Are Your Breakers Protecting You!?

By: Blessed Electric and Air

Are you familiar with your breaker’s location? Most of us don’t think about it until our lights go out, and we must scramble to find it. Breakers, or electrical panels, distribute electricity throughout the home. Electrical wiring is connected to your home’s internal wiring through these connectors. Circuit breakers and fuses are designed to trip before circuit wires become dangerously hot. Your appliances and power sources may not work as a result.

The tripped circuit keeps your house safe by protecting the electrical wiring in your house when you use the toaster and microwave at the same time.

Electrical loads you send through your walls, not the number of appliances you have, make the power go out. If your circuit breaker trips or keeps tripping, there may be a problem with your home’s wiring.

That’s why it’s crucial to keep your systems up-to-date and secure or to upgrade them if necessary. Circuit breakers can be found in the following types:

  • Standard Breaker– The electrical flow is monitored from when the electricity enters the home to when it leaves through appliances and outlets.
  • GFCI Breaker– When an overload trips GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) breakers, the power to the circuit is cut off.
  • AFCI Breaker– Electric discharges in cords or wiring can cause fires if they are not protected by AFCI breakers (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters). These breakers immediately disconnect the damaged circuit when the arc builds up enough heat.

Contact us if your breakers need special attention. Blessed Electric and Air.

10 Tips to stay warm during the Winter

Winter is when your home should be a cozy haven away from the freezing temperatures. Thermostats can be an excellent way to warm your house, but they can also impact your energy bills.

Warming and weatherizing your home in the winter can help you keep your heating bill low without sacrificing comfort. You should install updated windows and inspect the insulation in your attic as permanent measures. If the skies are blue, you can let in warm air from the sun by purchasing a door draft stopper.

The following tricks will keep the cool air out of your home and the warm air in.

Warm and Cozy House

  1. Install Programable Thermostat
    1. Using a programmable thermostat gives you more control over the temperature in your home throughout the day so that it does not remain at 68°F throughout the day. During the day, keep your house warm, and then set your thermostat to lower the temperature when you’re away. If you arrive home or wake up in a cold place, schedule the temperature to return to normal before you step inside.
    2. The Home Depot sells intelligent thermostats that you can adjust from your phone even when you’re not home ($249, The Home Depot). Saving tons on heating costs is easy with this DIY upgrade.
    3. Intelligent learning thermostats automatically program based on your preferences and patterns while home based on your current temperature, and “The thermostat will adjust according to your patterns and settings as the weather outside changes,” According to Thumbtack’s Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and New Ventures, David Steckel. During the day, if the thermostat does not see any movement for a couple of hours, it will calculate that you are not home, so it won’t turn on the furnace. This will save you up to 10% on your heating bill.”
  2. Making sure heating vents are open and not blocked
    1. Blessed Electric and Air’s Jeff Robertson says closing vents does not save money because unused rooms are not heated. In Robertson’s opinion, the HVAC system at your home is vital to provide hot air in every room, regardless of how many open vents.
    2. Partially closing vents can help pump air into the right areas, but leave them open at least 25%. ” Your system will overwork if your ducts are fully closed, leading to higher energy bills and damage over time.
    3. Ensure your home’s warm-air vents, radiators, and other heaters are not blocked, so your heating system works as efficiently as possible. Ensure no obstructions to airflow, such as rugs, furniture, or curtains. To prevent dust buildup, make sure you regularly clean your furnace filter and clean these areas.
  3. Add Draft Door Stopper
    1. Doorways are easy entry points for cold air, but draft guards can keep it out. These handy objects are wrapped in fabric and weighted with sand to keep a chilled atmosphere from entering through the front door. Making your own is an option if you so desire. Make a doorway cover by cutting a length of fabric into a tube, sewing it together, then filling it with stuffing and closing it. Adding a draft stopper to the door will not stop the cool breeze from wafting in when you open it, but it will help when it is closed.
  4. Insulate windows with bubble wrap or plastic film.
    1. Bubble wrap and plastic film can insulate windows very quickly and cheaply. These window film insulation kits use transparent shrink film to create a protective barrier around drafty windows. Using a hairdryer, seal the plastic sheet to the adhesive tape after cutting it to the size of your window. The Wrap peels off cleanly at the end of the season.
    2. If you plan to use bubble wrap, choose a medium to large size ($15, Target). Small bubble wrap is too thin to block cold air and will not be as effective as oversized bubble wrap. Be sure to measure your windows before cutting the bubble wrap. Once that is done thoroughly, spray the window with a thin layer of water. The bubble wrap should be pressed to the window right after pouring, with the bubbles facing the glass. Bubble wrap will stick to the water and stay intact all winter long, keeping you warm.
  5. Seal your Windows
    1. Another good thing you can do is seal your windows. The best way to keep drafts out of your home is to replace old caulking and add weatherstripping, says Robertson. The first step in this process is to remove all corroding caulk from the frame. Remove the old caulk and use a caulk gun to apply a new layer. Apply a thin layer of caulk and smooth it out with your finger. In addition to sealing your windows’ exterior, you should close the interior.
    2. “In addition to updating your windows, this is an excellent time to switch to storm or insulated windows so that you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and stay warm this winter,” suggests Robertson.
  6. Open Curtains on a sunny day
    1. You can use this housewarming hack for free! Make sure you check the weather before you leave for the day. Let nature heat your home for free by opening the blinds and curtains around the house when the sun is out. Close all curtains at night to keep cold air out.
  7. Put your ceiling fans on reverse.
    1. Here’s a hack that usually goes unnoticed. According to Robertson, your ceiling fan operates clockwise during summer to pull warm air upward. During the winter, fans can also keep your home warm.

