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Energy Saving Tips and Options for Your Home

Reducing energy consumption in your home will no doubt save you a lot of money. After learning about these energy-saving tips and options for your home, you will surely be calling your local residential electrician to help install better alternatives. These energy-saving tips are hard to turn down!

Tip #1: Control plug and vampire loads

Plug load means that there are several devices plugged into a power strip or outlet. It is difficult to manage since they are often scattered and placed in different rooms in the house.

On the other hand, vampire loads refer to the appliances or devices that are plugged in but not turned off, hence secretly draining electricity. Some of the common home appliances that create vampire loads include plugged-in coffee makers, printers, stand fans, cable boxes and toasters.

You might be another homeowner who is guilty of having plug and vampire loads. But don’t fret, there are simple and straightforward measures you can implement that will help manage this electrical problem. Reduce energy consumption by following these management steps:

Step 1 – Inspect

Which rooms in your home have multiple outlets or are using power strips? Are all the outlets working properly? Also, find out which devices and appliances are often left plugged in even if not in use.

Step 2 – Unplug

Once you discover which devices and appliances are creating unnecessary electrical loads, unplug them. Or simply turn off unused devices. It is that easy!

Step 3 – Repair, Replace, or Remove

Are there any electrical outlets in your home that are not being used, broken, or need to be upgraded? Faulty sockets not only disrupt energy flow, but it is also very safe to use. If you are unfamiliar with electrical systems and wiring, it is best to consult and hire a professional home electrical repair service in Arvada to do the job.

Upgrading the outlets could help minimize the use of power extensions. For example, install a separate USB wall port to deal with the bulky chargers and adapters. With it, you can directly plug your mobile devices into the outlet. It is convenient and safer to use.

If you are replacing outdated, traditional outlets, another alternative you should look into is the recessed electrical component. This is not only aesthetically pleasing, it helps with cable management. This type of outlet generally costs less and has enough space to accommodate a couple of electrical plugs and USB cables.

There are various factors to consider when changing electrical outlets such as voltages, frequencies, and correct routing. Seek the assistance of professionals before diving into a project.

Tip #2: Use energy-efficient light options

The HVAC, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, computers, and oven ranges are the common home appliances that are thirsty for energy. But did you know that on average, light fixtures take about 5% to 10% of energy?

Although that percentage seems small, it adds up to your energy bills. You can save more money and help the environment by switching your traditional incandescent light fixtures or bulbs to better alternatives. So what are your better options?

CFLs or Compact Fluorescent Lamps

Although this type generally costs more than other options, it has long-term benefits that will ultimately cut down your utility expenses. CFL consumes less energy compared to traditional bulbs. A 22-watt CFL has the same performance as a 100-watt incandescent bulb.

LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes

This is one of the consumers’ favorites for being cost-effective and energy-efficient. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs operate at lower temperatures so no energy is lost or wasted.

Halogen Incandescents

If you like compact, but bright lights, this is what you need. Halogen incandescents may be a smaller fixture, but it produces brighter white light and has a life span 3x longer than the traditional incandescent bulb.

Tip #3: Look for the Energy Star Certification

When purchasing new appliances, really consider brands that have Energy Star certifications, which means the product helps protect the environment, has better energy performance and costs less to operate. If you opt for Energy Star-certified products, you can be confident that the product is of high quality. And you can check all these out of your list:

Comfort
Savings
Energy-efficient

Tip #4: Install a smart thermostat

If your home is not using a smart thermostat, you definitely have to! A smart thermostat helps in controlling internet-connected devices and appliances. You can customize settings to fit your routines like set temperatures for each room, monitor conditions of each space, and easily make adjustments via voice command or phone app.

Best of all, you can schedule operations! That means you can time when the devices and appliances should turn on and off, letting you prevent running power thirty systems unnecessarily. Smart thermostats have a plethora of awesome features that will make your life more comfortable while lowering the percentage of your energy bills.

Tip #5: Hire a professional local residential electrician

Do not want to mess up the wiring of your home? Hire a professional local residential electrician.

Upgrading electrical outlets, replacing light fixtures, and installing thermostats are not that difficult to do. However, if you are not very handy and if you want to prevent causing electrical problems, talk with an electrician nearby first.

People should be energy-savers too! Although these tips and alternatives are like the lowest hanging fruit when it comes to conserving energy, you cannot reap the benefits if you do not make the essential changes.

Need an electrician nearby? Contact us. We can handle any and all electrical-related projects. Installing or upgrading electrical systems is no sweat for us. Talk with us today. ElectriCall has the insights and skills to make your home more energy-efficient.

Have Your Home Inspected If You Have These Warning Signs

Flickering lights? Burning smells? Here are some electrical warning signs that you should be calling a local residential electrician right away.

Let us get real. How often do you hire a home electrical repair service to check your home’s electrical system? Maybe once every 5 years?

Ideally, electrical systems must be diagnosed and maintained on a regular basis, especially when you notice these warning signs.

Sign #1: Tripping circuit breakers

Have you ever experienced losing power for several minutes? Are lights and appliances not turning on? Your circuit breaker probably has tripped.

Although that is quite frustrating, do your own sleuthing before calling an electrician nearby. Circuit breakers have a safety mechanism that automatically shuts off the electricity to avoid electrical shocks or fire due to power overload.

One of these two culprits could be blamed for your circuit breaker tripping:

Circuit overload

Electrical wirings tend to overheat when more electrical current passes through more than they can handle.

Here is what must be done to test for circuit overload. When your breaker trips again, unplug all your appliances and turn off all the switches. Flip the breaker back on and turn on the switches and appliances one by one to see if the circuit will stay on or not.

You might need to try this a couple of times to gauge how much the circuit can handle before it shuts off again, and which appliance is causing the overload.

Abnormal connection between electrical wirings

Short-circuiting is the other common reason for a circuit breaker to suddenly flip off. Short circuit happens when electrical wirings become loose and touch each other causing overheating, explosion, or damage to the breaker.

Tracing a short-circuit is difficult. Suspected electrical devices or electrical systems causing the power trip should be opened up to detect, repair, and replace the damaged wires. You definitely have to hire a professional to perform an electrician inspection and ensure everything is in order again.

Sign #2: Blown fuse and melted fuse holder

Fuses can be found in traditional breaker boxes of older homes. They are designed to blow and melt whenever the electrical system is drawing too much current than it can handle.

A blown or melted fuse occurs when the fuse gets extremely hot and eventually softens the coating and holder. In other words, it blows due to excessive current. Although it is relatively easy to fix a blown fuse, to prevent further damage, consult with a professional electrician nearby.

Sign #3: Lights flickering when appliances are turned on

An electrical inspection should also be considered when your lights start flickering whenever you turn an appliance on. Be more concerned if small appliances like a coffee pot and toaster are causing the electrical problem. Such unusual activity could mean bigger issues:

Loose connectors in the electrical panel
Electrical overload caused by major appliances all plugged in the same circuit
Connections are too close to each other causing sparks

Whatever is causing the flickering, have a trained electrician perform the diagnosis and remedy. ElectriCall is experienced in remedying this type of electrical issue. Get in touch with us to learn about the home electrical repair service we can do for you!

Sign #4: Charred switches and outlets

The plastic housing of outlets and switches can easily burn. More often than not, it happens to houses built with aluminum wirings. Talk with an experienced local residential electrician if you are unsure whether your home is using aluminum wiring or not.

You will want the assistance of professionals to rewire your home. Some houses are “top wired” which means that the electrical routing goes up to the ceiling of the ground floor back to the outlets and switches. This routing system is more complicated to fix and demands the expertise of a local residential electrician.

Schedule an appointment with us

In order to have a safe and sound sleep at night, an accurate assessment of your home’s electrical system is necessary. Book ElectriCall to conduct an electrical inspection in your home right away.

We can evaluate the integrity of your electrical components. Our specialists will look for issues from the circuits, electrical boxes, to cable anchoring. With our expertise, we can easily detect the faulty installation of appliances, light fixtures, and outlets among others.

On top of that, our team will perform a couple of trial runs to your electrical system to ensure it is safe to use. And we will go as far as helping your home have surge protection.

A home inspection is important. Let ElectriCall eliminate your worries of fire hazards and the risk of electric shock. Call us now!

Avoid These 13 Electrical Problems That Will Destroy Your Home Sale

Electrical issues often scare potential homebuyers. Hiring an electrical service in Arvada to repair any electrical problems in your home is one of the upgrades home buyers should not have to request. Here are electrical problems that will destroy your home sale, hence should definitely be avoided.

Outdated wiring systems. Old electrical wirings are often the culprit for house fires. To entice more potential buyers to pay top dollar for your home, increase the home’s safety feature. Replace old wiring systems and make sure electrical outlets are not faulty.
Not enough outlets. One thing potential home buyers do not want to deal with is battling the insufficient amount of power outlets. To impress them, make sure every room in your home has outlets that could cater to their appliances, devices, gadgets, light fixtures and more. It is always convenient to have enough power outlets.
As per building codes, all wirings should run through electrical panels. Any visible DIY electrical work that is not done up to standards can destroy your home sale. Some factors you should consider when doing electric panel replacement include the size of the panel, the materials to be used, and model. Of course, you should also check its functionality or features.
Double tapping the circuit breakers. This basically means that multiple wires are attached to one circuit breaker that cannot handle the capacity. This issue is often present in older homes and must be checked by qualified electricians like ElectriCall LLC.
Substandard electrical routing. Another red flag that could send homebuyers home is poorly routed electrical wiring. There are specific codes and practices for routing electrical wires. Cables must be placed in safe zones and not exposed. And they should not be positioned against sharp edges. If you think you need an electrical repair service in Arvada, we are the team to work with!
Not doing aluminum wiring repair. Another electrical problem that could have detrimental consequences is not repairing or replacing outdated wirings such as made from aluminum. This kind of electrical conductor tends to get damaged easily so inspection and maintenance is definitely a must.
Over Customizing. Ironically, overly customizing the electrical system of the home can also make buyers become reluctant to purchase the property. Electrical systems need not be fancy. As long as they are optimized to give high-performance, reliable, safe, and can accommodate the needs of the residents, that should be enough.
Not replacing painted outlets. If you think this is an inexpensive alternative to somehow upgrade the curb appeal of the home, you are wrong. If anything, one proof that a home is poorly renovated can be seen on painted outlets. Instead of being impressed, home buyers will be turned off. Paint can affect the functionality of an outlet. It poses safety concerns since it can contribute to overheating and fire.
Missing GFCIs. Outlets in the kitchen, bath, basement, garage, or locations near a water plumbing should be GFCI equipped. This device will help prevent exposure to electrical shock once the electrical system fails or when it gets wet. It is common for residential homes to have GFCIs protection, so to avoid eyebrows raising, make the necessary upgrade.
Not fixing reversed polarity outlets. Although it sounds like a small issue, not correcting it could be dangerous. Appliances could get damaged and plugging electrical devices could shock someone. However, unlike other electrical issues, this is not something that is visible or can be detected right away. Hiring an Arvada electrician nearby is crucial for testing and repairing of outlets. Expert electricians like ElectriCall LLC can easily identify and correct the situation.
Exposed wirings and splices. Aside from the obvious safety risks, exposed electrical wirings creates an eyesore in the house. Any homebuyer will not be pleased with such sight.
Missing electrical panel components. Residential electrical panels are usually rectangular in shape and have two sets of electrical knockouts which are basically openings on the top, bottom, or sides of the electrical panels where wires are inserted. According to residential codes, these knockouts should have plugs snapped into place, especially when not in use.
Overlamping or using light bulbs that are incompatible with the light sockets or fixtures. More often than not, home sellers use high voltage light bulbs during home staging to brighten the interior of the house and create a more appealing effect to attract more buyers. That is very dangerous because such incompatibility can quickly deteriorate the electrical cables.

The bottomline

Avoid these electrical problems that will devalue your property. Some of these issues make the structural integrity of the home below the standards, hence will put the safety of the potential homebuyer at risk. Safety and comfort must be the top priority during and after the sale of home.

