Before you rang in 2022, it’s possible that you joined many people in the tradition of making New Year Resolutions, committing to improving your health or finances. Perhaps, you even resolved to improve specific areas of your home that, consequently, can help you successfully achieve your personal goals. Plus, when you hire a certified electrician like A&H Electric Co., you can create a safe living environment and save money by enhancing energy efficiency.
Here are three ways an electrician can help you achieve your new year goals for your home.
Promote Home Safety
First, if you haven’t already, make sure to test your smoke alarms to ensure they will work properly in the event of a house fire. The NFPA advises installing these inside and outside each bedroom in addition to on every level of your home. Then, test each unit monthly by pressing the “test” button and following manufacturer instructions to ensure they’re maintained.
Next, enhance the safety of your home by installing carbon monoxide alarms, which detect traces of this odorless, colorless gas. Again, these should be installed outside each bedroom and on every floor. A certified electrician can install these life-saving devices in compliance with all applicable National Electric Code standards.
Finally, hire an electrician to install AFCIs and GFCIs, which will protect you from electrical hazards. AFCIs monitor the current within a circuit and, should an abnormal arcing condition be detected, cut off power. Equally essential, GFCIs are designed to monitor the current flowing through a circuit and instantly shut off power to that outlet if it detects an abnormal variation, preventing electrical shock.
Slash Your Energy Costs
If you resolved to manage your finances better throughout 2022, choosing energy-efficient products can help reduce your energy consumption, allowing you to allocate the money saved to another area. An excellent first step would be to assess your current household consumption and product efficiency by investing in an electricity usage monitor. Once you have this information, choose Energy Star certified electronics and appliances, which meet strict requirements set by the U.S. EPA to not only help you score monetary savings by reducing energy use but also protect the environment.
Hire a Certified Electrician to Evaluate the System
According to the NFPA, electrical wiring and related equipment accounted for two-thirds of the nearly 45,000 annual home fires caused by electrical distribution and lighting equipment between 2012 and 2016. A significant concern with electrical failures and malfunctions is aging wiring. Ideally, it would help if you routinely had a certified electrician perform a safety inspection, closely evaluating the condition of your system should any of the following apply.
- Your home was built more than 30 years ago
- The breaker continuously and frequently trips
- There aren’t an adequate number of outlets
- Your lights frequently flicker
- You hear a buzzing noise
A&H Electric Co. has over thirty years of experience providing residential and commercial electrical repair, service, and installation. We offer a full suite of services, not limited to electrical safety inspections and surge protection installation, with all work performed by skilled technicians. Please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment anytime you need a certified electrician to service your home or business, even if it’s after hours, as we provide 24-hour emergency electrical repair.
Employment Opportunities at A&H Electric! A&H Electric Co. is currently looking for technicians skilled in residential and commercial electrical repair, services, and installation. If you’re interested in joining our team and would like more information about available positions, please contact us at (936) 756-0442 or complete the online job application.
Resources:
Campbell, Richard. “Home Electrical Fire.” National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), March 2019.
“Carbon monoxide alarms.” National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
“CPSC Fact Sheet: What is a GFCI?” Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
“Energy Efficient Products for Consumers.” Energy Star.
Hannahs, Corey. “AFCIs Tell a Life-Saving Story Worth Listening to About Home Electrical Safety.” NFPA Today, November 2, 2021.
“Installing and maintaining smoke alarms.” National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).