Does it take more energy to turn on a light than to leave it on?
No. There's no power surge when you turn on a light. Turning the light off ALWAYS saves electricity, even if it's for just a second.
Does it take more energy to turn on a computer than to leave it on?
No. There's no meaningful power surge when you turn on a computer. Turning the computer off ALWAYS saves electricity. Of course, you can also use the power saver feature.
Is there ANY consumer device that uses more energy when you turn it on than when it's already on?
No, not in practical terms.
I don't believe you. Everyone says there's a surge when you turn on computers and stuff.
There's a surge but it's so tiny you can't easily measure it. That's because it happens for only a fraction of a second, and the surge itself is modest. It's certainly not costing you any extra money, not even a penny. So there's no surge in practical terms. As far as you're concerned there's no surge at all.
Think of it this way: If a device used twice as much power as normal for one full second when you turned it on, that would mean that it cost you one whole extra second of electricity. Big deal. That's a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a penny. And in fact, the surge doesn't really last for a whole second, it lasts for only a fraction of a second, and the surge isn't close to twice as much power as normal, it's much less. Bottom line: Surge is so incredibly insignificant it's really like there was no surge at all, for all intents and purposes. There is never a penalty for turning on a household device.
Does it take more energy to cool a house in which the AC has been off all day, than to keep the AC running at, say, 85 degrees during the day?
No. Cooling a hot house down at the end of the day always takes less energy than leaving the AC running all day, even if it's running on a high setting.
Does a 240V device use more electricity than the same device designed to run off 120V?
No. The electric company charges you for watt-hours, not volts, and the wattage is the same. To figure volts you use the fomula V x Amps = Watts. A device that uses twice as many volts will use half as many amps, so the wattage will be the same -- and so will the cost.
Electrical contractor business
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Check out my Website and give me suggestions on how I can make it better.
I would like to share my website with everybody and see if any of you have ideas on how I can improve it. Thanks is advance. You can find my website @ http://pyeelectric.com.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Ask Questions Before You Hire an Electrician
While the majority of contractors are honest and capable, there are plenty of duds out there, a problem that trade associations acknowledge readily and are always working to correct.
Consumers tend to do a lot of finger-pointing, but they’d be much better off if they instead tried to get a handle on the basics of what a contractor does.
When you seek bids for work, you need to keep in mind that electrical contractors don’t necessarily handle all kinds of jobs. Some only do construction or remodeling work. Some do only minor repairs, such as installing a new light fixture or replacing an outlet or switch. So tell the electrician about the job you have in mind first.
In most municipalities, electricians need to obtain permits for larger projects, especially if a new circuit is being installed or an existing one is to be extended one. A permit isn’t needed for simple repairs, such as replacing an outlet or light or ceiling fan fixture.
Consider a permit your protection. Before the electrician can finish his work, an inspector from the city or town has to check and approve the work. The electrical contractor should always obtain the permit under his name, not yours, and post the permit on the job site. The cost of the permit is always included in the price of the job, and is, in most cases, based on a percentage of the cost of the work.
For insurance reasons, it's always best to hire a licensed electrician, especially when a permit is required. Knowing how skittish homeowners’ insurance companies are about consumer claims, it is important to make sure that the electrician can pay the damage in case he starts a fire.
The last thing you want when you hire an electrical contractor is to be sued if a worker is injured while working in your home. Before you hire a contractor for a large project, ask to see proof that he carries worker’s compensation. For a typical remodeling job, an electrician should carry a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance and worker's compensation coverage.
Before you hire a contractor for a large project, ask to see proof of current license, whether it is issued by the municipality, the state or both. Electrical contractors don't mind coming out to give you an estimate, but on a small job, they may lose money just driving to your home. Instead, the electrician may give you his minimum charge, or a fixed price for the job you have described.
On larger jobs, ask for an hourly rate. The average rate for a licensed electrician around the country varies from $45 to $65 an hour. Expect to pay more if a helper is needed on the job. You should also call two or three contractors and ask them to come to your home to give you an estimate.
You may think you'll save money by buying the materials yourself, but the Leviton Institute has found that it is better for the electrician to make all the purchases. If the electrician buys the materials, he's responsible for warranty issues, defective products, and broken or missing parts.
For example, if you bought a light fixture and the electrician finds a part missing during installation, it's up to you to go back to the store and get the missing part. Meanwhile, the electrician sits around and charges you by the hour. If the electrician buys the fixture and a part is missing, it's his responsibility -- and his time.
To install a new circuit, an electrician may need to drill or cut holes in the walls. Repairs aren’t generally done by the electrician. The same is true if you're having landscaping lights installed outside and the contractor needs to dig trenches in the lawn and uproot shrubbery.
On small jobs, the contractor expects payment when the job is completed. On larger jobs, the contractor will typically ask for 10 to 30 percent of the total job before work begins, with additional payments upon completion of certain stages. Don’t make the final payment until you've received a waiver stating that all suppliers and other workers on the job have been paid by the electrical contractor. Without this waiver, you may be responsible for these charges if the electrician doesn't pay them.
Consumers tend to do a lot of finger-pointing, but they’d be much better off if they instead tried to get a handle on the basics of what a contractor does.
When you seek bids for work, you need to keep in mind that electrical contractors don’t necessarily handle all kinds of jobs. Some only do construction or remodeling work. Some do only minor repairs, such as installing a new light fixture or replacing an outlet or switch. So tell the electrician about the job you have in mind first.
In most municipalities, electricians need to obtain permits for larger projects, especially if a new circuit is being installed or an existing one is to be extended one. A permit isn’t needed for simple repairs, such as replacing an outlet or light or ceiling fan fixture.
Consider a permit your protection. Before the electrician can finish his work, an inspector from the city or town has to check and approve the work. The electrical contractor should always obtain the permit under his name, not yours, and post the permit on the job site. The cost of the permit is always included in the price of the job, and is, in most cases, based on a percentage of the cost of the work.
For insurance reasons, it's always best to hire a licensed electrician, especially when a permit is required. Knowing how skittish homeowners’ insurance companies are about consumer claims, it is important to make sure that the electrician can pay the damage in case he starts a fire.
The last thing you want when you hire an electrical contractor is to be sued if a worker is injured while working in your home. Before you hire a contractor for a large project, ask to see proof that he carries worker’s compensation. For a typical remodeling job, an electrician should carry a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance and worker's compensation coverage.
Before you hire a contractor for a large project, ask to see proof of current license, whether it is issued by the municipality, the state or both. Electrical contractors don't mind coming out to give you an estimate, but on a small job, they may lose money just driving to your home. Instead, the electrician may give you his minimum charge, or a fixed price for the job you have described.
On larger jobs, ask for an hourly rate. The average rate for a licensed electrician around the country varies from $45 to $65 an hour. Expect to pay more if a helper is needed on the job. You should also call two or three contractors and ask them to come to your home to give you an estimate.
You may think you'll save money by buying the materials yourself, but the Leviton Institute has found that it is better for the electrician to make all the purchases. If the electrician buys the materials, he's responsible for warranty issues, defective products, and broken or missing parts.
For example, if you bought a light fixture and the electrician finds a part missing during installation, it's up to you to go back to the store and get the missing part. Meanwhile, the electrician sits around and charges you by the hour. If the electrician buys the fixture and a part is missing, it's his responsibility -- and his time.
To install a new circuit, an electrician may need to drill or cut holes in the walls. Repairs aren’t generally done by the electrician. The same is true if you're having landscaping lights installed outside and the contractor needs to dig trenches in the lawn and uproot shrubbery.
On small jobs, the contractor expects payment when the job is completed. On larger jobs, the contractor will typically ask for 10 to 30 percent of the total job before work begins, with additional payments upon completion of certain stages. Don’t make the final payment until you've received a waiver stating that all suppliers and other workers on the job have been paid by the electrical contractor. Without this waiver, you may be responsible for these charges if the electrician doesn't pay them.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Home Electrical Basics
Of the many kinds of home repairs, electrical ones tend to intimidate homeowners the most. Not only does wiring seem confusing, but the specter of electrical shock is scary. What most people don’t realize, however, is that doing certain jobs on your home’s electrical systems can be easy and safe if you follow basic safety precautions. The key to safety is to always disconnect the power from an electrical system before working on it.
Some electrical systems are safer and easier to work on than others: Most low-voltage, telephone, doorbell, and cable television wires, for example, are relatively harmless and easy to handle compared to standard-voltage lights and receptacles.
Lights, receptacles, and appliances are all connected to the primary standard-voltage system that is delivered through power lines by your electrical utility and then routed throughout your home’s wiring. Before working on any elements of the primary electrical system in your home, you must disconnect the power. Turning off a wall switch does not necessarily turn off the power to a fixture or receptacle; you must shut off the power at the circuit breaker.
Three wires enter most homes from the power pole—two “hot” wires and a third “neutral” wire. Each hot wire provides 120-volt current for conventional lights, receptacles, and appliances when paired with the neutral wire, which is normally kept at zero volts or “ground potential.” When both hot wires are used together with the neutral, they power large 240-volt appliances such as air conditioners and electric ovens.
In addition, most homes have low-voltage electrical systems with transformers that convert standard power to a lower, safer voltage (typically from 6 to 12 volts) for doorbells, intercoms, security systems, low-voltage interior and exterior lighting, and the like. Low-voltage electricity is also delivered through telephone lines for ringing phones. Audio and video or cable television signals travel through cables that, under normal circumstances, have no voltage.
Some electrical systems are safer and easier to work on than others: Most low-voltage, telephone, doorbell, and cable television wires, for example, are relatively harmless and easy to handle compared to standard-voltage lights and receptacles.
Lights, receptacles, and appliances are all connected to the primary standard-voltage system that is delivered through power lines by your electrical utility and then routed throughout your home’s wiring. Before working on any elements of the primary electrical system in your home, you must disconnect the power. Turning off a wall switch does not necessarily turn off the power to a fixture or receptacle; you must shut off the power at the circuit breaker.
Three wires enter most homes from the power pole—two “hot” wires and a third “neutral” wire. Each hot wire provides 120-volt current for conventional lights, receptacles, and appliances when paired with the neutral wire, which is normally kept at zero volts or “ground potential.” When both hot wires are used together with the neutral, they power large 240-volt appliances such as air conditioners and electric ovens.
In addition, most homes have low-voltage electrical systems with transformers that convert standard power to a lower, safer voltage (typically from 6 to 12 volts) for doorbells, intercoms, security systems, low-voltage interior and exterior lighting, and the like. Low-voltage electricity is also delivered through telephone lines for ringing phones. Audio and video or cable television signals travel through cables that, under normal circumstances, have no voltage.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Safety Tips For Decorating With Halloween Lights
In years gone by, the only time we used decorative lighting was at Christmas. Nowadays, light manufacturers are delighted to discover we decorate our homes and gardens for many other occasions, one of which is Halloween. It goes without saying that when using any kind of Halloween lights as decorations, specific attention has to be paid to safety.
Due to the fact that Halloween celebrations tend to take place in the evening or night time, using Halloween decoration ideas has become all the rage and as far as safety goes, there has been quite a lot of "trial and error" to get things just right.
New ways of safely using Halloween decoration ideas, and in particular the many Halloween lighting options open to you, are coming out every year and to help you keep protected, we have listed a few tips within this article.
To begin with, there so many kinds of lighting available for use. Halloween animatronics, using standard and Halloween LED lighting, strings of lights similar to the ones used at Christmas, hanging lights, solar lights, deck lighting, and Halloween LED light varieties are just a few of the options open to you when choosing your Halloween decorations.
The first thing to remember when it comes to safely using these lights is that they are like any other type of light. You do not want to place them in an area where water and other liquids will get on them, and you do not want to place them near items that may ignite with ease. Items that may catch on fire easily include paper decorations, certain types of plastics, cardboard, and similar items.
You may think the lights you have strung up in your front yard in that giant spider's web looks absolutely fabulous but really, there are far safer ways to display your decorations
You also need to think about the safety of individuals walking close by to the Halloween lights. If you mark Out pathways with lights you must take care to locate the lights in a place where they will not catch onto the clothing of your guests as they pass by, or incur any other kind of hazard.
Simply make areas where people will walk wide enough that there is no concern for this type of accident to occur. In addition to the tips listed here for standard lighting, it is important to avoid using candles as Halloween lights. Electrical and battery powered lights are the safest options.
