Frequently Asked Questions

Currently, most states allow you to do whatever you want in your own home. But doing electrical work yourself is a gamble. How much are you willing to risk in order to save money? There is a reason why it takes so much training to become an electrician. Do not make a mistake by taking electricity lightly - even the smallest job could be a safety hazard. Why take a chance? Get a professional to do this work.

Also, in Connecticut, the homeowner can pull their own Electrical Permit for work in their single-family home. What they do not know is that in case of damage or fire caused by their work, their homeowners' insurance may not pay. Insurance usually will only pay if the work is done by a licensed Electrical Contractor. You should check with your homeowners’ insurance company.

The most dangerous time is when you tell yourself, “This is easy, I can do it myself. Why should I get an electrician?” Then, when you don't remember where all those wires went, or your hair is standing straight up, you say to yourself, “Well, maybe we'd better call someone to straighten up this mess.” Now it will cost you double what you thought you were going to save in the beginning.

Connecticut calls for 100 amps minimum, but with all the new electronic devices, air conditioning, and electric heat, we would suggest 200 amps, especially in new homes. This also gives you some space for future additions. This is not a job for an unlicensed person to attempt. In most cases, it involves replacing everything from the service loop (this is the wire that extends from the top of your meter to the utility tie-in) up to and including the main panel.

A Generac standby generator is a backup power system designed to help keep your home or business running during an outage. Unlike a portable generator, a standby generator is installed outside, similar to a central air conditioning unit, and connects to your existing LP or natural gas supply. When power is interrupted, the generator can automatically restore power whether you are home or away.

Generac has focused on power generation for more than 50 years, offering portable, residential, commercial, and industrial generator solutions. For many property owners, a standby generator provides added comfort, safety, and convenience by helping protect essential systems, appliances, lighting, and equipment when utility power is unavailable.

Generac is one of the most recognized names in backup power because its products are built specifically for reliable generator performance. Many Generac standby models feature the OHVI® engine, which is designed for extended generator use and helps power some of the company’s most popular residential standby systems.

Generac also offers a broad home generator product line, making it easier to choose a system that fits your specific backup power needs. Their pre-wired solutions help support a more efficient installation process, and their extensive dealer network provides access to professionals who specialize in generator installation, service, and repair. Generac’s Guardian® Series residential standby generators, along with its portable generators, have also earned the Good Housekeeping Seal after review by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

GFCIs are Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. Any bathroom or garage outlet within 6' of a sink must be GFCI protected. The code also requires all kitchen outlets for countertop use to be GFCI-protected. GFCI outlets must be installed in any area where electricity and water may come into contact, including basements, pools, spas, utility rooms, attached garages, and outdoors. At least one GFCI outlet is required in an unfinished basement and for most outdoor outlets.

There are two types of GFCIs in homes: the GFCI outlet and the GFCI circuit breaker. Both do the same job, but each has different applications and limitations.

The GFCI outlet is actually a replacement for a standard electrical outlet. A GFCI is not dependent on a ground to function. It does not measure shorts to the ground; it measures the current difference between the hot and neutral wires. A sudden difference of 5 ma. or more, indicating that there is another path for the electricity to flow through, will trip this device. The only downside to this is that there may be some nuisance tripping in highly inductive loads like large motors or even fluorescent lamps or fixtures on the same circuit. But the newer models seemed to have corrected this somewhat.

It protects any appliance plugged into it, and can also be wired to protect other outlets that are connected to it. The GFCI circuit breaker controls an entire circuit and is installed as a replacement for a circuit breaker on your home's main circuit board. Rather than install multiple GFCI outlets, one GFCI circuit breaker can protect the entire circuit. There is a test button and a reset button on these units. If you press the test button, the reset should pop out. To reset, just push the reset button in.

It’s a good idea NOT to put lights on GFCI-protected circuits, so you aren't left in the dark if the circuit trips. Generally, equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, and sump pumps that cannot go without electrical power for an extended period of time without causing costly losses or property damage should not be placed on a GFCI-protected circuit. GFCIs are very sensitive and are subject to nuisance tripping. GFCI receptacles don't last outdoors even under the best of conditions. Be sure to test the device using the "test" button before you use it.

Starting January 1, 2002, the National Electrical Code, Section 210-12, requires that all branch circuits supplying 125V, single phase, 15 and 20-ampere outlets installed in dwelling unit bedrooms be protected by an arc-fault Circuit interrupter. Eventually, they will be in more areas, but the NEC selected to require them on bedroom circuits first because a CPSC study showed many home fire deaths were related to bedroom circuits.

The AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breaker will shut off a circuit in a fraction of a second if arcing develops. The current inside of an arc is not always high enough to trip a regular breaker. You must have noticed a cut or worn piece of a cord or a loose connection in a junction box or receptacle arcing and burnt without tripping the regular breaker. As you can guess, this is a major cause of fires in a dwelling.

There is a difference between AFCIs and GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters). AFCIs are intended to reduce the likelihood of fire caused by electrical arcing faults; whereas, GFCIs are personal protection intended to reduce the likelihood of electric shock hazard. Don't misunderstand, GFCIs are still needed and save a lot of lives.

Combination devices that include both AFCI and GFCI protection in one unit will become available soon. AFCIs can be installed in any 15- or 20-ampere branch circuit in homes today and are currently available as circuit breakers with built-in AFCI features. In the near future, other types of devices with AFCI protection will be available.

If a GFCI receptacle is installed on the load side of an AFCI, it is possible for both the AFCI and the GFCI to trip on a fault if the current exceeds the limit for both devices. It is also possible for the AFCI to trip and the GFCI not to trip since the two devices could race each other. However, in no case is safety compromised.

Yes, Hantsch Electric now owns and operates a bucket truck for the elevated and hard-to-reach areas on your property for both our commercial and residential customers.

The bucket truck provides access for repairing and installing parking lot lighting and pole lighting, as well as the ability to repair and install fixtures on buildings.

We also utilize the bucket truck for signage, lighting service, and maintenance.