There are many ways that electrical fires can start in the home, any many ways they can be prevented. With all the tools on the market it can be hard to know what you should be using to protect your home. One important tool that you can use to prevent electrical fires is an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI). An AFCI could prevent electrical shorts and damage on circuits around your home.

Arc faults occur when electricity leaves the circuit and the current travels to a different pathway. This can occur if a wire is cracked, cut, or broken. When the wire becomes exposed the electricity can travel out and into the surrounding objects. When the electricity makes contact it will heat up significantly which can cause a fire. If this arcing occurs in your home, chances are the surrounding materials are wood or insulation. Once an arc fire starts, it can do significant amount of damage before you are made aware by the sound of your detector.

An arc-fault circuit interrupter (ACFI) can be installed on receptacles and circuit breakers to shut off the flow of electricity when it detects an arc about to occur. Because arcs are a sudden surge of power, standard circuit breakers may not shut off before the arc occurs as they are designed to prevent short circuits and overloads. Sudden surges of power in the electrical system can occur when devices and appliances, like a vacuum cleaner or light switch, are turned on. These are normal occurrences, which will be detected by the ACFI and allowed. But the ACFI also monitors the circuit for dangerous arcing and is ready to shut off the flow of electricity immediately when it occurs.

While many homes in Canada may have ACFIs installed, it has not always been a requirement. For homes that have been built before new electrical code requirements in 2002, there are likely no ACFIs installed in the home. This makes you vulnerable to arcs that are more likely to occur in older homes due to aging wiring. Currently, it is standard to have ACFIs installed on all bedrooms.

Our Expert Elections are experienced in installing AFCIs. Our electricians can detect if there are AFCIs currently installed in your home, and which points of your electrical system are critical and should have an AFCI installed. If you are unsure about your homes protection, call your local Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.

When you own a home, it’s easy for household expenses to spiral out of control. Every year, the average homeowner is in the unenviable position of spending thousands of dollars on owning and maintaining a home- and that’s just when everything is going well! If an emergency hits, many homeowners have to make sacrifices they can ill afford just to keep the home up and running. The best strategy to avoid disaster is to work on cutting down the everyday household expenses associated with owning a home.

So where does the money really go? On average, American homeowners spend about 34 percent of their income on home expenses. Paying for the house itself, of course, is the largest chunk of that expenditure, but does it surprise you to know that utilities make up the next largest amount? Most Americans spend about seven percent of their income on utilities; that’s more than what they spend on entertainment, clothing for the family and even health care! Obviously, that’s an area where it makes sense to find ways to scale back. If you live in Texas, it’s even more important than it is for people in other states as Texas electricity rates are 30 percent higher than rates elsewhere.

To save money on electricity, you need to understand it. Electric companies measure energy usage in kWh, which is a measurement of the hours you spend using 1000 watts. By lowering your kWh, you will, of course, lower your electricity cost, but where do all those kilowatt-hours go? Appliances can be huge energy hogs but so can game systems, televisions and computers. Older homes are often ill-equipped to handle the energy demands of a modern lifestyle, and this can be not only costly but dangerous, as faulty electrical systems can lead to house fires. Modernizing your home can save on more than just household expenses- it might also save your life.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to save on energy (and its associated costs). If your home is more than 20 years old, get your electrical system checked out by a professional to determine if you need any upgrades. Buy ENERGY STAR compliant appliances whenever possible, and turn off anything you’re not using, from lights and appliances to your Xbox 360.

Are you ready to lower your household expenses? It helps to find a company such as ElectricMan, committed to providing low-cost electrical services without sacrificing high-quality service. A family owned business, we offer quality electrical services, and we only employ professional, licensed, certified electricians. And we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s a general electrical repair or an electrical emergency, ElectricMan has you covered! Visit the ElectricMan website to learn more, or connect with our online community on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus.

There’s no question that LED lights are the best option for fleet vehicles—or any vehicle for that matter. They consume 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last about 42 times longer. Because fleet vehicles are constantly in motion, long-lasting LED lights can be of extreme benefit to trucking companies. A longer life span means dramatically lower maintenance and replacement costs as well as a reduction in downtime.

We have LED lights for Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Volvo, International, Mack, and Western Star trucks as well as box trucks, tow trucks, dump trucks, and more. Options include LED tail lights, LED brake lights, LED marker lights, LED reverse lights, and LED clearance lights. These truck lights are available in a wide variety of styles, shapes, sizes, intensities, and connector types. Take a look through the categories below to see some of what’s available, and visit the links for complete product lists.

All of our LED truck lights meet DMV FMVSS 108 requirements and are protected by a lifetime warranty to guard against manufacturer defects and malfunctions. Mounting accessories are available under the accessories tab on each product page.

Options include multi-function combo boxes. Rear combination lights can be mounted vertically or horizontally on either side of box trucks, tow trucks, dump trucks, trailers, and flatbed trucks. The all-in-one lamps can be used as tail lights, brake lights, parking lights, turn signals, reverse lights, and running lights. Light heads can be rearranged for customized positioning.

Multi-function combo box lights have red and white LEDs and can be used as rear reflex reflectors, turn signal lights, hazard warning lights, reverse lights or backup lights, brake lights, and tail lights. Separate LEDs are positioned on the bottom of the box for license plate illumination.

Remodeling lighting can be one of the most impactful elements when changing the look and feel of your home. As a Top Dallas Electrician, we know that whether you are remodeling, or starting fresh, some of the most versatile lighting options available are recessed can lighting, and pendant lighting. These types of lighting offer you the most flexibility, and the most visible improvement over unsightly light fixtures installed throughout your home.

Recessed can lighting allows you to fill a room with light, or highlight a particular area depending on your needs, and pendant lighting can accent a space beautifully such as a kitchen island, bar style counter, or eating area. Using these lighting styles in conjunction can help you recreate anything from a clean, modern kitchen, to a comfortable living room, or an elegant dining area, and anything else in between!