The holiday season is shifting into gear, and first up is our sometimes spooky favorite, Halloween! But as many homeowners know, while some costumes might spark a fright, the true terror comes from looking at those holiday electric bills. Planning on doing some decorating but worried about those inflated energy costs? The experts at Hoffman Electrical have some solutions for you!

stimulating sensors in the eye that then send signals to our internal clock. It also Nobel Prize in Physics. So how can someone suffering from insomnia enjoy the technology that this marvelous invention forged?

“If you can block blue light, you can actually create something called circadian darkness or virtual darkness” says Researcher Dan Pardi in an Studies have shown that by wearing these amber-tinted glasses, you can produce almost as much melatonin as if it were pitch black, even in a fully lit room or while looking at a bright screen on your tv, phone or tablet.

Many people think that in order to save money on your electrical bill, you must accept some discomforts or inconveniences. But that is not the case! You don’t need to deal with the unbearable heat in the summer instead of turning on your air conditioner. You don’t need to unplug all of your appliances after every use to save a few dollars.  We have put together a few key recommendations to get you started on your electrical bill savings without having to give up the comfort and conveniences in your home.

Home Energy Audit

The best way to start your savings is to have a local electrician perform a home energy audit. Your electrician will go through your house examining your electrical wiring, distribution, lighting, electric-powered home equipment and systems in order to increase the efficiency of your home and ultimately save you money on your electrical bill. Some auditors may even go as far as to understand your daily habits that may be costing you more money. For instance, did you know that doing a full load of dishes in the dishwasher rather than washing them by hand actually saves you money?

Once you have had your home audited, make sure to check out Live SmartBC for any rebates you may be eligible for. BC residents have the privilege of gaining rebates for increasing the efficiency of their home; don’t let this savings go to waste!

Install Ceiling Fans

Another great way to save money on your electrical bill is to install ceiling fans. Apart from your air conditioner, ceiling fans push air downwards, blowing the cool air directly onto your body rather than cooling the whole room. On top of that, ceiling fans need very little maintenance (other than a little dusting or bulb changes), which can save you a lot of money in the long run. You may be thinking, that’s great but what about in the winter when I’m trying to heat my house? Surprisingly, ceiling fans are a great energy saving tool for the winter months too! Heat rises. So by running your fan on a low speed, you can circulate the warm air that has risen and create a more evenly heated room and shortening the time it takes your heater to work. This saves you money both in the summer and the winter.

Replace Air Filters

Lastly, you can save money on small changes like replacing your air filters regularly. A lot of times, this is a task many of us forget about but it can make a significant difference in your potential savings. When dirt builds up on your filter it prevents the airflow from working as efficiently. Your air system now needs to work harder in order to maintain the same level of airflow and because of that, increasing your electrical bill. By regularly maintaining your air filters (once a month), you will not only save money, but your family will be breathing in the cleanest air.

These are just a few ways to save on your electrical bills. Our highly qualified team of professionals at Expert Electric is excited to help you get started on your potential savings. Call today for further assistance or a free quote on some of our money-saving services.  604-681-8338

With little ones crawling around the floors, it is hard to always keep an eye on what they are doing all the time. Electrical outlets are at the perfect height for them and seem to be the most interesting thing to investigate. This convenience leads to hundreds of children suffering severe shock (electrocution) each year. This is why tamper resistant outlets are so important. If your home is missing tamper resistant outlets, it may be time to upgrade.

A tamper resistant outlet looks just like a normal outlet, to the untrained eye but have important mechanisms behind the plastic to ensure that nothing foreign can find their way into electricity. Behind the two top prong holes is a small plastic panel. This panel slides across to cover the prong holes. If a child approaches the receptacle with a key or other narrow object with the intention to insert it into the outlet, the plastic panel will prevent them. No matter how much force they apply, it will block the foreign object from entering the outlet and allowing electrical current to escape.

If this plastic panel is preventing objects from entering the prong holes, how do you plug in your normal devices then? The trick to this is that pressure must be applied equally through both prong holes in order to slide the panel to the open position. If there is uneven pressure, the panel does not move. This is how it can prevent paperclips from entering, but operates seamlessly when plugging in a lamp.

Tamper resistant outlets can prevent serious injuries to children. If you have a young one making their way around your home and you aren’t sure if you have tamper resistant receptacles, now is the best time to check. Contact your local Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. We can help to identify what kinds of outlets are used in your home, and upgrade them if needed.