    2. “You can set them to run counterclockwise, which circulates the air and pushes warm air down,” Robertson says.

  8. Keep interior doors open.
    1. I am not referring to the outside doors in your home but to the gates surrounding the interior. There may seem to be some contradiction between closed doors to some rooms and the theory that they require less heating overall. It will help regulate the house’s temperature and keep your doors open. Robertson says this will allow air to circulate throughout the home.
    2. “Blocking off unconnected areas of the HVAC system, which have no purpose without it, makes sense,” Robertson says.”Where there are vents, heat will come out, and internal opening doors will circulate the [warm] air.”

  9. Boost insulation
    1. Checking your insulation as winter approaches can save you money, even if it is a little more involved. A thorough inspection of your insulation may be in order if you haven’t done so for a while. Added insulation to your home will help regulate the temperature and prevent energy loss through your basement and attic.
  10. Bake some treats
    1. Want to get warm fast? Here’s an idea. Turn on the oven to warm the house as you bake your favorite treat. Just a crack in the oven door, while it’s cooling is all you need to do when it has finished baking.

IMPORTANT: When the oven door has been open, turn it off. You can quickly and inexpensively heat your kitchen with heat. After all the heat has come out, close the door. If you have pets or small children, it is not advisable to do this.

Preventing Rodent’s

 

December will bring in those chilly temperatures. The cooler weather tends to drive unwanted outside visitors into our homes. Why is this important to note in relation to our electrical system? Well, rodents love to chew and seem to have a particular penchant for the insulation on your electrical work, which can damage your home systems and even cause a fire. Yes, rodents damage your electrical system! Here are a few tips on how to keep these furry pests away.

Signs to look out for that you may have an unwanted guest

  • LOOK: Rodents will leave signs that they are around. You just need to look

For them. The telltale sign that they are in our home is to see droppings.

Surely, you’ve seen them before they are a little black or grey and oval-shaped.

You may also spot nesting material in enclosed spaces. These materials can be

of numerous materials such as string, twine, insulation, leaves, or clothing.

 

  • LISTEN: You can tell if there is something crawling, scratching, or chewing on your

walls by listening for the noises

 

Winter is a good time to check your wiring!

  • Make sure your wiring is in good condition and hasn’t been chewed on periodically by inspecting the insulation. Of course, you will not be able to see what is behind your walls, but you will notice by looking around the house where you can see.
  • Pay attention to unexplained electrical problems. It’s possible that rodents are damaging your electrical system if you notice that some rooms or circuits do not have reliable power or if your breakers keep tripping without reason.

 

If you spot signs that a rodent or rodents are in your home, make sure to act promptly to remove them. The longer they stay housed inside, the more havoc they can cause.

  • Call a Professional
  • Combat the issue on your own using various traps and poisons available at the local store. Always read the instructions carefully to ensure the proper use of any method you decide to use. After all, safety in your home is the goal here.
  • Cats! They are a great deterrent for keeping rodents from damaging your electrical system and away from or out of your home.
  • The best way to avoid rodents from damaging your electrical system is to keep them out of your home. Caulk, foam spray, or other barriers can seal any cracks or holes around your home. Keep in mind that it is not uncommon for rodents to find tiny cracks or even chew their way in.

