Perfect Circuit recently announced the launch of http://www.perfectcircuit.net as an information portal for Somerset County metro homeowners to find information about Electrician and Electrical Repairs solutions. With articles being added almost every day and an online monthly newsletter of home improvement tips, the website is anticipated to quickly become Somerset Countys primary resource website for Electrical Repairs and Electrical Wiring information.

Future plans include educational guides on selecting an Electrical Repairs contractor, professional advice from local Electrician experts, and a question and answer forum for Somerset County homeowners.

Development of other community minded features for http://www.perfectcircuit.net are already underway and new user awareness guides from expert Electrical Repairs Contractors are already being added on how best to beautify your home with any budget, guides on maintenance and repair, to what everybody should know about the latest Electrical Repairs and Electrical Wiring materials and designs before starting any property improvement project.

The website will be an invaluable resource for homeowners in finding accessible information to address their Electrical Repairs , Electrical Wiring and Electrical Troubleshooting needs. Information will be efficiently categorized for easy navigation.

The owner of Perfect Circuit, Ken Bender stated, Our goal is to be the best home and family resource center and information portal for assisting all Somerset County homeowners with their Electrical Repairs needs. The depth of knowledge and resources at http://www.perfectcircuit.net is simple, concise and offers every homeowner some information about their home.

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Somerset County Electrician Contractor Launches Information Portal On Electrical Repairs, Electrical Wiring And ...

Mattresses, bed springs, and clothes sit on the lawn of Laquita's Boarding House, now these homes are shut down.

"The conditions we ran into were deplorable," said Chief John Wiggins with the Bayou La Batre Fire Department.

Chief Wiggins says his department received a 911 call from the residence, "When we got on the scene. One of the staff members was yelling telling them that he did not have authority to call 911. That raised the red flag to our guys."

Three homes are on the property. He says none of them meet standard codes.

"Absolutely no smoke alarms, in any of the structures. no fire extinguishers, exposed wiring in some of the rooms, exit doors locked as well as blocked, steps removed from the mobile home structure so the patients couldn't get out the back."

So the State Fire Marshall was called in.

"We've been here 9 years and no one has ever called or complained," said Abraham Johnson the owner's son.

Johnson calls it a misunderstanding, "When the state came out they were under the assumption that this was a state house. So they went by the state rules and said you can't have this and have that. We let them know it's not a group home it's a boarding home."

The definition of a group home is a home where a small number of unrelated people in need of care, support, or supervision can live together, such as those who are elderly or mentally ill. A boarding home is simply a house providing food and lodging for paying guests.

"I'm sure there's a difference in a boarding home and what she's running. These patients are mentally challenged. I'm not sure where she's getting her funding. I know these patients as she states may be free to come and go but none of them can drive. They are not able to make clear cut decisions. She's being funding through some agency and I think the county needs to step up and find out," the chief said.

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Bayou Fire Chief Shuts Down Boarding Home

by Catherine Holland

Video report by Heidi Goitia

Posted on May 14, 2014 at 7:34 AM

Updated yesterday at 7:40 AM

PHOENIX -- Investigators believe an electrical issue sparked an early morning fire at a Phoenix home Wednesday.

It happened in the neighborhood northwest of 41st Avenue and McDowell Road. Eight crews responded at about 5:30 a.m.

The homeowner was not home when the fire started because the house is undergoing renovations.

While they have not pinpointed the cause yet, investigators said it looks like there might have been a problem with the wiring in the attic.

Because it was a "very active fire" with quite a bit of heavy smoke and flames, crews quickly went defensive.

Firefighters limited the damage to the inside of the home. The external structure is still sound.

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Electrical wiring possibly to blame for house fire in Phoenix

May is Electrical Safety Month and a good time to review electrical safety practices. Increasing electrical safety awareness, following electrical safety guidelines and using tools and technology designed to address electrical hazards are all components of a safety program.

What causes the top electrical hazards? Many are the result of the growing use of electrical power, combined with electrical systems that are over 20 years old. Wiring hazards are both a major cause of electrocutions and home fires, killing hundreds and injuring thousands each year. Misuse of surge suppressors, power strips and extension cords is also a cause of electrocutions and fires.

