Spring 2014

Tips for Ensuring the Safety of Your Electrical System

Modern homeowners enjoy a lot of outstanding conveniences, such as indoor plumbing and HVAC systems. However, few can compete with the importance of your electrical system. It is this equipment and wiring that allows you to operate your furnace, power your appliances, and take advantage of interior and exterior lighting. As indispensable as a great electrical system is, it should also be treated with respect. If used improperly, electricity can create a dangerous environment within your home. We want to ensure that you are able to enjoy the convenience of electricity in your home safely. Here are a few tips from the experts on our team to help ensure that this is the case.

• Always follow the instructions that come with any appliances or electronics. These are not suggestions. If your system cannot handle your appliances or you plug your electronics into an inappropriate outlet then you risk doing damage to your devices. You also put your own safety at risk.
• Hire a professional to inspect your electrical system. Whether moving into a new house or building one from scratch, it is very important that you make sure your electrical system is up to code. You do not want your system to create a dangerous environment for you and your family, especially when problems could have been easily detected during a professional inspection. Homes with existing wiring and electrical systems should be evaluated as well, especially if they are old.
  
  
• Install GFCI outlets in your home. These are required in areas where there is water around, such as in the bathroom or around your kitchen sink, as well as those receptacles located outdoors. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets automatically interrupt the flow of electricity on the circuit if there it detects an issue.
  
  
• Consider whole house surge protection. When most people think of surge protectors, they think of small power strips that allow you to plug numerous items into a single wall outlet. While these can be effective at protecting a few devices, they will not protect appliances and electronics plugged into other outlets, or those hard–wired into the electrical system. By having a whole house surge protection system installed by your breaker box, you can rest assured that your entire house and all of your electrical devices are protected in the event of a power surge.
  
  
• Upgrade your breaker box if you have an old, outdated fuse box or there are any signs of damage or wear and tear on your circuit breaker. This box regulates the flow of electricity throughout your entire home. It is vital that it operates properly if you hope to use electricity safely.

Contact us to learn more about how to keep your electrical system in prime working condition. There is no circumstance under which you should handle your own electrical system. There is no problem too minor to contact a professional electrician about. This is one area where it is always best to err on the side of caution.

Tune–up your AC unit and get ready for the heat

When your air conditioner is fully operational, it can keep you comfortable during the hottest days of the year. It’s imperative, therefore, that you maintain your AC unit throughout its lifetime. Spring is a great time to think about how you might tune–up your AC.

To tune–up your AC means inspecting, cleaning, repairing, and, if necessary, replacing parts of your system. To be done properly, much of this work requires the expertise of an air conditioning professional. A properly installed and serviced AC unit will maximize your energy–efficiency, and will help to save you money.

The first step is to call a professional. An expert technician will be able to assess any issues in the compressor, coils, refrigerant levels, electrical supply and thermostat. Attempting to do so yourself may be dangerous and could prove costly. Here a few maintenance tune–ups even the most efficient air conditioners could benefit from:

• Clean or replace the air filter. Your air filter is one of the most important parts of your AC unit. It promotes airflow and prevents the passage of dust and other allergens from entering your ductwork or home. If you are highly–sensitive to allergens, particularly those that come about in the spring time, then this is an absolute must. Air filters also keep the parts of your AC unit working properly by preventing the accumulation of dust and other materials on the internal structure. Check your air filter monthly.

• Insulate the ductwork. Your ducts are the structural skeleton of your indoor air system. They make the measured and even distribution of cool air possible, but they depend upon a closed system. As well as repairing or sealing any duct leaks and testing that the system is efficient, insulating ductwork tends to significantly reduce heating and cooling loss, sometimes up to 30%. By sealing air leaks, your cooling professional may be able to save you serious money this spring and summer.
  
  
• Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat allows you to customize your home temperature for specific times of the day and days of the week. Not only will adjusting your temperature automatically cut costs, but it is also takes care of your home comfort for you.

Remember that only a professional AC technician can tune–up your system for this upcoming cooling season. Call one today.