Pierce County Electrician FAQs

What is Knob & Tube Wiring?

Knob and tube wiring was a method used in homes and buildings built from the 1880s to the 1940s. This outdated wiring method consisted of single cloth or rubber-insulated wires supported by porcelain insulators (knobs) running inside walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces. You or your Puyallup electrician can typically tell if your older home is knob-and-tube wired by looking in your attic or basement.

Is Knob & Tube Wiring Safe?

Knob and tube wiring has limitations because many of today’s appliances draw a lot more power than those at the time of the building’s original construction. The larger the electrical load, the more potential problems with splices and/or conductors. If you have any concerns about your electrical wiring, contact us and we will send an expert Puyallup electrician to take a look.

Why Do Some Circuit Breakers in my Electrical Panel Have Buttons?

The breakers in your electrical panel with buttons on them are one of two things; either arc fault circuit breakers or ground fault circuit breakers. They can also be a combination of the two.

My Electrical Outlet Doesn’t Work. What Do I Do?

First check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker. If one is found, reset it and check the outlet to see if power is restored. If you see no tripped breaker, check the power outlets in your home or building that have GFCI or AFCI switches that may have tripped. They’re typically in garages, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors and laundry areas. Simply press the reset button all the way in to ensure they’re functioning properly.  If neither of these two items solves your problem, contact your local power company about possible outages in your area. They’re usually able to advise you over the phone if they are experiencing problems. If that all fails, contact us to get you back up and running.

How Do I Find & Reset a Tripped Breaker in my Electrical Panel?

All breakers in your electrical panel should be in the On position with handles switched toward the center of the panel. Look for breakers with handles switched a different way. Some breakers trip into the middle position, while others trip into the Off position. Some have a small window with an orange or red indicator when tripped, making it easy to identify. Once a tripped breaker is located, turn it to the full Off position, then to the On position. This should restore power. If the circuit breaker trips again, there’s an issue with that circuit somewhere in the building and it’s time to call a professional Puyallup electrician.

What Does it Cost to Get an Estimate for My Electrical Project?

HB Electrical Solutions will walk through your project to arrive at the best possible solution to meet your needs and budget, then provide a free estimate.

How Long do Electrical Repairs Generally Take?

Depending on the size of the project, a simple switch replacement might take less than an hour whereas replacement of your electrical panel could take an entire day. Our electrician will give you an approximate time estimate to complete the job before we begin any work.

How Do I Hire an Electrician?

Before hiring an electrician you should do some homework. Check their license status to make sure its current, and go online to check reviews or referrals. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Can I Replace a Light Fixture with a Ceiling Fan?

Removing a light fixture and replacing it with a ceiling fan isn’t safe. The weight and movement of a ceiling fan places too much stress on a simple lighting box, which could break through the ceiling material sending your new ceiling fan crashing to the floor. It’s best to replace the light-duty box with one that is rated to support the weight of a ceiling fan.

How do I Schedule an Electrical Call from HB Electrical Solutions?

We can be reached in our office at 253-256-7861, or via email at info@hbelectricsolutions.com, and we can send out an electrician to take care of emergency electrical issues right away. For more extensive electrical remodeling projects, we’ll schedule an appointment to come discuss details more thoroughly. We’ll establish a plan that best suits your needs, provide a written estimate, and if you accept the estimate, will schedule a time to complete the project.

Does HB Electrical Solutions do Residential Electrical Work?

Absolutely! We’d love to help you with any residential electrical needs you might have.

Does HB Electrical Solutions do Commercial Electrical Work?

Certainly! We will help with all your commercial electrical needs.

Highly Trained and Experienced Pierce County Electrician

Serving University Place, North Tacoma, Fircrest, Puyallup, Fife, Graham, Bonney Lake, Tacoma & all of Pierce County