Contact with power lines and major appliances contribute to hundreds of deaths annually, both at home and in the workplace. Eliminating these electrical hazards will help reduce deaths and injuries.

Eliminating electrical hazards begins with education and awareness. A focus on electrical safety, both at home and in the workplace, can prevent the hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and billions of dollars in economic losses that occur each year because of electrical hazards.

Use of tools and technology can also make our reliance on electrical power less hazardous. Investing in ground vault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), circuit testers and where necessary, personal protective equipment (PPE), can significantly reduce risk.

Eliminate top safety threats to prevent electrical injuries

We recommend that taking the proper steps to eliminate the top electrical safety threats around the home can prevent thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths that needlessly occur each year.

The top electrical safety hazards include:

Electrical fires caused by aging wiring.

Misuse of surge suppressors and extension cords.

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Eliminate the top electrical safety threats around your home

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Former Rudd government minister Peter Garrett will front the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Scheme in Brisbane on Tuesday.

The minister spruiking the home insulation program promised to ring alarm bells if there was any risk of death from the program but did nothing after the first insulation installer died, an inquiry into the program has been told.

The allegation was made during cross-examination of the former Labor senator and minister assisting the prime minister for service delivery, Mark Arbib, during his appearance at the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Scheme in Brisbane on Monday.

Four installers died during the program the first, Matthew Fuller, was electrocuted on October 14, 2009, less than four months after the main program started.

Former Labor senator Mark Arbib said he did not have decision-making authority in relation to the program. Photo: Andrew Meares

Mr Arbib, the first Rudd government minister to appear at the inquiry, had previously given a statement saying he did not have decision-making authority in relation to the program and was not involved in formulating the operational or technical detail a position he reiterated during his evidence to the inquiry.

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He told the inquiry that had he known there was any risk of injury and death to installers from electrocution he would have been spoken to the prime minister and Peter Garrett, and would have been "ringing alarm bells".

Under cross examination by Elizabeth Wilson, representing the family of Rueben Barnes, 16, who died in November 2009 installing insulation, Mr Arbib said the possibility of someone being electrocuted had never been raised to him.

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Royal commission into home insulation hears Mark Arbib 'did nothing' after first death

Former Labor senator Mark Arbib says he takes responsibility for "his role" in the Rudd government's failed home insulation scheme, but claims he was unaware of the inherent safety risks involved in the program.

Mr Arbib gave evidence on Monday at the royal commission investigating what advice the then-Labor federal government received about the $2.8 billion scheme and whether the deaths of four installers could have been avoided.

Queenslanders Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney, and Marcus Wilson from NSW, lost their lives during the rollout of the stimulus scheme in 2009.

Michael Windsor, QC, who is representing insulation companies at the inquiry, asked Mr Arbib whether he was aware of what was in the roof cavity of his own home.

"Well, I haven't been up there ... I couldn't tell you," Mr Arbib replied.

"Did you know, prior to 2009, that wiring ran through roof spaces?" Mr Windsor asked.

"I don't think I did, no," Mr Arbib replied. "I have had no experience in terms of electrical wiring."

"But isn't it just common knowledge?" Mr Windsor said.

"I'm not sure how a roof is configured in terms of wiring," Mr Arbib replied.

Three of the four installers who died were electrocuted.

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Home insulation royal commission: Mark Arbib doesn't recall if safety concerns raised

Former Labor senator Mark Arbib says he takes responsibility for "his role" in the Rudd government's failed home insulation scheme, but claims he was unaware of the inherent safety risks involved in the program.

Mr Arbib gave evidence on Monday at the royal commission investigating what advice the then-Labor federal government received about the $2.8 billion scheme and whether the deaths of four installers could have been avoided.

Queenslanders Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney, and Marcus Wilson from NSW, lost their lives during the rollout of the stimulus scheme in 2009.

Michael Windsor, QC, who is representing insulation companies at the inquiry, asked Mr Arbib whether he was aware of what was in the roof cavity of his own home.

"Well, I haven't been up there ... I couldn't tell you," Mr Arbib replied.

"Did you know, prior to 2009, that wiring ran through roof spaces?" Mr Windsor asked.

"I don't think I did, no," Mr Arbib replied. "I have had no experience in terms of electrical wiring."

