Ask the Electricity Experts
May 2012 Article
Green Deer is April 16- June 17, 2012. It’s a time of year for Red Deerian’s to pitch in and help clean up the litter that accumulates throughout the long winter. It’s also a time of year that people start thinking about spring cleaning their homes, clearing the clutter and taking on those nagging home projects.
Our company can help with those projects & provide solutions for a greener home.
Mr. Electric can…
• Install motion activated occupancy sensors so lights turn on when you enter a room and turn off when you leave.
• Install whole home surge protection that increases the lifespan of electronics and reduces e-waste
• Install energy monitors at the service panel that can measure the exact amount of electricity being used by each circuit in the home
• Upgrade inefficient T12 fluorescent lights with other highly efficient options
Our sister company, Mr. Rooter Plumbing also has some green solutions for your home. Mr. Rooter can…
• Repair drips & leaks that waste hundreds of gallons of water every year
• Install low flush toilets that reduce water consumption. It is estimated that an average Alberta household, upgrading from toilets installed pre-1990 could save 80,000 litres of water per year
• Provide active bacteria drain treatment that clears clogs with no chemicals. The by-product is carbon dioxide and water
Keeping you home well-maintained is one of the best ways to ensure that you are not wasting water, electricity & natural gas. Please “like” us on facebook & “follow” us on twitter for more simple ways to make your home greener.
April 2012 Article
2 Great Companies, Same Great Service
At Mr. Electric we consider our expertise to be customer service. We treat every customer with respect by honouring exact appointment times, sending friendly, knowledgeable service professionals and providing great service with a parts and workmanship warranty. We take great care to make sure we create a positive customer experience. Mr. Electric is part of a family of service companies that use the same core values and customer service delivery in various home repair & maintenance businesses. Our associated companies include Air Serve, Rainbow Restorations, Glass Doctor, Grounds Guys, Mr. Appliance and Mr. Rooter Plumbing.
The team at Mr. Electric is proud to let the Ask The Experts® readers and the Central Alberta community know that Mr. Rooter of Red Deer will be opening soon. The team at Mr. Electric and Mr. Rooter have been working hard to launch the brand and recently debuted at Red Deer Home Show. Mr. Rooter is currently recruiting staff and plan to open by mid- April. The company will focus on clogged drain and plumbing repairs.
If you are interested in being part of the team that will launch this respected brand in Red Deer please send a resume to hr@mrrooterreddeer.com.
March 2012 Article
Spring is renovation & repair season in our business. The Christmas rush is over and it’s a great time to get things done before the summer rush starts. Mr. Electric offers exact appointment times, up-front pricing, qualified service professionals and complimentary Home Safety Check-ups for every home.
Sometimes we get asked why we take the extra time to a whole home safety check-up. There are many answers to that question, with the top reason being quality. We want to make sure that the problem you may be experiencing with your electrical system is not the symptom of a larger problem that may be located elsewhere in your home. Our job is to fix problems, not the symptoms of problems.
The second answer is safety. An improperly installed and maintained electrical system can lead to unsafe situations in the home. Most people don’t know that the heating and cooling of a house cause the wire connections of your electrical system to expand and contract and eventually loosen off and cause arcing, and sparking. Components can wear out over time. It is generally accepted that the life span of an electrical system is about 30 years with proper care and maintenance.
Our third answer to the question, why do we do a complimentary safety check-up at every home we service, is value. Mr. Electric promises Expert Electrical Service. We send highly qualified licensed electricians to your home and want to make sure that they leave you aware of the condition of your electrical system and any and all potential issues. We will tell you about situations that are of immediate concern but also long-term maintenance issues that you can do yourself to make sure that your home stays safe.
Mr. Electric will have a booth at the upcoming Red Deer Home Show from March 16-18. Come check out our booth and pick up a coupon for our show special!
February 2012 Article
Here are a few facts about commercial lighting:
- Lighting is often the second biggest operating expense for businesses.
- T12 Florescent lighting is being phased out. The phase-out started in 2010 and by June 2012 lamps and ballasts will no longer be available to purchase. There are more efficient, cost effective and higher quality products available.
- Due to worldwide shortages of rare earth metals, a component of florescent light technology, the cost for linear and compact fluorescent products have recently increased an average of 25%. The move from incandescent lighting to compact florescent bulbs is adding to the shortage and driving up the costs of lighting maintenance.
February is Lighting Needs Assessment Month at Mr. Electric of Red Deer. We are offering a complimentary lighting system review and upgrade proposal that outlines the return on investment of the top lighting technologies on the market. Return on investment for lighting upgrades comes when the monthly savings on utility bills are greater than the cost of the upgrade. Additional savings come from decreased maintenance costs. In some cases, ROI can be seen in as early as 4 years.
