Does a Whole House Generator Add Value to Your Home?

January 5, 2021

Homebuyers increasingly recognize the value provided by whole-house generators. “Consumers Report” estimated that these permanently connected backup generators can boost a home’s resale value by 3 to 5 percent. The cost vs. value report at “Remodeling Magazine” estimated that these generators retain roughly 54 percent of their installation value. Whole-House Generators Offer a Strong Selling Feature Whole-house generators may not look exciting on real estate listing photos, but savvy buyers know how much they have to offer. Losing power can range from highly inconvenient to dangerous for some individuals.

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Flickering Lights and Their Causes

December 17, 2020

While flickering lights might seem annoying but harmless, they can be anything but. Depending on what is causing them to flicker, they could be signaling a risk to your home and family. Just One Light Is Flickering This is caused by either a defective bulb or a bad connection. Try tightening the bulb. If that doesn’t work, then replace it. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you need the services of an electrician. An Area in Your Home Has Flickering Lights If all the bulbs in an area of your home are

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Things to Consider When Installing Outdoor Security Lighting for Your Home

November 17, 2020

Crime happens everywhere. However, you can deter criminals from breaking into your home by installing outdoor security lighting. There are a few things to keep in mind when doing so. Decide on the Type of Light Bulb You can choose from a wide variety of outdoor light bulbs. The best type to use is LED floodlight bulbs rated at 4,000 Kelvin. These provide powerful illumination while using little electricity. They’re also dependable and can last for over 20 years. You should avoid solar lights. They often won’t work when it’s overcast and fail to turn on

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Do LED Lights Perform Better Than Incandescents?

October 20, 2020

There are several reasons the world has moved on to LED bulbs from incandescent lights. Should you be concerned that incandescent bulbs are being phased out? No, as LED lights are just plain better in a few ways. Energy Savings Incandescent bulbs were created in 1879 by Thomas Edison. While the technology was revolutionary for the time, the fact is that these bulbs create more heat than they do light. As a device to bring light to a room, they don’t do the best job of it. LED lights generate almost no heat. Almost

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AMPs, Watts, and Volts: A Guide to Measuring Power

September 19, 2020

Most people do not think much about the electricity in their homes unless something goes wrong. However, it is a good idea to have a little understanding of how the power you use in your residence is measured. This could help prevent you from overloading your home’s electrical system and causing a hazardous situation. What Are Amps? Amp is short for ampere, which is a unit for measuring how fast electrical current flows. If you look at your circuit breaker box, you will see that most of your circuits are marked with a limit of 15–20

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How To Protect Your Home From Power Surges

August 11, 2020

Power surges damage and destroy many electrical devices and appliances every year. A power surge can potentially damage any plugged-in device in your home regardless of how small or large it is. Here are five ways to protect your home from being damaged by a power surge. 1. Have Your Wiring Inspected Faulty wiring can make a power surge even worse than it already is. If you live in an older home, you should have an electrician inspect your wiring to make sure it’s up to code. 2. Install a Whole-Home Surge Protector This device is

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Tips for Avoiding Electrical Emergencies

July 15, 2020

Electrical emergencies can happen in your home due to a variety of reasons. Always staying proactive is essential to keeping safe and limiting the impact of these dangerous situations. Here are a few simple tips to always remember to help you to avoid electrical emergencies. 1. Turn Off the Main Power Source One of the most important tips is to always turn off the main power source if you are dealing with an emergency. On the other hand, attempting to unplug a malfunctioning appliance or device can be risky. You should never touch exposed wires, so

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5 Tips for Reducing Your Home Energy Usage

June 16, 2020

There are ways big and small to reduce your use of energy and, thus, your energy bills. Many of these cost very little or even nothing to implement. Here are five ways to conserve energy in your household. 1. Adjust Your Behaviors Simply adjusting your behaviors costs nothing and is highly effective. It’s easy to turn off lights and appliances you aren’t using, for example. You should turn down your thermostat in the winter and turn it up in the summer, as heating and cooling your home makes up about half of your energy bills.

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4 Interior Lighting Mistakes To Avoid

May 13, 2020

Lighting is an integral part of the atmosphere of your home. If a room is too bright, it could look like an operating room. A room that is too dark makes it difficult to do anything in it. Here are the four biggest lighting mistakes people make. 1. No Layers of Light Many people just rely on the overhead lighting in their home. This type of lighting, called ambient, lights the room but casts shadows on corners. Overhead lights also typically emit light in a particular direction, so areas outside of that direction are not well-lit.

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Common Electrical Problems in Your Home

April 16, 2020

Managing household electricity is one of the major problems facing most Americans today. Most families will experience electrical problems at some point and may blame electricity suppliers for simple and major electrical faults at home. However, have you considered checking for the simple and common electrical faults in your home? Here are some simple electrical problems at home that you can solve before disaster strikes. Electrical Surges Electrical surges are quite common in homes. However, most people do not consider them as dangerous electrical faults because they only occur for microseconds. The damages caused by electrical

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