Security cameras provide constant monitoring of your home even when you are not there. Unless you are a superhero, there’s no way you can be two places at once. It’s practically impossible. Security cameras are a great investment that can be your eyes even when you cannot be there in person. You don’t have to install a full security system, as it can be very expensive and intrusive, but installing a couple of cameras in your home can go a long way. Check out these reasons to install security cameras in your home this summer!

Keep an Eye on Your Children

When you leave your kids by themselves, you don’t have control of where they go or what will happen to them. There’s always that fear that something terrible will happen to your kids while you are away. Although that scenario is not likely, it’s good to have a few cameras around just in case. Security cameras can help you watch your children when playing in the front yard or near the street, and this can alert them to strangers approaching or children wandering too close to the street.

You rely on babysitters and trust to take care of your children properly. During an evening out, you can remotely access internally mounted security cameras to monitor how your babysitter interacts with your children. If there should be any issues, you can know about them immediately if you are monitoring in real time, or you can watch taped footage later to ensure that the babysitter is acting in their best interests when watching your children.

Dissuade Possible Vandals and Thieves

Even if you live in the safest neighborhood in Virginia, there are those few criminals that are always around and tend to target the least prepared and most vulnerable amongst us. Security cameras are an excellent way for your home to be on guard against these risks. Those who are looking to break into a home often look for security cameras and observe the property prior to acting. they should see security cameras positioned around the home, it is more than likely that they simply move along to another home that is not as well protected.

Security cameras have an added benefit of protection with the ability to capture a break in or vandal and save the images as evidence. Sometimes security cameras are in place with the added protection of burglar alarms to ensure your home is safe all around. This can be very helpful to police agencies by providing them the evidence they need to pursue individuals who commit crimes in your home.

Monitor Your Home Remotely

If you’re taking a long vacation and are worried about leaving your home unattended for several days, consider installing a few security cameras. Security cameras give you the ability to monitor places like a remote vacation property or your home when you are not there. This allows you to be notified quickly if there is something wrong with your remote home or property and you can alert the local authorities to the trouble. That way, you have peace of mind and can relax and enjoy your vacation!

The holidays are nearly here, which means it's time to string up the lights. And while it doesn't take an electrician to get that job done, it doesn't hurt to think like an electrician - especially when it comes to safety.

Whenever you're using electricity, heat-producing lighting and power cords, it's a good idea to observe some basic precautions to avoid accidental shock, burns, fire and tripping hazards. This and every holiday decorating season, observe these simple tips for a safe and festive experience:

Inspect and Test

Before putting up any electrical holiday decorations, take time to thoroughly inspect them for damage. If you find frayed wires or signs of melted plastic, don't use those decorations - throw them away and replace them. If they appear to be in good condition, test them before hanging them up. There's nothing more frustrating than stringing up a strand of lights only to find out it's a dud!

Upgrade Your Lights

If your lights are showing signs of wear or you just feel it's time for an upgrade, consider switching to LEDs if you haven't already. LEDs are not only brighter and more energy efficient, they're safer because they produce almost no heat.

No Dry Trees

If you have a live tree, be sure to give it plenty of water. A dry tree can burn quickly, and any significant source of heat could pose a serious fire risk. Be especially careful to hydrate your tree if you're using lights, and never allow candles in the area of your tree stand.

Careful With the Cords

Be deliberate about where you run all cords and wires, including strands of lights. Never run cords across walking paths, as this can create an unsafe tripping hazard. You should also never run cords under rugs or through doorways, as this can cause damage that could lead to electrical shock or fire.

Stay on Your Feet

If you need a ladder to hang your lights, have a friend hold the ladder and act as a spotter. Wear non-slip shoes and make sure your ladder is locked into position on a level surface before climbing.

Right Lights for the Job

Most strands of lights are rated for either indoor or outdoor use. Indoor lights are not designed to withstand all-weather conditions, and in the worst-case scenario, using them outdoors can lead to electrical shock or a fire.

Any homeowner can observe these smart tips, but they might not address all of your holiday decorating challenges. If you find that you need new outlets installed to make your lighting scheme a reality, reach out to your licensed, local electricians while there's still time to decorate!

The warm weather has finally arrived and it looks like we have a good summer ahead of us. This is also the time when the electrical bills start to heat up as well. But keeping your house cool doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. Ceiling fans are an easy way to keep your thermostat up and your electrical bills down. Here are some summer maintenance tips for to get your ceiling fan moving its best.

Overtime a ceiling fan’s blades can collect dust. Once dust has accumulated on the blades, it can become airborne during use. This either spreads the dust through the air, which is not enjoyable for anyone in the room, or it can be sucked into the motor. If to much dust is drawn into the motor it can result in shaking and cause the motor to run hot. This can lead to an expensive repair bills down the road. Dust, vacuum, or use a damp rag to clean the blades every couple of weeks to prevent this build up and keep your fan clean.

Most machines with moving parts require lubrication on a regular basis. Older ceiling fans require lubrication while newer fans are self-lubricating. If you are unsure whether your fan requires lubrication, check the owner’s manual. If your fan is not properly lubricated the motor can become damaged and cause electrical fires.

When starting up your fan for the summer, there are several problems that can generate because of lack of maintenance:

Ceiling fans can be one of the most cost effect ways to keep your home cool this summer.