It’s always easy to tell when summer rolls around.  The temperature outside soars, and so does your electricity bill.  Wouldn’t it be great if a top Dallas electrician could save you money on your electric bill?

Everyone knows why your bills get so expensive; you’re running your AC almost all the time.  In fact, the condenser for your air conditioning unit uses more electricity during the summer months than any other appliance in your home, even notorious energy hogs like your refrigerator. There are things an electrician can do to save you money, and electric safety tips you need to know to protect your home, business, and loved ones from disaster.

These days most people call an AC service company the minute an air conditioning problem comes up.   That isn’t always the correct move, though.  In my experience, about half of all the problems that arise with air conditioning systems are electrical problems.  Some of my best customers began using my service because I could help them figure out whether they should be calling an electrician or an HVAC technician to solve their problem.  Obviously, if the problem is the AC unit or condenser, an AC repairman is the way to go, but he doesn’t necessarily understand the details of your home or business electrical system.  There are a few things you should know about your air conditioner from the electrician’s point of view.

Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS): RoHS Compliant

RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. Certain materials used in electronics and electrical products have been deemed hazardous to people and the environment and, therefore, must be limited. For a product to be RoHS compliant, testing must be performed and documented to show limited or no use of cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

Warranties

Super Bright LEDs, Inc. offers a minimum 2-year warranty to protect against manufacturer defects and malfunctions. Longer warranties are available depending on the product. If you experience failure of an LED or other component not caused by negligence, abuse, unauthorized repair, or disassembly, we will replace the product within the warranty period. If the same product is no longer available, a product of equal value may be substituted.

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Lifetime Warranty

Super Bright LEDs, Inc. offers a Lifetime Warranty on a variety of products to protect against manufacturer defects and malfunctions. If you experience failure of an LED or other component not caused by negligence, abuse, unauthorized repair or disassembly, we will replace the product. If the same product is no longer available, a product of equal value may be substituted.

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CE: Meets European health, safety, and environmental standards

In order for certain products within controlled categories, such as electrical and electronic devices, to be legally sold in the European Economic Area, they must bear a CE label, which stands for Conformité Européenne (European Conformity). Products with this label meet environmental, health, and safety standards put into place by European legislation.

UL Recognized: Product component safety and environmental certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) LLC

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) LLC is an independent testing agency that works to verify product safety and quality. A UL-Recognized label ensures that a product component, such as a power supply or LED light strip, has been tested and verified as safe to use in a UL-Listed product. UL-Listed product samples are tested by UL and meet their Standards for Safety requirements.

DLC: Listed as a quality, energy-efficient product by the DesignLights® Consortium (DLC®)

The DesignLights Consortium® (DLC®) partners with energy-efficiency groups and utility companies to establish a set of standards for commercial LED light fixtures. The product is tested and must meet quality, energy-efficiency, and performance requirements to be added to the DLC’s Qualified Products List. For more information, click

DOT Approved: Approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT)

The Department of Transportation (DOT) sets strict guidelines in respect to external vehicle lighting that must be followed in order for a light to be street legal. Vehicle fixtures, such as headlights and tail lights, that have a DOT mark are legal, safe, and considered to provide suitable illumination for street use.

SAE International Class 1: Classified for use as emergency vehicle lighting by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

Vehicle warning lights are ranked by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) according to class. A Class 1 LED light delivers the most amount of light (in comparison to class 2 and class 3 lights) and is ideal for emergency lighting on ambulances and fire trucks as well as police and rescue vehicles.

ETL Listed: An ETL-Listed product meets national safety standards

A product that bears an ETL-Listed label has been evaluated by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and meets national product safety standards. An ETL certification is accepted in the U.S. and in Canada.

FCC: Complies with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. Won’t cause harmful interference.

Products with a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) label meet all requirements and rules set forth by the FCC and won’t cause interference with other electronic devices. According to FCC’s website, “The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.” Products that generate radio frequency (RF) energy, such as RF remote controls and certain LED light bulbs, are tested to ensure that they are within the FCC’s guidelines and limits and do not cause harmful interference.

