Blog Layout

Electrical Fires: How to Prevent Them?

Feb 02, 2021
House on fire — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that every year approximately 5,300 fires are a result of electrical malfunction. This number is staggering, and we can drop it by learning different ways of prevention and keeping safe.

Step # 1: Install Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are excellent preventative measures as they can go out and alert you before it’s too late. Statistics show that three out of five fire-related deaths are caused in homes and offices without smoke detectors.

Step # 2: Check Your Wiring

Did you know that electrical wiring can only last for around 30 years? If you know that your building is older than 30 years, it's wise to check its wiring. An indication of this is regularly tripping circuit breaker, a blown fuse, and the use of a lot of extension cords. If you're noticing these signs, it's time to call a professional and get your wiring fixed before it catches fire.

Step # 3: Arc Fault

One of the leading causes of house fires in the US is an arc fault. It takes place when two or more conductors discharge a high power, which results in excessive heat production leading to a fire. Arc faults are usually a result of loose connections in outlets. Therefore, you should get all your building's outlets inspected once a year. You can also install an ACFI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) as a preventative measure.

Other Preventative Measures

Here are 5 more preventative steps that you can take to ensure that your home or office safe from electrical fires.


  • Plug small or major appliances into the wall outlet instead of plugging them in an extension cord.


  • Replace any damaged, loose, or cracked electrical cords.


  • Ensure that you keep flammable materials far from the outlets so that they don't cause a fire.


  • Only use surge protectors and power strips if a recognized testing organization has approved them.



  • Replace outlets if they don't fit into the wall.

White Horse Electric’s Expert Residential Services in San Diego, CA

Contact White Horse Electric for the best residential electrical services. Our residential electricians in San Diego can take care of your electrical appliances and help you avoid any unforeseen, unfortunate events because of fluctuating voltages or faulty wiring. Our licensed electrical contractors also manage industrial and commercial projects. 

Structured cabling — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

Structured Cabling in Industries – Integral or A Waste of Time

27 Feb, 2021
Should you focus on haste when setting up cables for a service at your workplace or is it better to take your time to get things down to the T. Structured cabling might actually be a lot more important than you might imagine and the time you save doing a messy job could cost you in the long run. Here are some things that can go wrong: Random Faults Not having structured cables can result in your data lines going down every now and then. Cables can fall out of their end-points, causing one or multiple people or services to go down. For workplaces, this is extremely detrimental to the workflow and can lead to some significant downtime.  In the worst-case scenario, the cables could be hidden away in such a manner that might require a licensed electrical contractor to come in and do the job, only increasing the duration of the downtime.
Restaurant kitchen — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

Restaurant Appliances and Fixtures That Consume Electricity

26 Feb, 2021
Restaurant owners are always looking to save a buck without compromising on the quality of their establishment. It may seem like a myth but there are actual ways you can achieve this goal. Here are a few appliances that are bringing up your electricity bill and how you can deal with them without losing out on much (or anything at all):
Lighting in commercial buildings — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

Difference Between Residential and Commercial LED Retrofitting

25 Feb, 2021
Retrofitting is the process of adding new technology to older installations, such as adding a new piece of electronic to a vintage outlet. By using the right kind of mounts and connections, older pieces of machinery and electronics can be utilized and repurposed. LEDs fall into this category as well. But should you consider it for your business?
Lighting in commercial buildings — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

Setting Up Optimal Lighting in Commercial Buildings

24 Feb, 2021
Proper lighting is crucial to ensure that your workplace is positive for the productivity of your employees. Working in poor lighting is actually detrimental and can cause health problems in the long run. While setting up lights may not seem like rocket science, there are several considerations that you have to make to get the most out of it:
Road led retrofits — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

Is It Okay to Ignore Ungrounded Outlets?

23 Feb, 2021
Grounded outlets have a three-prong construction , which sends unwanted charge towards the neutral wire rather than appliances connected to the outlet. It ensures that whatever is connected to the outlet remains safe in case something goes wrong. Unfortunately, ungrounded outlets are more common than you might imagine and can lead to several risks. If you have one in your home, you’re preparing yourself up for the following:
Electrical equipment — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

House Rewiring: When is it Necessary?

22 Feb, 2021
Rewiring doesn't just refer to replacing an old set of wires with a new one. During the process, the electrical contractor will also replace other essential elements, such as electrical panels , to safely accommodate your appliances.  Do you need to get your home rewired? Here are a few signs that indicate that you do.
Light bulb over money — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

8 Tips for Lowering Your Energy Bills

17 Feb, 2021
With new and improved technology making our life easy every day, we’re getting more and more dependent on electrical appliances. While it has significantly increased our standard of living, it has doubly increased our electricity bills. According to the US Energy Information Administratio n , an average American household spends $117.65 on electricity every month. Given the rise in utility prices, this number is bound to increase in the future. Check out these 8 tips to cut down on your energy bills.
Solar panel on house roof — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

3 Impacts of Solar Energy on the Environment

16 Feb, 2021
Solar power generation is one of the technological laurels that we must cherish. Solar energy has been gaining a lot of attention in recent years. To encourage more households and businesses to install solar systems, the US government has decreased its prices to 50% since 2014, giving a 35-fold rise to its installation. While we know that we can save vast sums of money by going solar, did you know that solar energy can positively impact the environment? This blog focuses on 3 positive impacts of solar energy on our environment.
Licensed electrician — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

Tips for Choosing the Best Electrical Contractor

14 Feb, 2021
Whether you want to get the entire business facility rewired or a minor area retrofitted, choosing the right electrical contractor could be challenging! It's always a good idea to get references from the neighbors, read reviews, and do your research.  Here are a few tips to make the process easy for you.
Qualified electrician — San Diego, CA — White Horse Electric

How to Hire a Qualified Electrician for Your Home

11 Feb, 2021
Imagine that you’re watching a movie with your family on a Saturday night, and all of a sudden, your home theatre system stops working. Sounds infuriating, doesn’t it? It could be due to faulty wiring. The US Fire Administration reported 24,000 residential electrical fires from 2014 to 2016, the leading cause of which is faulty wiring by an inexperienced electrician. Therefore, hiring a qualified electrician for your home is extremely important. Here’s how you can vet if your electrical contractor is qualified.
More Posts
Share by: