A fuse box or circuit breaker is the center of your home’s electrical system. It diverts the electricity from your utility company to all parts of your home. It also provides protection from overload, short circuit or ground fault by turning off the power when wires become too hot.

Most homes use circuit breakers. You can find them in your service panel box which is usually located in the basement. If your home was built before 1960 and your electrical system hasn’t been updated, you may have a fuse box instead. While both systems essentially perform the same function, there are reasons most homes upgrade to circuit breakers.

The Difference Between a Fuse and a Circuit Breaker

Determining whether you have fuses or circuit breakers in your home is easy. Locate your service panel – that’s the metal box containing your electrical circuits – and open it up.

When you open the door, you’ll see rows of either circular plugs or rectangular switches. If you have plugs – which look like the end of a lightbulb – you’ve got fuses. If you see a column of switches, you’ve got circuit breakers.

How Fuses and Circuit Breakers Work

Circuit breakers and fuses both serve the same function: to protect your electrical system from overloading and causing a fire. The difference is how they each achieve this.

Fuses. Those little plugs you see have a filament inside of them that will melt if the circuit gets too hot. When that filament melts, electricity is no longer able to travel to that circuit until you replace the “blown” fuse. You can see the filament through the clear window at the top of the plug and identify if it’s melted or not. A cloudy window is a sign of a blown fuse.

Circuit breakers are electromagnetic on/off switches that control the current to each circuit in your home. When a circuit draws too much power and overloads, the switch receives the surge first and flips off or “trips.” Normally you can unplug whatever overloaded your circuit and simply flip the power back at the tripped circuit breaker.

The Pros and Cons of a Fuse Box vs Circuit Breakers

It’s generally agreed that an old fuse box should be replaced with circuit breakers. While fuses worked well for a time, circuit breakers are more convenient and can handle higher electrical loads more safely. These days, most families run multiple devices that require more amperage. If you are considering fuse box replacement, it’s a great time to beef up your home’s electrical capabilities.

If you have an electric fuse box and a fuse blows, you’ll need to replace it with a new one. That may mean a trip to the hardware store. It also means unplugging everything in the circuit, standing on a rubber mat and making sure you’re replacing the blown fuse with the proper type. Different fuses are rated for different amperage. If you introduce a 20-amp fuse to a 15-amp circuit, it may try to draw more power than it can handle and you risk fire.

My Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping, Why?

Hopefully, we’ve made a strong case for upgrading from a fuse box house to a circuit breaker house. The benefits certainly outweigh the disadvantages but that’s not to say that circuit breakers have their own quirks. Sometimes a circuit keeps tripping. Here are the possible reasons why:

A worn out breaker. Normally, when a circuit in your home trips, you simply find the offending switch in your service panel, flip it all the way “off” and then all the way “on.” If you have a circuit that keeps tripping regularly, you may need to replace it. Circuits that trip a lot do wear out. Remember, circuit breakers are there to protect you. If it continues to trip, it may indicate another issue.

An Overloaded circuit. The circuit connected to that breaker may have too many outlets or fixtures plugged into it drawing power. A professional electrician can diagnose the problem and rewire or add circuits if needed so that you receive enough electricity without overloading.A Short circuit or ground fault. Other reasons a circuit keeps tripping are a short circuits or a ground faults. These are similar issues where moisture or loose wires create a hazardous electrical connection. A mouse inside the wall may have chewed your neutral wire allowing it to come in direct contact with your hot wire. Or an appliance may have gotten wet allowing the hotwire and the ground to connect via moisture. You can test for these by unplugging everything in the circuit, flipping it back on and reintroducing items one at a time. If you plug an item in and the circuit trips again, you’ve most likely identified the problem.

While it’s possible to diagnose these electrical problems on your own and even replace your circuit breaker yourself, electrical work is dangerous. Having a trusted professional perform the work ensures that it gets done safely and properly.

Get Expert Advice on Fuse Boxes, Circuit Breakers and More

If you live in the Los Angeles metro area and you have outdated fuses, circuits that continually trip or want to know how you can upgrade the electrical in your home, give us a call. You can also contact us online to schedule your service.

The post Fuse Box vs Circuit Breaker appeared first on Mike Diamond Services.

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Wyatt Schmidt

www.ab-sessions-plumbing-building-services.com

You just woke up and you’re about to brush your teeth. You stick your brush under the tap, turn the water on, and… a stream of brown, cloudy mush drizzles out.  Rust colored water isn’t normally harmful but it can be disturbing.  The causes can range from corroded pipes to mineral build up to utility company operations.

Seeing your home’s tap water turn rusty is a traumatizing experience, especially if you don’t know why it’s happening. That’s why we put together this primer to explain why your water is rusty looking. If the reason for your home water discoloration is rusty pipes, we’ll explain what you can do about it. We want all Los Angeles residents to have clean, safe drinking water in their homes.

What Makes Water Brown?

