There’s a wiring hazard hiding in thousands of Greater Boston homes, and most of the people living in them have no idea it’s there. Castle Electric regularly finds aluminum branch-circuit wiring in Newton and Norwood homes built between 1965 and 1973, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been clear about what that means: … [Read More]
If your Newton home was built before 1950, there’s a real chance the walls are holding a secret, and not a good one. The Norwood and Newton electricians at Castle Electric have worked inside hundreds of older Eastern Massachusetts homes, and one of the most common things we find is knob and tube wiring that’s … [Read More]
1) A Tripped GFCI Might Be Cutting Power If one outlet suddenly stops working, there’s a good chance a GFCI outlet somewhere else has tripped. These are designed to protect you from electrical shock, especially in areas like kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and outdoors. Because GFCIs often control multiple outlets on the same circuit, one reset … [Read More]
Outdoor Wiring Different from Indoor Wiring? Yes, and meaningfully so. Outdoor electrical systems are exposed to moisture, temperature swings, UV, and physical wear in ways that indoor wiring simply isn’t. That means different materials, different installation methods, and stricter code requirements. A few specifics worth knowing: These standards exist because the failure modes outdoors are … [Read More]
Backup Power That Actually Works When You Need It The question isn’t whether you’ll lose power during a storm. It’s when, and for how long. A backup generator changes everything. Instead of scrambling to move food to coolers or worrying about frozen pipes, your essential systems keep running. But not all backup power solutions work … [Read More]
Understanding the Impact of Summer Heat on Electrical Systems When temperatures soar, many households crank up air conditioning units, fans, and other cooling systems. This increased usage can lead to a spike in electrical consumption, which tests the capacity of your existing wiring. Overburdened circuits or outdated wiring, like BX wiring and knob and tube … [Read More]