Due to the fact that Halloween celebrations tend to take place in the evening or night time, using Halloween decoration ideas has become all the rage and as far as safety goes, there has been quite a lot of "trial and error" to get things just right.
New ways of safely using Halloween decoration ideas, and in particular the many Halloween lighting options open to you, are coming out every year and to help you keep protected, we have listed a few tips within this article.
To begin with, there so many kinds of lighting available for use. Halloween animatronics, using standard and Halloween LED lighting, strings of lights similar to the ones used at Christmas, hanging lights, solar lights, deck lighting, and Halloween LED light varieties are just a few of the options open to you when choosing your Halloween decorations.
The first thing to remember when it comes to safely using these lights is that they are like any other type of light. You do not want to place them in an area where water and other liquids will get on them, and you do not want to place them near items that may ignite with ease. Items that may catch on fire easily include paper decorations, certain types of plastics, cardboard, and similar items.
You may think the lights you have strung up in your front yard in that giant spider's web looks absolutely fabulous but really, there are far safer ways to display your decorations
You also need to think about the safety of individuals walking close by to the Halloween lights. If you mark Out pathways with lights you must take care to locate the lights in a place where they will not catch onto the clothing of your guests as they pass by, or incur any other kind of hazard.
Simply make areas where people will walk wide enough that there is no concern for this type of accident to occur. In addition to the tips listed here for standard lighting, it is important to avoid using candles as Halloween lights. Electrical and battery powered lights are the safest options.
Monday, October 25, 2010
How to save money on lighting in your home!
1. Open blinds and shades.
2. Fluorescent bulbs use 1/4 the energy of traditional incandescent bulbs and last six times longer.
3. Disconnect or remove lamps in multiple lamp fixtures.
4. Putting a lamp in the corner gives off more light than the center of a room.
5. Place security lights on a timer.
6. Use "task lighting."
* Direct light to the areas in a room where it's needed rather than keeping the entire room bright.
7. Check the "lumens" setting when buying a new bulb.
* The higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb.
8. Install dimmer switches on lights when possible.
* Fluorescent lights unfortunately can't use dimmer switches.
9. Use three-setting bulbs when possible.
10. Painting your walls light colors keeps your whole house or apartment brighter.
2. Fluorescent bulbs use 1/4 the energy of traditional incandescent bulbs and last six times longer.
3. Disconnect or remove lamps in multiple lamp fixtures.
4. Putting a lamp in the corner gives off more light than the center of a room.
5. Place security lights on a timer.
6. Use "task lighting."
* Direct light to the areas in a room where it's needed rather than keeping the entire room bright.
7. Check the "lumens" setting when buying a new bulb.
* The higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb.
8. Install dimmer switches on lights when possible.
* Fluorescent lights unfortunately can't use dimmer switches.
9. Use three-setting bulbs when possible.
10. Painting your walls light colors keeps your whole house or apartment brighter.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Why Consumers Need To Hire A Licensed Electrician
Electricity can be life-threatening and so it is always a great option to employ a pro instead of executing it by yourself. A practiced electrical engineer can do the piece of work in much lesser time and you can be sure of first-class work. It is essential for you to leave the tricky jobs to the professionals. Although electrical repairing can be pricey, make sure not to make do on quality. Enquire around and plump for advocated electricians to insure good quality service.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Ideas On How To Lower Your Electric Bill
Easy Strategies
Strategy
Up front cost Savings per year
(1) Use space heaters to heat only the rooms you're in, (rather than a central system that heats the whole house), and turning off the heat when you're not home.
$80 $1023
(2) Use ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner $100
if you don't already have ceiling fans $438
(3) Turn off lights you're not using $0 $274
(4) Use a clothesline or a laundry rack instead of a dryer $20 $196
(5) Sleep your computer when you're not using it $0 $178
(6) Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot or warm none $152
(7) Turn off a single 100-watt light bulb, from running constantly $0 $131
(8) Replace ten 60-watt light bulbs with compact fluorescents $32 $123
Total $232
once $2515
every year
Aggressive Strategies
(9) Replace top-loading washer with front-loading washer $500 $112
(10) Replace 1990 fridge with newer model $300 $68
Total $800
once $180
every year
Strategy
Up front cost Savings per year
(1) Use space heaters to heat only the rooms you're in, (rather than a central system that heats the whole house), and turning off the heat when you're not home.
