Smoke Alarms Save Lives

 

Most of us only think about our home smoke alarms when it starts emitting a shrill beeping sound, letting us know it’s time change its batteries. Perhaps, if we happen to be thinking about it, we may even get up on a chair and press the little button on the alarm to see if it’s working. However, smoke detectors are potentially lifesaving appliances and require more attention than an annual battery changing, or button pushing. This is why it’s imperative to ensure that you have a properly installed smoke alarm system in your home.

Consider the potential dangers of a malfunctioning smoke detector and you’ll see just how serious this issue is. For example, the Red Cross notes that almost a thousand people die each year from fire-related accidents where a smoke alarm was not in the home. In a less serious situation, lives may not be lost, but property damage from fire and smoke can be astronomically expensive. At the end of the day, not having a properly installed smoke detector poses the same dangers as not having one at all. This is why routine check-ups are essential for your safety as well as the safety of your loved ones.

Calling a certified electrician is the quickest and easiest way to make sure your smoke detector is installed properly. A trusted electrician can quickly help you make your home a safer place. However, since we’re talking about safety, be sure that your electrician is fully licensed and someone you can trust. There’s no point in calling the first number you see. You literally trust your life with an electrician when it comes to smoke detector maintenance. So, be sure you choose the person who has years of experience, good references, and treats your smoke detector maintenance with the respect it deserves.

The Danger of Starting Electrical Fires

Not very many people actually have a plan of action in case they ever come face to face with a fire in their home. Since we’re very young, it’s instilled in us that fires are bad and to be careful when playing with matches or other such flammables. After all, when we think of house fires what probably comes to mind is a candle tipping onto the tablecloth, near the curtains, or on the couch—all of which can are set to ignite after contact.

Of course we don’t live in an age of wax or candles anymore and these types of fires are rare to say the least. That isn’t to say that fires don’t still occur within the household, but the cause of almost one-third of fires that do occur are caused by faulty wiring, abused extension cords, or electrical system problems.

As common as electrical fires are, most of us are not properly equipped to handle an emergency situation—and hopefully we never have to. That’s where safety and prevention play such a critical factor. It is far better to catch potential electrical fire risks before they actually become a dangerous, very real problem.

While most places experience electrical fires during the winter months, when additional heating is necessary due to increased cold, there is a somewhat different dynamic for the West Coast—where winters are mild and summers are scorching. Most electrical fires in California take place during the summer months when air conditioning, refrigeration, and spinning/propeller fans are abused to try to keep cool.

One of the most important things to consider in preventing electrical fires is the proper use of electrical outlets and extension cords. Despite the fact that many extension cords have multiple slots available, it is safer not to abuse the capacity of a single extension. Some things that we plug into extension cords, such as external A/C, are meant to be plugged directly into a wall outlet and the strain our cords endure ends up being too much and could lead to overload and ignition.

Of course, there are heavy-duty cords available for those situations where you need an extension cord for an air conditioner, but it is also important to note that you shouldn’t use heavy-duty cords for general purpose plugs, since that can also result in an unexpected and undesired fire. If you are in doubt about whether or not your plugs are general purpose or not, it is always more beneficial to hire a licensed electrician to evaluate your electrical system and inspect the quality of your appliances.

Why You Need a Professional Fridge Service Provider

Nowadays, you rarely see a house without a refrigerator. They are always there in the kitchen, all cold and filled with leftover dinners, fresh milk, fruits and vegetables. They act like magic, helping us survive hunger. The problem though is that sometimes, we take refrigerators for granted. We are just too happy with its existence and capability to provide us food that we often forget that it also needs attention, maintenance, and proper handling. A broken fridge often causes mayhem in the kitchen. It is as if in the spur of a minute, nirvana was disrupted.

Before your kitchen goes into a state of panic, it is important that you pay attention to your refrigerator. Check if it’s still functioning properly, and if it isn’t, then it would be time to see if you can do it yourself or maybe call for professional help. With all the stock knowledge you have, a little elbow grease and a call to the right person, you can keep your refrigerator as healthy as it is.

If your fridge has stopped being as cold as it used to, check key areas of the fridge to ensure that everything is connected to its rightful place and that none are hanging loose. First, check the fuse box to ensure that power is flowing. Second, check the cord if it’s still alright, not frayed or worn out. Lastly, check the thermostat, maybe it’s just not set correctly. After some hours, you can then check if it's functioning properly again. If not, follow the next steps.

If you have finished checking everything and they seem to be in order, check if the coils are clean. Coils cool the refrigerant to keep it cool, releasing heat to the surrounding air, and then send the cold refrigerant to the evaporator coils. Make it a practice to clean your coils at least twice a year to keep it functioning properly. While doing so, make it a point to check the doors, the gasket and the seal. If the door fails to close, it might not keep your refrigerator cool.

