FAQ | RH Electric

Is it possible to have unsafe electric panels if your house was built in 1990 or before?

In Northern VA, there are two brands of electrical panels that have serious defects – Federal Pacific and Zinsco. Both panels are prone to design flaws that don’t show up for over 20 years. Zinsco panels specifically melt over time. If you think or know you have one of these panels in your home, call RH Electric LLC today to check it out and replace it.

Can I DIY Electrical Repairs?

Due to the amount of training and experience certified electricians undergo, we do not recommend DIYing your own electrical repairs. In most cases, trying it on your own could end up leading to more serious issues and more money spent.

What is a GFCI outlet?

A GFCI outlet is an outlet that is specifically designed to protect people from electric shock. Most houses built after 1981 have GFCI outlets in the kitchen, bathrooms, garage, and basements (GFCI outlets are located in places where moisture tends to be present).

You will know if you have a GFCI outlet because it has two buttons: test and reset. Pushing test turns the outlet off, while reset will turn the outlet on if it has tripped.

Why do my lights flicker?

If you notice that your lights flicker on and off, the most likely culprit is a faulty bulb. Try changing the bulb and see if that fixes it. If not, there may be something more serious going on.

What do I do about switches in my house that don’t appear to do anything?

While it may seem like the switch isn’t doing anything, that is not the case. If you have a light switch that doesn’t obviously do something, it is most likely tied to a switched outlet. These outlets are designed for floor lamps that can be controlled by a switch.

What should I do about an outlet in my house that is not working?

First, make sure to double check that it is not actually tied to a wall switch!Second, check your GFI outlets and make sure to test and reset.Third, check your panel for tripped circuits. If there are any, reset the breaker and see if that fixes the issue.If you’ve all of the options, it’s time to call RH Electric LLC!

"I just wanted to thank you so much for the beautiful work it looks so amazing!! We love it!"

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Whitney

"Thank you so much for coming out to look at our house. Dominion Power came out and found a bad neutral line coming into the house. The local Dominion worker said, "you have a great electrician, that was a great catch." Lights haven't flickered once since!"

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Paul And Shannon

Steven Zeamer

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