The Electrical Blog

There was a time when tenants’ requirements for the commercial properties they leased were relatively simple. But as business has changed over the years—even here in the Colorado Springs business community—so have the requirements of businesses looking to lease space.

One of the areas where the demands have changed the most is in the area of data communications. Once upon a time, having access to a good phone system was enough—but not anymore. 

Businesses today run on data—lots of it—that comes in a wide variety of formats. It could be credit information; it might be medical data; or it could be highly technical data for manufacturing or electronics. And while we live in an era where people can provide services from almost anywhere in the world, businesses today need systems that can deliver and work with data easily, securely, and reliably. 

That’s the reason Berwick Electric has three project managers and eight highly trained technicians that focus exclusively on data communications. We know that your business needs are unique to your specific industry and requirements. That’s why we offer a wide range of data communication services including: 

• Fiber Optic Cabling Systems
• CAT5E and CAT6 Structured Cabling
• Systems Integration
• Photovoltaic Wiring
• Computer Cabling
• Telephone Systems and Cabling
• Voice and Data Cabling, Termination, and Testing
• Intrusion Detection (Security)
• Full Voice and Data Systems
• Public Address Systems
• Professional Sound Systems
• Uninterruptible Power Systems 

Our DataComm division works to provide turnkey solutions to provide you with the info that fuels your business. Our services include full design, installation, and regular service of your communication systems. 

It used to be that one of the most important components of any real estate was location. And while that may still be true in some cases, many businesses can operate wherever they want—as long as they have reliable access to all the information they need to run their business. 

If you have commercial property that you want to lease, make sure you’ve got the data communication systems in place to make it attractive to today’s data-hungry businesses. Give us a call today at (719) 632-7683, or send us a note at mail@berwickelectric.com to find out more about how we can turn your commercial property into the place that smart businesses choose.

If you own a business in Colorado Springs (or own commercial property), worrying about power quality may not keep you up at night. After all, power is either on or off . . . right? 

If the business in your building involves medical equipment, POS equipment such as cash registers, banking equipment—or any other system (like a computer network!) that relies on stable, consistent power, the quality of your power is really important.

Disruption to the quality of the power can disrupt the performance of your systems. Computer systems can lock up, crash, or simply not function properly. If the problem isn’t addressed, your systems can start to degrade to the point that it can actually harm sensitive equipment. And ultimately, it can cause system failure by breaking down components such as microchips. 

Poor power quality can affect things other than your computers and other systems. You could also experience:

Circuit breakers tripping when there’s no overload on your system

Lights flickering (which is irritating and negatively impacts productivity)

Motors on equipment burning out prematurely

High-temperature alarms in your server room 

While these power quality issues can be frustrating, you can deal with them with a professional survey and analysis of your existing electrical installation that includes system and equipment grounding, load capacity evaluation, and a check for the presence of harmonics; sometimes called electrical “noise”. 

By doing that, you can achieve more consistent and reliable performance (fewer crashes and errors) while extending the life of your equipment—and your whole electrical system. 

Of course this kind of evaluation requires the right technical training, expertise, skill, and equipment. And that’s exactly what Berwick Electric can offer.

Power Quality may not be high on your list of concerns for your Colorado Springs business or commercial property—but it probably should be. Ensuring good, consistent quality power makes your business (or your building) more effective and efficient—and more profitable. 

If you experience any of the symptoms described above, call us at (719) 632-7683, or send us a note at mail@berwickelectric.com to talk about how we can help make sure the power quality in your building is the best it can possibly be! 

Why are we talking about snowmelt systems in July? You know how it goes.  You don’t notice that the air conditioning in your house (or car) isn’t working so well until that first sweltering hot day. You don’t think about servicing your furnace until that first freeze of winter. You don’t check the propane in your gas grill until you’re ready to grill.

That wouldn’t be so bad if it was just you—but the problem is that most of us are like that. We all wait until we really need something before we take care of it. But you know what that means, don’t you? Everyone wants the AC fixed, the furnace serviced, and the propane tank filled, at the same time. And that means waiting—sometimes for much longer than you’d like.

