Arvada licensed electrician Archives

17 Holiday Lighting Safety Tips

Christmas is right around the corner but if you are thinking it is too late to put up Christmas lights, you are wrong. There is still time to make your days merrier with holiday lights. We have highlighted some holiday lighting safety tips so you can have a brighter and safer holiday.

This season is a time for joy, so do not let bad holiday light installation ruin your Christmas spirit. Revel in your light decorations while staying safe and warm. Keep on reading to learn about doing Christmas light installation safely.

1 – Watch the power lines

Keep your distance from overhead power lines when decorating outside your home. High-voltage power cables could be deadly. You do not ever want to accidentally touch them.

When decorating outside, keep your tools, Christmas lights, ornaments, and other decors away from power lines. You should also avoid hanging your light stings on trees that are near them.

2 – Switch to LED lights

Instead of using regular bulbs, why not consider energy-efficient lighting? They are an excellent alternative since they consume less energy and rarely overheat. Most LED lights also do not contain any toxic elements so they are so much safer to use, especially if you have kids or pets at home.

3 – Inspect your lights

Christmas light installation is a fun activity you can do with your family. But before making your home merrier and brighter, it is crucial to perform some precautionary measures.

Test the holiday lights before purchasing them. Look if there are any damaged bulbs. If you are using old ones, it is a smart decision to test if they are still in good condition before hanging them.

4 – Check the product reviews

Reviews and ratings say a lot about a product. If you are buying new Christmas lights, why not search the brand first. See the feedback of people who already used the item.

It is always good to read product reviews before paying for any type of Christmas decoration to avoid bringing home low-quality or hazardous items. It is highly recommended that you purchase electrical decorations only from reputable brands.

5 – Follow the fine print of the product

Read the product installation guide. Such a document exists to help consumers use the item properly and avoid it from causing harm. You do not really want your holiday decoration to ruin a happy moment.

Check the label that states the maximum wattage allowed and follow it. By reading the guide, you will learn if the Christmas light is safe to put on where you are planning to.

6 – Use a Holiday Light Timer

Turning your holiday lights off every now and then is important to prevent overheating its wiring. For this reason, you should have a light timer.

Generally, a light timer will not only cut down your electric bill but will also reduce the chances of accidentally setting your house on fire. Another advantage of installing a reliable timer is that you can have better control of the lighting system.

7 – Watch out for flammable materials

Be extra careful when hanging decorative lights that contain materials that can ignite easily. Keep in mind that Christmas lights can cause a fire since they’re made with wires where electricity passes through plastic materials that can easily burn.

8 – Plug in your lighting safely

A bad outlet can start a fire. Fix worn out sockets right away before plugging lights into it. You can purchase replacements in local hardware stores.

9 – Do not over decorate

When in doubt, do not over decorate. That is the rule of thumb when putting up holiday decorations. Christmas lights can bring holiday cheer, but hanging too much can be overwhelming. Instead of beautifying your home for the holiday, it might look crowded.

Plan ahead what you want and only put up what is needed so you can avoid dangerous circuit overload. Typically, you will only need less than 150 bulbs per vertical foot.

10 – Illuminate your home with the right voltage lighting

Landscape lighting can make your outdoor space look at its best after dark. It is often set up to make an area appealing especially when there is ice decor. Aside from that, it prevents intruders from trespassing your property.

When doing landscape lighting, use the right voltage bulbs. Check whether the voltage bulb matches the voltage supply. Do not use a very low one because it could affect their glow, and a very high voltage can make the bulbs explode.

11 – Take down your lights at the end of the season

It is highly recommended to remove your holiday lighting when the season is over. Bring them inside not only to avoid raking up your electric bill but also to prevent it from causing problems.

Once your electric decorations are brought back to the attic, you might even start feeling less anxious about having an accidental fire. Store them properly if you are planning on using them next year.

12 – Decorate professionally

If you are wondering how you can wrap Christmas tree lights professionally, the first thing you need to do is measure the tree. Measure the trunk or branches that you wish to cover with lights. And then, determine the spacing and the exact length of lights you need.

