Some winters pass quietly, others live in infamy. As one of the latter, this winter many of you may have had to resort to a “by any means necessary” approach to staying warm. Hopefully you had carbon monoxide detectors in your home to help you make it through safely. Manage without them? You might want to seriously consider the addition of these useful appliances.

Who needs a carbon monoxide detector? Anyone using any type of combustion heating such as wood stoves, fireplaces of any kind, gas and oil furnaces, in addition to gas appliances such as water heaters, stoves, and more. The incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, wood, charcoal, kerosene, propane, and natural gas used to power these items naturally produces CO (carbon monoxide) fumes. If you made it through this winter without a detector – great! But don’t push your luck. CO is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports 200 people are killed each year from accidental CO poisoning, with another 5,000 injured. Chimneys get clogged, appliances malfunction or suffer venting issues, and today’s airtight homes increase the chance of CO accumulation. In short, stuff happens – be prepared!

We love carbon monoxide detectors. Why?

How they work Though design varies slightly by model, carbon monoxide detectors use a CO gas sensor to identify and measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in your home in parts per million (ppm). When dangerous levels are detected, an electronic pulse is sent to activate the alarm – the higher the levels, the faster the response.

Are your carbon monoxide detectors safely installed?

Know the signs of CO poisoning so you can react quickly:

Need to add a few carbon monoxide detectors to your home? Contact Mr. Electric® today. Our professionals technicians use the latest in technology to ensure the safety of you and your family.

Before you take a dive in your pool or plan that nice vacation, the first thing you should do this summer is call for an electrical safety inspection in Fairfax, VA. Yes, swimming pools and summertime getaways are great, but nothing is more comforting than knowing your home is equipped with electricity that can keep you safe. The risk of electrical fires, shocks, and power outages remains persistent than ever. Don’t simply think you won’t experience any of those hazards. It’s always the presumptive homeowners that wind up in trouble. When in doubt, get an inspection!

There’s a lot more to the cost of a light bulb than the price tag sticker. There’s the impact on your electrical bill, the tally of replacement bulbs you’ll need to buy, and the time you have to factor in for maintenance. Sure, the light bulb in your table lamp may take just a few minutes to replace, but what about your recessed cans that are two stories away from easy access?

We published an infographic on Lighting Facts, a program of the U.S. Department of Energy, created the one below, showing the five-year-cost of 100 watt equivalent light bulbs. As you can see, the low purchase cost of an incandescent light bulb doesn’t necessarily pay off in the end:

Build Your Future is dedicated to showing America’s youth the rewarding career opportunities available in construction. BYF is once again declaring October “Careers in Construction Month.”

Careers in Construction Month provides an opportunity for industry and schools across the nation to partner locally to host construction career events and programs. With the ever growing need for skilled professionals in the construction industry, there has never been a better time for education and industry to work together to help students build successful construction career pathways.   Construction careers in today’s market are all about high-tech, high-stakes, huge earning potential and the opportunity to travel the world. You might think that a four-year degree is the only path to success, but skilled trades are an option for many.