Hire our pro electricians in Arvada! Electrical problems can create inconveniences to both the home seller and potential homebuyer. Get in touch with ElectriCall and we will help you assess the electrical system of your home.

Electrical defects can be corrected by ElectriCall LLC. As a team, we have seen and fixed a variety of electrical challenges that contributed to the success of a home sale.

Rest Better with these Electrical Safety Tips

There are several benefits from acquiring the help of an electrician in Arvada, CO. To start with, you can guarantee that the electrical system of your home is updated and installed correctly. But, even if you are not an expert in electrical wirings, you can do preventive measures that will give you peace of mind. Rest better with these electrical safety tips we compiled for you.

Smoke alarms are commonly placed in the kitchen, but it is only right to install one on each floor of your house. That way, if a fire starts on the upper floor, you will get the alarm too. Check with your cities requirements for where to place smoke detectors. If you need help installing smoke alarms, give us a call.

Take time to audit any potential electrical issues and hazards in your house. Spend some time to inspect the outlets, extension leads, and plugs inside and outside your home. If you find the outlets are already producing burnt smell, that means you need to replace them. When it comes to outdoor electrical sockets, make sure they have covers to prevent small debris from entering and blocking the outlet that could later cause a fire. Putting a watertight cover will also help avoid it from getting wet and eventually electrocuting someone.

If your electrical outlets are positioned near conductors like the water system, know that it presents hazards. To resolve the issue, expert electricians recommend the use of a ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet or commonly known as GFCI. This is basically a type of outlet that will automatically shut off your power once an electric fault is detected. Have a professional Arvada electrician to assist you in installing this product.

Do not be careless to leave your mobile devices charging on or under a pillow. These kinds of devices tend to overheat and once they do, they could start a fire. As much as possible, do not leave charging electronic devices unattended. It is also not a good idea to let any gadget charge overnight because it can bloat the battery and cause an explosion.

Although it provides convenience, avoid using multiple extension outlets. There are probably times when you will need extra outlets, but you have to be careful not to overload the sockets. Best to do is have a residential electrician have a look at your electrical system and make the necessary upgrade to accommodate your needs.

Electrical burns can happen when appliances are plugged into an outlet. As a result, you might experience flash or arc flash, flame that could ignite other materials like your clothing, or electrocution. A faulty product can also create significant damage to the electrical wiring of the house and vice versa. So you might want to take note of any signs of malfunctions in your appliances and repair them right away. And when doing renovation or drilling holes in your wall, always be mindful of the electrical routing.

Keep away any flammable materials near sockets or plugs. For example, if you are using a portable heater or even an electric kettle, these things sometimes spark and create heat that could set hazardous materials in flames.

Find an electrician in Arvada, CO that will help you repair or rewire old electrical wirings. Outdated conductors like Aluminum wiring pose safety hazards. Copper wiring is the best to use in residential properties.

Clear out your hallways. Leaving clothes or toys lying around the house has many disadvantages. First of all, if you have an emergency that requires you to immediately get out of the home, these things could potentially block your way. And if there was a fire they could contribute to the build up of flames and prevent you from exiting.

Overheated clothes could ignite and spread throughout the house. Hence It is also not advisable to dry clothes behind the fridge or portable heaters. There are also numerous cases of dryer fires so we urge you to not leave your clothes drying unattended.

Regularly check your cables if they have become loose, have tear or damage, especially the cables you use for appliances and gadgets as they are often the most common to cause a house fire. Torn and frayed wires have significant risk issues, replacing cords that are worn out.

Electric blankets are another example of household items that often cause fire. Make sure that you are using it correctly and when storing, prevent it from getting tears that could damage the electrical components.

Curious kids tend to stick objects and even their fingers on electrical sockets. If possible, cover wall sockets to prevent children from getting injured, or worse accidentally setting the house on fire.

Installing or replacing an electrical component is not as simple as it sounds. Hiring a local electrician is the best route to choose. An Arvada electrician should be able to help you identify electrical problems and how to resolve them properly.

We hope these electrical safety tips can help you rest better. Follow these practices to best prevent small problems from getting bigger. Being mindful of the different household hazards and taking the appropriate actions will help keep you and your family safe.

