outlets only open if a two-prong plug is evenly inserted into the outlet correctly. This helps prevent children from sticking items into outlets and putting themselves in danger.
- Remote Controlled: These outlets can be controlled by a device such as a smartphone.
- Half Hot: This unit has one half of the outlet always on, and the other half can be turned on and off as needed.
Risks of Back-Stabbed Outlets
In newer homes - especially those built after 2000 - there is a risk that the outlets in your house are back-stabbed. This refers to a technique used by electricians to quickly wire a house. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems such as a “loss of power” due to a poor connection in a back-stabbed receptacle outlet, or a switch that has burned through. At Edison Electric, Inc., our professionals vow to repair and install your outlets safely and do not use back-stabbing techniques. Instead, we make sure your connections are pigtailed and placed tightly under a properly torqued screw terminal.
Are your outdated outlets putting your family at risk? Call us to learn about our GFCI receptacle services.
Causes of Common Outlet Issues
Malfunctioning outlets can be dangerous for both your family and your house. To keep your household safe, it’s important to have an electrician inspect any potential issues as soon as possible. Some problems you might encounter that require a professional to inspect can include:
- Short circuit: Exposed wiring or loose connections can cause a short circuit, which can lead to a fire or electrocution.
- Age: If your older units are showing signs of wear and tear they should be replaced.
- Faulty installation: If you tried to install your own outlets, it can put your house at risk if they weren’t done correctly. Call a professional to inspect the work and keep your family safe.
- Overloading: Plugging too much into a device and creating more current than the device is able to handle can create a fire risk.