Hello Friends and realtors and home buyers – a quick PSA today reposted from Kerry Brown at A-Z home inspections.
Bootleg Ground
This is a very serious and illegal condition. We see it all the time from shady home flippers and home sellers. It makes most plug checking devices used by inspectors to test outlets read “correctly wired / grounded”.
Make 100% sure you get a home inspection and that your home inspector is removing cover plates in each room to see how things are wired and to verify the type and condition of the wiring – MANY DO NOT DO THIS.
If you are curious if your home has bootleg grounds, contact us today at 765-414-3913 or fill out our contact form to set up a service call!
Welcome to October! This week’s toolbox talk is all about giving back to everyone that has believed in our company and the way we do business and overall helped contribute to our success here at Artisan Electric. During the month of October if you see any of our Artisan Electric job signs around town, stop and take a selfie with our sign and tag us on Facebook to receive a gift card for a free cup of coffee!
It’s Juice Time! Are you ready for the 2021 Business Expo?
Come see what all the buzz is about and meet the A-Team! Greater Lafayette Commerce’s Business Expo is September 15, 2021 at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds from 11 am to 4 pm. There is no cost to attend and you may even get some free snacks & swag!
Stop by our booth 411 and check out the 4-1-1 of what’s going down with the A-Team!
Do you or someone you know have an electric ceramic or glass kiln that needs maintenance or service? We have over 25 years of experience working with kilns, from a basic thermocouple replacement all the way to full rebuilds and reconstructions.
Maybe you are thinking of getting your first kiln, upgrading to a larger kiln, or adding a second or third unit to your set up. We can help evaluate your electrical systems and needs to size and install new kiln circuits.
Adding accessories like kiln vents or a kiln hood – we do that too!
When you think about kiln maintenance and service, think Artisan Electric!
Surviving, growing, improving, and adapting over time is no small task for any small business. The construction business is a tough industry, with only about 25% of companies in this sector making it to their 10th year. As we we reflect upon events like the 2008 crash, unstable elections, and a global pandemic we know we are lucky to be in the place we are today as a team and a company.
We have some big things in the works for 2021 / 2022 and look forward to sharing some very exciting news with you soon. In the meantime, Artisan Electric is excited to present to you a sneak peak of our new company promotional video! This video will be featured on the new City of West Lafayette website community page as the exclusive electrical contractor. From there it will be used for TV, web, and media spots for the coming year.
A big thanks to our team members, The City of West Lafayette, CGI Productions, People’s Brewing Company, and several of our other clients who worked with us during the shoot.
Finally, we appreciate the support and continued business from all of our loyal customers who believe in our company and the way we do business.
Today’s real estate market is flooded with buyers. We want to make sure that you make the most informed decision on buying (or selling) a home and get the most out of your investment. We are beginning to see a lot of pressure on buyers and sellers to waive the home inspection to make their offer stronger and to speed up the closing process. When the home inspection is waived, it means the buyer will not be able to hold the home sellers responsible for making repairs. Now while this could make the buyers offer more attractive, this has the potential to hide or otherwise neglect any potential damages or immediate repairs.
A full home inspection includes a qualified inspector coming to the house and evaluating dozens of key areas in the home and checking for possible damages and issues. Today we will discuss the
Knob and Tube Wiring
electrical category of the inspection and what your home inspector will evaluate in the home. Your inspector will evaluate the electrical panel in the home, check visible wiring conditions, ensure all light switches and outlets are in working condition and that the home has the appropriate GFCI outlets installed in the home. One common finding on inspection reports for older homes is knob and tube wiring. This wiring is distinguishable due to the electrical wires being anchored by ceramic insulting knobs passing through ceramic tubes as pictured to the right. This turn of the century wiring method was commonly used in the US from 1880 to the 1930s. This wiring method is ungrounded, often buried in insulation, is not rated for moisture, and overall is outdated.
Most home insurance companies will not insure a home with knob and tube wiring. Too often we see homeowners who recently bought a home and the insurance company will require the knob and tube be replaced within 60 days. If the homeowner cannot replace the knob and tube within 60 days they cannot obtain homeowners insurance and thus cannot obtain the mortgage. This is an unavoidable repair and it is best for a buyer or seller to obtain a home inspection prior to closing so we can help guide you through this process incase major repairs like this come up. We would rather you find out these repairs prior to closing so you know what you are dealing with before committing to a large investment.
