Upgrades Reduce Consumption

As the real estate market continues to improve, there are many people looking to upgrade their home. There are many benefits to doing this, ranging from an increase in the price of the home to lower electrical usage. Many people do not realize that simple upgrades can drastically reduce the amount of electricity that a home uses. For example, replacing the windows in a home can go a long way in keeping a home warm during the winter. As a home owner, it is important to view the home as an investment that requires constant upkeep. If you want to lower your electricity bills, consider saving some money through home upgrades.

Professionals Have Great Advice

Any electrician in Miami knows how to save money on homes in the area. A good Miami electrician will be able to come to a home to check out the areas in which the home can be improved from an electrical consumption stand point. Anyone that hires out professional help should expect a lot of good information on how to improve their home. Professionals in the area have great advice on value add projects to take on, and if you are in this situation you should consider getting some professional advice on the subject.

Small Things Add Up

Many home owners believe that small improvements are not big enough to make a difference. However, when it comes to electrical usage in a home it is important to remember that small changes can add up to big savings over time. Miami is an area with a harsh climate during the summer, and keeping it cool enough to be comfortable requires a lot of electrical usage. As a home owner, it is important to understand that any small changes really can make a big difference over the long term. This can help motivate people to start making changes that will have an impact today.

When a natural disaster strikes your first thoughts are of safety. Here are some steps you can take to ensure the safety of your family, your home, and your belongings.

1. Lock any gates and secure your yard. Check for lose items, and lock up anything valuable or fragile. Tie down large items if necessary. Be sure to remove anything that may be a hazard in high winds.

2. Lock and alarm vehicles. Of course, lock your car doors and, if you have one, turn your car alarm on. But also secure bicycles, trailers, boats, or other attractive nuisances around your home.

3. Lock and alarm your home. This may seem obvious, but in the frenzy of a natural disaster it is easy to forget this basic security measure. Used a professionally installed ADT Home Security.

4. Charge your cell phones, when possible. Sometimes the most important tool for your security is access to outside help. Make sure you have a backup method of contacting emergency personnel if necessary.

5. Keep an emergency kit on hand. During a natural disaster the safest place is usually in your own home. Having water, food, and medicine available allows you to stay safe and protect your home from inside of it.

A hurricane is a heavy storm that delivers strong winds, lots of rain, and sometimes flooding. A category 1 hurricane brings winds that are between 74 and 95 miles per hour, and a one that is a category 5 has winds that are faster than 157 miles an hour. Since a storm like this can result in property damage, loss of electricity, and death, being prepared makes sense. Use these 12 tips to keep your family safe.

1. Keep tabs on a hurricane by watching televised weather reports or by listening to weather announcements on the radio.

2. Be prepared to board your pet at an animal shelter or kennel if you must evacuate because, except for service animals, pets are not aloud in public shelters.

3. Locate a place where you can stay if you need to evacuate.

4. Have a bag ready that includes any medications you take, food, and water.

5. Leave way before the storm to allow extra time in case weather or something else slows you down.

6. Ask people you know if they need a ride, or ask them for a ride if you don’t drive or have a car.

7. Keep your cell phone charged in the event of a power failure.

8. Plan a communication strategy ahead of time so that you can get in touch with family members. Texting works well because it’s fast.

9. Keep a flashlight, extra batteries, money, and first aid items in your emergency kit.

10. Put plywood over your windows to protect them.

11. Take in objects that may fly and cause damage. Have trees close to our house cut down.

12. Keep your car full of gas, maintained, and ready to go.

If you live in Miami and have electrical damage caused by a hurricane, let a Miami electrician help. Prevent a dangerous situation by having an electrician in Miami take care of it right away.

Infants are notorious for scooting on their bellies. Often, parents assume the home is safe since the infant isn’t walking yet. That’s not necessarily true.

Cords

Infants will latch onto anything that they can get their hands on. Since they don’t have good control of their bodies yet they can yank on things and send them tumbling onto them. A lamp on an end table is a prime example of a hidden danger. You may think the lamp is high enough out of reach but what about the cord? Cord keepers are sleeves that are not flexible and attach to the wall to pin and hide your cords. Not only are they safe but they add beauty over an unsightly cord.

Also, cords become something to chew on to soothe those aching gums. Any cords that are not in perfect condition pose a shock-threat to infants. If the infant should grab hold of the wire with a slobbery hand or worse put the cord into their little mouths, it could become life threatening. Any old cord that has breaks or bare wires should be tossed out or professionally repaired.

Sockets

Most Miami electricians will tell you that sockets are just low enough for an infant to reach while on their belly. Sockets on a wall seem to stand out to infants. After all, they are curious by nature. These sockets do not mix with little, wet fingers. This poses a major electric shock threat, just like cords do. Most dollar stores sell socket covers that can cover individual sockets. Major hardware stores sell whole socket covers that cover the entire outlet.

Just because infants don’t walk or even stand up does not mean there aren’t threats in your home. Take a walk around and look for any dangling cords, cords that are in need of repair or unused sockets that are exposed. An ounce of prevention is not only worth a pound of cure but may save your child’s life!

Believe it or not, you might be making some big mistakes when it comes to how much electricity that you are wasting in your home. However, you aren’t the only one. There are tons of electric mistakes that are so ubiquitous that any Miami electrician has probably seen them a thousand times. Here are three common home electric mistakes that are costing you money and some advice on how you can remedy these common errors.

Misunderstanding Your Surge Protector

Many people think that because their computing or entertainment systems are plugged into a surge protector that they aren’t losing any electricity. This is not true. The purpose of a surge protector is to protect your devices from being ruined in the event of a power surge and allow you to plug in many devices at once. They actually do nothing to reduce wasted electricity. Those little red glowing on and off switches exist for a reason. Turn them into the off position when the systems are not in use.

Using The Wrong Light Bulbs

Any electrician in Miami will tell you that the new, “green” light bulbs aren’t just a hippie fad. Rather, they actually use less electricity to light your home. Not only is this better for the environment, but they can save you heaps of money on your monthly energy bills.

Not Using Electricity Wisely

Children aren’t the only ones who fail to turn off lights when they leave rooms or have multiple televisions and radios going at once. Many adults are guilty of this electric faux pas as well. If you want to save money, make a concerted effort to turn off any and all devices when they aren’t in use, including lights. The less wasted electricity, the lower your electric bill.

If you’re guilty of any of the above common mistakes, don’t feel bad as you are most certainly not alone. Follow the above tips and you will enjoy lower electric bills in the coming months.

Using less energy is on the minds of many homeowners these days, and it is surprisingly easy to lower the monthly electric bill. The following tips by Miami electricians will help.

Use LED Lightbulbs

The cost of LED bulbs has been largely reduced in recent years, making them the perfect replacement for standard incandescent lightbulbs. Using LEDs not only saves large amounts of energy, it is safer for the home because the bulbs do not contain mercury.

Reduce Heating and Air Conditioning Use

The use of heating and air conditioning has caused an inability for the body to adapt to the current environment. Using fans in the summer and putting on more clothes in the winter will reduce or eliminate the need for constant climate control.

Unplug Electronics

Many people do not know that televisions, gaming consoles and computers consume electricity even when not in use. Unplugging these devices when they are not needed will stop unnecessary power use.

Replace the Refrigerator

One of the biggest energy hogs in a home is the refrigerator, especially an older one. An electrician in Miami will recommend using only one refrigerator per home and upgrading to a new, energy-efficent model.

Get a Learning Thermostat

An innovative approach to saving electricity is to invest in a learning thermostat. This device will gather information about a home’s energy use and create a specific program aimed at efficiency, which removes guesswork and programming.

Go Solar

While going solar is a substantial investment, it pays for itself over time. In some cases, it is possible to simply lease a solar system, which allows energy savings from the first day of use. Since weather patterns are fairly predictable, a homeowner can quickly calculate whether solar is the right choice.

Small adjustments lead to big savings when it comes to electricity. Following the tips above will help homeowers reach their energy savings goals.

You rely on electricity every day in Miami. Unfortunately, problems can occur with the electrical system in your home. Small problems can become major issues that lead to burns, electrocution or even a massive fire. Here are four rules for keeping your family safe from home electric hazards.

Never Use Frayed Cords or Damaged Electronics

The very first rule to keep your family safe in Miami is to never use frayed cords or damaged electronics. A single frayed cord from a lamp, cell phone charger or appliance could send out sparks that start a fire. It could overheat and ignite carpeting or curtains. Immediately discontinue using the item, unplug it and either schedule repairs or dispose of it. Do not use tape to fix frayed cords.

Always Follow the Instructions

Every extension cord and piece of electronics comes with some type of instructions. You want to follow those instructions to the letter. Do not overload outlets or surge protectors. Do not keep electronics plugged in for longer than recommended. Do no use electronics in ways that they were not intended to be used. This is going to greatly reduce the chance of problems with electrical hazards in your Miami home.

Call for Repairs Immediately When Problems Occur

If you start to notice that there are problems with your home electricity, outlets or wiring, then call a Miami electrician for repairs immediately. You want to be looking for strange burning odors, inconsistent electric current or excessive heat from outlets. Stop using any outlets or reduce electricity use altogether if you detect a problem. An electrician in Miami can quickly and safely diagnose, locate and repair any problems with your home wiring.

Unplug Electronics and Appliances That Are Not Needed

Leaving unneeded appliances and electronics plugged in will increase the risk of electrical accidents or damage in your home. Surges could damage the appliances. Malfunctioning electronics could overtax your electrical system. The best policy is to keep everything that you do not need unplugged to reduce the strain on your electrical system.

The back-to-school season is in full swing and now is the time to talk to your family. Electrical accidents in the home are one of the most common accidents and occur all too often. According to a professional Miami electrician, these types of accidents can be prevented by simply going over some of the following tips with your children on home electrical safety:

Outlet Safety

With young children in the home, it is important to have covers placed in all outlets that are not being used. Older children may also need to be reminded of how important it is to follow rules regarding outlet safety. Remind them that they are to never stick anything into an outlet except the correct plug in. If the cord they are getting ready to use looks frayed or damaged, they should not plug it in, but should inform the adult in the home immediately.

Appliance Safety

Young children should first understand that they should never touch an appliance without an adult present. When they are old enough to start doing things on their own, they need to be taught that appliances are never to be used near water or if they themselves are wet. Going over these safety tips, along with teaching them the correct way to plug in and unplug an appliance is crucial.

Outdoor Electrical Safety

Teaching your kids outdoor electrical safety is also important as many kids spend their time outside from the moment they get home from school. Remind them that they should never try to climb a utility pole and never to fly a kite or a remote control toy near wires. Along with this, be sure that they understand that digging in the yard could also be dangerous as many electrical lines are buried in the ground.

By following the above tips, you can help prevent an electrical accident in your home. It is also important to make sure that your electrical system is up-to-date in your home. A simply call to an electrician in Miami could prevent accidents in your home due to faulty wiring.

Electricity bills can escalate during the fall months due to a number of factors. These range from using electrical power to heat the home to running electricity more frequently to light the home as days get shorter. There are a few steps you can take that can help you to lower energy bills in the fall as well as in future seasons.

Reduce Ghost Energy Consumption

Ghost energy consumption relates to the small amounts of electricity that your appliances, electronics and more use even when you are not actively using them. For example, the television may use a small amount of energy even when it is turned off. A Miami electrician can help you to determine which items in your home may be responsible for ghost energy consumption and can provide helpful recommendations for eliminating this type of energy loss.

Upgrade Appliances

Another thoughtful idea is to upgrade your appliances to those with an Energy Star rating. Many older models of appliances may use an astonishingly larger amount of energy, and making an upgrade can result in considerable savings. If you choose to upgrade appliances one at a time as funds permit, consider replacing appliances that use more energy first, such as the clothes dryer and the refrigerator.

Use Solar Energy

You could also consider investing in solar energy panels to generate free energy for the home. An electrician in Miami may assist you in upgrading your power supply so that you can take full advantage of power from the sun. If funds are limited, keep in mind that investing in even a few solar panels initially can offset energy consumption for considerable financial benefit.

Update Your Lighting

Because a majority of your increased energy usage in the fall will relate to lighting, a smart idea is to update your light fixtures with more energy efficient solutions. For example, LED lights are known to use the least amount of energy, and replacing your current light bulbs with LED bulbs can result on significant savings.

If you need additional help reducing energy consumption in your home, your Miami electrician may provide you with personalized information during a consultation.

An average household has at least three to four major appliances. Some homes have half a dozen and more. Television and lights, fans and desktops are not major appliances. When we talk about major appliances, we are implying air conditioners, heating and ventilation units, washing machines, microwaves, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, mixers and juicers among others. Typically, you would buy these major appliances and would want the technicians to have them installed. If that service is not available then you may try to install the appliances yourself.

Don’t just go ahead with the installation without proper prepping. You must ensure that it is safe to install the major appliance you have purchased. Here are five home electric safety tips when installing major appliances.

Check the wattage of the appliance and then check the voltage of the power outlets. Every type of power outlet has a certain voltage which is the upper limit. Every appliance will require a certain voltage power outlet or socket depending on the wattage of power needed to run the appliance. If you don’t plug the appliance in an appropriate socket then you are risking your electrical setup and the appliance. The appliance will not run and it may go kaput. You may also blow your electrical circuit if the installation is not done properly and in appropriate sockets.

You need to have the wiring inspected or checked out to ensure that the wiring can support the power the major appliance will draw. The wiring needed for an air conditioner or refrigerator is not the same that you need for your fans or lights or even desktops. If you have appropriate wiring then the inspection process will tell you that and if you don’t then have the wiring upgraded or the appropriate wiring installed before setting up the major appliance.

The power outlets must be earthed. All major appliances need the power outlets to be earthed. Typically, the mains are earthed and thereon every power outlet is singularly earthed but there can be some that are not. Be doubly sure before proceeding.

You may have to redo the fuse in your mains, distribution panels or at circuit breakers if the fuse present is not appropriate for the major appliances.

Hire a Miami electrician before trying to do anything yourself. Don’t presume and don’t try to attempt to upgrade or check out your electrical wiring, circuits and fuses if you are not trained. Consult an electrician in Miami and then proceed with the installation of major appliances.