Everyone is looking for ways to reduce energy consumption and use energy responsibly. Electricians are the experts in home energy audits, electrical repair, design, installation and upgrade. If you are planning to remodel or build, or if you need electrical repairs, or you just want tips on how to save on energy costs, you will find expert info here.
Whether you’re caring for an aging parent or ailing grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult child, a granny pod can be an excellent solution. Designed as a compact, free-standing living space with built-in accommodations for the ill or elderly, a pod can be placed in your backyard, making caregiving more convenient, reducing stress and improving quality...
Whether you live in a region subject to brownouts or you’re simply interested in protecting your home from the hazards of ongoing voltage surges, a whole-house surge suppressor is a smart investment. Power surges can cause thousands of dollars of damage. A single lightning strike can instantly produce a burst of high voltage that travels...
Brownouts, blackouts and surges are three of the most common power issues. To protect against their potentially damaging effects, let’s look at common causes, risks they pose and actions you can take. Brownouts Brownouts or power sags occur when there are temporary drops in the power supply. These drops may cause lights to dim or...
Weather is a leading cause of power outages, so generator sales skyrocket whenever a major storm threatens. They’ve helped many families survive storms with greater confidence, because the household has an alternate power source if an outage occurs. They’ve also proved to be so useful, many families take the next step and invest in whole-house standby...
If you’ve ever lived through a power outage that lasted more than a day or two, you understand the advantages of having a backup generator as part of your household equipment. Generators come in sizes ranging from remarkably compact to quite large, and they’re generally classified in one of two ways: Portable generators are smaller,...
Power outages bring risks and challenges no matter when they occur. Summer outages can be quite difficult, but when the weather outside is bitterly cold, these difficulties can quickly escalate from demanding to dangerous. Because winter outages are marked by an especially hazardous combination of conditions, follow these savvy steps to safeguard your family and...
Weather is one of the leading causes of power outages in the US. While some are related to severe storms, others are caused by excess power demands due to extreme heat. Elsewhere, we’ve outlined commonsense steps to take when the power goes out, but summertime outages pose special challenges and risks. Winter outages tend to be...
No matter where you live in the US, you and your family are likely to experience an average of one or two power outages a year. In most instances, outages are brief and power is restored in a few hours or less. Since it’s impossible to predict how long any outage might last, follow these...
It never fails. Every time there’s a major power outage, someone asks, why aren’t power lines buried underground? It’s a valid question, since buried electrical distribution lines are less vulnerable to storm damage and falling trees, two factors that contribute to significant outages. Undergrounding, a casual term for buried power lines, is a common practice...
Whenever there’s a significant power outage, someone trots out statistics comparing US power grid performance to that of Europe. While such comparisons can’t be avoided and many of the criticisms are legitimate, understanding some of the fundamental differences helps put the issues into context. Power Outages. When US power outages are compared to those in Western...