$80 $1023
(2) Use ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner $100
if you don't already have ceiling fans $438
(3) Turn off lights you're not using $0 $274
(4) Use a clothesline or a laundry rack instead of a dryer $20 $196
(5) Sleep your computer when you're not using it $0 $178
(6) Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot or warm none $152
(7) Turn off a single 100-watt light bulb, from running constantly $0 $131
(8) Replace ten 60-watt light bulbs with compact fluorescents $32 $123
Total $232
once $2515
every year
Aggressive Strategies
(9) Replace top-loading washer with front-loading washer $500 $112
(10) Replace 1990 fridge with newer model $300 $68
Total $800
once $180
every year
Thursday, October 21, 2010
How to Buy a Backup Power Generator
If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes, it's a good idea to buy a backup power generator. Sometimes it doesn't even take a disaster to knock out your power. In Los Angeles a 2006 heat wave caused power failures across the region. One hundred and forty deaths were blamed on the heat.
To choose a backup power generator, take these steps.
Instructions.1.1
First assess how much energy you use. This will range from your simple compact fluorescent reading lamps to your refrigerator and other appliances. It's possible to run a single room air conditioner from a portable generator, but central air is problematic. It uses too much power. If you live in a hot dry climate, you might want to consider keeping your fans going or switching to evaporative coolers which drain a lot less power. In an emergency, a 2,000-square-foot home should get buy with a 5,000 to 7,000 watt generator.
2.2
Decide how you'll power your home. The simplest way is to use extension cords and plug your appliances directly into the generator. Make sure that the cords are grounded with three prongs with enough heavy duty capacity. Don't overload the circuits.
Another option is to plug the generator directly into your home electrical system. If you do so it is vital that you have a qualified electrician install a manual transfer switch that will power your electrical devices with either the generator or from your utility. If you were to plug in without the protection of this switch you could electrocute the utility linemen who come to your neighborhood to fix the power outage.
3.3
Determine how much you want to spend. Power generators vary enormously in cost and features. You can get a 2,500 watt generator for as little as $500. At the high end for 10 to 20 times that you can get a full standby generator that will turn on automatically at the first sign of a power outage, running on natural gas that will handle all the electrical demands of your home.
4.4
Make sure you have enough fuel. Generators are available that run on natural gas, propane and diesel, although the most popular models are fueled by gasoline. If there's a local major power outage, it's quite feasible that you won't be able to pump gasoline for either your car or a generator. If you are going to use a backup power generator, you should have enough gas to last at least for your expected outage. As an example, Homelite makes a 2,500 watt model that holds five gallons of gas that will last five and a half hours. The last major local earthquake knocked out my power for close to 24 hours. Be sure to plan accordingly.
To choose a backup power generator, take these steps.
Instructions.1.1
First assess how much energy you use. This will range from your simple compact fluorescent reading lamps to your refrigerator and other appliances. It's possible to run a single room air conditioner from a portable generator, but central air is problematic. It uses too much power. If you live in a hot dry climate, you might want to consider keeping your fans going or switching to evaporative coolers which drain a lot less power. In an emergency, a 2,000-square-foot home should get buy with a 5,000 to 7,000 watt generator.
2.2
Decide how you'll power your home. The simplest way is to use extension cords and plug your appliances directly into the generator. Make sure that the cords are grounded with three prongs with enough heavy duty capacity. Don't overload the circuits.
Another option is to plug the generator directly into your home electrical system. If you do so it is vital that you have a qualified electrician install a manual transfer switch that will power your electrical devices with either the generator or from your utility. If you were to plug in without the protection of this switch you could electrocute the utility linemen who come to your neighborhood to fix the power outage.
3.3
Determine how much you want to spend. Power generators vary enormously in cost and features. You can get a 2,500 watt generator for as little as $500. At the high end for 10 to 20 times that you can get a full standby generator that will turn on automatically at the first sign of a power outage, running on natural gas that will handle all the electrical demands of your home.
4.4
Make sure you have enough fuel. Generators are available that run on natural gas, propane and diesel, although the most popular models are fueled by gasoline. If there's a local major power outage, it's quite feasible that you won't be able to pump gasoline for either your car or a generator. If you are going to use a backup power generator, you should have enough gas to last at least for your expected outage. As an example, Homelite makes a 2,500 watt model that holds five gallons of gas that will last five and a half hours. The last major local earthquake knocked out my power for close to 24 hours. Be sure to plan accordingly.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
How to Know When to Call an Electrician
I want to do this! What's This? ..
The number of do-it-yourselfer's is growing, but there are still jobs that require a licensed expert, such as electrical work. Simple electrical projects like changing a light fixture, an electrical outlet or installing a ceiling fan can be done yourself. However, the situations described here are best completed by a licensed electrician. Read on to learn more.
Instructions
1
Resetting circuit breakers on a regular basis may mean your circuits are overloaded and need to be replaced.
2
Dimming lights when an air conditioner or other appliance comes on is a sign that there is a drop in voltage.
3
Seeing your lights flicker or smelling an electric-type burning odor may mean wire connections are not touching and arcing is occurring.
4
Overloading outlets or running extension cords to your appliances could pose a fire hazard and is best handled by having additional outlets installed.
5
Fear of doing an electrical project yourself could result in damage to the home or injury to its occupants. Electricians handle everything from small tasks to rewiring entire homes.
The number of do-it-yourselfer's is growing, but there are still jobs that require a licensed expert, such as electrical work. Simple electrical projects like changing a light fixture, an electrical outlet or installing a ceiling fan can be done yourself. However, the situations described here are best completed by a licensed electrician. Read on to learn more.
Instructions
1
Resetting circuit breakers on a regular basis may mean your circuits are overloaded and need to be replaced.
2
Dimming lights when an air conditioner or other appliance comes on is a sign that there is a drop in voltage.
3
Seeing your lights flicker or smelling an electric-type burning odor may mean wire connections are not touching and arcing is occurring.
4
Overloading outlets or running extension cords to your appliances could pose a fire hazard and is best handled by having additional outlets installed.
5
Fear of doing an electrical project yourself could result in damage to the home or injury to its occupants. Electricians handle everything from small tasks to rewiring entire homes.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Home Energy – Efficiency & Audits
Lower your household costs by regularly scheduling a home energy audit to improve and evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. A home energy audit is the first step every homeowner must do in order to assess how much energy your home is consuming. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time. During the audit, you can isolate that areas where your house is losing precious energy and in result, your hard-earned money. Home energy audits also determine the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling systems. An audit may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. You can perform a simple energy audit yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry out a more thorough audit on your home.
A professional energy auditor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy effectiveness of a structure. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.
Let’s get started. First, make a list of the obvious air leaks or drafts you notice in your house. The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5% – 30% per year, and the home is usually much more comfortable afterward. Check for indoor air leaks, such as gaps along the baseboard or edge of the flooring and at junctures of the walls and ceiling. Also look for gaps around pipes and wires, electrical outlets, foundation seals, and mail slots. Check to see if the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly, leaving no gaps or cracks, and are in good condition.
Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very large if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum. When your house was built, the builder likely installed the amount of insulation recommended at that time. Given today’s energy prices (and today rising energy costs), the use of insulation level might be inadequate, especially if you have an older home.
Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a forced-air furnace, check your filters and replace them as needed. Generally, you should change them about once every month or two, especially during periods of high usage. Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year.
If the unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing your system with one of the newer, energy-efficient units. A new unit would greatly reduce your energy consumption, especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition.
A professional energy auditor uses a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy effectiveness of a structure. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.
