A smart thermostat is an upgrade from the standard controls of a heating and cooling system. These digital devices are programmable, adjusting the temperature up or down according to the time of day, but what really sets them apart is their wireless connectivity. You can control a smart thermostat remotely through the Internet with a smartphone, tablet or computer. Once your thermostat is installed, they’re easy to use, efficient and give you data that helps you save money.

It’s happened to nearly everyone. You come home and your heating or cooling system is running even though the house has been empty for hours. With a smart device controlling your furnace and air conditioner, you avoid this wasteful situation. Set your HVAC controls to mesh with your weekday and weekend routines. If you get up everyday at 6 a.m., program the thermostat to feel comfortable as you wake up. When you leave for work a couple of hours later, your furnace will adjust to the temperature of your choice.

Controlling your thermostat remotely with a smartphone is especially helpful if you have a change in schedule. If you come home early, adjust the heating or cooling system on route with a phone or tablet. Your home will progress to a comfortable temperature in time for your arrival. Abrupt changes in temperature waste energy, so resetting your thermostat remotely for a gradual change is economical.

Smart thermostats give you a lot of data in real time, allowing you to monitor energy use and approximate costs. Once you take a look at your habits, you might find ways to fine-tune them. Some thermostats also have apps that guide you to the most economical settings.

Many homeowners don’t realize just how much danger their home could be in if they have a faulty or outdated electrical panel. This panel is where the main power line from outside the home enters and is routed through the electrical system. It also disconnects circuits if excess electricity flows through them by tripping circuit breakers. However, if a panel starts to malfunction to the point that it can’t operate correctly, then you could be at risk for a major outage or even electrical fires.

If you have an aging service panel, then it is imperative that you pay attention to the signs that it’s time for an upgrade—before it fails completely. If you notice any of the below warning signs, be sure to call a professional electrician to immediately inspect the panel and see if repairs will be sufficient or if an upgrade is necessary.

As we mentioned, constantly tripping circuit breakers are caused by excess electricity. This is common in aging electrical panels since today’s electrical demands have increased so drastically. If you have circuit breakers that are constantly tripping, then chances are that your panel can no longer handle the demand your home places on it.

Wires that wear down within your electrical panel can create small fires. Fortunately, these often quickly burn themselves out. However, they will leave behind signs that they’ve occurred, which should never be ignored. If you discover an acrid smell coming from the panel, or if you notice charring or discoloration around the circuit breakers, then electrical fires have probably already occurred, which warrants attention to your electrical panel.

When a circuit breaker trips, you should be able to just reset it and be back in business. However, if you discover that a circuit breaker within your electrical panel won’t stay reset, or it doesn’t restore power, then you likely have a faulty service panel. A professional electrician will be able to determine what the problem is and the best way to fix it.

LEDs are the longest lasting lighting technology available today. They contain no harmful gasses and are safer for the environment than incandescent bulbs. But if there’s one fact about LEDs that’s considered the most, it’s that they’re extremely energy efficient and are designed to save money! We wanted to show you the results of switching from incandescent bulbs to LEDs, so we developed an LED 

Among other helpful pieces of information, the calculator lists savings per month, savings per year, savings on incandescent bulb replacements, and a break-even point that tells you how long it will take to notice those savings. Here is an example of calculated savings for replacing 10 incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs:

Were you aware of the fact that your home electrical equipment is frequently bombarded by very brief spikes in electrical power called power surges? These surges can slowly burn up the inside of your electronic devices, leading to a shorter lifespan than you should normally have. Although the most dangerous type of power surge comes from outside of your home and could destroy your devices in one fell swoop, this type of surge only accounts for about 30% of all power surges. The other 70% of power surges are generated from within your home. These surges are caused by some of your larger appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners.

A large power surge causes very fast, widespread damage. This can cause your wiring to burn up, devices to short circuit and motors to seize. Whenever you think of power surges, this is typically what comes to mind. The majority of power surges, however, remain unnoticed until your device meets an early end. This type of incremental power surge slowly eats away at the components of your electronics until they no longer function.

While it may seem like there is not much that you can do to prevent this, there is. One of the best ways to prevent against both large and incremental power surges is with surge suppression systems. This includes a combination of both local and whole house surge protection. For the largest level of protection, you should have your local electrician in Beverly Hills install a whole house surge protector. You can then protect especially sensitive devices with their own individual surge protectors.

By protecting your home from power surges, you help to ensure that your devices have a long lifespan. This not only keeps everything running as it should, but also saves you money in the long run. If you have any questions about whole house surge suppression, or would like to schedule an appointment for installation, get in touch with any of our technicians at The Electric Connection. You can also learn more from the resources at The Electric Connection website .