Electrical Outlet Installation Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The typical home requires electricity to do just about every function within it. From keeping the refrigerator running to powering the TV and lighting the home, your family relies upon electricity for practically everything they engage in. But electricity without functional outlets is pretty much useless. Broken outlets or outlets that don’t give enough capacity to a device are irritating and can even be risky. If a family needs to fix or update outlets inside a home, a local professional electrician can ensure that the job is done properly and that all safety standards are met for proper operation.

What’s new with electrical outlet installation?

Whether your home is older or newer, there are likely a few upgrades with your outlets that you could benefit from. We’re no longer limited to the standard two-prong models and have the option of choosing GFCI, USB, and/or smart outlets. There are various outlet styles to choose from that you can use in your new home project.

Switched Outlets

This type of outlet usually has one port with a switch attached to the other port. The switch can control the flow of electricity to the outlet so whatever is being powered by the outlet doesn’t have to be turned on at all times. This eliminates the need for unplugging the device. Just simply switch the outlet on or off.

GFCI Outlets

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter GFCI outlets stop the flow of electricity upon detection of a short circuit or ground fault. This type of outlet will protect against electrocutions resulting from water, which is the main reason they’re required in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas that are near water. You can tell a GFCI outlet from a regular outlet by the two buttons for resetting the outlet after it has been tripped. If your home has no such outlets you may need to have a professional install them for you as a safety precaution.

AFCI Outlets

Many older homes may not have these outlets present at all, as Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets did not become standard until 1999. As a way of preventing electric fire outbreaks, AFCI outlets today are installed in breaker boxes to impede electricity jumping from one wire to another. Professional electricians can equip older homes with AFCI outlets, and install them either by the break box or at the start of each circuit, which would protect the whole line.

20A Outlets

Certain appliances need more power in order to work than regular outlets can supply. Places like the kitchen or laundry room usually have 20A outlets that provide more power to devices that need a lot more energy to run. These look just like average outlets, except they have a small slit placed vertically to the opening to let you know that those are 20A outlets. If your breakers are continually tripping or an appliance needs more energy than your outlets can provide, an electrician can help you switch to these 20A models and easily get your appliances to run at full strength.

USB Outlets

A lot of new devices require USB cords to power themselves but they can’t use traditional outlets without an adapter, which is pretty inconvenient. Fortunately, some types of outlets have USB ports on themselves so you don’t have to worry about not having an adapter when you need to power your device. USB outlets can either have two regular ports and two USB ports or just four USB ports without the regular ones. The type of outlets that a family chooses to have installed in their home should reflect their needs.

Smart Outlets

One alternative to a switch is to plug a device into a smart outlet that will allow you to control it via your smartphone. This makes it easy to control your devices and even allows you to set schedules to turn them off and on when you want to. You can set the lights to turn on at certain hours while you are not in your home. Another reason to do this is to lower your energy bills and increase the outlet’s efficiency. Smart outlets cost more than normal outlets but their use and advantages are countless. If the outlets are out of order or they have burn marks on them they should be inspected by an electrician. Working with electrical power can be risky for those new to the various wires and the home’s system, especially if issues are currently present. To maintain a strategic distance from any superfluous hazard, consistently call your electrician for help with any electrical outlet work you require.