It’s the same way with a snow melting system for you home. You’re probably glad to have put the snowy winter weather behind you. But you know it will be back (and earlier than most of us would like). If you’ve got a north-facing home, you may have dealt with some pretty serious snow and ice build-up over the winter. 

Not only is it a bother to deal with, but it can also be a serious safety concern for you, your family, guests, and even visitors (such as delivery people).  Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to struggle with snow and ice this winter? 

Ah, but there’s that old problem. If you try to take care of the problem after the first flakes start to fly, you may end up waiting, because everyone else will be wanting to install systems at the same time.  And if we get a lot of snow, that could delay your installation even more. 

You can get a jump on things now and be ahead of the game. Give us a call at 719-632-7683 or shoot us a note at mail@berwickelectric.com. We can answer your questions, get you a quote, and set up an installation time that fits your schedule. 

Then you can relax, forget about winter, and enjoy the rest of your summer, knowing that you’ll be ready when the flakes start to fall.

Electrical usage rises in most Colorado Springs businesses in the summer, despite the fact that the sun is shining for many more hours in the day. Longer business hours and heat that requires air conditioning are just two of the many reasons your electric bill will be rising in the coming months. Rising usage means more wear and tear on your electrical power system, and a greater likelihood that you'll need an electrical repair sometime in the next few months. Avoid that problem before it starts by doing all you can to keep your power system working at peak efficiency. 

Regular Maintenance

When it comes to keeping the power on, prevention is the key for your business. Meet with your local commercial electrician to create a maintenance schedule that covers every aspect of your business. He'll include maintenance on any electrical machinery you have working in your building, as well as checking wiring, replacing light bulbs, and advising on ways to reduce power usage during peak hours of the day. 

Shut it Down

Some pieces of electrical equipment, such as walk-in freezers and medical machinery, have to be left on at all times. Other items can and should be shut down during evening and weekend hours, as well as holidays and other times when you're not open. These items include:

• Computers
• POS register systems
• Air conditioning
• Fans
• Coffee machines
• Phone chargers

Every item you turn off or unplug reduces the stress you put on the system, which will increase the lifespan of the major electrical systems you have running. 

Lightning Protection

Add lightning protection to your building and larger landscaping plants to prevent damage from being done during electrical storms this summer. Power surges and sudden shutdowns from lightning strikes can play havoc with your building's systems. When electrical surges are diverted to grounding pads outside, work goes on as normal inside and you'll bypass any dangerous effects to your power system. 

Backup Generators

No matter how you prepare, if there's a citywide blackout your business is going to lose power. Install alternative power sources before this happens to keep your power systems operational during even the longest blackout. The size generator you need will depend on the size and type of your business, but preventing the power from being interrupted in the first place can save delicate computer systems and restaurant freezers.

Have you noticed how popular cooking shows have become?

Unless you’re trained as an electrician, dealing with electrical problems can be a bit overwhelming. Most of us have a healthy respect for electrical power, but dealing with electricity doesn’t have to be scary. Not all electrical problems are as murky and mysterious as they seem. Here are answers to five commonly asked questions about electrical problems.

1. Why can’t I turn the tripped circuit breaker in my panel back on?

In order to reset a tripped circuit breaker you need to make sure the switch is all the way in the “off” position (you’ll feel it click) first. Make sure the switch is all the way in the off position. If you can return it to the “on” position (you’ll hear and feel another click) without tripping again, you’ve successfully reset the circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker will not reset—or trips again when the switch is set to the “on” position—you may have a short circuit or an overload on that circuit. Make sure you don’t have too many items plugged in to one circuit. Try unplugging some devices. If that doesn’t solve the problem, you may want to have an electrician look at it. 