"But isn't it just common knowledge?" Mr Windsor said.

"I'm not sure how a roof is configured in terms of wiring," Mr Arbib replied.

Three of the four installers who died were electrocuted.

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'I wasn't aware of safety worries'

EGELSTON TOWNSHIP, MI Six people were unharmed in a house fire in the 5300 block of Apple Avenue in Egelston Township in the early-morning hours of Thursday, May 8.

According to Egelston Township Fire Department Lt. Brenda Galore, three children were among those who escaped the blaze, which was caused by faulty wiring in a utility room.

The fire occurred nearly across the street from Egelston Township Fire Department's location at 5428 E. Apple Ave. Galore said Egelston Township Fire Department had the fire under control within 15 to 20 minutes. The home, however, is a total loss, she said.

"Right when we pulled out, we could see heavy flames and smoke," she said. "It was a full working fire when we arrived, but we had it under control pretty quickly."

Later Thursday morning, the family was being assisted by the American Red Cross, Galore said.

Brandon Champion covers arts and entertainment, business and weather for MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at BCHAMPIO@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter.

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Egelston Township home destroyed by fire caused by faulty wiring; nobody injured

IT WAS ALL those 1990s town homes that seemed to go up overnight. The ones packed as tight as a box of Oreos. Puzzle pieces for parking garages.

Really? thought Sloan Ritchie.

At the time, he was a burned-out engineer in need of inspiration. (His girlfriend and now wife, Jennifer Karkar Ritchie, urged him onward. I said, Quit. Do what you love. I did the corporate thing. It was soulless, she says.)

And, inspired by all the low-quality houses, he did.

Long story short, today were sitting in the result of Sloans professional reinvention as a developer and contractor his familys bright, spacious home in Madison Park. A thoroughly modern house that heats and cools using no conventional furnace or air-conditioning, by its very definition a passive house. A place, 2,710 square feet, that they heated last winter using the clothes dryer.

Really.

In a move thats one part science project and one part five-year family plan (the couple have two young children), Sloan has built Seattles first certified passive house. It sits close to the water, a tall contemporary among homes stately and old. The groundbreaking project, so to speak, was a joint effort between his Cascade Built and NK Architects, Marie Ljubojevic lead designer.

Some of the things I like most about it have nothing to do with a passive house, he says. I love being near the water. I stand-up paddleboard; when you do that theres no cellphone.

But when winter rolls around I love not using a furnace.

The Ritchies home has many sustainable features: an ash tree on the property has been remade into stair treads, wall paneling and window sills; paint is no-VOC; floors are bamboo; the fireplace is bioethanol; cooktop is induction; native drought-tolerant plantings instead of thirsty lawn; composite exterior decking; wiring for solar power and plumbing for thermal water.

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Citys first certified passive house is also a fun family home

It is important to consult a reputable home inspector to check the home wiring before purchasing a house. Knob and tube type wiring and aluminum wiring are common in older homes, and both are considered substandard today. In fact, many insurance companies will refuse to insure homes with these types of wiring, and since banks require homeowner's insurance before extending mortgage loans that are conditional on the ability to obtain insurance, this is significant. Knowing what type of electrical system you're dealing with is crucial when trying to close a real estate transaction. Knowledge is power.

Commonly used in homes built in the early 1900s, knob and tube wiring derived its name from the ceramic knobs securing the wire and the ceramic tubes that pass through the wood framing. The primary main issue with this type of wiring is that the insulation surrounding the wiring can break down, creating a potential fire hazard. Aluminum wiring was common in the 1960s and 1970s and it now known to be a potential fire hazard due to arcing at the connectors, which causes overheating at switches and outlets or splices in the wire.

It can be very expensive to remove and replace both knob and tube wiring and aluminum wiring. If you think your potential future home may have substandard wiring, it's especially important to have inspected by a professional. In any case, it's always a good investment for buyers to keep their offer conditional on a home inspection.

Especially if you're a first time homebuyer, you need to be aware of how different systems in your home impact energy costs, contribute to home values, and require upkeep in the years ahead. An experienced realtor can point out some things to consider as you balance these concerns, but the blog posts below might be helpful as well:

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Home Wiring