Tap water looks rusty brown, yellowish, or reddish when it contains an excess of sediment or minerals.

The most common discoloring minerals present in water are iron and manganese. Tiny metallic deposits of these minerals can get into the water stream via several different sources – natural or manmade. These minerals can also be responsible for any unpleasant tastes or smells your water might have.

Is Rusty Water Dangerous?

It depends on the particular minerals in your water, but probably not. The EPA regulates the treatment of drinking water contaminants according to primary and secondary standards. Dangerous contaminants like lead and arsenic are covered by the primary regulations. If these contaminants exceed a maximum contaminant level in a water supply, it (usually) isn’t supplied to the public.

The secondary EPA regulations cover contaminants like iron and manganese. These contaminants aren’t dangerous to health but taste, smell, or look bad and could stain clothing or cause skin rashes. Public water systems are compelled to test for primary contaminants on a regular basis but testing for secondary contaminants is unfortunately voluntary. Rusty water might be gross and inconvenient, but it’s not actually dangerous to drink or bathe in.

Why Is My Water Brown?

Any of the following symptoms could cause brown water from the faucets in your home. Diagnose your water problem using these three common scenarios:

If all your hot and cold water suddenly goes brown:

It may be the result of a nearby break in a city-operated water main or fire hydrant. Much of America’s plumbing infrastructure is outdated, so water main breaks that release sediment into the water supply happen frequently.

It’s also possible that either your water heater or your water supply pipes have become rusty or corroded, and you’re just now starting to see the effects.

If only your hot water is discolored:

Sediment or rust may have built up in your water heater’s tank.

If you get brown water from your cold tap and only certain faucets:

The problem is probably with a particular water supply pipe.

How To Fix Reddish Brown Water

Now that you have an idea of what caused your rusty water discoloration in the first place, you know where to start:

If all your hot and cold water suddenly goes brown:

Call your water supply company. Chances are, something happened to a water main or a nearby fire hydrant. It’s also possible that the city is conducting maintenance on the pipe system, and they inadvertently stirred up some sediment. They should be able to tell you when your water will clear up again and what they’re doing to fix the problem.

Once the utility work is done, run your taps for a few minutes until you no longer see orange water coming out of your faucets. Brown water in toilets should disappear after a couple of flushes refresh the water supply.

If all your hot water is discolored:

Try draining and flushing your water heater’s tank. Rusty hot water is often the result of sediment that’s built up over time. It’s a good idea to drain and flush your tank twice a year. Sediment buildup isn’t just bad for your water; it’s one of the most common causes of water heater leaks.

If you flush the tank or have a newer water heater and your hot water is still off-colored, you may have a more significant problem. Call a professional plumber to diagnose the issue. Too much sediment buildup could permanently damage your water heater, or (in rare and extreme circumstances) cause it to explode!

If your cold water is only discolored when it comes out of a few faucets:

Start by running those faucets at full pressure for about several minutes or until the water clears completely. Sometimes, a small amount of rust may dislodge from the inner walls of a pipe and enter the water supply. If the problem is that minor, simply running the water should clean out the rust and clear the water again.

If your water still looks rusty after running it, however, or if the problem returns shortly after you flush the rust, it may be because your pipes have corroded. When too much corrosion or rust builds up on the pipe walls of your home’s water supply pipes, then minerals will leach into your water constantly, and you will continue to have brown water from your cold tap.

If you have a corroded or rusted pipe, you should have it deep cleaned or replaced ASAP, before it causes even more serious problems.  Corroded pipes can lead to clogs and possible leaks or breaks in your water line.

Get Rid of Brown Rusty Water in Your Home

If you’ve tried everything and remain frustrated by rusty water coming from your tap, remember that Mike Diamond has your back. Give us a call, and we’ll diagnose why your faucets are spewing out that ugly brown stuff and make sure your pipes are transporting clean, clear water to you and your family.

Nobody in Los Angeles should have to shower in–much less drink!–rusty water. We’ll make sure you never have to.

The post What to Do if Your Tap Has Rusty Water appeared first on Mike Diamond Services.

Wyatt Schmidt

www.ab-sessions-plumbing-building-services.com

Have you ever wondered where your home’s electricity comes from? It’s a bigger question than you might realize! Every one of LA’s electricity-using structures connects to our gigantic, state-spanning, billion-dollar power system. Your humble home is one end of a story spanning hundreds of miles and involving thousands of people.

The Electrical supply Los Angeles uses every day is nothing short of an engineering miracle. We’ll give you the shocking truth about where the power that runs your coffee machine every morning comes from. Enjoy Mike Diamond’s guide to the Los Angeles electrical grid.

Who Makes Los Angeles’ Power?

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) supplies all the power LA uses every day. The LADWP is the nation’s largest municipal utility. 9400 employees help manage an electrical system capable of generating over 7,880 megawatts of power. Overall, the LADWP power system supplies an average of over 26 million megawatt-hours of electricity to LA every year.

