I love watching the commercials for our local do it yourself home improvement centers – Home Depot, Lowes etc.  The happy home owners are always well dressed and smiling in their freshly pressed cotton t shirts while they delicately spread spackle or roll paint onto a wall with ease.  Unfortunately, even the most simple and rewarding DIY project is rarely so easy or enjoyable.

Despite the draw of the DIY movement – some jobs are just too complicated and too dangerous to tackle when you don’t have the education and experience to back up your work.

As useful as YouTube videos can be for learning new skills, they are also helpful as a demonstration of why you should leave your home electrical system firmly in the hands of professional electricians and electrical contractors and resist the urge to DIY!

While THIS example of DIY electrical work gone wrong is quite amusing, some home electrical missteps can lead to damage to your home electrical system, an electrical fire or electrocution resulting in injury or death.  So, when it comes to the electrical in your home, let the experts handle it.  Give us a call.  We will be happy to help with your home electrical needs.

In the winter, as temperatures drop and folks spend more time indoors, electrical usage goes up. Increased electrical demand coupled with inclement weather conditions can lead to dangerous conditions in your home. Here are some tips from A1 Electrical for keeping your home and family safe this year while El Nino brings record rain and snow falls!

Stay safe this Winter:
1. Install additional outlets. Installing additional outlets can allow you the flexibility of using winter time appliances (think heaters, electric blankets, Christmas tree lights) without over burdening your existing electrical outlets or using numerous plug extenders which may cause a fire hazard.
2. Turn it Off. Be sure to turn off unnecessary electrical appliances when you go to bed at night or leave the house for the day. This includes lights, fans, electronics and any other non-essential appliances. This will not only reduce the possibility of an electrical fire from lightening or power surges during storms, it will also save you money!  If you have a hard time remembering to power down before you leave in the morning or go to bed at night – consider installing timers on your lights or electrical appliances to automatically turn them off at certain times.
3. Check it Out. Get in the habit of routinely checking the condition of your electrical system. When you change out your air filters is a good time to remember to give them a quick check, or at the beginning of each season. Take a look at your outlets and switches – and replace any that are cracked or damaged. Take care of any exposed wiring. These things deteriorate over time and the older they get, the higher the risks are of an electrical fire.
4. Check the List. Have an electrical safety check list that you can refer to when you are preparing your home for Winter. Having a list reduces the likelihood of forgetting or missing a step in preparing your home for the upcoming season. Here is a check list you can use and modify to make work for your home:

Safety Check List:
1. Ensure your home has the correct electrical panels, plugs, sockets and switches installed. If it does, check that the covers are all in good repair without any cracks or damage and that they are secured in place. If you have ANY questions as to the condition or safety of your electrical system, call a licensed electrician such as A1 Electrical to come out and check for you.
2. Get comfortable with your panel. Make sure that you or any responsible party that could be home alone during an electrical crisis knows where the electrical panel is located. Ensure that the path to the panel is not obstructed. It is easy to forget the importance of your electrical panel and pile boxes in front of it or allow shrubbery to encroach on the panel area, making locating and using the panel difficult during a power crisis. Check to be sure that all circuits inside are clearly marked and functioning. In severe weather, power fluctuations can trip circuits. In that case you may need to access the panel to manually restore power to the affected areas.
3. Prevent Water Leaks. Maintaining your roof and gutters can help protect your electrical wiring against unexpected water leaks during wet weather. If you see or suspect that there are any leaks, have them repaired immediately. Water and electricity do not mix and can easily create a dangerous situation, not to mention damaging your home and electrical system.
4. Look Up. Do your overhead power lines have adequate clearance from surrounding vegetation, poles and other structures? Is there adequate clearance above/around your pool/spa? If power lines are sagging in dangerous territory, contact your power company immediately to address the problem. If trees or shrubs are encroaching on electrical wires, clear them if you can do so safely, or contact a professional to rectify the situation.
5. Don’t overload. In general, you should not use plug in multi-sockets that don’t have overload circuit breakers or surge protection. If you are unsure if you are overloading or using your outlets improperly, please consult with a licensed electrician for assistance.
6. Do you have/need a hardwired surge suppressor? In most cases, a certified hardwired surge suppressor at the main panel will provide much greater protection for your home.
7. Don’t leave it plugged! If you are going on vacation, unplug any non-essential household appliances. Appliances are much safer unplugged when they are unsupervised.

If you have any questions or need help with inspecting, maintaining or repairing any electrical issues in your home this Winter, please call our helpful friendly staff at 916-482-3400!

With the New Year now begun, it is time to actually put in the work and make those resolutions a reality!  For many of us, embracing a healthier lifestyle tops our 2016 New Year’s resolution list, but as we are cutting back on junk food and living cleaner and healthier while limiting our calorie intake – it is a great time to make a commitment to making the EARTH a healthier place and reduce our energy consumption as well.  And saving you money isn’t a bad side effect!

