De-Icing Cables for Winter Protection From Ice Dams

December 9th, 2019

You may have encountered trouble from ice dams before, even if you don’t know exactly what ice dams are. Ice dams are what occurs when water running off the side of the roof of a house freezes in the winter cold before it reaches the gutter. Ice dams can build up until they overwhelm a gutter, creating problems like water backing up into the house or broken gutters. Moisture can also get under the shingles of the roof and create serious damage.

The reason ice dams occur in the first place is the uneven heating from underneath. Warmth gathers in the attic because heat rises. This melts ice on the roof, which trickles down toward the gutter, but then reaches the cold edges of the roof where it freezes.

What can you do to stop ice dams? One option to consider calling a professional electrician in Buffalo, NY to install de-icing cables on your roof.  

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Common Electrical Repairs You May Need

November 25th, 2019
electric-house-rewire

The electrical system in a house is something most of us take for granted. Flip a switch, the lights come on. Plug in the toaster and it works. Put your phone in a recharging station and its battery powers up.

But nothing as complex and important as a residential system can ever be dismissed. At some point, the electrical system may malfunction and need repairs. Only certified electricians can perform the repairs since amateur work can create safety risks. For professional electricians, like ours, customer safety is always the top priority.

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What Does It Mean for My Electrical System to Be “Up to Code”?

November 11th, 2019
electrical-panel-repairs

You’ve heard the term “up to code” before and have a general sense of what it means when it comes to electrical systems: they have to meet certain guidelines in order to be considered safe. But what does that mean in practice? What is this nebulous code, and how can you know if your home is in violation of some kind? And if your home isn’t “up to code,” what needs to be done to fix the problem?

That’s plenty of questions, but we’ll address these concerns briefly below. As with any serious electrical system question, it’s best to ask an electrician in Amherst, NY directly. You’ll get the best information as well as the service you require.

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I Have Power Strips, Do I Really Need a Surge Protector Installed?

October 28th, 2019

Yes, you do.

Before we discuss further how important a surge protector is for a residential electrical system, we want to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with using power strips at the various outlets in your home. In fact, we encourage it. Multiple layers of defense against electrical surges are beneficial. You never want to overload an outlet in your house with an octopus plug: power strips allow you to plug in multiple items at a single outlet without the concern of tripping a circuit breaker because of a voltage spike.

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Aluminum Wiring in Your Home: What You Should Know

October 14th, 2019

The demands placed on residential electrical systems are higher than they were only ten years ago, and significantly higher than thirty years ago. With more appliances and charging stations than ever before plugged into a house’s electrical system, it makes sense to upgrade older wiring. Our Buffalo, NY electricians handle electrical wiring and rewiring for homes. Whatever amount of new wiring you may need for your older house, we can take care of the job. We also make upgrades to outlets and electrical panels.

In this post, we’re going to address a specific rewiring concern, which is aluminum wiring found in many older homes. Is aluminum wiring dangerous and does it need to be replaced?

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Prep for Extreme Weather with a Whole House Generator

September 26th, 2019

The fall means more than just a change in temperature and kids going back to school. The weather changes can often be severe, and in the past homeowners in Western New York have had to deal with extended power outages. These blackouts are often more than inconveniences—they can also be life-threatening for homes where people depend on powered medical equipment and during extremely cold weather.

You can take precautions against the dangers of power outages. But no preparation is better than having a whole-house generator installed for your home.

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Getting AFCI and GFCI Outlets Straightened Out

September 16th, 2019
A new GFCI electrical outlet.

We have professional electricians who install AFCI and GFCI outlets in Buffalo, NY homes and elsewhere in Western New York. In fact, we strongly recommend homeowners arrange for this service if they have an older electrical system without these types of outlets. You can recognize these outlets by the two buttons located between their sockets.

If you’re already reaching for the phone to call us or you’re typing a message for a service request, that’s great. You can hang out here and read more about what these outlets do. If you still aren’t sure, we also want you to hang out as we explain the difference between AFCI and GFCI and why both are important.

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We Now Serve Kenmore, NY

September 16th, 2019

Western New York’s Favorite Electrician now serves even more of Western New York. We’re proud to announce that we now offer our extensive services to the village of Kenmore, NY. We are fully licensed to provide electrical work for homeowners in Kenmore. We look forward to serving you, no matter your electric needs.

Call Scherer Electric—Serving the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Area since 1995

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Scherer Electric Helps Power Oktoberfest!

September 12th, 2019

All of us at Scherer Electric are proud to serve our community in any way we can. Our commitment to integrity has helped make us Western New York’s Favorite Electrician.

If you want to see our electrical work for the community in action—and you want to have a good time with great food—come to Orchard Park Chamber’s 4th Annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 28, 2019. There’ll be German and seasonal cuisine and traditional live music. The event takes place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Orchard Park Village Parking Lot (behind KeyBank, 4239 N. Buffalo St.).

We are helping to power this event—literally! Our electricians are setting up the “party panel” that allows all the event sponsors, booths, and performers to plug in and get electricity. If you’ve ever wondered why big outdoor events like this can access enough electricity to run, this is how it’s done!

Call Scherer Electric—Western New York’s Favorite Electrician!

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The Electrical Panel vs. The Fuse Box: What You Need to Know

September 2nd, 2019

An electrical panel, a fuse box … what’s the difference? To many non-electricians, they may sound like the same thing, and people often talk about them as if they were interchangeable. They aren’t, however, and knowing the difference between them is important if you have an older house with the outdated version.

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