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FAQs

When you have electrical questions, there’s no better place to go for answers than to the expert electricians at Doc Watts Electric. We’re answering the electrical FAQs we hear the most.

If you’ve had concerns about the condition of your home or office electrical systems, you may be interested to know some of the most common signs of electrical problems.
  • Flickering or dimming lights: Lights that flicker or dim frequently may be a sign of an overloaded circuit, loose wiring, or a faulty electrical fixture.
  • Circuit breaker repeatedly tripping: If your circuit breaker trips often, especially if there doesn’t seem to be a direct cause, you should have it inspected by a licensed electrician.
  • Burning smell: Any burning smells near outlets or electrical appliances can be signs of serious problems and should be addressed right away. installation
  • Buzzing or humming sounds: It’s not uncommon for a quiet humming to come from your electrical panel, but anything loud or persistent can indicate loose wiring or other issues.
  • Electrical shocks: You shouldn’t feel frequent electric shocks when touching an appliance or outlet, and if you do, then it’s a clear sign that there’s a problem with your electrical system.
Electrical panels, or circuit breaker panels, usually have a lifespan of 25-40 years. This can be impacted by a number of factors, including:
  • Product quality: Higher-quality panels tend to last longer.
  • Usage: The more frequently a panel is used and the heavier your property’s overall electrical usage, the more wear and tear your panel goes through.
  • Maintenance: If you have your panel inspected regularly, it can help you catch potential issues while they are still minor problems instead of larger ones.
  • Environment: Panels located in areas with high humidity, temperature fluctuations, or exposure to moisture may have a shortened lifespan.
If you have an older electrical panel, it’s important to have it inspected by a licensed electrician to determine if it needs to be replaced. Upgrading your panel is also an excellent way to improve your home or commercial property.

Yes! We happily offer free estimates to each of our customers. We uphold a transparent pricing policy with no hidden fees or surprise charges.

All of the electricians working on our residential, commercial, and industrial projects hold the appropriate licenses, certifications, and insurance for the work they are performing.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets, or GFCI outlets, are electrical safety devices that protect against electrical shock. These outlets are designed to detect imbalances in electrical currents and quickly interrupt the flow of electricity to prevent electrical shocks.

GFCI outlets are required in areas of homes and buildings where the risk of electrical shock is higher, including kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, and outdoor areas. GFCI outlets have two small buttons in the center of the outlet, labeled “Test” and “Reset.”

If you do not have GFCI outlets installed in these areas in your home, contact a licensed electrician to have your existing outlets replaced with GFCI.

Fuse boxes were used before the development of electrical panels. The fuses in fuse boxes are designed to melt and break the electrical connection if there is an overload or short circuit, preventing damage to the electrical system and reducing fire risk. The disadvantage to these systems is that fuses are one-time-use devices and must be replaced once they have been blown. Fuse boxes are less common, and most have been replaced by circuit breaker panels.

A breaker panel uses circuit breakers to protect the electrical system. Circuit breakers are switches that automatically trip and disconnect the power supply if there is an overload or short circuit. The advantage of a breaker panel is that circuit breakers can be reset after they trip, which is done by flipping the switch back to the “on” position.

Both fuse boxes and circuit breaker panels perform the same function of protecting the electrical system from damage due to overloads and short circuits. However, circuit breaker panels are generally considered to be more reliable and safer, and are required in many building codes for new construction and renovations.

If you still have an older fuse box in your home, contact our professional electricians to discuss the replacement of your fuse box with a breaker panel.

Yes, our team proudly offers commercial electrical services and residential services to our customers in the Central Florida region.

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