Author: keekee360

Are Space Heaters Safe? What Electricians Want You to Know

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Space heaters are popular — and misunderstood.

The Truth About Space Heaters

They are safe only when used correctly. Most electrical fires involving heaters stem from misuse, not manufacturing defects.

Common Mistakes

  • Plugging heaters into power strips

  • Using extension cords

  • Placing heaters near curtains or furniture

  • Running them overnight

Electrical Load Matters

Many homes don’t have circuits designed to handle constant high draw. This causes overheating inside walls — invisible, but dangerous.

Safer Alternatives

  • Zoned heating systems

  • Baseboard upgrades

  • Smart thermostats

  • Dedicated heater circuits

When to Call an Electrician

If you rely heavily on space heaters every winter, it’s time to address the root problem — not the symptom.

Stop relying on risky temporary fixes. Let ICT Electric help you create a safer, more efficient winter heating solution.

Why Winter Is the Most Dangerous Season for Electrical Fires

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Winter consistently ranks as one of the highest-risk seasons for residential electrical fires — and it’s not just because people are indoors more.

What Causes Winter Electrical Fires?

  • Increased use of space heaters

  • Overloaded circuits from holiday décor

  • Aging wiring stressed by cold temperatures

  • Improper extension cord usage

Cold weather doesn’t cause fires directly — it exposes unsafe habits and outdated systems.

Space Heaters: The #1 Winter Risk

Space heaters draw large amounts of power. Plugging them into extension cords or power strips is a leading cause of electrical fires. One heater should always be on its own dedicated outlet.

Holiday Lighting Hazards

Damaged cords, indoor lights used outdoors, and overloaded outlets create perfect conditions for overheating. LED lighting reduces risk significantly by producing less heat and drawing less power.

Older Homes Face Higher Risk

Homes built before modern electrical codes often lack AFCI protection and sufficient circuit capacity. Winter usage pushes these systems beyond what they were designed to handle.

Warning Signs Before a Fire

  • Discolored outlets

  • Hot switch plates

  • Crackling sounds

  • Frequently blown fuses

These are not “normal winter quirks.” They’re warnings.

How to Reduce Your Risk

  • Upgrade outdated panels

  • Install AFCI breakers

  • Use surge protectors correctly

  • Schedule annual inspections

Protect your home before winter stress causes damage. Contact ICT Electric for a professional fire-prevention electrical inspection.

Winter Electrical Safety Checklist for Wisconsin Homes

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Winter in Wisconsin is not just cold — it’s demanding on your home’s electrical system. Between space heaters, holiday lighting, and longer nights, your electrical load increases significantly. That’s why winter is one of the most common seasons for electrical issues and home fires.

A proactive electrical safety checklist can help you avoid outages, hazards, and expensive emergency repairs.

Why Winter Is Tough on Electrical Systems

Cold temperatures can make wiring brittle, snow and ice can damage exterior components, and increased indoor power usage pushes older systems to their limits. If your home wasn’t designed for modern electrical demand, winter exposes the cracks fast.

Winter Electrical Safety Checklist

1. Inspect Your Electrical Panel
If your breakers trip frequently during winter, it’s a sign your panel may be overloaded. Older panels may not safely handle modern appliances, heated flooring, EV chargers, or backup heating systems.

2. Test GFCI and AFCI Outlets
Bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements should have functioning GFCI outlets. Test them monthly — especially during winter when moisture is more common.

3. Limit Space Heater Use
Portable heaters should be plugged directly into wall outlets — never power strips. Keep them at least three feet away from anything flammable and never leave them unattended.

4. Check Outdoor Electrical Components
Snow buildup can damage outdoor outlets, lighting, and service lines. Make sure weatherproof covers are intact and cords are rated for outdoor winter use.

5. Inspect Holiday Lighting
Use LED lights to reduce electrical load and fire risk. Avoid connecting too many strands together and unplug decorations before bed.

6. Schedule a Professional Electrical Inspection
A licensed electrician can identify hidden issues like deteriorating wiring, improper grounding, or overloaded circuits before they become dangerous.

Signs You Need an Electrician Immediately

  • Flickering lights when appliances turn on

  • Burning smells or buzzing sounds

  • Warm outlets or switches

  • Breakers that trip repeatedly

Ignoring these signs in winter can lead to outages at the worst possible time.

