Your home is the place where you feel safest. It has all your creature comforts. Things like your favorite chair where you sit and watch television or play on your laptop. While you are sitting there, feeling comfortable, you may be in danger. If your laptop charger is plugged in, you are at risk of electrocution if the outlet is hiding a dangerous situation. Your television and all electronic devices that are plugged into a bad outlet are at risk of being short-circuited and possibly ruined. An electrician in Glendale is here to tell you that a single faulty can be extremely dangerous. The team at The Electric Connection has trained professionals that can identify problems and then take care of them.

It takes very little for an outlet to become unsafe for regular use. Outlets in older homes are at a higher risk of being faulty, especially if they were wired with cloth insulated wiring. Over time, the cloth frays and falls away and the wires are bare. Plugging things into the outlet and unplugging mildly disturbs the outlet, which can result in the wires touching. This can create a spark that can start a fire or cause an electrical shock when another device is plugged in explains an electrician. Glendale homeowners who have felt a mild or major shock when using an appliance plugged into an outlet, need to have it investigated immediately.

Another problem that may cause an outlet to become dangerous are rodents. Rodents have a strange desire to chew electrical wires. They can chew through the wires, leaving them exposed and arcing. Again, this leaves you prone to an electrical fire or electrocution. Your Glendale electrician can do a fairly quick inspection to identify any hazards. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule a home inspection to determine whether or not your outlets are hiding a dangerous secret.

Your business’ lighting is critical to its success, and with commercial lighting rapidly changing, you could be light years behind the times. Don’t let your business be left in the dark. Take advantage of the perks of modern lighting!

Buildings constructed just 20 years ago harbor energy-hogging lighting systems in dire need of replacement.  Consider computers built in the 80s and 90s versus today’s models, and that will give you an inkling of how far behind the times your lighting systems are - and you’re not alone. According to the DOE, more than 75 percent of buildings are over 20 years old, collectively wasting more than $50 billion annually by holding on to antiquated lighting systems.

Depending on your business type, 20-50 percent of your electricity budget is sucked up by lighting demands. This means energy-saving improvements could really help manage costs. In fact, with continually improving bulbs, fixtures, and controls, lighting typically provides the highest return on investment among major upgrades. The right combination could pay for itself in three to five years, and save you 25-50 percent annually on lighting energy. How much could you save?

Talk to your Mr. Electric® professional to learn more about benefits and incentives available in your region, including:

The experts at Mr. Electric can help you get things all figured out, from the best lighting options for your business to cost. Our experts have what it takes to assess your current lighting system and needs, damaged/outdated/mismatched systems, inefficiencies in energy use, necessary light levels and color, under-lit areas, and more, to find lighting solutions perfectly matched to your needs – and your budget!

Have a bright idea about your business’ lighting? Contact Mr. Electric today.

There was a time not too long ago when gas and electricity costs weren’t really a topic of concern at all. Keeping in view expenses such as mortgage payments, insurance etc, energy bills faded in comparison. However, that is no longer the case today. Energy costs have become a major concern for property owners and the need of the hour is for energy – efficient solutions to be incorporated into the home.

And there is no dearth of these types of solutions. Ranging from LED bulbs, use of solar energy, smart lighting, optimum insulation, use of energy-efficient building materials, switching from standard ovens to convection ovens, people are trying everything in the book to coax their energy bills to drop a little bit. While all these measures are definitely helpful in bringing down energy consumption, there is one more thing consumers can do to keep a handle on their energy bills- use smart lighting schedules!

Energy providers in Australia charge consumers a variety of rates; this is based on the type of meter in the house and the manner in which energy is used in peak & off-peak periods. There is no standard rule here as different retailers maintain different energy rates. The one way to get a much reduced rate is to opt for a long-term energy contract. It’s important to shop around a bit as the difference in rates between providers can be significant.

Off peak times are those when businesses and homes typically use less electricity. The off peak time is dependent on your meter type and location; however, these are typically on weekends and/or at night. When consumers use electricity in busy peak times, it burdens the electricity networks in the country. It’s also why energy usage in the off-peak hours is charged at much lower rates. This is the way consumers are encouraged to use power outside busy hours.

There is another definition of off-peak rates. This can refer to the electricity used by a particular appliance on a dedicated circuit. For instance the electric hot water system in your house could be on a separate circuit and will be billed separately, on the off peak rates your service provider is offering. It’s possible to leverage this off-peak rate to reduce energy costs in your home. You can use interval metering or off-peak hot water to benefit from these lower rates at set times of the day and the weekends.

If you are considering using smart scheduling, it’s important that you contact your energy provider and find out if it’s something they accommodate and what you are required to do. For advice on smart metering and other electrical installation services, call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also drop us a line via email.

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Were you aware that the air quality inside your home can be worse than that of the outdoors? While this is especially prevalent in spring, fall isn’t exactly a walk in the park. The change of seasons kicks up many allergens and debris that can make even the healthiest person ill.

Before you think, “Well I change the air filter in my HVAC system on a regular basis, so isn’t that enough?” consider this: Your HVAC system’s air filter is there to protect the inside components of the system, not your indoor air.

So maybe you have an electronic air cleaner to take care of this problem. This type of air filter is incredibly beneficial. It works by removing microscopic impurities from your indoor air, such as dust, smoke, and smog, in addition to pet dander. Perhaps these seem like harmless particles to you—however, they can actually make you and your family ill.

Electronic air cleaners work best when you stay on top of cleaning the plates so that dirt doesn’t accumulate to a point that it becomes a problem. But if you have an electronic air cleaner, do you need a UV purifier?

While electronic air cleaners eliminate pollutants from the air, a UV air purifier kills certain contaminants within your ductwork before they even have a chance to enter the air. Most importantly, they eliminate microorganisms such as mold, mold spores, and other bacteria.

Microorganisms are not something that an electronic air cleaner can remove from the air. This doesn’t mean that electronic air cleaners are ineffective though—each type of air purifier eliminates the problem that the other one leaves. In other words, they work perfectly together for a comprehensive indoor air quality solution.

Have you ever dreamed of generating your own electricity, right in your backyard? That dream could become reality with a residential wind turbine. Wind turbines won't work for everybody, but in the right conditions, they can provide part or all of the power you need to run your home electrical work. Read on to learn more about residential wind power and decide whether home generation is right for you.

Where the Turbines Turn

Wind turbines take up more space than solar panels, and they aren't as suitable for as many properties. For starters, wind turbines work best for homeowners who have at least an acre of property. The more open space you have between buildings and trees, the better. Additionally, they are usually a better option for people who live in rural areas and don't have stringent homeowners associations or local code issues to navigate.

Small, residential wind turbines can range anywhere from 30 to 140 feet tall, with the average being around 80 feet, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Generators usually have a capacity of between 2 and 10 kilowatts, depending on how much power the home needs and what the wind conditions are in the area. Turbines aren't cheap – costs can come in between $10,000 and $70,000 – but there are federal tax credits that help soften the blow, and you can usually recoup your investment in 6 to 30 years, depending on the specifics of your system.

The Power of Wind and Solar Combined

If you want to build in a layer of redundancy in your home power generation, you can combine a wind turbine with solar energy panels on your roof so you can create power in a larger variety of weather conditions. With a powerful storage battery, you'll be well on your way to eliminating electricity bills from your life.

For wind enthusiasts who are still on the grid, you can usually sell excess power that you generate back to your utility company, similar to how the process works for solar energy, helping to drive your electricity bills even lower. A solid turbine should last for at least 20 years, and hopefully much longer, although they do require yearly inspections to keep them running in peak condition.

The U.S. Government Has Your Back

The Department of Energy publishes a consumer guide for small wind electric systems packed full of even more information. If you are interested in learning more about home wind turbines, or need other electrical work performed, call up a trusted electrician today.