To call this winter brutal in terms of snowfall would be a bit of an understatement. For those of us who have been in the Boston area for some time, we can only liken it to the blizzard we were pummeled by way back in ’78. While you may be enjoying a respite from the snowfall as we move slowly towards the spring season, it is important that you keep in mind the fact that all of this snow, including that on your roof, is going to melt.

When snow melts off of your roof, it can fill your gutters with water which then refreezes when the temperature drops back down. This can result in ice dams, which can lead to serious problems with your home, including roof leaks and damaged gutters. FB Electrical Services can help you to avoid issues with ice dams in Boston and the surrounding areas.

With the help of electrical resistance heating, you can melt the ice that would otherwise build up in your gutters, making it impossible for water to drain appropriately. Electrical coils can be installed beneath the roof and dip into your gutters in intervals, allowing for the heat from the coils to thoroughly melt any ice that builds up therein. When you melt this ice in the gutters, as well as that built up in a layer upon your roof, you can divert the water away from your home just as intended via your drainage system. This certainly beats having that water dripping into your home, damaging your roof and ceilings.

Has it ever happened that you noticed an inexplicable rise in your electricity bill in spite of using the same appliances for the same amount of time that you generally do? No, the neighbor’s bill didn’t get delivered to you accidentally and neither is it the fault of your electrical services provider. There might be a number of other reasons behind a rise in your bill amount, which generally aren’t taken into account by a majority of people. Let’s take a look at them –

1. Faulty Appliances If your domestic appliances like washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, etc., are faulty, they will consume more energy than normal. Also, faulty wiring can damage the appliances in the long term, lead to electric fires or even get electrically charged, which may give you life-threatening shocks if you come in their direct contact.

As the summer temperatures soar, people are more inclined to stay indoors for the most part. This also means, they want the temperature in their homes to be cool and comfortable. While no one wants to compromise on the comfort factor by using their HVAC systems sparingly, they are eager to curb electricity costs.

This seems like a catch 22 situation; but there are some simple ways in which you can maintain cooling in your home, and save on electricity too:

Instead of setting the air conditioning at a very low temperature, use ceiling fans or oscillating fans in conjunction with the AC system. You can set the air conditioner to a higher temperature as that will help maintain cooling in the room; the ceiling fan helps keep you cool as it aids in air circulation; you end up saving money as your ac doesn’t have to operate on a lower temperature.

When you are purchasing appliances, devices or lighting fixtures, opt for ones that have a high energy rating. This will ensure you save a significant amount of money on your utility bills.

It’s very common for us to keep mobile chargers, power strips and other appliances such as microwave ovens etc. switched on, even when we are done using them. It’s best to turn these off instead as that too helps in reducing your electricity expenses in the summer time. Any savings you make in this way help absorb the increase in cooling costs, that’s bound to happen in the summer time.

The AC filters should be replaced with regularity and the entire system maintenance should be done as per schedules recommended by the manufacturer. In most instances, a monthly check helps ensure that the unit is operating efficiently.

Operate and set the thermostat as per the outdoor temperatures. If your home is empty, you should turn up the system as the house wouldn’t require cooling.

The natural sunlight that streams in through the large glass windows and doors in your home also brings in a certain amount of heat. Use UV protective tint on the glass panels and draw the shades and curtains from inside. While this will make the indoor spaces darker, it can help reduce the stress and strain on your HVAC system, which in turn reduces utility costs. You should also shut the doors and vents of rooms that aren’t being used.

When the sun is shining bright, there is no reason to continue using the dryer; hang your laundry out in the open. Dyers are energy-guzzlers and you can easily eliminate this expense in the summertime when the climate is perfect for drying laundry outdoors.

When the summer months bring in the sweltering heat, you would want to keep your home cool without having to pay prohibitively high energy bills. The points we discussed above will help you reduce these costs to a certain degree. These simple things followed with regularity can go a long way in helping you cut down on your utility bills.

The first thing to consider when thinking about rewiring your home is the age of your house. In many incidents of house fires, the cause of the fire is traced back to the insulation surrounding wires in a home. If your house is more than 50 years old, you should give some serious thought to having it rewired, as homes older than this are those most likely to encounter such fires. At the very least, you should have the system inspected to verify its condition.

Are the outlets and switches in your home discolored? If so, this too is a sign that professional rewiring may be necessary. There may be shorts behind those outlets and switches that are causing arcing and sparks, which in turn can lead to small fires and this discoloration.

You are going to have to reset the circuits in your breaker from time to time. It should not, however, be an extremely frequent occurrence. If you notice that your circuit breaker is tripped very frequently, you may need to have the wires in your home replaced. Contact us to have the situation evaluated.