Lighting upgrades can provide a better quality of light that contributes to healthier indoor environments and more productive work places. They can save money on energy bills, and increase business profits.
Call Mr. Electric for your complimentary lighting system review for your business.
January 2012 Article
Looking for Ways to Save Energy?
Mr. Electric is the expert on saving you money on your electricity from the appliances and light bulbs you use to the way you control the flow of energy in and out of your home.
More and more consumers are switching to energy efficient electricity. They want to make smart decisions when it comes to installing their home with appropriate energy saving devices. By making the switch you not only save yourself money, but you help save the environment from toxic fossil fuel pollution and help to create a more secure energy future for America.
It can be a challenge to determine the best steps to take in order to yield the greatest benefit in your home. Let Mr. Electric help. Call us today and find out how we can help you save energy and money!
Check out our ENERGY SAVING options
• Power Conditioning Systems
• Lighting Controls
• Ceiling Fan Installation
• Energy Audits
• Power Consumption Meters
• Tankless Water Heater Installation
• Energy Saving Lighting Solutions
• Electrical System Upgrades
• Outlet Installation & Specialty Receptacles
December 2011 Article
Mr. Electric’s Top 10 Holiday Safety Tips
With the holidays upon us it is important to be aware of the safety hazards that come along with decorating, entertaining and colder weather. We have compiled a top ten list of safety tips to help you get through the festive season without suffering the effects of injury or fire.
10. Always purchase electrical decorations and extension cords from reputable retailers. Look for a UL or CSA label to ensure that is has been tested and meets safety standards. Just like with watches or purses, there are counterfeit electrical products on the market that do not meet safety standards and their use can result in electrocution or fire.
9. Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations and electrical devices. They can overheat and start a fire.
8. With a chill in the air and guests coming to stay you might be planning to use a space heater. Make sure not to use a space heater in rooms where children may be unattended.
7. Do not mount strings of lights in a way that can damage their plastic insulation. Check for any fraying or bare wires before you start putting up the holiday lights.
6. Cover any unused outlets on extension cords with plastic caps or electrical tape to prevent children from coming in contact with the live circuit. Always place electrical cords out of the reach of small children.
5. Place your Christmas tree at least 3 feet away from a heat source such as a fireplace, space heater or radiator.
4. While prepping for holiday meals, make sure to plug countertop kitchen appliances in to Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets. GFCI outlets have a safety feature that will stop the flow of electricity before an electrocution can happen.
3. Make sure extension cords are properly rated for their intended use, indoor or outdoor, and meet or exceed the power needs of the appliance or device being used.
2. Consider using battery operated candles rather than traditional candles. Never use a candle near your Christmas Tree. Make sure all candles are extinguished before leaving the house or going to sleep.
1. Make sure smoke alarms are installed outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. For optimal protection, smoke alarms should be interconnected, so that they all sound if one sounds. Hardwired smoke alarms with battery backups are considered to be more reliable than those operated solely by batteries. Test your smoke alarms monthly and make sure to replace them before their expiry date.
Follow these tips for a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
These safety tips have been compiled from Electrical Safety Foundation International www.esfi.org
November 2011 Article
There are many new technologies that can improve the energy efficiency of your home or business. When looking to improve energy efficiency at home it’s now possible to have a monitoring device installed directly on your electrical panel that will measure the electricity being used on each circuit. The information is then compiled into graphs that can be viewed online or with a smart phone app. A power monitoring device is useful for determining the fixtures and appliances in your home that are using the most electricity.
Other devices that can save money on energy bills are:
Programable thermostats- there are thermostats available that can be set to automatically adjust the temperature in your home for different times of the day. The most advanced thermostats can be programed and can adjusted online or with a smart phone app.
Lighting Controls- just like your thermostat, lights can also be programmed or remotely controlled with a smart phone app. These switches communicate via wireless technology which means that can be installed in place of any existing switch as long as there is broadband internet in the home.
Occupancy and vacancy sensor switches- these switches will automatically turn the lights on when a person enters a room and will turn off when the room is vacant. There are different types of switches that use motion, sound and infrared technology to determine when a room is vacant.
LED & Compact fluorescent light bulbs- Energy efficient bulbs can show significant savings on your power bills. Lighting can represent up to 25% of a home’s energy use. Technology in this area is always improving. The newest LED bulbs can last 10 times longer than compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Energy efficiency is also very important in businesses. Utility bills are often the second biggest operating expense for businesses. Saving on energy costs means more profit on the bottom line. Removing obsolete T12 florescent lighting and replacing with super energy efficient T8 lighting will provide the most energy efficiency and lowest long term maintenance costs. In many cases businesses will see a return on money invested in energy efficient lighting in 3 to 5 years.