The LADWP was established in 1902 to deliver water to LA. In 1916, it also began distributing electricity. The LADWP is managed by five-member Board of Water and Power Commissioners selected by the mayor of LA and confirmed by City Council.

What Generates All of L.A.’s Power?

According to the California Energy Commission’s 2019 report, California generates its electricity via these means:

0.12% coal16.53% large hydro42.97% natural gas8.06% nuclear0.02% oil0.20% Petroleum/waste heat2.92% biomass5.46% geothermal2.67% small hydro14.22% solar6.82% wind

California is a national leader in renewable energy production. Every part of California–including LA–is quickly scaling up how much renewable energy it uses. The state hopes to get 50% of its electric power from renewable sources by 2030.

To accomplish this goal, the LADWP is in the process of implementing the Power Strategic Long-Term Resource Plan (SLTRP). The SLTRP is a 20-year plan for aligning LA with Senate Bill 350 and LA’s 100% clean energy initiative. As part of this plan, LA will eliminate coal as a power source, decrease natural gas use, incorporate more renewable energy sources, and more.

Where The Los Angeles Electric Company Gets Its Power

The LADWP gets the power it supplies to LA from many sources, both inside and outside of California. You may be surprised to know that your electricity comes from Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and Oregon. These sources include:

Hydro plantsNatural gas power generating stationsLandfill biogas converting stationsHydroelectric damsSolar plantsWind plantsGeothermal plantsNuclear power generating stations

All of these power sources are connected to LA via a massive transmission and distribution infrastructure. Moving and distributing LA’s power requires:

3,507 miles of overhead transmission circuits (across five states)124 miles of underground transmission circuits15,452 transmission towers6,752 miles of overhead distribution lines3,626 miles of underground distribution lines160 distributing stations21 receiving stations128,693 distribution transformersand more

Overall, 15,000 miles of power lines and cables are required to transport and distribute LA’s power!

How Electricity Gets to Your Los Angeles Home

This infographic explains the high-voltage journey electrical power makes to get to your home.  We break down the steps in further detail beneath the graphic.

‌Phase 1: Transmission

1. Plant to “Step Up” Substation

Each of LA’s many power generators connects to a transmission substation (sometimes called a power plant).

Transmission substations “step up” the voltage to prepare the power to travel long distances through the transmission grid. Whenever an electrical current is conducted through anything (like transmission lines), it loses some power to electrical resistance. The higher the voltage of the electricity in the transmission line, however, the less electricity resistance wastes. By “supercharging” the generated power’s voltage, transmission substations make sure it gets to you without losing its effectiveness.

2. First Substation to Transmission Network

After converting low voltage power to very high voltage power, substations send electricity into transmission circuits. These circuits run from the transmission substation near the plant all the way to local distribution substations in your city. A single transmission line can successfully conduct electricity for up to 300 miles.

There are two types of transmission circuits:

Overhead circuits transmit electricity over long distances. They’re supported by the giant steel transmission towers you’re probably familiar with.

Underground circuits are used in high-density, urban areas where there’s no room for transmission towers. LA uses 124 miles of underground circuits.

Phase 2: Distribution

3. Transmission Network to “Step Down” Distribution Substation

Your power has already traveled hundreds of miles via the transmission lines to reach your area. Before it can enter the distribution grid, however, it must pass through another substation. Instead of charging up the electricity with more voltage, these transformers remove voltage to make it safe for distribution.

After passing through the transformer, electrical power enters a “distribution bus.” The distribution bus splits the power off into multiple different directions. LA uses 160 distributing substations to transfer its electricity into distribution.

4. Second Substation to Distribution Network

By now, your power is almost to you. After passing through the “step down” transformer and bus at the substation, power enters the local distribution network.

LA’s distribution networks is, as you can probably imagine, massive. The city uses 6,752 miles of overhead and 3,626 miles of underground distribution lines. These lines crisscross all over the city to supply power to every single connected structure.

5. Distribution Network to You!

Once the distribution line reaches your immediate area, it connects to a distribution transformer -either supported on overhead poles or buried underground.

Distribution transformers “step down” the amount of electricity running through power lines one more time. This process brings the electricity’s’ voltage down to around 240 volts, to make it safe for residential use.

This stepped down electricity travels via your home’s service wire from the distribution transformer all the way to your home’s meter box. The meter box records how much electricity is entering your home and the voltage of that electricity. Electricity passes through the meter box and into your circuit breaker, where it’s distributed throughout your home via your electrical panel.

‌Electrical Contractors in Los Angeles

By the time electricity reaches you, it’s had quite the journey. If you have questions about your home’s power supply or are concerned about the amount of electricity powering your home, fill out our quick and easy service form. One of Mike Diamond’s licensed technicians will be happy to make sure your family gets the power it needs to live comfortably.

The post Where Does Los Angeles Get Its Electricity? appeared first on Mike Diamond Services.

Wyatt Schmidt

www.ab-sessions-plumbing-building-services.com