With winter almost upon us, many homeowners are thinking about upgrading or even replacing their heating system. If you are one of those homeowners, you’ve probably already discovered the myriad of heating system options available to you. The sheer number of choices can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Let’s take a look at the advantage of new furnace installation.

The number one reason that furnaces remain the most popular heating system in the country is that of versatility. Furnaces come in a staggering number of variations, sizes, fuel types, and energy ratings. The most popular fuel type, natural gas, is accessible in most populated areas of the country. If you happen to live in one of the few areas it is not available, you can still use wood, oil, or propane.

Because of the popularity of furnaces, you can always find an HVAC company that has experience in servicing them. Replacement parts are also fairly easy to find, which can spare you days or weeks without heat while waiting for a part to be delivered. This also cuts down on the expense of maintenance and repairs. Those who use more specialized systems, like radiant heat and heat pumps, may not be so lucky.

Another aspect of their versatility is how easily furnaces interface with the rest of your home systems. Duct work that is already in place for air conditioning can serve the heating system just as well. Radiant systems, on the other hand, require extensive pipework be laid throughout the house for their exclusive use.

Finally, one of the best aspects of a furnace heating system is its speed. A furnace will start to provide heat almost as soon as it is turned on. Other systems like installing a new heating system in your home.

Don’t sweat the small stuff; Change it up, lighten your load and keep cool this summer with innovative and energy-efficient light source solutions and state-of-the-art ceiling fans and free standing fans.

1.  Stop baking in your kitchen!  Get rid of old incandescent and hot halogen bulbs.  Replace with cooler CFL’s (compact fluorescents) or LED’s (light-emitting diodes) in recessed and overhead fixtures. CFLs and LEDs** consume at least 75% less energy and emit 90% less heat.  Relamping with cooler bulbs will make a major difference in work areas of the home such as kitchens where oven, cook-top and dishwasher usage emit a great deal of heat.  Laundry rooms, too, can heat up pretty quickly when machines are in use, so update your illumination with cooler lamps. Also, switching to cooler bulbs in offices and hobby/work areas will vastly improve your ability to concentrate and keep cool.

2.  Shield yourself from sun streaming in through windows. Close the shades and curtains during peak daylight hours to keep the sun from fading your fine fabrics and overheating your rooms.

3.  Conserve energy and do not leave lights on haphazardly.  Consider automated heat and motion sensors to conveniently turn lights on and off.  Dimming ambient light sources adds an extra cool down option and helps save energy.  Brilliant and stylish cool new switches, automated fan and lighting controls provide the utmost in sophistication and design to revamp your home this summer!

4.  Opt for task light, and limit usage of general and accent light sources.  Task light includes focused reading lamps, uni-directional and adjustable recessed or track lights over work areas, and security lighting for safe navigation.  Although accent lamps enhance the beauty of your environment, save them for the times when you are entertaining or showcasing your home.

5. Beautify your environment and bask in the comfort of ceiling fans, wall fans and free-standing fans. Save on air-conditioning bills and keep cool by employing energy-efficient fans in rooms that are used most frequently.

♦When the air temperature is 78 degrees, your body will feel as if it is 72 degrees if you are seated under a ceiling fan operating at a low speed. Plentiful cooling options include innovations from Casablanca, Fanimation, Hunter, Kichler and Savoy House.

♦Purchase lamps, light fixtures and fans from a reputable dealer.  Top quality LED and CFL lamps are engineered to last and provide pleasant illumination.  Cheaper LED and CFL lamps may contain substandard elements; they may burn out prematurely and  illumination effects may be less pleasing. The best ceiling fans are engineered with motors that are guaranteed to last and work flawlessly for a lifetime of comfort.

Lighten Up, Cool Down and Revel in Summer 2013!

Bring on the summer heat, and power up the latest in sophisticated design and energy-saving innovation.  Pairing ceiling fans and air conditioners set at low fan settings offers the ultimate in comfort and energy-savings.

1.  ENERGY STARtm-rated fans:

2. The greater the angle of the blade, the more air circulation. Fan blade brackets should be positioned so the blades form a 12-15 degree angle for optimal circulation.

