Electrical Outlet Repair in Medfield, MA

At Paul Macrina Electrical Contracting, we pride ourselves on our expertise. With that said, repairing an outlet is only possible if it is not damaged. Perhaps a wire came loose and can be reattached, or maybe we can bend back into shape. Otherwise, there is no point in trying to disassemble and rewire the outlet itself when replacing it is far more cost effective!

Since Paul Macrina Electrical Contracting services Medfield and areas around MetroWest Boston, we are no stranger to seeing strange issues related to winter weather, either! In cold weather, wires can contract.

If wires are twisted and oxidized, this contraction can be the only thing holding them together or pulling them apart. In summer weather, the effect can reverse. That may mean that the fluctuating power you experience in an outlet is not the outlet’s fault at all.

But do not write off weather-related issues and outlet problems just yet. Your outdoor plugs need to be “weatherized” with rubber seals to keep sensitive wiring safe from extreme temperatures. Over time, or due to cheap materials, these seals can wear away and allow moisture and temperature fluctuations to destroy the wires in the outlet slowly.

Outlets can also be worn over time so that they no longer grip the prongs on power cables. That result is cords that fall out of outlets or do not receive power. Springs inside your outlets push against the prongs on a device’s cord to hold them in place. There is no more grip once these springs wear out and cords will not stay plugged in.

Many of our customers have two-prong outlets. These outlets lack ground wires. What is the big deal of having no ground wire? Electricity takes the path of least resistance, and grounded wires are that path. When ungrounded electronics do not have a ground wire, you could become the ground.

Boston and Medfield are known for their historic homes. While these houses are charming and wonderful pieces of history, having historical wiring is more dangerous than quaint! If your house was built before ground wires were standard, or it was wired by an amateur electrician who took some shortcuts, you may have ungrounded outlets.

Even if your outlets have three prongs, that does not necessarily mean they are grounded! A mistake by the installer could mean that the ground plug is not connected. To make sure, a qualified electrician from Paul Macrina Electrical Contracting can use a circuit tester to verify your outlets are functioning properly.

Having a light switch and a plug side by side or on top of each other in the same housing adds versatility. These are particularly useful for garbage disposals.

Cell phones and tablets that charge via USB cables are a relatively recent phenomenon in the history of power outlets. If you want an electrical outlet installation or replacement, Paul Macrina Electrical Contracting can install outlets with USB ports! We can even install outlets that have nothing but USB ports! Since these fittings take up less space than traditional electrical ports, you do not have to sacrifice outlet space to fit several USB charging ports in the same housing.

Your dryer and electric stove need more energy than standard outlets can provide. These appliances typically use 20-amp outlets, which look like traditional outlets but have the left prong running horizontally instead of vertically.

If you plug your heavy-duty appliances into standard outlets with an adapter, you might have noticed your breakers tripping frequently and figured you might need electrical outlet repair. Paul Macrina Electrical Contracting can install dedicated 20A outlets to keep this from happening.

For bathrooms, kitchens, and other places that can experience high amounts of moisture, GFCI outlets can reduce the risk of shock significantly. Think of GFCI outlets like miniature circuit breakers, cutting off the flow of electricity when it is too high.

If an appliance, such as a hairdryer, were to fall into a tub of water, the outlet would sense the sudden change in current and switch itself off or “trip.” To reset the power back to its normal state, all you need to do is press one of the two small buttons on the outlet.

Similar in purpose to a ground fault circuit interrupter, AFCI outlets are designed to shut off if they detect a dangerous situation. The method by which they operate is different, however. As opposed to current fluctuations, AFCIs detect heat arcing.

If a frayed wire in your wall allows electricity to jump to other nearby wires, that can cause heat that the outlet can detect, and it will shut off. These interrupters can prevent damage to your plugs, eliminating the need for an electrical outlet repair! Unlike GFCIs, AFCIs are typically installed directly in the main service panel as specialized breakers.

Being able to control outlets via a mobile device or voice is no longer only possible in the realm of futuristic sci-fi. It is here!

When you call Paul Macrina Electrical Contracting to install smart outlets, you can program them to power on and off at specific times or whenever you like through apps.

Timing your outlets can reduce energy consumption, such as switching off lights or cutting off power to “energy vampires” that use small amounts of electricity even when shut down. You can also time your lights come on at different times to fool thieves into thinking someone is home.