Turn it Off.  Let’s start simple.  The quickest, easiest and most effective way to reduce your energy usage is simple – use less energy.  Get in the habit of turning off the light when you leave the room.  If you have a hard time remembering, set your lights to timers to shut off at night or during the hours you are away during the day.  Shorten your showers if possible – this will not only save you energy by not needing to heat as much water, it will also save you money on your water bill!  Double bonus!  Change your thermostat.  In the winter, bump it down a few degrees.  If you are uncomfortable, enjoy luxuriating in a thick furry robe and soft slippers while you are at home – or invest in some flannel pajamas.  Or a nice throw blanket!  Finding a way to stay cozy is actually fun!  In the summer, raise the setting a few degrees.  Running a ceiling fan or oscillating fan to improve circulation is an easy way to maximize the effectiveness of costly air conditioning.  Layers can easily be removed when you get home to keep you comfortable while saving you money on your electrical bill.  Reduce heat created by cooking when possible to keep your system from struggling to maintain a cool temperature – BBQ or use a slow cooker in the garage to avoid heating your home by running the oven.

Home Improvements. If you have a little more time to plan, there are plenty of ways to make your home more energy efficient.  They range in cost from $40 or less to plant some trees for shade in the Summer to lower your air conditioning usage, to thousands of dollars for a new solar panel installation.  As mentioned, a simple and cost effective way to help insulate your home against the elements is with trees and foliage.  Planting trees and large shrubbery can provide shade in the summer and also a wind break in the winter, keeping your home a more moderate temperature and reducing the need for running costly appliances such as your heater or air conditioner.  Many local energy providers even have free shade tree programs or offer discounts or other incentives for planting trees.  Check with your local agency.  Another way to reduce your electrical needs is to replace old or broken windows with energy efficient dual pane windows in older homes.  Older homes tend to have single pane windows which are not very effective at keeping the inside climate of your home insulated from the outside weather.  They allow the cold in during the winter and the heat during the Summer.  By replacing any single pane or cracked/damaged windows with new dual pane windows, you can reduce your electrical costs by $126-465 a year.  You can also consider replacing older appliances with newer, more energy efficient versions.  For example:  Refrigerator, washer/dryer, HVAC Unit, furnace, dish washer, water heater, ceiling fans and light bulbs.  By changing these items out for more electrically friendly energy efficient varieties, you could save as much as $425 or more per year.

Clean Power. If you are really ready to commit to keeping our world healthier and saving on your monthly utility bills (go YOU!) – consider changing the source of your energy.  For many people who live in sunny climates, solar energy is readily available and less expensive than traditional energy sources.  While costly to install initially, many areas offer rebates or other incentives to customers who are willing to make the change and with the energy you will be saving, the change will pay for itself over time.   Additionally, loans and grants are often available for solar energy improvements on your home, so the expense can be broken down into manageable monthly payments.

If you follow these simple guidelines, you can easily honor your resolution to be more energy-healthy in 2016!

Thinking “I can fix that!” is often the first step towards disaster when it comes to electrical work. Electrical work can be very complicated and have catastrophic results when not completed correctly.

Many people enjoy DIY work on their homes. With the advent of YouTube, Pinterest and instructional videos being readily available online, it is often tempting to home owners to skip the cost of an expert in the field and attempt their own home repairs. In some cases, this is perfectly fine! But when it comes to electrical work, unless you have extensive experience and training, it is better left to the experts. And here is why:

Electrical work, when not done properly, can be not only costly to repair to industry standards – it can be LETHAL.

• Fire: Every year thousands of electrical fires claim the lives and homes of owners all across America.

In 2011, an estimated 47,700 home structure fires were reported to U.S. fire departments involving some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires resulted in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage.

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Licensed electricians are well versed with a code book they follow published and updated every three years by the National Fire Protection Agency. When it comes to the safety of your family and home, it is worth every extra penny to ensure the work is done correctly and following all required safety standards.

• Bodily Injury or Fatalities: Electricity CAN be dangerous when not handled properly. Serious risks include fire or electrocution. Experienced electricians spend thousands of hours learning and implementing the safe practices when dealing with electricity. They spend time keeping up to date with new regulations and safety standards and know what to do in the event of an electrical emergency.

• Property Damage: Frying or melting the wires of the appliance or equipment, or worse–the wiring inside the walls can result in costly damage that DOES require an expert to fix. Only now, it costs even more because they have to not only correct the electrical issues, they have to resolve the damage caused by the incorrectly performed electrical work. In some states, insurance companies will not pay for any damages if electrical work is not done by a professional, licensed and insured electrician. Who wants that hassle and grief?

In conclusion, while there are MANY DIY home improvement projects that are perfectly appropriate to tackle as a home owner with limited experience, but armed with instructional videos and blog posts, ELECTRICAL WORK IS NOT ONE OF THEM! Electricity can be dangerous when not handled properly. To prevent harm to yourself, your family or your home please hire an expert for your electrical needs. A1 Electrical is a responsible, licensed residential and commercial electrical contractor that serves the entire Sacramento Area.

Have a job you need help with? Call us at (916)-482-3400

Call us, before you “need” us!