3.  The heart of every ceiling fan is the motor. Motors equipped with heavy-duty windings and sealed bearings that are permanently lubricated should work flawlessly for long periods of time.  Check out motor warranty information when comparing ceiling fans.

4.  A typical ceiling fan weighs between 15 and 50 pounds when fully assembled.  While many junction boxes may support that weight, a fan in operation exerts additional stresses. Be sure to upgrade to a proper junction box when replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan.

5.  American Lighting Association (ALA)-member showrooms offer customizable fan products—decorator finishes, unique options such as hand-carved blades, custom light fixtures, ceiling medallions, and control systems, as well as installation tips and servicing advice.

Check out the latest energy-efficient products to keep you cool for the dog days of August….

–Energy-efficient and “cool” new bulbs from Bulbrite Industries* include the LED G5 dimmable Omni-Directional Series with GU 24 base options and 5-Watt chandelier bulbs.

*Bulbrite offers top quality lamps from novelty colors, fluorescent, halogen, and krypton/xenon to outstanding award winning LEDs and CFLs.  Enjoy all the benefits of LED, CFL and energy-efficient incandescent light sources from Bulbrite.

From Lite Source:  LS-21680 “Rubik” Energy Smart LED lamp

Multimax ™ by Fanimation, Energy-Star rated and available in 2, 3 or 4 blade options.

— The Sleep Fan Standing Floor Fan by Savoy House, available in Cherrywood, English Bronze, Satin Nickel and Wrought Iron Black; UL-listed for damp locations, comes with a independent volume control to adjust sound according to sleep preference—the lowered frequency red noise has proven to promote better sleep*.

Over 50 million people sleep with some kind of fan device for the soothing tone and the air circulation they provide. –David Furnace of Savoy House

Utilizing “red noise” * and a revolutionary volume control, the Sleep Fan delivers a soothing tone to lull you to sleep, while the gentle cooling system keeps you comfortable throughout the night.

*Studies show that “red” noise delivers low tones with the absence of high frequencies to induce a more soothing, deeper sleep than white noise.

It is completely understandable you would want to try and save a few dollars by completing some of your home repairs on your own. This is a very noble idea and in many cases, it is an absolutely fabulous way of staying within your family’s budget. It can actually be very rewarding to fix the little things around the house like a leaky faucet or a squeaky door.

However, there are times when it is better to be safe than sorry. When dealing with serious electrical problems in your home, you should never attempt to handle the situation on your own. Your electrician in Santa Monica is there to take care of these potentially dangerous problems. Electricity is not something anybody who is not trained should ever handle.

Some times when you will need to call an electrician include;

*Installing or replacing light fixtures is a job that seems easy enough, but is actually quite technical. Not only will you be dealing with electricity, you may also have to do a bit of construction. Fixtures that will require a new electrical outlet can be extremely tricky to handle.

*Upgrading or adding a thermostat to your furnace or air conditioner is another job that requires electricity knowledge.

*Installing ceiling, bath or attic fans requires wiring the fan into an existing power supply. However, there are many times an additional outlet will need to be added, which is definitely a job that should be left to an electrician. Santa Monica residents can call the experienced and professional crew at The Electric Connection to handle those small jobs that require a certified electrician.

It does not make sense to try and save a few dollars when your safety and the safety of your home are put at risk. Please take the time to call

Recent wildfires across Texas including the enormous Bastrop fire caused lengthy power outages because poles supporting miles of power lines burned in the fires. So, thousands of homes which were untouched by the fires lost their electrical power. In many cases, the power was out for weeks, and others are still waiting to see their power restored. We often take electrical power for granted, but the grid is continually being interrupted for a variety of reasons, including storms, fires, ice buildup, falling tree limbs, and nearby construction projects. And heavy air conditioning use during the hottest parts of the summer can overload the grid, resulting in regional blackouts. Parts of Dallas experienced a four-hour blackout this last summer when temperatures reached 108 in the shade. Needless to say, this was not a good day to go without air conditioning.