Why Prevention Matters

Emergency electrical calls spike during winter storms. Preventative maintenance is far cheaper — and far safer — than reactive repairs when temperatures drop below zero.

Don’t wait for a winter outage. Schedule a winter electrical safety inspection with ICT Electric today and protect your home all season long.

Protect your home before winter stress causes damage. Contact ICT Electric for a professional fire-prevention electrical inspection.

Why Are My Lights Flickering? Troubleshooting Tips

Posted on | by keekee360

Have you noticed your lights dimming or flickering without warning? It may seem like a minor annoyance, but flickering lights can actually signal bigger issues with your home’s electrical system.

Let’s explore what’s behind the blinking and what you should do if it keeps happening.

💡 What Causes Lights to Flicker?

1. Loose Bulbs or Faulty Fixtures

Let’s start simple. Sometimes, a loose bulb just needs a twist. Other times, a worn-out fixture or damaged socket could be to blame.

Quick fix:

  • Turn off the light
  • Check the bulb
  • Try swapping it with a known good one

If that doesn’t solve it, read on.

2. Overloaded Circuits

Do your lights flicker when you use your microwave, dryer, or vacuum? That could mean too many appliances are pulling power from the same circuit.

Example:

  • You vacuum, and suddenly the hallway light dims.
  • That’s a sign the circuit is straining to keep up.

3. Faulty Wiring

Loose or corroded wiring connections can cause intermittent power flow. This is a more serious problem that requires a professional.

Warning signs:

  • Flickering in multiple rooms
  • Burning smell near outlets
  • Buzzing sounds

4. Issues With the Panel or Breaker

Sometimes, your electrical panel is the issue. If a breaker is old or failing, it might not deliver a consistent current. That can cause lights to flicker, especially under load.

⚠️ When Flickering Is a Sign of Danger

Some flickering is harmless—like a cheap LED bulb on a dimmer switch. But if you notice any of the following, you should call a licensed electrician right away:

  • Lights flicker even after changing bulbs
  • You see sparks or smell burning
  • Lights flicker across multiple rooms at once
  • The issue is getting worse over time

🏡 Common Flickering Scenarios in Northern Wisconsin

  • Cabins with aging wiring: We often see outdated wiring in older Northwoods homes or cottages that need a safety upgrade.
  • Seasonal surges: Heavy furnace, well pump, or generator use in the winter can tax your circuits.
  • Rural homes with underground service: Settling or moisture can affect wire integrity.

🧰 What You Can Do (and When to Call Us)

✔️ Try This First:

  • Tighten all bulbs and check lamp cords.
  • Note when the flickering happens (time of day, appliance usage).
  • Test other outlets on the same circuit.

🚫 Don’t:

  • Ignore persistent flickering
  • Attempt to open your breaker panel yourself
  • Rely on duct tape or “quick fixes” to secure wires

💬 What Our Customers Say

“Our living room lights kept flickering whenever the dryer ran. ICT Electric found an issue with the panel and fixed it in one visit. Highly recommend!”
– Tammy B., Rhinelander

✅ We’ll Light the Way

If your home is blinking more than it should be, don’t ignore the signs. At ICT Electric, we troubleshoot and fix lighting and wiring issues with expert care and local pride.

📞 Call us today or book online at incontrolwi.com

Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping? & What to Do

Posted on | by keekee360

If you’ve ever experienced the sudden click followed by darkness while using an appliance, you’re not alone. A tripped circuit breaker is one of the most common electrical issues homeowners in Rhinelander—and across Wisconsin—face. But while it might seem like a nuisance, it’s actually your home’s way of protecting you from something more dangerous.

Let’s break down why it happens, what it means, and what you should do next.

⚡ What Is a Circuit Breaker?

Your home’s circuit breaker panel (also known as a breaker box or distribution board) is essentially the command center for your electrical system. Each breaker inside is responsible for a different circuit in your house—kitchen, living room, HVAC, etc.

When a circuit gets overloaded or senses a problem, the breaker “trips” or shuts off to prevent overheating, fires, or further damage.

🔍 Top Reasons Your Breaker Keeps Tripping

1. Circuit Overload

This is the most common culprit. A circuit overload happens when you plug in more devices or appliances than the circuit is designed to handle.

Example: Running a microwave, toaster, and coffee maker on the same kitchen outlet.

What happens: The breaker senses too much current and trips to prevent overheating.