2. Do I need to worry about outlets that don’t work?

It sounds overly simple, but a lot of us overlook wall switches—particularly if we’ve just moved into a home. Try a little test. Plug a small lamp into a working outlet and unplug it with the switch still on. Then plug it into the outlet that isn’t working. Look for wall switches in the room (there may be more than one). Try turning the wall switch on.  You may find the answer to your problem (and don’t be embarrassed—we’ve all done this!). If there are no wall switches try all the other outlets in the room and if there’s no tripped circuit in your breaker box, you may need to have an electrician check to see if there’s a short somewhere in the system. 

3. I’ve changed the bulb on a light mounted in my back yard, but it still won’t light up. Do I have a short?  

It’s possible that you have a short circuit.  It could be that whoever installed the light didn’t adequately protect the wiring. It could have been cut accidently by someone digging or mowing in the yard. It could be that you simply need to replace the photocell because they can wear out. 

4. Do I need to worry if the dimmer on the light in my dining room is hot to the touch? 

Don’t worry about it unless it’s uncomfortably hot or you hear a buzzing sound. Smelling plastic burning or noticing your lights flickering should also be an indicator that you want to have a specialist take a look. 

5. Why does turning on my cabinet-mounted microwave sometimes trip my circuit breaker?  

Many cabinet-mounted microwaves (added to the house after it was built) draw between 1100 and 1800 watts. Builders often install a range hood above the oven/range only to exhaust cooking fumes. A 15-amp lighting circuit is adequate for an exhaust fan. But often that fan shares a circuit with lights and other outlets in the kitchen. It’s just too much of a draw.  You really should install a new 20-amp 120 volt dedicated circuit for that microwave. 

If you have questions that aren’t addressed here, shoot us a note at mail@berwickelectric.com or leave us a comment in the comment section below.

We’ve all had the experience before. You’re busy doing something around the house and then—for no apparent reason—the power goes out in the room you’re in. The rest of the house is OK, it’s just the room you’re in. So you trudge over to the circuit box and re-set the breaker that has tripped, and go about your business. But what if it keeps happening? Is it time to call an electrician?

 Not necessarily. A circuit breaker “trips” when it detects a faulty condition and shuts down the power to prevent damage that could come from overheating (such as a fire). But does that mean you have a dangerous wiring problem in your home?  It could be that you simply have too much plugged into a single circuit. If you’re watching TV, ironing your clothes, and using a hairdryer on the same circuit at that same time—while the space heater is running—you’re probably just using more power (at one time) than the circuit is designed to handle. 

You probably don’t need to call an electrician. You just need to unplug electrical devices you’re not using, or not use them all at the same time. 

There are, however, circumstances where you might want to give an electrician a call. A short circuit can also cause a breaker to trip. Unplug your devices and check the cables for damage or melting. Also check your outlets for discoloration or a burned smell. If you can’t locate the source of the problem, it might be wise to have a professional check things out to make sure there are no serious problems. 

If the tripping isn’t caused by overloading the circuit or by a short circuit in a device or appliance, you could have a ground fault (when the “hot” wire comes into contact with the ground wire or touches some other surface that causes it to ground out). If that’s your problem, you’ll want an electrician to remedy that problem. 

Sometimes tripping a circuit breaker just isn’t a big deal. You don’t need to call an electrician—just use a bit of common sense and don’t plug in too many devices in a single room (or area of the house). If you can’t resolve the problem that way, however, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A simple house call can bring you a lot of peace of mind.

Thunderstorms with lots of lightening are a pretty common occurance here in Colorado. It’s a pretty spectacular lightshow! But it’s a lot more than that. According to weatherimagery.com, there are approximately 494,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes every year in the state. 

If you own commercial property here in Colorado, there are three big reasons you need to protect your property from these far-too-frequent occurrences. 

The Cost of Property Damage

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. estimates that lightening strikes account for more than one billion dollars in structural damage each year. And Factory Mutual Insurance Company reports that between three and five percent of all commercial insurance claims come from lightening damage. Having the right protection can lower the cost of your insurance. 

Employee Safety

It’s bad enough if your property sustains damage from lightening. But it’s terrible if a lightening strike impacts your employees. On average, lightening kills an average of 73 people across the US every year—and those are just the documented cases. On top of that, there are some 300 documented lightening-related injuries every year, and according to skyviewweather.com, undocumented injuries caused by lightning are likely much higher. 