Mr. Electric can complete a no charge commercial needs assessment to determine a need for an energy monitoring system or lighting upgrade.
October 2011 Article
Fire Prevention Week 2011- Protect Your Family from Fire
October 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week and a great time to think about the situations in your home that can lead to fire. A proactive approach to fire safety can reduce the staggering numbers of deaths and injuries that occur each year.
Fire can be caused by worn and inadequate wiring, overburdened circuits, and outdated technology. It’s a fact; many existing homes simply cannot handle the demands of today’s electrical appliances and devices. It’s also true that many fire related deaths occur in homes where there are no smoke detectors or no working smoke detectors.
Here is a Home Safety Checklist to help you identify and correct fire and other electrical dangers commonly found in homes.
Step 1- Check Smoke Alarms
• Are there smoke alarms installed in your home?
• Do you have enough smoke alarms and are they installed in the proper locations? Smoke detectors should be located on every level of a home and within 3 meters of bedrooms.
• Do the batteries need to be replaced? Smoke alarm batteries should be replaced at least once per year- or sooner if indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Are your smoke detectors more than 10 years old? All smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years – or sooner if indicated in the manufactures instructions. It is also recommended to change alarms sooner in areas with lots of dust and airborne particles such as grease.
*Note: Homes constructed after 1997 must have permanently hard wired and interconnected smoke alarms located on each level of the home. Battery operated smoke detectors are not adequate for today’s building and electrical codes.
Step 2- Check the wattage of all light bulbs
• Does the wattage of your light bulb match the wattage indicated on the light fixture? Overheating can lead to fire if the wattage of the bulb is greater than indicated on the fixture.
Step 3- Check All Lamp, Appliance and Extension Cords
• Are cords in good condition? (not damaged or cracked)
• Are extension cords in use? Extension cords are designed for temporary use and should not provide power on a long term basis. Have additional receptacles installed to provide power where needed.
• Are extension cords rated for their intended use, indoor or outdoor? Do they meet or exceed the power needs of the appliance or device being used?
Step 4- Check wall outlets and light switches
• Are all outlets and switches cool to the touch? Usually warm outlets or switches may indicate an unsafe wiring situation exists.
• Do you hear crackling, sizzling or buzzing from outlets? Call a licensed electrician to identify the cause.
• Do you have small children? Consider installing tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent small objects from being inserted into the outlet.
Step 5- Check Portable Heaters
• Are heaters placed at least three feet away from things that can catch fire such as curtains and bedding?
• Are heaters placed on a flat, stable surface and placed where they will not be tipped over? Heaters should not be placed on top of furniture or in high traffic areas. They may be a fire hazard if tipped over.
• Do you turn space heaters off and unplug them when you leave a room or go to sleep?
Step 6- Check all countertop appliances
• Are all appliance cords place away from hot surfaces Pay particular attention to cords around toasters, ovens and ranges. Cords can be damaged by excess heat.
• Are all appliances located away from the sink? Electrical appliances can cause shock if they come into contact with water.
• Are all kitchen appliances plugged into GFCI- protected outlets if located within 1.5 meters of a sink?
Step 7- Check all large appliances
• Have you ever received even a light shock (other than one from static electricity) from any of your large appliances? If so, do not use or touch the appliance until it has been checked by a licensed electrician.
• Are the top and area above the cooking range free from combustibles like pot holders and plastic utensils? Storing these things on or near the range may result in fires or burns.
Step 8- Check for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters or GFCI’s
• Are the kitchen and bathroom outlets protected by GFCI’s? GFCI’s should be installed in areas where water may come into contact with electricity.
• If you have GFCI’s installed, do you test them regularly? Test them monthly to ensure they are in operating condition.
Step 9- Check your Electrical Service Panel- (Any repairs or upgrades in this area should be done by a qualified journeyman electrician)
• Is your circuit breaker box appropriately labeled? Proper labeling makes it easy to identify what circuits power each room in your home.
• Are you regularly resetting tripped circuit breakers? Circuit breakers that are constantly tripping indicate that the circuit is overloaded or that other electrical hazards exist. Consult a licensed electrician.
• Is your home protected by Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters? Combination-type Arc Fault breakers replace traditional breakers in the electrical service panel, providing the most advanced electrical fire protection available. Ask a qualified electrician if your home would benefit from Arc Fault protection.
Information for this checklist was compiled from Electrical Safety Foundation International – www.esfi.org
September 2011 Article
Your electrical service panel or breaker box is the central distribution hub of electricity in your home. Because of its importance regarding electrical safety you need to make sure it is properly maintained. The lifespan of an electrical panel is typically about 30 years but may be less if your panel was installed undersized or if you have large electrical demands in your home.
