We talk often about how electricity can be a double-edged sword that can help and but also harm. While making sure your house is wired correctly it is also important that you have put safeguards in place to protect yourself and your valuables from accidents. Surge protectors do just that, and they can be applied to an entire house as well for extra protection. Let’s get into more detail about how surge protection applies to you.

A surge happens when there is an excessive flow of electricity through a circuit or electrical connection. Devices will take in electricity they need to function properly, but in certain cases such as electrical storms or problems in your home wiring, too much electricity will be pumped through the electrical system. Much like taking too much water can be harmful to us, the electrical device will “drown” in the excess electricity and become damaged. This is why we use power bars on many of our larger electronics like computers and TV’s.

Surge protectors will help keep your electronics safe as well as yourself. If there is excess electrical flow, the electricity could jump to a nearby person and seriously injure them. Being smart with your protection and guarding your valuables can prevent you from needing to purchase a new TV or computer after a night of lightning. While we do use surge protectors around our home, it is important to have layers of protection. Similar to a car’s metal design and airbag system, there are layers to protect the person or item behind them.

Entire home surge protectors can be applied to the home’s breaker panel to protect specific circuits from surges. For example if you have an entertainment system on one circuit that requires a lot of electricity to run, it would be a good idea to connect a surge protector on this circuit in the breaker panel. This would add a first layer of protection to the electronic devices, and if a surge does trickle through the first line of defense, the power bar surge protector will protect from the second.

While the home electrical system is designed to protect you and your valuables, accidents happen when you least expect it. Protecting yourself against these situations is important. Contact your local Expert Electrician to find out more about how you can protect your family and your belongings with home surge protectors.

Almost 2/3rd of Americans decorate there home with some sort of electric lights during the holiday season.  Over half require the use of some sort of extension cord and or power splitter during there holiday lighting decoration process.  The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Reports that Christmas tree fires alone cause on average an estimated $16.2 million in direct property damage, 16 injuries, and 6 deaths every year.  This statistic does not include injures or deaths due to outdoor lighting electric shock or fall injuries such as ladder work.

A home inspection covers a number of areas, not the least of which is the electrical system. ElectricMan, a trusted Dallas electrician, wants you to know how to spot a quality home inspection report. After all, while the façade may be beautiful, what’s behind the walls is what truly matters. Save yourself a heap of trouble by knowing what to look for on the electrical portion of a home inspection, according to this certified electrician.

An electrical system inspection includes looking for any aspects that make the home unsafe. A good report features the following most common items:

With all of these points checked off the list, you know you have run across a home with a sound electrical system. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re moving into a home that won’t present trouble around every corner. That’s why it’s so important to have an inspection conducted by a qualified professional before you buy.

If you have any questions about the electrical system aspects of a potential new home’s inspection report, please contact a certified electrician at ElectricMan today. ElectricMan is a trusted, local Dallas electrician with 27 years of experience; we have the knowhow required to answer your important questions. For more information visit the ElectricMan website, and don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Soaring Efficiency

The energy efficiency of several major appliances has increased dramatically over the past three decades. The AHAM report found that between 1981 and 2013,  average efficiency shot up by 46 percent for room air conditioners, 63 percent for freezers, 102 percent for washing machines, 123 percent for dryers and a whopping 217 percent for refrigerators.

Advances in technology have fueled the savings — for example, modern dishwashers use sensors to adjust how much water they use, and cut back when appropriate. Refrigerators have been almost entirely overhauled since their early days, with big improvements in insulation, compressors, heat exchange and fan motors.

Federal Intervention

The federal government has helped nudge appliances toward higher efficiency. Since 1987 the government has incrementally increased the efficiency requirements for most household equipment, with 25 new standards since 2009 alone. All told, the Department of Energy projects that its rules will save the nation more than $1.7 trillion by 2030, in addition to lowering our greenhouse gas emissions and impact on the environment.

Slashing Prices

Not only do modern appliances save you money on your utility bills, most of them are cheaper to purchase initially as well. The American Enterprise Institute noted that a common dishwasher in 1981 cost $359.88. By contrast, a similar model today goes for $349.99. Accounting for inflation and average wage, that’s a big discount. It would take the average worker 48.5 hours to purchase the 1981 model, while today’s dishwasher would take 17 hours of work at current average wages, according to the AEI analysis.

A separate study by the Appliance Standards Awareness Project found that the price of refrigerators dropped by 35 percent between 1987 and 2010. The bottom line: Households in the modern era save on appliances up front and over time.

Discover How to Save

If you are in the market for a new appliance, you might be shocked at how much you save on your electricity bill — replacing an older refrigerator, for example, can save you hundreds of dollars per year. Check out the federal Energy Star products listing to find equipment certified to meet the strictest efficiency standards.

One of the easiest ways to dress up your space and update the style is by changing your chandelier. Before you run out the door in search of the perfect chandelier, make sure you know the dimensions of your space. An appropriately sized chandelier should serve as a beautifying focal point that fits seamlessly into your overall design scheme.

For a room without furniture: Add the length and width of your room in feet, and then convert that number to inches. For example, a room that is 12 feet by 14 feet (12 + 14 = 26) would require a chandelier this is approximately 26 inches wide.

For a room with furniture: If you already have a dining room table in the space, the width of your chandelier should be about a foot smaller than the width of your table. This will leave a 6-inch clearance from the outer edge of the chandelier to the table’s edge.

The bottom of your chandelier should rest at least 30-34 inches above the tabletop. Adjust according to personal preference, fixture style and ceiling height. It is okay to hang your chandelier a bit higher in dining rooms with cathedral ceilings.

Chandelier height should be about three inches for each foot of ceiling height, so for a room with a standard 8-foot ceiling (3 x 8 = 24), choose a chandelier with an approximate height of 24 inches.