 

Remember, chewed wires in your home are a safety concern!

If you suspect rodents may have chewed through your electrical work, contact an expert DFW electrician immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                            

 

The Most Lucrative 8 Qualities in a Residential Electrician

You probably have some electrical works in your home and you’re looking to hire a good residential electrician. You want the best electrician in Texas, but you don’t know how to hire one. You’re definitely on the right page. You’ll learn what to look for in an electrician here.

Here are 8 things to consider when hiring a residential electrician:

1. Start by asking for reference

A good electrician is distinguished by their top-notch services. That’s why you should ask your friends, colleagues, family members, and anyone you know that recently used the service of an electrician. They should not only refer you to their electrician, but also let you know what they like about the service of the electrician.

This way, you’ll get the contacts of some good electricians. In other words, reference and positive reviews are some of the qualities to look for in an electrician. DFW electricians seem to be one of the best electricians in Texas, and we have wonderful reviews from clients. You may want to try us out.

2. Being licensed is important

Another thing to ask your electrician is their license. Even an unlicensed electrician will claim to have a license. This is why you should endeavor to see a copy of their license in your own interest. Remember, it is a crime to operate as an electrician without a license and it is also a crime to hire an electrician that is not licensed. With DFW electricians, you don’t have to worry about their licensure status because we are licensed to serve Texas.

3. Choose an insured electrician

For two reasons, you should hire only an insured electrician. If you’re being served by an insured electrician and an accident occurs, and one or some of the electricians get injured, their insurance company will foot the medical bills.  If you mistakenly hire an electrician that’s not insured, you’ll be liable for their medical bills.

Another reason to hire an insured electrician is that if any of your appliances or a part of your property gets damaged during electrical works, you’ll be duly compensated by the insurance company of your electrician. But if your electrician isn’t insured, you’ll be on your own. You may have to file a lawsuit to get the electrician to fix the damages. At this juncture, it is necessary to let you know that DFW electricians are fully insured. Hiring us will give you additional peace of mind.

4. Experience matters too

Only highly experienced electrical contractors can offer the best services. That’s why you should ask to know how experienced your electrician is. It is preferable to hire an electrician with at least 3 years’ experience gathered from serving Texas cities. It might interest you to find out that DFW HVAC technicians and DFW electricians have been offering top-notch services to the residents of Texas for several years. We are highly experienced.

5. Do they offer 24-hour services?

This matters too. You need an electrician or HVAC expert that is available 24 hours a day. What if your HVAC breaks down in the night? You don’t have to wait till morning to get it fixed. That’s why you need an electrician that provides 24-hour services. This is one of the hallmarks of DFW electricians and DFW HVAC technicians. Even if the electrical problem occurs at 2am, you can contact us immediately and we’ll hit the road instantly.

6.Knowledge of your electrical code

Every city has its electrical code. The electrical code is a set of regulations that must be followed in wiring and electrical installations. The main goal of an electrical code is the safety of all involved. And different communities have different electrical codes. So, you need an electrician that understands the electrical code in your community very well.

7. Great turnaround time

We all want the electrical problem in our homes fixed as quickly as possible. And this is understandable. Electricity is very important in homes. Most of the appliances that make our homes more homely are powered by electricity. Therefore, every electrical problem comes with a certain degree of discomfort. When it comes to fixing electrical problems, every second counts.

That’s why you must find out the average turnaround time of your electrician. That’s where we are head and shoulders above the rest. DFW electricians are trained to deliver speedy solutions. With our state-of-the-art equipment and wealth of experience, we can easily get to the root of every electrical problem and proffer the most cost-effective solutions.

8. Good reputation

It is also necessary to do your due diligence. When you decide on the electrician to hire, it’s necessary to search on Google for some reviews about them. Once you don’t find negative reviews about them, you’re good. On the other hand, if you see more than three bad reviews from different people, you may have to look for another electrician. We are proud to say you won’t find negative reviews about us – Blessed Electric & Air. We always put our customers first and we serve them with honesty. Most importantly, our rates are highly competitive.

Conclusion

We believe that the best time to search for an electrician is now. If a serious electrical problem arises in your home, you’ll be focused on getting it fixed as quickly as possible. You may not be able to check for all the qualities listed above. In fact, in that situation, you’re likely to hire the first electrician whose contact you stumble on. And you may end up in wrong hands. So, you should begin your search for a residential electrician now. In the alternative, since DFW electricians meet all the requirements discussed above, why not contact us today?