Loss of Business

Even if your business survives a lightening strike, the occurrence can wreak all kinds of havoc. A direct hit to a building, a nearby strike to a power line, or even a voltage surge originating from your utility company can cause a fire in the electrical service panel boxes or seriously damage equipment by frying insulation and sensitive microprocessor components. If you have to spend time (and money) replacing equipment, that’s lost revenue you may never recover. And what about all of your data such as customer files, accounting, and intellectual property? Some of that can never be recouped. 

The good news is that you can protect yourself. The American Geophysical Union reports that conventional lightning protection systems are highly effective in reducing lightning-caused fires and damage to buildings and structures. 

We’re experienced in helping businesses protect themselves from the dangers lightening strikes present. You can even click here to see us in action! Shoot us a note at mail@berwickelectric.com  or call us at 719-632-7683 for more information about how you can protect your property, your employees, and your business from the damage that lightening can do. 

We understand the importance of keeping up with the latest education, certification, and qualifications in the industry. Since 1921 we’ve employed the most qualified people in the business to manage important projects in and around Colorado Springs—from turn of the century carriage houses, to high tech clean rooms and fiber optic cabling. You’ve heard that “knowledge is power.” At Berwick Electric, we take that to heart!

As a business owner, the last thing you want to think about is your electrical system. It should just work the way you want it to.

In reality, however, there’s a lot riding on your electrical system. If it doesn’t work properly it can seriously impact your ability to do business—and it can even put your employees at risk. 

Not all electrical contractors are created equal. That’s why hiring the right commercial electrician for your Colorado Springs business is such a big deal. Here are seven key questions to ask before you hire a contractor to work on the electrical system in your business.

1. How Long Have You Been In Business?

Experience matters when it comes to major installations and upgrades. You want a contractor who has been around and knows the ropes. And if you’re re-fitting an older property, you want someone who knows how to upgrade an older existing system safely and effectively. On top of that, you want to deal with someone you can rely on for years to come—someone who’s got roots in the community. 

2. Is He Licensed and Insured? What Does Your Local BBB Say About The Company?

A lot of companies can “run wire” from one end of your building to the other. But that’s really a minor part of the job. You want a certified master electrician on the job to make sure things are done right. That means you end up with a safe system that delivers reliable performance for years to come. 

3. Who Have You Done Work for In the Past?

References are a big deal. If you’re checking out potential candidates for work on your business, make sure you get an adequate number of references—and check them out! Find out what past clients have to say about the quality of the work and about what it was like to work with the contractor. You’ll want to find a contractor who is easy to work with and responsive to your needs. 

4. Have You Done A Project Like Mine Before?

This is really critical if you have a large or complicated project. It doesn’t matter if an electrician has done hundreds of installations if the scope and complexity were on a much smaller scale. You’ll want to make sure you hire someone who is comfortable and confident with the kind of job you have in mind. 

5. How Long Will My Project Take?

An experienced contractor has a pretty good idea of what’s going to be involved in the project. He ought to be able to walk you through the process and tell you how long each phase will take. That’s important because you need to know how to plan around completion. Unforeseen delays can happen, but if a contractor is too vague about the amount of time needed to complete your job, beware. It could mean he’s in over his head. 

6. Can You Walk Me Through Your Cost Structure?

Let’s face it; price is an important part of the process when it comes to electrical work. It’s important that you understand what you’re getting and what it’s going to cost. A low up-front price is really no bargain if there are all kinds of add-ons at the end. A good contractor should be able to give you a clear understanding of what your job will cost. 

7. What Else Do I Need to Know?

A good contractor will be thinking about how the work impacts you. He or she may bring up issues that you haven’t thought about—not to “up-sell” you on the job, but to make sure that you get what you really want and need. 

It’s your business. Make sure you hire an electrical contractor you’re comfortable with and who has the skills, experience, and training to meet your needs.