Once you have checked all the basics and your fridge still fails work correctly, then it’s time to stop pretending to be a professional repairman and call for someone who can help you. The repairman will be able to detect the problem with your fridge and even your freezer and restore it to perfect health by performing necessary refrigerator repair work. By employing a repairman, you save yourself from the trouble of probably worsening the condition of your fridge, and you can even prolong its life and usefulness.

Electricity - Ground Fault or Arc Fault

No one can deny the enormous convenience that electricity brings into our lives. It lights our homes, gives us heat in cold winter nights, and help us get cool in summer. Every aspect of human life depends on electricity for convenience and productivity. Yet, everyone knows that electricity can be a friend or a foe, so some kind of protection need to be in place.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) are devices that keep us safe from electrical injuries and damages.

GFCI help prevent burns and electric shocks. Simply put, it is a current sensor. It is a device that monitors the current flowing through the hot and neutral wires. If there is an imbalance, it means electricity is leaving the normal circuit and flowing through unintended paths and if you happen to be in the path of this current, it is going to pass through you as it goes to the ground. GFCI detects this imbalance and shuts off the power to the circuit before it can cause you electrical shock or even kill you.

GFCI is best installed in pools and in our homes. GFCI is usually installed in areas where water and electricity meet. Water is an electric conductor, so it is best we protect our bathrooms and kitchens by installing GFCI protection. There is a greater risk of electrical shock in areas that are wet or damp.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters protect against broken conductors, and help prevent fires from faulty electrical wires. Electricity may leak out of damaged wires and can start a fire. AFCI detects leaking electricity from the electrical system, and shuts off the electricity before overheating occurs.

Homes with too many corded appliances must be installed with AFCI. Most appliance cords are routed under furniture or carpets. This is not safe because the cords may be damaged by the items placed over them. Or sometimes, wires are damaged because some friendly household rats are nibbling into them. When these cords are cut or damaged, the broken conductor is going to arc and continues to arc until a circuit breaker trips. Sometimes the carpets burns and fire breaks out even before the circuit trips.

AFCI can detect the initial arc resulting from broken conductors and immediately shuts the power off. And this device can differentiate normal arc, like turning a switch on and off, or unplugging a cord from an arc that is going to cause a problem. It can detect wiring problems in our homes that we may not even be aware of.

Basically, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters prevent shocks while Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters prevent fires. They can be installed by a qualified electrician to make our homes safer. 

Doing Electrical Work

When planning for home improvements, homeowners take into consideration not only the price of materials but also the amount of labor. This is the reason most homeowners go the do-it-yourself route. There is a proliferation of DIY books both in bookstores and in the internet. There are even free do-it-yourself tips on home improvements in the web. Homeowners who feel they have what it takes can install tiles, maybe paint or refinish parts of their house. A little mistake is not going to produce drastic consequences or cost them a fortune to correct.

But when it comes to electrical works, it is best for homeowners to leave the job in the hands of the professionals. Even a tiny mistake can cost them not only their homes but also their lives.

Most people who love to do-it-themselves think all they need for an electrical job is a set of electrical tools, forgetting that there is a special skill and know-how needed to do the job right, and overlooking the possible dangers that is involved in the job.

A little oversight can cause huge problems. Many overzealous homemakers hurt themselves through electrical shock by forgetting to shut off the power before they start electrical work. Without the proper qualifications, one can easily mess up the wiring and the result can be disastrous. For the safety of the house, it is critical that all electrical wiring be stable and secure. Firemen attest that most of house fires are caused by faulty electrical wiring.

Trying to save money by doing it yourself is not worth the risk. It may be fine after your quick fix but it could be dangerous down the line. Leave electrical jobs to the professionals. They have the training, the skill, and the ability to do it, and you feel more secure and safe.

Of course, you don’t want to hire the first electrician that comes around but don’t worry because there are steps you can do in order to find a top-quality electrician at an affordable price.

Find a list of qualified electricians locally. They are more careful to do a good job to maintain their integrity and business reputation in the locality. Checking with your homeowner’s association is a good option or talking to your neighbors and friends who might give you the names of their own electrical contractors is a good start. 

Check their references. Ask previous customers about the quality of their jobs and how much they were charged for similar projects so you know when you are being over-charged. Your need for an electrician depends on how large your project is. Will a master electrician be enough for your project or do you need him with a journeyman? Of course, hiring only one costs less.

Consider buying the materials yourself. Ask the electricians what kind of materials or lights they need, and you can then purchase them at wholesale stores to save more on your budget.

Some reputable electricians can be found online. You can then check if their specialties match your electrical service needs and you may even read comments and reviews of their projects on their sites. 

Request a quote and see what happens. A reputable electrician can give you a quote on the phone or visit your premises without charge to give you an assessment. The electrician who does not provide free quotes shows inexperience or may take the opportunity to extract money from you.

Hiring a reputable and competent electrician need not put too much dent on your budget. The important thing is be a little patient and never do the job that is meant for the professionals.