By: Kellie Pearson

The future looks bright here at Mr. Electric®, and we hope the same for you! As you are mentally preparing for the New Year ahead, maybe you are planning your goals and resolutions for personal development and improvement. This video by our president, Joel Worthington, is sure to motivate you to achieve them. We also want to encourage you to consider your home’s development and improvement, too!

When you think about your home’s electrical system, what can be improved? What can be replaced and updated? We have put together five tips to help you get started on getting your home’s electrical system in tip-top shape for the New Year. 

Although they initially cost higher, LED Energy Star qualified bulbs end up paying for themselves in energy savings in about 10 years. They use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 35 to 50 times longer. Plus, they offer more peace of mind since they emit very little heat, decreasing the threat of an electrical fire, and are much more durable, so they won’t shatter all over the floor. They’re also guaranteed for three years minimum, which is above and beyond the industry standard, so you’ll save on maintenance costs as well as energy costs. Basically, there’s no excuse not to get them!

Did you know that you’re technically supposed to do this every month? Not many consumers actually do this, but a new year is a great time to put this to practice and schedule it along with your other monthly home maintenance routines. You’ll find these outlets in moisture-prone areas such as the kitchen and bathroom as the current National Electrical Code requires. Simply press the test/reset button and make sure the outlets trip and resent correctly. If they are malfunctioning, call your local Mr. Electric to have them replaced to reduce electrocution risk.

Replacing the batteries should be done at least once a year, and both of the detectors should be tested monthly to ensure proper functionality. And speaking of replacing, how old are your detectors? Remember that smoke detectors need to be replaced every 10 years. Depending upon the model, older model carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced every three years, and the newer ones, every 5-6 years. Make safety a priority for your home and get this done!

Power surges can enter your home unexpectedly during a stormy night, a random power company disruption or operation of a heavy-duty electrical appliance. They destroy electronic devices in their path and at times cause fires as well. It is unfortunate when your Mac or PC dies, but even more so when your photos, documents, music and other personal content are lost along with it as well. To reduce damage from power surges, have a whole house surge protector installed by your local Mr. Electric at the panel and additionally multi-outlet power strip surge protection for delicate circuitry, telephone and cable lines. This will ensure both main zone as well as secondary zone surge protection to absorb any excess power that seeps through the primary protection.

This can be done in a variety of ways: turning lights out after you leave a room, unplugging and turning off electrical devices when not in use and ensuring lighting and appliances are Energy Star qualified. Perhaps you can create a friendly family competition to see who can use the least amount of electricity, or even consider looking into installing a solar energy system for your home. Whatever you choose to do, remember that you can also call your local Mr. Electric to perform an energy audit for your home to ensure its electrical system is operating at maximum efficiency.

We hope you find these tips helpful to make your home’s electrical system the best and brightest it can be, and we wish you a Happy New Year from all of us at Mr. Electric!

It’s agreeable that we all wish for the generations in school now and to come on all levels (elementary, middle / high school, and college) to be given a better environment than we were when in school.

Specifically in this post we will be talking about the importance of efficient and more importantly study that was conducted found that an environment in which the lighting that consisted of LED at 6500 k proved to be the best lighting for test taking. Studies found that the group testing under 6500 k light scored the highest against 5000 k and 3500 k. This in it of itself shows proof that with a dynamic lighting system in place (possible with LED), we can change the lighting around to meet the needs of the classroom activities. If you want to read, 5000 k was found to be most optimal. While test taking performed best at 6500 k.

Increase in productivity. Office managers have reported that when making the conversion to LED they noticed an uptick in productivity. Now you could say it’s just a coincidence due to the fact that it’s just a “new” or switched up environment. But we think it is a great way to increase focus (proved by the previous point), which in turn allows more tasks to get down.

Helps with students Circadian Rhythm. Teen’s and young adults health are crucial to keep in check especially in their school years. LED lights mimic natural light, which allow the body to feel as if they are in real sunlight when they are in reality indoors 90% of the school day. By balancing out students circadian rhythm; you allow them to stay on track when it comes to their sleep, health, and overall functionability.

Conclusion

image: dedeking.com for IKEA

Take the stress out of getting dressed in the morning and update your closet lighting design.  See colors more vividly and surround yourself in flattering illumination with the latest closet lighting tips.  Whether you are building a new closet or updating an existing one, there are specific rules for safely and effectively lighting this valuable space.

The options abound in closet design from choosing the number of shelves and drawers to the dimensions of hanging space and shoe storage.  Some closets may serve as dressing rooms with areas for makeup application, as well.  Providing sufficient lighting is tantamount to making the best use of your space; for all that planning is wasted if you cannot see well enough to distinguish a black sock from a navy blue one.

1. When using surface-mounted incandescent or LED(light emitting diode) luminaires within an enclosed light source, be sure to install fixtures at least 12 inches from all storage areas.  If opting for a single surface-mounted light fixture, size the fixture to allow for a clearance of 18-24 inches from the wall. Usually one centrally located surface-mounted fixture will be sufficient to illuminate a standard size closet.

2. For surface-mounted or recessed fluorescent light fixtures, a minimum clearance of 6 inches between the light source and storage space is required.  LED and fluorescent light fixtures run cooler than incandescent, so they are the top choice in closet lighting design.

3.  When choosing surface-mounted or recessed LED light fixtures, go for top quality luminaires and buy from a reputable dealer.  LED lighting may cost a bit more, but the energy-savings, maintenance-free operation and safety features of LED will prove to be well worth the investment.

Electricity is a staple in most homes today, and our reliance on it means that it’s important to learn how to handle it safely. Unfortunately, electrical fires and shocks aren’t as rare as you might think, but the good news is that most of them are completely preventable. By keeping a few basic ideas in mind, you can safeguard your home from electrical hazards and still enjoy helpful appliances and beautiful light fixtures!

Does one of these issues sound familiar to you? For residential and commercial electrical services in the Austin area, call Bryant Electric Service today!

Cold weather and winter storms are often to blame for power outages. It seems like when you need your heater the most, it will be rendered useless by a power outage. The power may go out for a number of different reasons. An accident, a severe storm or mechanical failure are all possibilities. You never know what may happen. A Pasadena electrician has some tips for you to keep handy just in case the power goes out this winter. If you have any more questions, you can always call The Electric Connection.

• Unplug your small appliances, computers, Smart televisions, gaming systems and any other items that have sensitive electrical components. Leaving items plugged in could damage them when the power comes back on. A small power surge can fry the electrical components. You can reduce or eliminate this risk by having a whole home surge protector installed by an electrician. Pasadena residents can save themselves a great deal of money on damaged appliances with one of these inexpensive tools.

• Call the power company hotline to determine how long the outage is expected to last.

• Shut the doors to any rooms you are not using to keep the heat in one area. Put on extra layers of clothing to stay warm.

• Pull out flashlights and candles if the power outage happens in the evening. Emergency candles are different than the typical decorative candles and will put out more light.

• Instruct everyone in the house to leave the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Your food will stay cold for 4 hours in the fridge and up to 24 hours in the freezer.

If the idea of dealing with a power outage does not thrill you, you could always invest in a standby generator. These handy tools will keep your home powered and allow you to continue on with your life without any interruption. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more.