As the cost of living continues to rise and household incomes continue to be squeezed, it is worth looking at how and where you can save some money. In many households, the electrical bill accounts for a large chunk of the monthly budget; however, there are ways that can help to bring it down and save you some money.

Are There Electrical Providers That Cost Less Than Yours?

The first thing you can do is to check to see if you could save money by switching to a different provider. Comparing different offers from electrical companies will help you to identify whether you could save money on your energy bill. If you do not understand any of the terminology used, an electrician may be able to explain the electrical terms to you.

You can also save money by checking with your provider to see if there is an off-peak time of the day when the electricity rate is cheaper. You can then schedule those times to use things such as your washing machine, dishwasher, or even your stove for cooking. Because you are being charged at a lower rate during those hours, you will save money while doing your normal household chores.

Turn off and Unplug Devices When Not in Use

Another simple way to save on your electric bill is to switch off or unplug devices when they are not in use. Consider using plug connectors and then grouping devices that work together such as your TV and DVD player for instance. That way, you can switch off the connector when you are finished, and all devices on that plug will be switched off, saving you money compared to if they were just left on standby.

Other ways that could save you money include switching off lights when you leave a room, using lower-powered bulbs, and avoiding the use of things such as the dryer or air conditioner as much as possible. Remember to consult an electrician or qualified professional if you are not sure about anything electrical.

From your cell phone to your washing machine, you’ll find all kinds electronics in your home.  Entertainment, lighting, comfort, and even cleaning can be electrically powered.  Most people know that it’s a good idea to disconnect electronics during an electrical outage or lightning storm.  This is due to possible electrical surges.  Electrical surges are sudden increases in current that can damage connections and electrical components throughout your home.  Most devices have some protections, but strong surges can overpower these protectors, leaving you with a very expensive paperweight after the surge is through.  Fortunately, surge protectors exist to stop this from happening.

A sudden increase in current occurs when more power is being delivered to the same system.  If a lightning storm strikes a transformer or relay that’s connected to the same grid you’re on, excess power is diverted to your home and creates an increase in current.  This sudden surge is what damages components.  But, it isn’t just limited to sudden electrical discharges either.  When power is applied to a system, it has substantial initial current.  This is known as inrush current and is the reason that you’re advised to disconnect electronics whenever there’s an outage.

Once power is restored to a system, either because you turn on a switch or the power grid is reconnected, initial current surges into the system.  Disconnecting devices helps to decrease that inrush current.  The electrical panel in your home is also designed to handle inrush current, which is why your breaker system doesn’t automatically trip whenever power is restored.  On a smaller scale, any sudden call for extra power pushes a small surge into the system.  When you power up an electric vacuum cleaner or portable space heater, there’s a small surge.  The more powerful the device, the larger the surge.  These are the types of surges that common surge protectors guard against.  For lightning strikes you’ll need something better.

While the majority of surges are protected against by those tiny power strips, because most surges originate inside your home, they aren’t strong enough to protect against the dangerous surges that will irreparably damage your in-home electronics.  Most homewoners prefer the power strip surge protectors because they’re inexpensive.  But, while a whole-home surge protector can cost over $200 to add on to your home, they don’t suffer from many of the drawbacks found in the tiny in-home protectors.

Whole-home surge protectors guard your entire home from outside surges.  They’re installed near and wired to the electrical service panel for your home.  Any power surge that travels to your home is immediately shunted away, preventing disaster from ever reaching your home.  You’ll find that whole-home surge protectors are also not as fragile as standard home surge protectors.  They’ll last for years and are less likely to be burnt out by a single surge.  A quality surge protector is capable of shunting tens of thousands of amps without burning out.

If you want the best in electrical protective devices, a whole-home surge protector is the right choice.  Compared to most safety installations, they’re relatively inexpensive and you only need to install one device to protect your home for years.  It’s still a good idea to use power strips to protect in-home devices from smaller surges, but you need a quality surge device to protect against lightning storms or substation surges.

For the best in quality electrical repair work and installations, contact the professionals at Custom Electric!  Be sure to check back here each week for helpful advice, news, and guides or follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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