The cost of energy is something that everyone’s concerned about and with energy costs projected to continue rising for the foreseeable future, it should come as no surprise that an increasing number of people are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption and of course, their bills. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably heard about something called a smart meter. What you may not know about these devices, however, is exactly what they are and what makes them special.

Can installing a smart meter in your home help you to save on your energy bill? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this new generation of power meters? Keep reading for the answers to these questions.

Smart meters are designed to work with new smart power grid technologies which are being implemented in several countries and like the grids themselves, they are designed to help consumers to use energy more efficiently. These new meters can be read online, which will ultimately eliminate the need for utility company employees to go door to door reading power meters. However, there are advantages for consumers as well as for the utility companies.

The most important advantage of using smart meters as far as consumers are concerned is the ability to access much more detailed information about their energy consumption. Rather than simply providing information about the total level of power consumption, a smart meter allows consumers to see not only how much energy they’re using in their home, but how this energy is used. This is data which homeowners can act on to reduce their energy consumption, essentially putting control over their energy bills back into their hands.

These meters provide detailed information on usage by time of day, which allows consumers to identify their household’s peak usage times as well as the rates assessed during these hours. Better still, consumers can identify how much energy particular appliances are using, alerting them when appliances aren’t operating at optimal efficiency so that they can have these appliances serviced or replaced as needed. Software is now available for users which automatically send text messages with customized information on their energy usage, so there’s no need to be out of the loop as far as energy efficiency is concerned.

While consumers will need to hire an electrician to come out and install a smart meter in their home in areas where local utilities do not provide this service, the savings which the average household could realize from using these sophisticated power meters should make this a worthwhile investment. Smart meters are clearly a growing trend and in the near future, they will be even more useful as newer energy technologies like solar and wind power become more common, since they are ready to work with these power sources.

For instance, with a conventional electricity meter, it would be necessary to have an electrician come to your home to install a new meter if you were to install a wind turbine or solar panel on your home. A smart meter, however, is able to seamlessly integrate with the new power source; which is yet another reason that budget-conscious and environmentally minded consumers are starting to take a serious look at smart meters.

The fuse box is a metal box installed somewhere on the inside or outside of the home. It is installed by an electrician and has a hinged cover to keep the fuses protected. Most homes built before 1960 will have a fuse box, those built after have a circuit breaker box.

This box controls the electrical flow to your home. In the event of an overload, the fuse attached to that circuit will blow. This will cut power to every device on that circuit in the house. Most boxes have a main switch that will control power to the entire house.

There are three important things that you need to know about your box. You need to know where it is, what type of fuses your box uses, and if your main switch works properly. You should test your main switch at least three times annually to make sure it works correctly.

The inside of your box has several threaded spaces that resemble light sockets. These are called Edison sockets, and your fuses screw into them. Some fuses have an adapter called a rejection base snapped inside of them. The rejection base will only allow an S type fuses to be placed in that spot, whereas the larger T type fuses are screwed into the non-adapted sockets.

The most common fuses in homes nowadays are fuse types SL and TL. The SL fuse is a fuse with a rejection base already installed. The TL type fuse is a fuse with a regular Edison base. These work well for home use because they are designed to handle momentary power overloads caused by turning on household appliances.

When you blow a fuse, you need to unplug everything connected to that circuit. Go to the box and place a dry rubber mat on the floor to stand on to create insulation for your body. Put on a pair of thick leather gloves to avoid possible electrocution, open the hinged door and turn off the main switch for the house.

Using a flashlight, examine the top of each fuse. The top is made of glass. A blown fuse will either have the metal wire broken in pieces inside the glass, or glass that appears cloudy so you can’t see in. Remove this fuse, being careful not to touch the metal parts with your bare hands. Replace this with a fuse of matching amps. Turn the main power switch back on.

If you don’t want to mess with fuses, you can install mini breakers into the box. These turn each fuse into its own circuit breaker with a button on top. When a fuse blows, push the button to reset it. Your other option is to have an electrician replace your box with a modern circuit breaker.

Anytime you call on contractors to perform work for you, you want to make sure you are choosing a company that is delivering the best service on the market and is improving your home or business. That is true for hiring solar installers as well. When you hire solar installers, screen potential companies for the following traits:

You can expect the Electric Connection to satisfy all these conditions. We’re the leading solar installers in the Los Angeles area and are ready to set you up with a solar system that saves energy and money while we redefine your notions of exemplary contractors. Call us to start on the road to energy savings!

Are you looking for a Des Moines electrician for your next project?  We service all of Des Moines and surrounding communities.  We offer upfront pricing so you know what the job will cost before the work begins.  Have an electrical emergency?  We have electricians on call to handle your electrical emergencies and accept credit cards for those unexpected repairs.

Our electricians are highly trained seasoned professionals.  They can give you a price on the jobsite and in most cases perform the work at the same time if you choose.

Custom Electrical Services performs thousands of jobs in and around the Des Moines area.  They can handle any electrical job from the simple to the most lavish.  Some common request are code updates, new panels, add recessed or can lighting, LED upgrades, under cabinet lighting, smoke alarm replacements and or installations, whole home surge protection, hot tub wiring, pool wiring, landscape lighting and more!  Note that all of there great services are not listed as they can perform almost any electrical task.

Want to schedule your next electrical service call?  Schedule online at schedule electrical service call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Need an electrician after hours?  They  have electricians on call 24/7 and your call is answered by a live person no matter the time of day or night at 515-669-3418.

Custom Electrical Services has local trusted electricians.  They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Schedule an estimate online today!

December is right around the corner and it looks like the temperature will continue to keep dropping. During this time of the year we all try to make our homes as comfortable as possible. Throwing on extra layers can help, but turning up the furnace is not always the best answer. If you want an efficient way to heat your home while also adding to the aesthetics of your room, an electrical fireplace is your best option.

Not only are electric fireplaces more eco-friendly than conventional gas and wood burning fireplaces, they are more economical. With their large heat output they cost just a fraction than what it costs to turn up the thermostat in your home. Additionally, electrical fireplaces require far less maintenance. You don’t need to worry about hauling around heavy wood or cleaning your chimney. With an electrical fireplace you just need to dust and clean the glass from time to time.

Because there is no real flame in an electrical fireplace, there is no need to worry about having the right connections to install the fireplace. You can install one virtually anywhere in your home. With the help of an expert electrician, we can run the electrical lines that are needed and make sure that everything is hooked up correctly.

The great thing about electrical fireplaces is that they come in a wide range of styles and designs. There are several types of electrical fireplaces: