Everyone is a victim of the monthly electrical bill, and nobody likes to pay it, however electricity is a necessity to our everyday lifestyle. One of the benefits of electricity is that we have the power to manage it efficiently. Taking the right actions can mean saving money every month. We like providing you with helpful reminders of how you can be saving electricity in your home to make energy wise choices and save money on your bill.

Upgrade home windows – As winter approaches, you will find yourself wanting to maintain a warm and comfortable home. A great way to keep the heat in the home from escaping outside is by upgrading to more efficient windows. Windows with more glazes/panes help to capture the heat and keep it in. While this could prove costly to replace all the windows in your home, in the long run it is a wise investment to reduce the monthly electrical bill.

Regular furnace maintenance – Just because your furnace is running does not mean that it is running properly. If you are neglecting your furnace it could be running inefficiently. A professional inspection of the home’s furnace can lead to the identification of a number of areas of potential improvement that when resolved can lead to increased energy efficiency.

Use portable heaters -We have previously spoken about the user of portable heaters in the past and it is always worth revisiting. When heating the home, it is more efficient to turn on a small heater in the room you are in, rather than turning up the thermostat. Heat only the areas that are in use and not rooms that are empty.

Use the right bulbs – Each light fixture has a specification for the bulbs that should be used. Matching the right bulbs to the fixture leads to higher efficiency as energy can be wasted powering an incompatible bulb. And, if you haven’t replaced your home light bulbs with LEDs or compact fluorescent bulbs its time to!

Smart Thermostat – We visited this topic in last week in detail – turning down the home thermostat when heat is not needed is the easiest way to save on energy. A smart thermostat will help your set better heating schedules and allow changes to be made remotely from a smart phone.

Unplug unnecessary electronics – Electronic devices that are not currently being used should be unplugged. Items such as phone chargers, kitchen appliances, and laptops can still consume electricity even if they are off.

Repair your roof – In addition to windows in a home, the roof is another area where heat can escape. Heating a home is not cheap, so each degree should be kept inside, not outside. A damaged, or improperly insulated roof can lead to heat loss. A professional will be able to inspect your attic and roof to identify areas of heat loss and repair them.

Home Electrical inspection – Old and outdated wiring is not only inefficient, but dangerous. Schedule one of your licensed electricians to inspect your home to identify areas your can take advantage of to improve electrical efficiency.

Making the right investments in your home can lead to saving thousands of dollars in the long run. Before the thermometer starts to drop this season, review your energy consumption habits and areas in the home that can be improved. For a home electrical inspection, contact your local Expert Electric.

If your family is like most around Des Moines, somewhere on the refrigerator is a list of emergency phone contacts for any number of scenarios ranging from calling poison control because Carson got into one of the bottles under the sink to calling the orthodontist because Julie had a mishap with her braces. However, when you have an electrical problem at your home, do you have someone you know you can trust to call? Instead of browsing the internet in hopes of finding an electrician with some free time, wouldn’t it be better to have an electrician that you can trust 24 hours a day? At Electrical Gurus, we want to be the electricians on your emergency contact sheet that you hopefully never have to call.

Power outages and electrical issues can happen at any hour of the day, and that’s why we provide service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Electrical emergencies that result in fire or injury should be reported to your local emergency service department immediately, but our electricians can handle everything from live wires to panel replacements. Whether your electrical issue was caused by an act of God or an honest mistake, we are here to keep you and your family safe from electrical problems.

Do not let the stress of an electrical emergency send you looking for help in the wrong places. If your home has issue that needs to be fixed right away, Electrical Gurus are the emergency electrician you can trust. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured 24 hour electrician, and we would be happy to help.

It is that time of year again—the holidays are here and family is calling, the darkness falls early and our homes are starting to feel more like hibernation dens…. it is time to refresh our interior environment and get set for the winter months ahead.

