The new school year is in full-swing, which means your schedule is about to be totally packed with all sorts of activities. Between the numerous football and volleyball games, fine arts events, and various other school-related events ahead this fall, your time at home will be both precious and a rarity. Depending on how often you’re out cheering your favorite student on, your home could become the perfect spot for a burglar.

Last week, we gave you some really important tips on protecting your home from an invasion when you’re away on vacation. This week, we’re going a step further to help you protect your home while you’re still in town, but maybe just out and about until the late hours of the night. Even if you’re not concerned about a break-in, perhaps you just want peace of mind your babysitters, housekeepers, repairmen are doing their job. You can even check to see if your kids are doing their homework or chores.

Smart security cameras are an excellent way to safeguard your home and family when you’re away, even if it’s just a few miles down the road. Equipped with WiFi capabilities, you have the ability to peek in on what’s happening using the app paired with your system.

We know your family’s safety is important to you, but have you ensured their electrical safety? The amount of electricity running through your home has enough power to cause death if electrocuted.  Implementing a few simple tips regarding your cords and plugs, outlets, and circuit breakers could potentially prevent injuries or fires in your home.

Cords & Plugs

All your electrical appliances have cords, and being a daily item, many times we overlook any wear-and-tear that could potentially be a safety hazard to your family and home. Make it a habit to check each appliance’s cords and plugs before every use. Check your cords for any frays, cracks or kinks. If they are damaged, replace the power cord before use; such exposures could be a fire hazard.

Also, make sure to be using your cords appropriately. As much as you want to tuck away or hide your cords, never staple or nail cords in position! Try using tape or twist ties to secure your cords safely. Also, refrain from running your cords through doorways or under rugs, this could cause damage to the cord or cause overheating. Instead try using an extension cord to safely reach that desired location in your home. Although, extension cords are not intended for permanent use, this should only be a temporary solution. Consider rewiring if you are really tied to having your appliance in a specific out-of-reach position.

Outlets

Once you are confident that your cords are safe, now you need to ensure that your outlets are also safe. Every outlet should have its wires covered by a secure plate and if you have children, make sure your unused outlets are covered with a childproof cap. Avoid using multiple adaptors or power strips, which can overload your outlets and cause fire hazards. Instead, relocate your appliances to another outlet.

For outlets located near a water sources like your bathroom and kitchen, you should check to make sure that your home is equipped with a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlet. This is a fairly new technology of which is now mandatory in all new houses built. A GFCI will protect your family from electrical shock if it ever comes in contact with water.

Circuit Breaker

Your circuit breaker protects electrical wiring from overheating or catching fire. If too much electricity is passed through a certain fuse it will “blow;” breaking the flow of electricity. If this happens, the fuse needs to be replaced – make sure to find the right size fuse to allow the appropriate flow of electricity. Your circuit breaker should always be easily accessible and all members of your family should be aware of its location and how to use it when the time comes.

Your electrical appliances, outlets and circuit breakers are constantly changing over time so make sure to be checking them regularly. Make this a household habit for your whole family. If you notice any signs of electrical issues such as dimming or flickering lights, unusual sizzling or buzzing sounds, or if your circuit breaker is continuously tripping, call an electrician from Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. One of our experienced electricians will gladly examine your home for any electrical concerns.

Your family’s safety is our top priority!

Even though the summer brings high temperatures, don’t let it bring high electric bills with it as well. Did you know that you could find huge savings on your electric bill in your attic? With functioning attic ventilators, savings can be yours. Let the experts at Mr. Electric® help you understand what method will be of greatest benefit to you.

Brad Richards with Mr. Electric of Tucson offers his expert opinion on attic ventilators and will explain how to save money on your electric bill in the summertime.

Mr. Electric: What exactly does an attic ventilator do?

Brad Richards: An attic ventilator fan is essential in the summer because it evacuates the hot air that accumulates during the day from the attic and draws air in from the outside. Think of it as a means of cycling the trapped air out with fresh air from the outside. It ensures that the temperature of the air in the attic is closer to the air temperature outside. With stagnant air, the sunlight on the roof heats the air inside the attic greatly. It is best to evacuate that hot air in the summertime so that you can save money on your cooling. If you’re air conditioning unit (A/C) is running and you don’t have a functioning attic ventilator, your attic is acting like a radiant heater while you’re A/C is trying to cool the room at the same time. Essentially, they are working against each other and costing you more money.

Mr. Electric: What are the different types of attic ventilators?

Brad Richards: There are two types. One of them is a roof-top unit that draws air directly out through the roof and pushes outside air into the attic to regulate the temperature. The other type is a 120-watt gable fan system. This system consists of one fan that blows air into the attic and another fan that blows air outside, creating airflow that is constant to reduce the temperature in the attic. The gables are triangular in shape and are located on opposite ends from each other on the sides of the attic.

With both types of ventilation systems, there is a solar option. The system that we recommend most often is the roof-top solar fan. Hot air rises and the fan tends to pull the air up and out of the attic, while both gable openings are open for the fresh air to come in. This is the most efficient and best money saver because when the sun comes up, the solar cells power the fan and the fan speeds up the more the sun becomes more direct. Then, when the sun goes down, it naturally turns itself off because there’s no more direct sunlight on the attic.

Mr. Electric: What are the benefits of a homeowner installing an attic ventilator?

Brad Richards: The number-one benefit of having an attic ventilator in the summer is you are able to keep your home cooler for less money. Solar-powered fans offer an even higher return on investment because you aren’t paying for electricity to run the fan. Using natural sunlight to cool your attic is a great way for homeowners to save money in the process.

Mr. Electric: Do you have any additional tips or recommendations?

Brad Richards: Regardless of whether you choose roof-top vents, gable fans, or solar powered fans, any home in the summer would benefit from attic ventilation. In other words, if you have an attic, there is a benefit to having ventilation.

For more information about attic ventilators and how they can benefit you, your home and your wallet, check out this article from the experts at Mr. Electric. 

Placing electrical safety in Manassas first is the best rule of thumb where electricity is involved. Did you know that most electrical accidents in the home happen near water? Since that’s the case, we’ll start off with that important electrical safety tip. Here’s that one and four more designed to keep you and your family safe in your Manassas home.

You and your family should always feel safe and secure in your Manassas home. In this digital age when everything from toys to tools to technology relies on electricity, electrical safety in Manassas will help keep you up and running safely.