Department of Energy. In the summer, keep your thermostat at a minimum of 78°F—no higher. And in the winter, try 68°F.

Most people are actually perfectly comfortable at this temperature—more so than they may think. When elderly relatives or small children live in the home, these settings may not be possible, but they can help most people save money while they are home.

Here is one of the most common misconceptions about heating and air conditioning systems: turning down the temperature all the way will help the home cool off faster, and turning the heat up as high as possible warms a home faster. This simply isn’t the case.

With time, lower temperatures will make the house colder, but it won’t happen any faster. Your air conditioner runs nonstop to reach the setting on the temperature, which is less than what you need to be comfortable. Then, you end up paying way more than you should, and you may not really be comfortable.

The same is true when you continuously get up to adjust the thermostat settings. The AC/heater simply becomes overworked, and this is something you want to avoid. Use your programmable thermostat to keep temperatures stable instead.

When you leave the home, it’s important to use the programming settings on your thermostat to keep temperatures about 10° lower (in the winter) or higher (when it’s hot outside). This way, you don’t waste energy cooling or heating a home that is unoccupied.

However, you don’t want to change the temperature by too much. Let’s say it’s summer and you are away for the day. You shut off the AC completely and turn it on when it gets home. Now, the air conditioner has to work hard to get back up to speed, which may use up even more energy than keeping it at a higher temperature for the day.

Many people are unsure of how to effectively use their thermostats for energy efficiency. Get to know your thermostat by spending some time reading the thermostat. You may be able to use programming options to set different schedules on weekends and weekdays, or to make changes throughout the day.

If your thermostat is over 10 years old, it may be time for a new one. New smart thermostats allow you to set schedules or make changes directly from your smartphone. Ask a local technician about your options.

Swimming is a fun activity in the middle of the day with friends and family members to join in the festivities. It is nice to throw a pool party, barbecue and hang out in the middle of the day when the sun is the hottest. That is one of the main reasons people have pools installed. They want to be able to cool off without having to trek to a busy beach that is a little too sandy for some people’s liking. Pools are also a real treat long after the sun has gone down. Adding pool lights will allow you to enjoy your pool after a long, hard day without worrying about turning on a flood light in the backyard. An electrician in Pasadena can help you transform your boring pool into a beautiful place of serenity with the addition of pool lighting. You will find a helpful staff at The Electric Connection that will answer any questions you may have and get you set up with a certified electrician.

The possibilities for pool lighting are pretty extensive. It is best to have the lights installed during the installation process by a Pasadena electrician. Obviously, electricity and water are not a great combination, which is why you only want the lights to be installed by a professional, experienced electrician. Pasadena homeowners will appreciate knowing their pool is safe and doesn’t pose an electrical hazard when the lights are installed properly and up to code.

You will have the luxury of choosing to use colored lights and going with a lot of lighting or just a few. If you are having a new pool installed, you will need an electrician to take care of all of the wiring needed to run the filters, pumps and heater anyways. Why not have lights installed as well? Give The Electric Connection a call today and get a quote for your new pool.

You may not think about it often, but the power coming into your home travels a long way before it gets to your refrigerator, air conditioner, or any of the other appliances in your home. On the way, electrical current encounters fluxuations and interference from things like other appliances, machinery, and low quality wiring. That “Dirty” power can cause inefficiency and disturbance in your appliances, making things like the motors in your refrigerator and air conditioner, the circuits in your television, and all of your other electrical gadgets work harder than they need to, and wear out faster than they should.

A Power Conditioner will take the electrical current coming into your home and “clean” it, using filters to isolate power outlets and remove interference. This provides the correct voltage level to sensitive electrical equipment, allowing it to work safely and efficiently at the correct voltage.

Because power conditioners help your appliances run more efficiently, they can also lower the overall cost of running these appliances, and extend their lifespan. For more information about home power conditioners or for help on any electrical project in your home, please reach out to Dallas Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. by phone at 972-792-7270, or through the contact form on our website at www.electricmaninc.com