|
It’s not that my dog needs more light. Yes, he’s getting pretty old now and he doesn’t see as well as he used to, for sure, but he knows his way around the yard like the back of his paw. He has sniffed and re-sniffed every blade of grass and every board in the fence. No, the light is for me. Let me explain.
The night time is his time for serious sniffing about. Unfortunately, that’s when other critters are active, too, and that’s what worries me. The skunk population where I live seems to be all out of whack to what Nature intended, and the last thing I want (again!) is my dog getting sprayed for being curious. And when my backyard flood light isn’t working, I can’t see if there’s an unfriendly Pepé Le Pew out there waddling around.
My flood light was a dual-bulb version with a motion sensor, mounted on the back wall about twelve feet above my deck and connected to a switch inside. Of course, the blasted thing only worked at the wrong times. When I let my dog out, I would flip the switch and… nothing. I’d flip it a couple more times. Same result. But sometime much later, when I thought I was done with being downstairs for the night, I’d catch a glimpse through my bathroom window of 200 watts of light illuminating the backyard, and realize I had left the doggone switch on while I was pointlessly flipping it earlier. So I’d have to trundle back downstairs to turn it off.
Now I was pretty comfortable changing this light myself, but if you’re not a professional electrician, even handling simple electrical repairs can be on the scary side. That’s why we at Robertson Electric are happy to take care of them. Our expert team has the experience to handle electrical work of any size, large or small, so give us a call today.
Another thing you must think about when deciding on a new furnace is the type that you need. With new construction, you have a bit of a choice as to what type of heating and cooling system you want. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, so what it comes down to is personal preference and fuel/electricity cost in your region. Modern HVAC systems are manufactured with energy efficiency in mind, so whether you purchase a gas, electric or oil furnace, you will be getting the best level of energy efficiency to date.
You will need to determine the square footage of the total heating area and choose a furnace system that is capable of heating and cooling that area without over extending its power. A furnace too big will constantly be turning itself off and on in order to keep the home at a certain temperature, and a unit too small will be running constantly in order keep up with demand. Finding an HVAC system that is designed to work optimally within the square footage of the home will also keep your energy bills lower and will allow the new unit to operate without stress so it can last many years.
Of course, installing a new furnace is not something that should be done by the average do-it-yourselfer. A certified HVAC service technician should be contracted to install the new unit. There are numerous safety issues that need to be considered when installing a new furnace, and HVAC technicians have the special training that is needed.
We have discussed the benefits of hybrid heating systems in the past, but never really discussed how to best replace an old furnace if needed, or how best to purchase a new one. Here goes…
Whether you are buying a new furnace to replace an old, inefficient one or you are purchasing a new furnace for installation in a brand new home, there are a few things you will need to consider.
If you are replacing an old furnace, you will need to think about how easily the new furnace will be able to fit into the existing designated HVAC area. Unless you want to remodel that section of your home, you will need to find a unit that fits the allotted size. Furthermore, the existing ductwork and wiring should be utilized as best as possible, but it can be difficult to find a brand new furnace that meets the specifications of a model that is more than 20 years old. When you can find a new furnace that can fit into your existing area seamlessly, you will have considerably less work to do and you can begin saving money on energy bills quickly and without having to rewire or install new ductwork.
If you are keeping your existing ductwork, it is imperative that you make sure it is able to handle the air put out by the new furnace. Remember that you will be saving a considerable amount of money on energy bills with a new energy efficient HVAC system, but modifying and replacing your current ductwork is an expense that may offset what you save on energy costs.
In the last post we discussed safety, which is without a doubt the greatest concern. There is more to consider however…
Another advantage to having a licensed technician perform annual service on your HVAC system is to maintain proper efficiency. When your furnace and air conditioning units are properly tuned, they run at maximum efficiency. This means less energy consumption and lower utility bills. The cost of annual HVAC service is far less that the amount of savings you’ll receive on energy bills when your unit is optimized to run at maximum efficiency.
It is important for the HVAC technician to check for buildup of dirt and debris inside the furnace and air conditioner, as well as inspect the unit to ensure the parts are in good working condition and are installed correctly. Cleaning the HVAC unit will allow it to continue to run smoothly without being hindered by soot and dirt that eventually builds up. The HVAC contractor will also ensure the vents are clear and all gases are able to escape through the vents or chimney.
Taking the measure of having your HVAC system inspected annually will not only save you money on your energy bills, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your family and household are safe from toxic gases. Furthermore, the small expense of having a professional service your unit will save a lot of money when compared to the cost of purchasing a brand new unit.
It is easy to take for granted that your HVAC system is running properly. You may think that since you don’t notice any immediate issue with your furnace or air conditioner that your HVAC system is operating correctly. This, however, may not be the case. Don’t put off your annual HVAC inspection and service. Without the routine visit by an HVAC service technician, your furnace or air conditioner could lose efficiency and begin to operate inefficiently. Problems that could’ve otherwise been caught will be allowed to grow and cause damage to your HVAC unit, shortening its lifespan.
The most important reason why you should take measures to have your furnace and air conditioner serviced is for safety. Natural gas and oil HVAC systems burn fossil fuel, which can produce harmful byproducts like carbon monoxide. You certainly won’t want to risk the health of yourself or your family by breathing in the poisonous gas, so be sure to have a professional HVAC service technician perform the yearly maintenance on your unit. Furthermore, without an annual inspection, your furnace may have a greater risk of sparking a fire. Having your furnace undergo routine service will significantly decrease the likelihood of having a catastrophic accident occur. In most cases, an annual service inspection will allow the HVAC contractor to catch potential problems before they happen. They will be able to either remedy the problem, or advise you on the best course of action to ensure the safety of your family.