There could be a lot more serious electrical issues in your house that are not visible. We can help you keep your home more safe for you and your family.

If your home needs an electrical upgrade and if you need more electrical safety tips, our Arvada electrician can assist you. We provide electrical services in the community. Call us to schedule an appointment.

The Benefits of Copper Wiring

Did you know that copper plated wiring will change your home for good? The benefits of copper wiring are immense that you would not want any other kind of material for your own home’s electrical system.

When to replace your electrical wiring

If your home was built between 1965 and 1985 when aluminum wiring was predominantly being used as an electrical conductor for most commercial and residential buildings.

If your outlets show discoloration or stains, it means that it has been in use for quite a while and have endured enough power surges.

If your light fixtures are always flickering whenever you plug an appliance, that means the electrical wiring cannot handle the power load and needs to be updated immediately. Moreover, if the breaker is tripping every now and then, that shows the need for replacement as well.

Contact our qualified electricians right away if you are noticing signs of faulty electrical wirings.

The benefits of installing copper wiring in your home

Is copper wiring in a house safe? Yes, it is. Copper wiring is the ideal material to use for any electrical wiring system. It trumps other materials like Aluminum for these top three reasons:

It is non-corrosive, which means it will not rust or degrade even when placed in a rough environment. And because of that, this kind of copper wiring lasts for over 50 years. This is an important benefit considering houses tend to be exposed to excess humidity or moisture that could make other metal materials rust.

The primary copper wire properties are ductility and malleability which simply means it can be formed into very thin wires and bent without breaking.

It is not only an excellent conductor, but it is also known to have an impressive coefficient of expansion. So even as more current flows through it, the copper wiring will not easily heat up, expand, and break.

It has an impressive melting point. Compared to other conductors, copper is unlikely to melt and start a fire, which is why professionals and qualified electricians choose this material.

It is easy to work with which makes the lives of Arvada electricians less stressful. Copper wiring can be stripped easily, bent into shape, and soldered with ease. For that reason, it is so much safer to handle.

It is durable, requires low maintenance, and resilient to changing temperatures.

It is compatible with other electrical components and materials installed in residential or commercial buildings. Copper works well with other metals without causing damage.

Why electrical copper wires are better than iron wires

First of all, there are different types of copper wires that are being used extensively in different industries like car manufacturing and commercial and residential construction. It has high electrical conductivity and the electricity passing through is not heating the wiring too much for it to break or spark and cause a house fire.

Many Arvada electrician experts would prefer to use copper when doing residential wiring repair. That is because they know that copper wire is durable which means it is capable of withstanding the changes in weather conditions. And because copper wires are braided with multiple threads, they are so much better connectors for electrical appliances and devices that need to be recharged like mobile phones and laptops.

Now, you are probably questioning what is wrong with aluminum and is aluminum wiring safe?

Just like copper, aluminum is another common material used as an electrical conductor in both commercial and residential. However, unlike copper, aluminum is not as strong as an electrical wiring material.

Long before copper wire became the standard for circuit wirings, aluminum was the ideal option for its cheaper price and flexibility. Unfortunately, if your house is using aluminum wiring, you might find yourself in a constant aluminum wiring fiasco. Since this kind of material has high thermal expansion and contracts when cooled, it can easily become loose, break, and trigger fire hazards. Hence, you will be doing aluminum wiring repair constantly.

Numerous factors could cause the failure of aluminum wiring connections. That includes its contact resistance against other materials, corrosion, and its Creep or the rate of change it undergoes over time.

When it comes to aluminum wiring mitigation, you have few options. One method is to rewire the whole structure and install copper wiring and follow the local building code. This may not be the most affordable way, but it will completely remove the aluminum wiring from your home.

Another method is to install a thermal strip known as AlumiConn or COPALUM which is a sealed terminal. Either of these two can be attached to the old aluminum wire to avoid the extensive and costly process of rewiring the whole electrical system.

If you are unsure whether your home has aluminum wiring, checking the electrical panel on your own might not be the best idea. Have the professionals do the investigation for you.

Our expert electricians can tell you more about the benefits of copper wiring, get in touch with us before you begin rewiring your home.