The A-Team
Do you know if your home has knob and tube wiring? Are you looking to sell or buy a home? While we do not offer full home inspections, we do offer full electrical home inspections. We will come and do a deep dive on the electrical in the home and provide you with a detailed report of our findings and quotes on any repairs necessary. While a full electrical home inspection is not necessary to buy or sell a home, it is a great way for clients to be more informed on their investment and help prepare them for any costs or safety needs along the way. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss all your electrical needs at 765-414-3913.
It’s Friday! You know what that means…. It’s Toolbox Talk Day!
Is it okay to paint over your outlets and switches? The short answer is no, we discourage this. Painting over your devices can cause fires due to paint being conductive and causing poor connections. It can hide the flaws and defects that an existing outlet or switch may have, and let’s be honest… it does not look good and makes working on them difficult. If you or someone you know has outlets or switches that have been painted over, give us a call and we can come up with a plan to install new happy outlets!
When was the last time that you cleaned your exhaust fans? If you don’t remember or have never cleaned your exhaust fans, tune in to this weeks toolbox talk to learn more about when to clean your fans, what to look for when it is time to call an electrician, and what kind of fans are needed for certain rooms in your home or business.
With the winter cold snaps we have been getting in the Midwest this time of year we thought a quick space heater safety talk would be timely. Check out our weekly toolbox talk below and subscribe to our channel to learn more!
Who do you know that was spooked by this recent line of storms and related power outages?
The reality is that with the continued deterioration of our aging power grids and the rapid increase in dramatic weather events these situations are going to become more common place. Have you experienced multiple extended power outages at your home in the last two years that caused the loss of food in your refrigerator and freezers? Have you had electronics within your home damaged because of surges, spikes, or sags in your utility power? Now more than ever we are dependent on ensuring our electronics are in working condition due to a multitude of families still working from home or attending school virtually. It only takes a second to ruin your investment. We supply and install the best generators in the business.
Kohler Commercial & Residential Generators:
Artisan Electric is an authorized dealer for Kholer backup power generators and we offer complete sales and services in Lafayette, West Lafayette and surrounding counties. Today’s generators are able to transfer the household circuits over to the generator in less than 10 seconds. Most homes only need 10kW to 14kW capacity for basic emergency loads and units are available that can provide 100% complete coverage for even 6000 square feet or more of living space. The LP or natural gas powered units are clean, quiet, and nearly odor free. Here at Artisan Electric we have the full package of solution, design, installation, warranty and service that is second to none in the area.
Things to consider when shopping for a back-up generator:
When shopping for your home generator consider the warranty on the product and ensure you know who is standing behind that warranty when the time comes. Consider who is supplying and installing your generator and ask if they are reliable trade’s professions with training, education, and time to do the job right. Be sure to ask if you will have available emergency service if your generator fails to start or function when you need it most. Ensure you understand when and who to contact when your generator requires routine maintenance, this is typically completed by a factory qualified service technician. While you have the option of purchasing a home generator from your local home improvement store or online, the best way to determine your needs and ensure the unit is properly installed is to work with your local dealer to determine your electrical needs. Your dealer will also help you find areas where the energy efficiency of your home can be improved, and determine how much capacity you will need for your critical loads. Even if you decide to invest in a whole house solution, working with your local dealer to improve the energy efficiency of your home will save you thousands of dollars over the life of the system in addition to lowering the initial cost of the unit since a smaller unit would suffice.
Whether you are in the early phases of a new housing construction project, or about to undertake a major renovation of an existing home, or just wanting to sleep better at night knowing you won’t have to worry about not having power during an outage, now would be a great time to include a permanent standby generator as part of the energy independence and energy efficiency plan for the home. When you think of back up power think of us! Reach out today to schedule a free estimate on installing your ideal home generator solution today by calling us at (765) 414-3913 or fill out our contact form.
Do you want to also make sure your data is backed up and protected from disasters too? Learn more about the ioSafe brand by watching our toolbox talk below!