2. Short Circuit

A short circuit occurs when a hot (live) wire comes into contact with a neutral wire. This can cause a sudden surge of electricity, leading to sparks, smoke, or even small fires.

Warning Signs:

  • Burn marks near outlets

  • A smell of melting plastic

  • The breaker trips instantly after resetting

3. Ground Fault

A ground fault happens when a hot wire touches a ground wire or a grounded surface like a metal box. These are especially dangerous in moist environments like bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas.

4. Old or Faulty Breakers

Like all components in your home, circuit breakers wear out over time. If your panel is older than 20–30 years, or you’ve noticed tripping becoming more frequent, it may be time for an upgrade.

🛠️ What to Do When Your Breaker Trips

  1. Unplug Everything on That Circuit
    Before resetting, unplug devices from the outlets controlled by the tripped breaker.

  2. Reset the Breaker
    Flip the breaker all the way off, then back on. If it trips again immediately—stop and call an electrician.

  3. Check for Signs of Damage
    Burnt smells, hot switch plates, or buzzing sounds are red flags.

  4. Know When to Call the Pros
    Repeated trips could indicate hidden wiring problems, outdated panels, or appliance faults. An experienced, licensed electrician can inspect the system safely.

🏡 Common Areas Where Breakers Trip

  • Kitchen: Multiple high-power appliances

  • Bathroom: Hair dryers, space heaters

  • Garage/Workshop: Power tools, air compressors

  • Outdoors: Holiday lighting or extension cords in wet areas

💡 Pro Tip from ICT Electric

If you’ve recently added a new appliance or piece of equipment (like a hot tub or EV charger), your existing circuits may not be rated to handle the load. Don’t risk it—ask us about panel upgrades and dedicated circuits to keep your home both safe and efficient.

🔧 Ready for Peace of Mind?

Your home’s electrical system should work with you—not against you. If your breaker box is acting up, it’s time for a professional inspection.

👉 Call ICT Electric today for a fast, friendly diagnosis and service you can trust.
📍 Serving Rhinelander, WI and surrounding areas
📞 Contact Us

Lighting Up the Northwoods: A Power Duo Behind the Panels

Posted on | by keekee360

At ICT Electric, we believe in more than just flipping switches—we believe in lighting up lives. As a husband-and-wife electrical contracting team based in Rhinelander, WI, we’re proud to bring heart, hustle, and high standards to every job site.

We don’t just work together—we build a legacy together.

⚡ A Family Business Fueled by Purpose

Each morning, the alarm goes off before the sun comes up. With six kids to love and launch each day, our home runs on purpose and coffee. But once those backpacks are packed and buses are rolling, we shift into gear—ready to wire homes, light businesses, and serve our Northwoods community with the kind of quality you can only get from people who care deeply.

As owners of ICT Electric, we (Nick and Jamie Hallas) wear a lot of hats—but the most important one is leadership with integrity. We’re not just showing up to do a job. We’re showing up to make sure your family, business, or property is safe, efficient, and brilliantly lit.

🛠️ From Competitors to Growth Partners

This year marks a powerful milestone for us: we acquired a local competitor in the Rhinelander area. That means we’ve expanded our capacity, grown our team, and deepened our commitment to being the area’s go-to electricians for both residential and commercial work.

We don’t take that growth lightly.

In fact, it’s one of the reasons we were inspired to co-author a new book…

📘 Coming August 21, 2025: Phenomenal Business Success

In partnership with world-renowned business coach Howard Partridge, we’re excited to release our first book:
Phenomenal Business Success: Breakthrough Strategies for Maximum Achievement.

This book isn’t just about electrical work—it’s about building something real. It’s about balancing life and leadership, risk and reward, family and future. It’s the story of how two ordinary people with a vision built a business that puts people first and sparks results that last.

Whether you’re a fellow tradesperson, a business owner, or someone chasing purpose, our hope is this book helps light the path for your own phenomenal success.

🗓️ Mark your calendars:
Book Launch Date: August 21, 2025
Where to Get It: Available on Amazon

💡 We Help You Light Up Your World

From new installations to panel upgrades, emergency services to energy-efficient solutions, we’re here to serve Rhinelander, Tomahawk, Minocqua, and beyond.

So if you’re looking for a local electrical team with big energy and even bigger heart—look no further. We’re ICT Electric, and we’re just getting started.

Need electrical work in the Northwoods?
📞 Call us today or send us a message — we’d be honored to help you light up your world.