Combat the oppressiveness that comes with the shorter days and decreased sunshine…bring in the light, uplifting accessories and comfortable décor to make your home or office space a more easeful and gratifying place to grow, work and dwell.

1.  Invest in the best lamps (bulbs) –instant on/off, quiet operation, dim ability and the most welcoming lighting effects are available in the latest energy-efficient LED, CFL and halogen light sources.

2.  Shaded fixtures—Dark Sky outdoor fixtures, as well as, decorative shades for indoor light fixtures make a huge difference in allowing for control and providing welcoming and soothing illumination.

3.  New LED reading lamps and desk lamps are designed to offer plentiful, focused illumination for the comfort and health of your eyes.

4.  Novel lighting controls and updated switches give you the utmost in convenience and energy-savings for all your lamps and light fixtures. In larger homes or offices, it is a good idea to install switches, novel  lighting controls and automated systems that may be digitally programmed and labeled.  This is also an energy-saver, as it limits the chances of you mistakenly turning on and off the wrong lamps and having to constantly think about which switch goes with which light.

5.  Work with the natural light streaming in through windows and skylights.  A couple of task lights and a single torch lamp may be all you need to provide comfort and illumination in rooms with generous windows and plentiful exposure to bright sunlight.

6.  Accessories such as comfy pillows and throws will not only dress up your seating areas and bedrooms, they are essential in blanketing your home with warmth both visually and functionally.

7.  Choose just the right occasional tables and whimsical furniture for form and function.  Look for dual-purpose accessories to make the most of your interior space.

8.  Candles, tea lights and mini portable lamps provide soothing illumination and create ambience for quiet relaxation and romantic lighting effects.

9.  Invest in LED night lights for hallways and bathrooms to supply energy-efficient security lighting and comfort.

10. Above all else:  Do not stress about getting everything done. Enjoy the decorating process and take your time to find just the items that help to define your space according to your specific needs and unique style.

The right illumination has been known to help us cultivate healthier habits whether it be eating more slowly or studying more intently.  Make it your intention this year to surround yourself in the right light.  Comfort is really the ultimate luxury and the right lighting is the key to comfort.

Satisfy your hunger for delectable design with novel accessories and light fixtures.  Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or 1800lighting.com to view the latest in comfort and control for the most luxurious holiday season ever!

When things go wrong with the electricity in your home, it’s easy to get overwhelmed in a hurry. Do you need an immediate solution? Is the problem normal? What should I do!? All very understandable when you’re talking about something as both volatile and vital as electricity. The team at Hoffman Electrical in Tampa never wants you to be at a loss, and today we’re going to differentiate normal electrical behavior, and things that are emergencies!

We all want to save a little money and these days, it is more prudent than ever to do whatever we can to save a few dollars in the family budget. As you look at your budget and think of ways to cut costs, you have probably laid your eye on that electric bill a time or two wondering how you could make it just a little less. If this is you, then try these tips from your electrician Santa Monica home and business owners can save a few dollars by following these simple things.

1-Replace your halogen lightbulbs with CFL bulbs. The bulbs cost a bit more initially, but they are more energy efficient and they will last 13x longer than the cheaper bulbs, which actually makes them cheaper in the long run.

2-Stop phantom energy draws by unplugging appliances, cellphone chargers, and electronics when they are not in use. These draw very little energy, but when you add up the 10 to 20 things that are probably plugged in right now, it certainly adds up quick.

3-Replace appliances with energy efficient appliances. This is a big investment at first, but overtime it will save you money. Look for those with the Energy Star sticker.

4-Install a ceiling fan to cut down on the heating and cooling needs. This is a job for your electrician. Santa Monica residents can turn up or down the thermostat a couple of degrees and rely on the ceiling fan to circulate the air.

5-Only run full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. This cuts down on the frequency in which you run the appliance and therefore, can save you a few dollars.

If you would like more tips on how you can save money on your electric bill, give The Electric Connection a call today.