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Common Questions
My overhead service mast looks old and is pulling away from the house. Who is responsible for fixing that?
The service mast and weatherhead are your responsibility as the homeowner, while Rocky Mountain Power owns the service drop wires from the mast to the pole. A loose or damaged mast is a serious issue, as it can lead to a fire or complete service failure. You must hire a licensed electrician to repair or replace the mast and obtain a permit from the American Fork Building Department. We coordinate the necessary inspection before the utility will reconnect power.
We live on a rocky hillside near the mouth of the canyon. Could that affect our home's electrical grounding?
Absolutely. Rocky, high-resistance soil common in our terrain makes achieving a low-resistance grounding electrode system more challenging. Proper grounding is critical for safety and surge dissipation. An electrician may need to drive longer ground rods, use multiple rods, or employ a ground plate or concrete-encased electrode (Ufer ground) to meet NEC requirements. This ensures fault current has a reliable path to earth, stabilizing voltage and protecting your home and appliances.
Our Downtown American Fork home was built in 1993. Why do the lights dim when we use the microwave and a hair dryer at the same time?
Your home's electrical system is now 33 years old. The NM-B Romex wiring installed then was sized for the appliance loads of the 1990s, not the simultaneous demands of modern kitchens, home offices, and entertainment centers. Original 15-amp and 20-amp branch circuits in these neighborhoods often lack the capacity for today's high-wattage devices, causing voltage drop that appears as dimming lights. Upgrading specific circuits or your 150-amp service panel may be necessary to safely meet 2026 electrical needs.
I found a Federal Pacific panel in my 1993 house. Can I still add a Level 2 EV charger or a new heat pump?
Installing major new loads on a Federal Pacific panel is not safe. These panels have a known, widespread failure to trip during overloads, creating a serious fire risk. You must first replace the hazardous Federal Pacific panel with a modern, UL-listed panel. A qualified electrician can then assess if your existing 150-amp service has the capacity for a heat pump or EV charger, or if a service upgrade to 200 amps is the wiser, code-compliant path forward.
The power is out and I smell something burning near an outlet. How fast can an electrician get to my house near Robinson Park?
For a burning smell, treat it as an immediate fire hazard and call 911 first. A Master Electrician based in American Fork can typically dispatch from a location like Robinson Park and reach most downtown homes within 5-8 minutes via I-15. Our priority is securing your safety by locating the source of the overheating, which is often a loose connection or failing device, and preventing potential ignition before restoring any power.
Do I need a permit to swap out my old electrical panel, and what are the licensing requirements for the electrician?
Yes, a permit from the American Fork Building Department is legally required for a panel replacement. This ensures the work is inspected for compliance with the current 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). Always verify your electrician holds an active Master or Journeyman Electrician license from the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). This guarantees they have the tested competency to perform the work safely and will handle all permitting and inspection logistics on your behalf.
My smart TV and modem keep resetting. Is this a problem with Rocky Mountain Power or my home's wiring?
Intermittent resets often point to minor voltage sags or surges on the utility grid. American Fork has a moderate seasonal lightning risk that can induce transient spikes. While Rocky Mountain Power maintains the infrastructure to your meter, protecting sensitive electronics is the homeowner's responsibility. A whole-house surge protective device installed at your panel is the most effective defense, safeguarding against both external grid events and internal surges from large appliances cycling on and off.
How can I prepare my home's electrical system for summer brownouts or an ice storm that knocks out power for days?
For summer peaks, ensure your air conditioning condenser is on a dedicated, properly sized circuit to prevent overloads. For extended outages, a permanently installed standby generator with an automatic transfer switch is the safest, most reliable solution. It must be permitted and installed by a licensed electrician to isolate your home from the grid, protecting line workers. Temporary portable generators should never be connected to your home's wiring without a certified transfer device to prevent backfeed.