Professional Home Energy Audits
Professional energy audits normally involve multiple factors. Before the energy auditor visits your house, make a list of any existing problems such as condensation and uncomfortable or drafty rooms. Your energy auditor should do a room-by-room inspection of the residence, as well as a comprehensive assessment of your past utility bills. Auditors use this information to establish what to look for during the audit. The auditor first examines the outside of the home to determine the size of the house and its features. Walk through your home with your auditors as they work, and feel free to ask any questions.Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits
Don’t worry! You can easily perform a home energy audit all by yourself. With a simple but thorough walk-through, you can spot various problems in any type of house. When auditing your home, keep a list of the areas you have already inspected and all of the problems you found during your inspection. This list will help you prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades.Let’s get started. First, make a list of the obvious air leaks or drafts you notice in your house. The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5% – 30% per year, and the home is usually much more comfortable afterward. Check for indoor air leaks, such as gaps along the baseboard or edge of the flooring and at junctures of the walls and ceiling. Also look for gaps around pipes and wires, electrical outlets, foundation seals, and mail slots. Check to see if the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly, leaving no gaps or cracks, and are in good condition.
Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very large if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum. When your house was built, the builder likely installed the amount of insulation recommended at that time. Given today’s energy prices (and today rising energy costs), the use of insulation level might be inadequate, especially if you have an older home.
Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a forced-air furnace, check your filters and replace them as needed. Generally, you should change them about once every month or two, especially during periods of high usage. Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year.
If the unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing your system with one of the newer, energy-efficient units. A new unit would greatly reduce your energy consumption, especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition.
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Monday, October 18, 2010
Electrical Safety Tips For Your Home
Young children like to learn by exploring and touching. Elders and caregivers must conscientiously remove any electric perils in their home and keep their youngsters safe. First remove or mend any electrical tips loose electrical lines. If you have loose electric sockets or frayed wires sticking out from the wall, you ought to have the problems fixed by a trained electrical engineer. You can find one online. Also, replace any frayed power cords on electric appliances you use. In a number of cases you may have a frayed power twine corrected but you need to also consider replacing the appliance fully.
After any electric wiring issues in your house have been corrected, take a while to find out about electricity and what to do in the case of an emergency. When there are infants in your house you should know what to do in the case of an electric emergency.
Purchase a training DVD that will explain electrical safety in an easy to understand detail. If learning from a DVD is not for you, some communities offer electrical safety training for free through the electrical power company. The goal of learning about electrical safety is to not become an expert in electricity or electrical repair but to gain enough knowledge to be able to react in an emergency.
Now that you have training and the most pressing electrical hazards in your house resolved. Start childproofing your home. Cover all electrical sockets with plastic socket covers to prevent your child from poking items into the sockets. Be sure that the covers you choose to use cannot be removed easily by your children and are large enough that they are not a choking hazard.
Eventually , make preparations for the likelihood of an electric fire by buying a fire extinguisher specifically designed for electric fires. Water shouldn’t ever be used on an electric fire because the water has the ability to cause the fire to spread. Knowing about electrical safety means being prepared for the likelihood of an electric fire by getting a chemical fire extinguisher and checking the charge on your extinguisher annually.
While chances are you will never need to use your electrical safety training or use your fire extinguisher the knowledge of electrical safety tips in the home is vital to protecting your children. Take the time to take electricity and electrical safety rule serious and your house will be happy and healthy for years to come. Our experienced electricians will diagnose any electrical problem you might have and find a solution that makes sense at an low cost.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
J.C. Pye Electric "Our Prices Won't Shock You"
J.C. PYE Electric is a professional electrical contractor in Charleston,SC. area. We serve the following counties: Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester County. We are not like alot of contractors, who charge a large service fee, just to show up. We do commercial, residential and new construction. We also have a website so you need to come and check us out. We are here for all of your electrical needs.
Owner-Jake Pye III
Office#-(843)336-3426
http://pyeelectric.com/
Owner-Jake Pye III
Office#-(843)336-3426
http://pyeelectric.com/
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| "OUR PRICES WILL NOT SHOCK YOU" |
J.C. Pye Electric "Our Prices Won't Shock You"
J.C. PYE Electric is the name of our new business. We have over 20 years of experience in the electrical field. My Husband Jake decided to start his own business after he received his mechanical contractor licenses in South Carolina. Jake has worked on many electrical jobs in the past 20 years. Some of the jobs are listed below:
- New Homes on Isle of Palms, SC.
- Plenty of restaurants in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, SC.
- Service calls at local businesses and residential customers
- Generator Installations
- Landscape Lighting
- Service Upgrades
- Temporary Power Hookup
- Entertainment Systems throughout
- Outdoor Lighting
- Wired new garages
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