13 – Avoid using a staple gun when hanging the lights

A staple gun can tear the protective cover of the light’s strings and causes the wiring to be exposed. That really is unsafe and might cause electrocution. It can also damage the paint of your home and leave marks everywhere.

Instead, use adhesive tape which is so much easier to put or remove. Plus, it is safer to use. You can also try plastic clips which can be bought in local supplies stores.

14 – Consider where you are hanging the Christmas lights

You have a lot of options when putting up holiday lights. You can either hang it indoors or outdoors.

When decorating outdoors, use incandescent bulbs or decorative lights that are designed for the exterior. Make sure they are weather resistant and safer to use. Use an outdoor receptacle or protective cover when necessary.

On the other hand, indoor Christmas lights look good around a nativity scene or animated displays. It can make the decoration more alive and pleasing to the eyes. But be especially strategic when decorating indoors to avoid disasters from happening.

15 – Limit the number of lights plugged into your outlet

There is only so much electricity one outlet can handle. If you plug everything in the same source of electricity, there is a tendency that it will spark, tap the breaker, or worse, cause a house fire.

16 – Keep extension cords away

An extension cord is an essential item in the house. It is handy especially during the holiday season where decorations and lightings need to be plugged in. However, many people get injured from electric outlets lying around.

When using an extension cord, remember to keep it away from the reach of children or pets. Place it away from the walkways. But, do not run it inside the walls or ceilings because it might overheat. You should also place it far from water sources to avoid short-circuit.

17 – Stay away from metal materials

As much as possible, avoid attaching the Christmas lighting near or around a metal. There have been a lot of cases where people got electrocuted from lighting mistakes.

A decorated metal pole is one example. Keep in mind that metal conducts electricity, so if the lighting becomes faulty, it can make electricity travel through the metal and cause electric shock.

Have A Jolly And Safer Christmas

Holiday light installation is definitely a huge part of the Christmas celebration. To some families, it is a tradition that makes parents and children closer to one another. And who would not be captivated by the beautiful holiday decorations embellished with light strings everywhere?

Following the holiday lighting safety tips above will not only make heads turn but will also give you peace of mind knowing that you have done your Christmas light installation the right way.

How Landscape Lighting Can Improve Your Life

Ever since 2009, homeowners have been investing in the growing trend of outdoor living. the kitchen, living room and even inside activities are enhanced in outdoor spaces. The new drift on outdoor living has also made landscape lighting more appealing.

Landscape lighting can truly make any outdoor property appealing and it also comes with security benefits. If you’re wondering if outdoor lighting is best for your house check this out. We’ll give you reasons to give your outdoor space an illuminating change.

1. Effective way to secure your property

We know that burglars often attack at night when no one can see them, you can ensure safety by using landscape lighting in dark areas. A well-lit and maintained outdoor area is often an indication that you take security seriously and thieves will think twice before going into your space.

If you’re worried about increasing the electric bill, you can use motion light sensors that will only turn on if it senses any motion around it. These kinds of light sensors will serve as a bad surprise for any trespassers. There are also outdoor lighting systems that automatically turn on when it’s dark or at a specific time.

2. Magnifies curb appeal

Whenever you upgrade in and out of your house, its property value increases. A lot of house buyers will often visit the property they are eyeing on at night to see how it looks. If your property has good landscape lighting it increases the curb appeal and value.

If you invest in a company that offers quality outdoor lighting service, they will know where to put lights that will highlight the structures of your house. It will also give emphasis on the overall architectural design of your house that often catches the attention of possible buyers.

3. Makes the outdoor living space lively

If you’re the type to host parties every weekend, you can easily extend the celebration outdoors with the help of great landscape lighting. A well-lighted outdoor living space automatically sets the ambiance for your guests.

The landscape lighting can also serve as a conversational piece between your guests. While it highlights the overall structure of the house, it can also be used to accentuate decorations or pieces in your outdoor area.

Outdoor lighting will also benefit you and your family. The lighting provides a relaxing atmosphere where you can quietly sip coffee or have a romantic dinner with your partner while your kids are playing.

4. There are different options to choose from

Depending on how you want to light your outdoor spaces, you can choose from the traditional high-powered lights or the ones with low-voltage. The first one may not be a good idea if your house is near your neighbors. The high floodlights are best used in large areas such as a football stadium that needs every space illuminated.

If you don’t want neighbors complaining, go for landscape lighting that uses low-voltage requirements. This kind of outdoor lighting mirrors as a security feature for your house since it can be placed around your property. Also, you as the owner of the property are given enough control on how and what areas are lighted.

The good thing about landscape lighting is that you can have it adjusted to your personality. You can choose from a wide variety of shapes and even designs. You can also have it matching the architectural structure of your house. From a functional design with an aesthetic value, landscape lighting will surely add beauty to your outdoor space.

5. Enhances safety for everybody

Outdoor lighting is not just meant to deter trespassers it also helps keep your family and friends safe while walking on pathways or driveways. Some of your guests are not familiar with your pathway especially during nighttime so landscape lighting really helps.

Imagine not having lights near the stairs or uneven walkways and one of your guests encountered an accident just because the area was not well-lighted. You can easily avoid this misfortune by strategically placing the lights on places people can see where they’re walking. You can put the lights on areas that people frequent on like pools, patios, and decks.

Read more: Safety Tips In Rewiring A House

Keep in mind that your home is always a source of pride and if there are ways for you to continue improving its structure, you should invest in it. If you live around the area, we can recommend a great Jefferson County electrician, such as ElectriCall that can help you with installing landscape lighting for your property.

Electrical Safety Tips for Children

The home is supposed to be just a place for comfort, safety, and fun. It should not bring about some worries when we are raising children. Most parents constantly have thoughts about their child’s safety every day. We need to at least save our sanity by crashing out harmful dangers one by one. And a great danger that we want to crash out is electrical dangers, especially those in our homes.

It is estimated that at least 4-5 children below six years old are admitted every day due to an incident with an electrical receptacle. This tells us that we can never really tell what goes on in playful little minds. But, electrical accidents can be prevented as long as parents take these extra measures.

See from the child’s point of view. You are your child’s first line of defense in electrical safety monitoring. The topmost effective way of reducing any harmful danger is to look at the risks from your child’s perspective. For example, your toddler is going to be crawling under the bed or the dining table. Hence, you should get on all fours and do your version of an electrical safety inspection. Exposed power strips or unused outlets are only visible if you look underneath.

Educate your child about electrical safety. You can start teaching your child educational lessons as soon as they can crawl. While you can’t expect your toddler to understand a complicated explanation for why it is dangerous to stick his finger in an electrical outlet, you can begin the educational process by firmly telling him “NO” whenever you perceive a potential danger. After that, give your toddler a nice reward for doing the right thing.

Electrical safety education goes a long way. You can take your child around your home and explain how power passes throughout your home by wires. You can also demonstrate how plugs function and talk about how the power company has worked to make your lines safe. If these sound too much of a task, you can just let your child watch videos about electrical safety outside the home. Most of these videos contain the following reminders:

• Fly kites away from power lines. If the kite touches the energized power line, electricity finds the quickest way to the ground, thus, electrocuting the child.

• Don’t fly drones near power lines. Flying toys that hit a power line can either cause a power outage or a hazardous downed power line.

• Don’t climb trees near power lines. Branches touching the wires can energize the tree.

• Don’t play on transformers. While underground pad mount transformers are marked with a safety warning, children are still reminded to not play around these boxes.

• Electricity and water is a deadly combination. Keep all electrical stuff away from water. Similarly, don’t plug electronics that have been damaged by water.

Secure and maintain all electrical appliances. Frayed or worn out cords on kitchen appliances and lamps can cause electrical injuries. Whenever you see an electrical cord that shows signs of wear and tear, dispose of it right away. It is also worth noting to keep all cords out of areas where someone can trip. Remember to not pinch them in doorways or run them under rugs.