SAA: Standards Australia (SA) compliance

Standards Australia (SAA) is a company that establishes guidelines and rules known as Standards. In an effort to create a sustainable environment, these Standards are designed to ensure that products are safe and function consistently. Products with an SAA label were tested and comply with set Standards.

IP65

The weatherproof product allows zero entry of dust. It is protected against jets of water and may allow limited liquid entry.

IP66

The weatherproof product allows zero entry of dust. It is protected against strong jets of water and may allow limited liquid entry.

IP67

The waterproof product allows zero entry of dust. It is protected against the effects of immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter.

IP68

The waterproof product allows zero entry of dust. It is protected against long periods of immersion under pressure.

IP69K

The waterproof product allows zero entry of dust. It is protected against high-temperature, high-pressure water and steam.

UL 844: Meets requirements from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) LLC for use in hazardous (classified) locations

UL 844 requirements cover fixed and portable luminaires for installation and use in the following hazardous (classified) locations in accordance with the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70:

These requirements cover luminaires for use only under the following atmospheric conditions:

The latest designer lamps and home accessories from Hinkley, Quoizel and Schonbek are beautifying springtime holidays like never before.  Bring enlightenment and renewal into your home with outstanding lamps, chandeliers, pendants and energy-efficient outdoor lighting.

Hinkley Lighting has been proud to offer its lighting products to consumers through Capitol Lighting as another family-owned and operated business that prides itself on exemplary service and quality. —Rick Wiedemer, President, Hinkley Lighting

-Quoizel designs are timeless, blending effortlessly with changing decorative schemes unaffected by passing trends, fads or style crazes.

-The Lenox Lighting line is graced with the finest silk shades perfectly shaped and proportioned to maximize lighting effects. The china is crafted to surpass the highest quality standards in the industry. Every porcelain finial is designed exclusively to match the coordinating lamp.

-Quoizel Lighting stands apart in distinction with an outstanding collection of mirrors, unique ceiling fixtures, superb outdoor lighting, stylish bath lighting, and one-of-a-kind tiffany style lamps.

-Quoizel artisans work tirelessly to ensure their Tiffany lamps are composed of individual handcrafted pieces of art glass.  Some of the Tiffany designs are reproductions of original Louis Comfort Tiffany and others are Quoizel’s unique creation. Outstanding new Tiffany style lamps employ color combinations in materials such as jade, agate stone and mica.

*Schonbek is a member of the Swarovski Company.

If you are looking for a Garland electrician, be sure to find one who cares enough about safety to help determine if your home is up to par. Some older homes often lack basic precautionary features that are inexpensive, yet vital to the safety of the family. One of these features is the GFCI, and any Garland electrician should be able to determine if your home has one.

Recently in Texas, a family experienced a heartbreaking illustration of what can happen without a GFCI. The mother was bathing her two children, ages five and six, when a hairdryer that was plugged into a nearby outlet fell into the tub. Both children were killed by the electrical current passing into the bathwater.

One of the most horrifying things about this story is that this accident was preventable! Installing a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, or GFCI, could have saved these children’s lives, at a cost of less than $60. The circuit in their bathroom was not equipped with this simple piece of equipment, simply because their home was an older home.

When the electrical current is imbalanced, it indicates that the current is passing through something that it is not intended to pass through. A GFCI handles that situation by quickly interrupting the flow of current before it can do harm. Water is an especially dangerous conductor of current, so a GFCI should be installed everywhere that an electrical device might be plugged in near water. This means that GFCIs should be on outlets in not only kitchens and bathrooms, but also in garages, outside, near countertops, and near hot tubs and pools. While a layperson might not realize that, an electrician should. That is why, whether you are looking for a Dallas, Garland, or Rowlett electrician, you should make sure to find one with enough experience to spot potential hazards before they cause tragic results.

One of the best Garland electrical teams you will find is the crew at ElectricMan, Inc. Available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, ElectricMan’s team is made up of trained electricians who care about the safety of families. To learn more about finding an electrician Garland homeowners can trust, visit the website. For a deeper connection, join the online community on ElectricMan’s social sites, or call (972)792-7270.