Most likely it is a GFCI outlet which esssentially means the circut has been blown at the outlet. This usually happens if a drop of water or a hard bump occured within the circuit. If this is the case then there should be a"reset" button that you can push and the light should stop blinking and the outlet will work again. If there is no "reset" button or you aren't sure what to do then call a licensed electrician.

Quality craftmanship, good service and low price do not happen very often, if at all. You have to give up something if you don't want to spend much. As Rob said, you don't want to cut corners when it comes to electrical work. Have them trace what devices are on what circuits. Putting in a new panel with the same size breakers (that are overlaoded) isn't going to solve your problem.

I think it is necessary to sit down and calmly talk about this issue.  Most people in the service business do the right thing.  But it is a two way street and normally it is best to find the middle path.

Philip Anderson

HDR Remodeling

Berkeley Ca

Mike made a good point.....were any inspections done? What's the age of this home? Size of home? Size of original service v/s new panel? Was the re-wire part of a heavy-up? If done incorrectly, this can lead many problems.

John,

There are options available to go solar and be completely independent of you local utility provider. However, this type of set-up (solar+storage) is much more costly than the traditional "grid-tied" system mentioned by Mr. Cook. There are significant developments in the works for the energy storage industry and speculation suggests that batteries will become more reasonably priced in the next 3-5 years or so.

Until then, many folks are opting to install a grid-tied solar panel system, which can often offset 100% of your utility bill (minus a nominal monthly interconnection fee of $5 or so). In some cases, fully offsetting your electric bill isn't possible because of shading or roof complexity. When battery storage becomes more affordable, you can add storage and truly become energy independent!

Being that this is a saftey first and homeowner's insurance second question, a Licensed Electrician in your county/township is the best way to go. Breakers tripping can be one of many issues from, just a faulty breaker, to improperly installed or overloaded circuits. NEC is nationwide but county codes/variances can be more stringent/specific in residential electrical. Electricians are not cheap but this is an area you don't want to take any shortcuts. Ensure you see their license and make sure the work gets inspected prior to energizing your home.

While adding PV panels is a noble endeavor, it is unlikely to produce more than about one third of your annual electrical requirements.  Less than that, if you have air conditioning, even in a newly built, energy efficient home.  The financial savings, though, will continue to climb over time, as more dams and coal power are elliminated, and the cost of generation climbs steeply.  The payback time will shorten, and the lifecycle of the panels will net a return toward the rest of the power you use.

Dimmer switch plates will tend to get hotter with bulbs that are not suited for them. Standard halogen or incandescent bulbs work great. If using CFL's for the lighting they should be specifically for a dimmer.

In all honesty, hire a professional electrician. They will know how to install the right equipment to be sure your fan remains where it belongs and is safely wired. Good luck!

If you do not know what you are doing, hire someone who does!  

Sorry to hear about your alarm wires.  There are a couple of differenct ways to go about resolving this issue.  We typically involve the servicing alarm company to make sure whatever is done to resolve the issue is accordance with their servicing the alarm system at the home.  They will be respoinsible and liable for the monitoring, so it is critical to involve them.  If possible to pull some additional length at the point of contact is helpful, or splicing on additional length is an option too.  If the wire issue gets too complicated, you may consider a wireless system.

I hope you found this helpful.  Please contact us directly of we can be of any service to you. john@assurancebuilders.com.