A lengthy power outage can ruin the contents of your refrigerator and make your home extremely uncomfortable during a hot summer or a cold winter, but if you live in a rural area and have a well, a loss of power can also leave you without water. Of course, this can be disastrous if the power outage is caused by a nearby wildfire. During a lengthy outage, backup power for your computer will fail and your electronic security systems can also become disabled, leaving your home without sufficient security.

If you’ve considered or experienced some of these conditions, and would like to make your home or business more secure, an automatic backup generator can relieve many of your concerns. The backup emergency generators we install operate on clean-burning natural gas or propane, and start automatically in seconds when a power outage is detected. These generators have the power to keep your home running normally during a lengthy power outage.

If you would like more information and a professional quote, please call Bryant Electric Service at 512-402-8587. We’ve installed many generators in Austin and in Central Texas, and can recommend the right size unit for your needs.

Now is the time to evaluate your outdoor and landscape lighting needs in preparation for the summer season.  Follow our step-by-step landscape lighting design plan and get the job done right.

Learn how to get luxurious landscape lighting effects and make your home shine by Memorial Day 2014…

Step One:  Review the perimeters of your home, including surrounding outdoor property—front yards, back yards, side yards—to see which features you would like to accentuate, such as fountains, sculpture, or flower boxes. Choose a few areas that will stand out and add a luxurious element to your home at night.

Step Two:  Scout out areas where you will need security lighting—leading up to and at all home entryways.  Take note of areas where path lighting, step lighting, and task lighting are needed.

LED strip lighting under steps, railings and benches provides excellent security lighting and may be custom-tailored to your decor. LED light strips are especially suitable for outdoor areas, as they are long-lasting and extremely durable, radiate very little heat, and use up to 80 percent less electricity than standard light sources.

Step Three:  If you have existing outdoor lighting—review your property at night to see where you can upgrade your lighting design.  Check that everything is in working order and adequate illumination is provided at all significant locations.

• Where there are large areas blanketed in darkness, consider installing a floodlight equipped with energy-efficient lamps and lighting controls.

• Equally important is to check for areas that are excessively bright. Overly bright outdoor lighting, including path lighting and patio lighting, creates glare and can actually make it harder to see at night and diminish safety and security.

Your landscape lighting should be soothing and comfortable.  Make sure that  landscape and outdoor fixtures do not cast light into your neighbors’ property.  Keep “light trespass” from invading your own home at night.

Step Four:  If you like to entertain outdoors—see that your property is safely lit for guests—pay attention to elevation levels and unusual dips or risings; boundaries defining rock gardens, Koi ponds, and small shrubs should be clearly visible.  Make sure you have enough ambient illumination for safe navigation, as well as sufficient task lighting for cooking and food preparation.

Step Five:  Lighting techniques, such as shadowing, silhouetting and cross lighting add artistry and depth to your landscape at night.  But do not overdo it.  Depending on the size of your property, select one to three key areas that will expand and complement your overall landscape lighting presentation.

• Conceal lights behind and below a statue or small tree to highlight form and create definition.

• Show off a sculpted garden,  a textured rock wall or a unique architectural feature of your home that will stand out at night.

Light responsibly.  Keep an eye on the safety.  Having top-quality outdoor lighting makes for the best “Neighborhood Watch Program.”

Light conservatively.  The most wonderful aspect of outdoor and landscape lighting is that you only need a few well-chosen light sources to deliver a great deal of illumination and an overall luxuriant feel to your home.  Compared to other home improvement projects, top quality landscape lighting adds substantially to the value of your property.

Light efficiently.  You will save money in the long run, if you invest in automated lighting systems and LED landscape lighting now.  For maintenance-free, durable, long-lasting illumination—buy your LED landscape lighting and automated control systems from a reputable dealer.

Top-quality LED landscape lighting fixture are built to last with finishes guaranteed to withstand harsh weather conditions; many come with life-time product warranties.

Find qualified lighting professionals and electricians.  Professional lighting consultants will help you design your landscape lighting to exact specifications with outdoor fixtures that are UL-listed for outdoor use; electricians, familiar with updated LED lighting systems, should be licensed and aware of current electrical codes and ordinances in your town or city.

Order your fixtures early, set the job up now with energy-efficient security lighting and luxurious landscape illumination to ensure you will be ready for summer holiday celebrations.

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