Residential Electrical Maintenance Checklist

Electrical maintenance may not be fun, but ignoring it can be a big mistake. Electrical wiring and appliances wear with age and neglecting to upgrade or replace damaged wires and electrical equipment can lead to a fire.

To make sure your equipment is safe and in proper working order, refer to the checklist below:

Lights

• Ensure each light fixture incorporates a bulb with the proper wattage. This prolongs the life of both fixtures and bulbs as well as prevents fire.

GFCIs

• Regularly test GFCI outlets by pressing the test/reset button. Replace them immediately if they are malfunctioning to reduce electrocution risk in moisture-prone areas of your home.

Smoke Detectors

• Test monthly for reliability and replace batteries annually at a minimum. Be aware of expiration dates and the need for new smoke detectors every 10 years as expired detectors are not reliable.

Surge Protection

• Regularly inspect your whole house surge protector for proper function, damage, or signs of overloading to ensure the protection of sensitive and expensive electronics.

Don’t put your home’s electrical maintenance needs on the back burner. Call Mr. Electric of Tampa Bay today to make sure your home is safe for your family. Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Why Do Utility Bills Spike In The Winter?

Ever notice that your utility bills spike in the winter? You may have noticed it, but you’re probably wondering why it happens. Some of the contributors are heavy appliances, less daylight and the use of additional heating sources to stay warm.

 

Believe it or not, your heavy appliances such as your oven tend to see more use in the wintertime. Whether your baking holiday cookies or hosting gatherings for your friends and family, an increase in cooking and baking leads to higher bills. In addition to kitchen appliances, relaxing in your hot tub on a frigid day will also cause your electric bill to rise. This is because hot tubs draw more electricity in the winter to maintain their desired temperature.

Another reason for the spike in electricity usage can be attributed to less daylight. When it gets darker earlier, families tend to turn their lights on earlier and keep them on for longer periods of time.

When a traditional heating system isn’t enough, homeowners often use space heaters and electric blankets to keep warm. You guessed it - both of these heating methods increase the amount of electricity consumed, which cause your electric bills to rise.

For more information about how to save on utility bills this winter, visit us on the web at mrelectric.com/tampa-bay, and don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+!

What Kind Of Lighting Do You Need For Your Home?

Does your home have all the lighting qualities you would like? Adding new lighting to your home can have a variety of benefits, but what kind of lighting do you actually need? Between direct and indirect lighting, safety and security lighting and decor lighting the choices are endless.

What Kind Of Lighting Do You Need?

• Direct lighting: Direct or task lighting focuses on work space and function.
• Indirect lighting: Indirect or ambient lighting enhances the feel of an area as well as the overall lighting of the space.
• Safety and security: Quality of lighting is essential in safety and security lighting placed along exterior walkways, sidewalks, and entries. Too dim and it will fail to ward off intruders, too bright and it will disturb neighbors and increase energy costs.
• Décor: Wall sconces, directional lighting, and more can create focus and highlight art, architectural, and botanical elements of your home.

Once you decide on the type of lighting you need, you can take it to the next level by incorporating landscape lighting design and outdoor soffit lighting. Impress your friends and family by controlling them wirelessly.

Mr. Electric of Tampa Bay covers complete landscape lighting design solutions for your home that can dramatically improve the beauty and security of your property. Similarly, outdoor soffit lighting provides an excellent opportunity for security and ambiance. You can make any of these options more energy efficient by controlling your lighting solutions with a small remote or smartphone.

Thinking of upgrading? Give us a call today at (813) 314-7160. Remember to connect with us on Facebook and Google+ and follow us on Twitter for electrical updates!

What Is An Electrical Home Inspection?

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electrical problems are the largest cause of property damage in home structure fires across the U.S. Most of the time these fires can be prevented with an electrical home inspection.

What Is An Electrical Home Inspection?

An electrical home inspection provides a thorough examination of your entire electrical system, ensuring all electrical wires, systems, and components, such as appliances in your home, meet legal safety standards.

Upon completion of your electrical home inspection, a Mr. Electric inspector will provide a detailed, prioritized, checklist including areas in need of immediate attention, recommendations for improvements, and potential upgrade possibilities. This way you can be sure that your house is safe, and take action to address areas in need of attention before they become a larger problem.

When Should You Have Your Home Inspected?

The Electrical Safety Foundation recommends an inspection when you purchase a new home, if your home is more than 40 years old, when you purchase a new appliance and when your home undergoes a major renovation.

Does your home meet any of these recommendations? Give the certified electricians at Mr. Electric of Tampa Bay a call. We’ll come by to make sure your house is safe so you can carry on with your daily routine.

Commercial vs. Residential Light Fixtures

You’re probably paying too much on your energy bills as a result of using the wrong lighting fixtures for your business. Commercial lighting can account for close to 35% of your business’s energy use. See below to find out the difference between commercial and residential light fixtures and what type of bulb is best for your business.

Commercial vs. Residential Light Fixtures

Think about the lighting used around your office. Does it provide you with the best opportunity to accommodate business activities? By utilizing different colors, designs and intensities commercial lighting options offer custom solutions for various applications.

Residential fluorescents produce a weaker magnetic interference compared to commercial ballasts. Commercial ballasts are used with fluorescent lights to limit current to fluorescent bulbs and prevent them from increasing uncontrollably, overheating and burning out.

Commercial fluorescents must be installed properly by a certified electrician in order to protect against fire hazards and interference with electronics. That’s where we come in.

What Bulb Is Best?

• Incandescent: Older technology makes incandescent bulbs less efficient than other choices and best utilized for task lighting requiring high levels of brightness. Beginning in 2012, the Department of Energy requires these bulbs to produce the same amount of light using less wattage. There are many types including: general service/standard, reflectorized, and xenon.
• Halogen: Twice as efficient as an incandescent, they produce a very bright white light and are commonly used in outdoor applications such as security and stadium lighting.
• Fluorescent : The most commonly used commercial lighting, fluorescents and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), use 1/5 to 1/3 as much electricity as an incandescent. They also last 10 times longer and have comparable lumen ratings (the rating of the amount of light a light source produces). A CFL can be used in place of an incandescent in standard light sockets for energy savings. All fluorescents contain mercury, and should be disposed of properly.
• HID/Metal halide: High-intensity discharge bulbs have a long life, are extremely efficient, and produce large quantities of very bright light. However with the exception of metal halides, they do not produce pleasing light colors. They are commonly used in warehouses and industrial applications.
• LED: Light emitting diodes used in LED lighting are typically more efficient and longer lasting than any other type of light bulb, using 75 percent less energy than an incandescent and lasting 35 to 50 times longer.

If you’re considering replacing the light bulbs or fixtures in your business, give Mr. Electric of Tampa Bay a call today at (813) 314-7160 to discuss your options. We’ll get you set up with the best lighting solutions for your business and help you save on your energy bills.