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Questions and Answers
I have overhead power lines to my house. Are there specific electrical maintenance issues I should watch for?
Overhead service, common in this part of Aurora, exposes the mast and weatherhead to Colorado's severe weather. Inspect the area where the utility drop connects to your house for any sagging, damaged conduit, or wear. Ice accumulation and high winds can strain these components. Ensure tree branches are trimmed well back from the lines to prevent interference and fire risk. The integrity of this service entrance is your responsibility as the homeowner, and any damage here can lead to power loss or a hazardous condition.
How can I prepare my Aurora home's electrical system for winter ice storms or summer brownouts?
For winter, ensure your heating system's electrical components are serviced and consider a hardwired backup generator that activates automatically during an outage. Summer preparedness focuses on managing peak AC load to avoid overloading your 100-amp panel, which can contribute to brownout conditions. Installing a transfer switch for a portable generator is a more budget-friendly option that requires professional installation to be safe and legal. Proactive maintenance, like tightening panel connections and ensuring proper grounding, improves resilience for both extreme cold and heat.
My Aurora home was built in 1985. Is the original wiring still safe and sufficient for today's electronics?
Your electrical system is now 41 years old. While NM-B Romex wiring from that era has a durable design, modern loads from multiple computers, large-screen TVs, and kitchen appliances create a cumulative demand that wiring from 1985 was never engineered to handle. In Meadowood, we frequently find circuits are overloaded, not because the wire itself failed, but because the number and type of devices on a single circuit has dramatically increased. A professional assessment of your panel's load calculation and circuit mapping is the first step toward ensuring safety and preventing nuisance tripping.
The power just went out and I smell something burning near the electrical panel. Who can get here fast in Aurora?
Turn off the main breaker at your panel immediately and call for emergency service. For homes in the Meadowood area, a licensed electrician dispatched from near the Aurora Municipal Center can typically reach you via I-225 in 12-15 minutes. A burning odor often indicates an overheated connection at a breaker or bus bar, which is a serious fire risk. Do not attempt to reset any breakers; secure the area and wait for a professional to diagnose and safely correct the fault.
Does the high plains prairie soil near the Aurora Municipal Center affect my home's electrical grounding?
Yes, the dry, rocky soil common in our area has high electrical resistance, which can challenge an effective grounding system. The National Electrical Code requires a grounding electrode system to safely dissipate fault currents, but in high-resistance soil, that system may underperform. We often need to install additional ground rods or use a chemical ground enhancement material to achieve a low-resistance path. A proper ground is non-negotiable for surge protection and overall safety, making soil conditions a key factor in your system's health.
I have a 100-amp panel and might want an EV charger. Is an upgrade necessary, and should I be worried about a Federal Pacific panel?
Yes, an upgrade is almost certainly required for a Level 2 EV charger, and addressing the Federal Pacific panel is your urgent first priority. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panels have a known, widespread failure rate where breakers do not trip during an overload, creating a major fire hazard. They are not considered safe for any use. Before adding any new load like an EV charger or heat pump, the panel must be replaced with a modern, UL-listed unit. A 100-amp service from 1985 also lacks the capacity for these high-demand appliances; a full service upgrade to 200 amps is the standard, code-compliant solution for modern Aurora homes.
My lights in Aurora flicker occasionally, and I'm worried about surges harming my new TV. Does Xcel Energy's grid cause this?
Flickering lights often point to a loose connection in your home's wiring, at a device, or within the service entrance. While grid fluctuations from Xcel Energy can occur, the high lightning surge risk on the Colorado high plains makes whole-house surge protection a critical investment. A transient voltage surge suppressor installed at your main panel provides the first line of defense for all your sensitive electronics, supplementing any point-of-use strips. Diagnosing flickering starts inside your home; it's a sign an electrician should check your connections and panel integrity.
I want to add a circuit. Do I need a permit from the City of Aurora, and what code do electricians follow?
Virtually all electrical work beyond a simple like-for-like replacement requires a permit from the City of Aurora Building Division. This ensures the work is inspected for safety and complies with the current National Electrical Code, which is the 2023 NEC in Colorado. A Master Electrician licensed by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) will pull these permits on your behalf. Skipping this step can void your insurance and create serious safety hazards. Proper permitting is not red tape; it's a documented safety check for your most valuable asset.