Childproof empty outlets, occupied outlets/power cords, and power strips/bars

• For outlets that have nothing plugged into them, use electrical outlet caps. The front is made of non-grippy plastic so that your little one won’t be able to pull them out. Another option is to use sliding plate covers. The spring-loaded piece of plastic in these covers will slide over the outer slots and will automatically snap back after taking the plug out. While electrical outlet caps achieve the same effect as the sliding plate covers, many users prefer the sliding plate covers since it is more secure and safe.

• Essentially, you want to stop your child from plugging things in and out. To refrain him from being able to unplug anything, use outlet covers. A more inexpensive way to childproof occupied outlets/power cords is to block off access to the outlet with furniture.

• Power strips or bars are a huge hazard for little kids, especially for a crawling toddler. This is because anything that sits on the floor and has a bunch of wires sticking out becomes the most inviting thing to play with. To childproof power strips/bars, use power strip covers. These plastic shields go over the top of the power strip and let the cords stick through.

In a modern world that relies heavily on the use of electricity, nothing beats your watchful eyes around electrical hazards. While you can childproof everything electrical, troubleshooting may happen at some point. As this is way beyond your capabilities, contact your electrician home service nearby.

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The Importance of Electrical System Inspection

Wear and tear problems on electrical systems, i.e. loose electrical outlets, are one of the many issues residential and commercial property owners face. While some of them are easy to fix, there are problems that need to be thoroughly evaluated and addressed especially if the problem keeps on recurring without apparent cause. In this case, skills and knowledge that only a licensed electrician bear are a must to ensure the quality of work. To prevent or eradicate electrical hazards in your property, a quality electrical system inspection on a regular basis by your trusted electrical service company will be necessary.

But before the problem escalates, as a homeowner or an occupant in a commercial property, it pays to be knowledgeable of the ABCs in inspecting and tightening electrical outlets as soon as you spot one.

Electrical Outlets Inspection

Although you already know which outlets in your property are heavily used and which ones are rarely touched, there is still that likelihood that you are going to forget the ones placed behind any fixture in your place. And if these outlets are loose but left unnoticed, you may be exposing your family or your company to electrical-related risks which can be fatal, i.e. fire, electrocution.

So when inspecting your electrical outlets, here are important signs to look out for, indicating that you might need to call your trusted electrician in Arvada:

· Burns or Signs of Burns

· Frayed Wires

· Loose wires and outlets

· Loose faceplates

· Scorch Marks

If after an initial inspection, you could only notice loose wires and outlets, then a DIY electrical outlet repair would likely be safe. Otherwise, do not attempt such a dangerous repair. Call your trusted team of licensed electricians instead.

The Importance of Electrical System Inspection

Loose or damaged electrical outlets is just one of the many problems you would not know that could be putting your family or your property in danger. And it’s easily preventable after having an electrical system inspection carried out.

What are the other perks?

Regular inspection performed by an Arvada licensed electrician, such as ElectriCall will help ensure that all your wires and appliances are in working order, reducing the risks of accident or unfavorable incidents.
It will help you avoid spending on major repairs that you could have avoided if immediate electrical fixes were given.
An electrical system that is working at an optimum will help you save on energy consumption, thereby allowing you to save on your electricity bill.
Last but not least – safety. With a proper electrical system inspection carried out by a reliable electrical service company like ElectriCall, any possible complications with electrical connections, wires, circuits, or expanding fuses that can magnify risks of electrocution or fire can be significantly prevented. A real seasoned electrician will be able to spot if electrical wiring is outdated and poses a hazard. This perk alone makes your investment totally worth it.

ElectriCall can help!

In need of a reputable electrician in Arvada or Denver, Colorado that can perform an electrical system inspection or any electrical-related service, with premium quality and reliability? Give us a call at ElectriCall. Here, we are a team of highly qualified, licensed electricians nearby who have gained extensive experience after serving hundreds of clients in the greater Denver area. We have been of service for years and we have earned the trust of our clients because of the quality of service we provide at a reasonable price. We have been the leading electrical service company in and around Arvada, Colorado for a reason.

Eliminate electrical hazards in your property asap; call us today!