Another thing that you can do to get ready for the upcoming winter is make sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working properly. These small detectors save lives, and if you have an older furnace, there is a greater chance that you will have a leak or a malfunction that poses a health and safety risk. It is always a good idea to check the batteries of your smoke detectors and CO detectors when you set your clocks for daylight saving time.
When you set up the appointment for the HVAC service technician to perform the furnace inspection, make sure you clear away dust and debris from the unit to make it easy to get to. Have a new furnace filter in place. You should change the air filter once every thirty days, depending on the brand of filter and whether or not there is a lot of dirt and debris present in your home (usually from pets). As you’re preparing the furnace for inspection, also take the opportunity to check the weather stripping and seals along the doors and windows of your home. Make sure they are sealed or caulked properly to keep the cold air out and improve the energy efficiency of your home.
If you follow these simple steps and schedule a professional HVAC inspection, your family will keep warm all winter long. You can rest easy knowing that your furnace will not break down in the middle of a cold winter night because you took the necessary steps to inspect it and correct any potential problem before it became an issue.
Keeping your family warm this winter should be of great importance to you. We rely on our home heating systems to perform this task and often times we take for granted the heat our HVAC system puts out during the winter months. When the HVAC system is functioning properly, we don’t give it a second thought. But if, for some reason, the heating system stops working and you find yourself without warmth on a particularly cold night, you’ll do anything to get it working again. This is the reason why you need to have an annual inspection of you HVAC system.
A professional HVAC service technician should always perform a home heating inspection. While there are routine maintenance tasks that you can perform yourself, only a qualified heating and cooling expert can inspect the specific parts of the furnace and check supply lines for leaks. The HVAC service technician can also run the system through a cycle of diagnostic tests to check its energy efficiency and function.
From these tests, the HVAC service technician will be able to advise you on what, if any, action you need to take to keep your system running properly throughout the winter. They may run into some easy to fix problems and will inform you of what you need to do to correct them. They may also advise you that you are in need of a completely new system. An old HVAC unit may be costing you money and posing a health and safety risk to you and your family. Trust a professional heating and cooling expert to give you sound advice.
As we discussed in the first two posts of this series, choosing the right electrician to perform the electrical work on your home is a pretty important task, not to mention a tricky one. After all, if you are not knowledgeable enough about electrical repairs, how will you know if the person you hire is?
In Part 2 of this series, we talked about the importance of licensing and insurance as great pre-qualifications for any prospective electrical contractor. Of course, there are a couple of other great qualifiers, too. It’s hard to overlook the value of references, for example. If you are able to speak with former clients, you should be able to not only get a sense of the quality of work but also how easy it is to work with the electrician in question.
If you have a larger job in mind, it might benefit you to go a step further to check on quality of work, and try to visit the site of another job the electrician has in progress. Even if you don’t know 240 from 120, you can simply look at the organization and neatness of the job. If wires are run willy-nilly and the breaker box looks like a tangle, the electrician may not have the conscientiousness you’d like. Generally, real pros will make sure everything is tidy, even in areas where you won’t be able to see any wiring after construction is finished.
Finally, try to choose someone who specializes in the type of work you want to have done. Some electricians focus on new construction, for instance, while others concentrate on modest repairs of existing wiring. Commercial work can be vastly different from residential, too.
Now that I’ve given you all this great advice, I can help you a little further and say that for most electrical jobs, you should consider Robertson Electric. We are experienced in many facets of electrical work and make it a point to provide excellent service. Give us a call today.
Alright, you’ve determined that electrical project for your house – maybe just a dimmer switch for your overhead lights, or even a rewiring job – is beyond your abilities. It’s time to call in a pro but you’re not sure what to look for. Let’s start with qualifications.
In Virginia, a license is required in order to do business as an electrician. The requirements are quite specific, and become more stringent as you move through the three levels: journeyman, master, and contractor. Generally, some combination of schooling and practical experience is required in order to sit for the examination at each level. The requirement for practical experience starts at two years and goes up to more than ten years. And then, of course, the examination must be passed, and the exam is no cake-walk. What all of this is meant to do is to ensure a certain level of proficiency for any licensed electrician. Make licensing your number one priority when hiring.
Another important thing to look for is insurance. Now this might sound obvious, but given the dangers to life and property that can occur from improper electrical work, you definitely want to make sure you’re protected. A true professional will have no problem furnishing you with a copy of his license as well as current proof of insurance. Look for a minimum of $500,000 in liability coverage. Like the license, having this kind of coverage shows you that the electrician takes his business seriously.
There are a couple more things to look at that will help you choose an electrician wisely. We’ll go over those in the third part of this series.
Another way to make sure you are using electricity safely is by checking your outlets. Electrical outlets should never be used if they are cracked or broken. If the wires connected to the outlet are loose, it can cause a shock hazard or a short circuit – even if there is no electrical device plugged into it.
Often times, electrical house fires are caused by faulty wiring at the point of the outlet. Make sure your outlets are installed properly and securely. Be sure the cover plates are installed and attached securely. Never leave the wall boxes open, even if the wires are securely attached and taped. This is just an invitation for small children and pets to touch a wire and receive a shock. If an outlet is broken or cracked, shut the power to it off at the breaker box and have an experienced electrician install a new one.
Finally, if your home was built in the mid-1970s or prior, you may want to have an experienced, licensed electrician inspect your home’s wiring and electrical system. Older wiring can become more dangerous as it ages, and the safety standards of today were not in place when the home was originally built. A professional electrician can update or repair your faulty wiring and make it safe to handle the electrical loads of modern appliances and electronics.
These quick tips, if followed properly, could eliminate more than 40% of the electrical fires and other accidents experienced every year in the United States alone.
|
|