Every service panel should have a main breaker that turns off the electricity to the rest of the system. The number of breakers in the panel can vary depending on when the home was built and the estimated electrical demands of the home when it was designed. Service panels installed or upgraded today most commonly house 32 to 48 breaker spaces.
Take a moment to consider the age of your home and how the electrical demands of your home may have changed since it was constructed. Modern electronics like computers, laptops, ipods, flat screen televisions & video game consoles may not have existed when the panel was installed. Conveniences like water coolers, electric fireplaces, saunas & hot tubs may have been added to your home. Appliances like your washer, dryer, fridge, stove and telephone, although they likely existed, probably did not have circuit boards and micro-processors that today’s appliances need to operate.
Think about how the years in your home may have affected your electrical service panel itself. Overloaded circuits, renovations, electrical storms, foundation shifting causing wires to pull and loosen, or unknowingly grazing an electrical wire with a nail while hanging a picture can all cause unsafe situations.
A service panel upgrade can modernize your service panel and, along with regular maintenance, protect against unsafe situations. An upgrade will provide space so that each circuit can have its own breaker, eliminating “double tapping”. Double tapping is when two circuits use the same breaker. This short cut, or cost cutting measure, should never be offered by a qualified electrician because it can lead to an electrical fire.
When upgrading your service panel you might consider adding arc fault protection. This type of circuit breaker is designed to protect from fire in the event of non-working electrical arcs. Since 2002 the Canadian Electrical Code requires all bedroom circuits to have special breakers that turn off if there is an arc on the line. For example, if a wire behind a wall is damaged by a nail the breaker will trip to avoid electrocution or fire.
Upgrading your service panel or not, it is important to consider surge protection. A whole home surge protection unit can be installed in a new or existing panel and will protect all your home appliances and electronics from surges. Surges are happening all the time and are contributors to a shortened lifespan of your valuable electronic possessions.
For home owners looking to have the most modern electrical service panel on the market, an energy monitoring device can be installed. These devices show the electrical usage of the home and each circuit in real time using the internet or a smart phone app. Once the system is installed, special control devices can be added that will send an email or text message when there is a problem with the system such as a hot tub or sump pump shutting down or a garage door left open.
The primary purpose of a Service Panel upgrade is to ensure the safety of the home. Other benefits include increased energy efficiency and longer life of electronics. A Mr. Electric® service professional can provide a free home safety check-up to identify any issues and recommend solutions to fix existing problems and prevent future electrical hazards. We have the power to make things better.
August 2011 Article
We are dead in the middle of summer which according to the Canadian Lightning Detection Network (CLDN) is when the most lightning strikes occur, averaging one every three seconds. CLDN reports that July has the most lightning strikes recorded out of the year followed by August and then June. It’s at this time we are reminded to prepare ourselves against the costly damages that this active summer season brings. But oddly enough most homeowners fail to realize that the real danger that the summer season brings is the strain that occurs to the electrical grid from increased usage. When surge protection is mentioned the first thing that it is typically associated with is “lightning protection.” In reality surges are occurring daily from normal utility operations and the fact is that these surges occurring on the utility connection are the most common source of surge damage, not ightning. There is a third source of damage which comes from internally generated surges from sources such as pumps, motors and condensers that turn on and off within the home. All of this damage, not just lightning, needs to be safeguarded against and the means to protect your homes electrical and electronic equipment is with Whole Home Surge Protection.
Whole Home Surge protection is achieved by “staging protection” throughout your home. The first “stage” of protection is the most critical because it protects your home against the larger, more damaging surges that come through on the electric utility line, telephone and coaxial signals. Protection on the phone and coaxial signals is imperative because even if you were to plug a TV into a typical plug-in surge protector, i.e. “power bar”. If you fail to protect the coaxial signal then you risk losing your TV from damage that originated on the coaxial signal. The second “stage” of protection is to utilize plug-in protectors to safeguard against the internally generated surge activity.
By staging surge protectors in this manner you will effectively protect your household electrical and electronic devices against surges.
Damage to TVs, computers, game consoles, and other consumer electronics are a major concern of homeowners who seek out typical plug-in protection means for these devices. But with the emergence of microprocessor driven products almost all electrically fed devices in the home have become as sensitive as computers. Fridges, Stoves, Washing machines, dryers, and even your gas furnace, all of these expensive appliances need protection as much as your home entertainment and computer equipment.
The best way to accomplish this is with hard wired protection on your homes electrical panel by a licensed and experienced electrician from Mr. Electric.
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