efficiently as possible. Your attic fan can be installed one of two ways, either gable mounted or roof mounted, and is controlled by an automatic thermostat that shuts it off or turns it on.

An attic fan will perform as effectively as it should in a properly sealed and insulated attic, so that no heat or moist air can sneak its way in. This helps with your HVAC efficiency, and also protects your roof and your attic’s structure.

Your attic fan serves as a way to efficiently ventilate the space, but it is so much more than that, too. As we stated above, the temperature in your attic can be far above the outdoor temperatures. This is if you do not have an attic fan installed. Regular vents do allow for some cooling, but not to an extent that you’ll notice the difference.

A properly installed and serviced attic fan can help drop your attic temperatures by as much as 50 degrees, making your entire house cooler. This means you’ll be able to turn up your air conditioner’s thermostat by as much as 10 degrees, but still remain comfortable.

In the wintertime, moisture can quickly turn to ice or frost, and as that expands in can damage your roof and the structural integrity of your attic. An attic fan, however, can fend off the moisture before it is able to damage your roof in this manner.

Ice is not the only danger that moisture brings, either. When moisture cannot be ventilated and is left to sit, mold can start growing. Unfortunately it’s very easy for moisture to reach your attic—even your showering and cooking allows this to happen. But an attic fan can resolve this problem.

Your air conditioner will not have to work so hard to do its job when it is assisted by an attic fan. Also, it’s likely to last a lot longer—given that you schedule regular maintenance—when you don’t have to run it as often. Repairs will happen from time to time, but an efficiently working AC system is a lot less likely to give you problems than one that doesn’t have the assistance of an attic fan.

Many people enjoy doing their own work on their homes.  If they have the skills and tools, the DIY project can be very rewarding.  It’s a great way to save money and feels good to have done it yourself.  Some may think electrical work can be done just as easy as other home improvement projects. However, you should think twice when working on items electrical related.  The hazards can be lethal and catastrophic.

Some risks include:

Many people desire to save money and have the satisfaction of  “doing it yourself”, but doing DYI electrical can cost you more in the long run.   Even what may look simple can be done incorrectly if you don’t know exactly what you are doing.  What looks to be an easy do it yourself project can turn into a nightmare due to inexperience.

Have questions about your next project?  Need advice about the electrical problem you are thinking of doing  yourself?  Give us a call:

When it comes to replacing a main breaker in your home, it may feel like an overwhelming and expensive task, and you likely want to be sure that is your only option before you move forward to schedule the electrical services. Finding an electrician you can trust can help you to decide whether main breaker replacement is your best option, but you may also want to learn the basics yourself so you can make an informed decision on your own.

Let’s take a look at the basics of circuit breakers and the main breaker, how they work, and when you would need to consider replacing a main breaker:

Circuit breakers exist to keep the home’s wiring from getting overheated or catching on fire. The necessary size of the breaker for a home depends on the wiring size as well as the expected electricity load that it will support. When the circuit breakers are in a closed position, they conduct electricity. However, when the flow of electricity (measured in amps) goes beyond what the breaker can handle, it trips or opens. This activity “breaks” the circuit and stops the energy from flowing.

You can reset the circuit breaker by closing it, but repeated tripping and the need to reset the circuit over and over can wear down the breaker, which can end up reducing its capacity.

The main breaker is the circuit breaker that serves as a safety feature to protect your electrical panel from overload. Overloading can then lead to overheating, which is obviously a fire hazard. This breaker is usually located at the top of the smaller circuit breakers in the electrical panel. Some main breakers are locked in place, while others snap or slide in. The main breaker serves to turn on and off power that is incoming to the home. Without a well-working main breaker, you will likely have major power problems, and it may even shutdown altogether.

While sometimes your main breaker will fail without any warning, you will usually have signs that point to it wearing down. Here are the typical warning signs that will clue you into something being wrong:

If you are noticing several of the signs above, it’s time for a main breaker replacement. If you are only experiencing one or two symptoms, you may just need some repairs. However, in either case, you need to call a professional electrician for an appointment immediately. An expert will be able to assess the situation and determine exactly what is going on and provide you with a plan of action to get your electrical services running smoothly and safely once again.

Phil Neal, originally from Massachusetts is Custom Electrical Services new construction manager.  Phil has a variety of responsibilities including overseeing installations, scheduling, and quality control.  Phil is a very experienced electrician in areas such as residential electrical, commercial electrical, service and repair and has received his certification as a licensed Journeyman electrician.

Phil is a 4 year veteran of the U.S. Navy and a 4 year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.  Phil has been deployed to Iraq and has traveled the globe throughout is military career.  He has a wife Deanna a son and twin girls.  With his free time Phil enjoys spending time with his family and taking his kids to the park.

Thank you Phil for your service and being such a critical park of Custom Electrical Services!

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Climate change is a growing concern in North America. We’re already seeing some of its consequences, with warmer temperatures and more extreme, less predictable weather over the past decade. Nevertheless, we continue to burn massive amounts of fossil fuels to satisfy our energy needs, sending troublesome levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. How can we best combat the phenomenon? Numerous studies show that energy efficiency is the cheapest, easiest way to meet our climate goals.

Inexpensive to Deploy

The climate goals of the United States are currently defined through the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, which dictates CO2 levels that states need to meet by 2030. In a recent report, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) assessed six different studies on the effects of the new rules. In all six, there is a common thread – improving our efficiency is the most cost-effective way to achieve the standards.

The studies were conducted by a variety of different observers: the EPA, the Clean Air Task Force, Energy Ventures Analysis, National Economic Research Associates (NERA), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Rhodium/Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Despite starting with different assumptions, all of the studies project that energy efficiency will be the most used and least-cost option for states to implement the plan, and that overall electricity consumption will decline as a result,” C2ES fellow Jason Ye writes on the organization's blog. “In addition to being relatively inexpensive to deploy on its own, energy efficiency reduces the need to build new, costly power plants in the future.”

Show Me the Money

The average consumer might be more worried about what the plan means for their household utility bills. Fortunately, the news isn’t too bad; the plan could cost the average home as much as $87 per year, or 25 cents a day – nothing to sneeze at, but not crippling to the family budget, either.

More optimistic forecasts project that households could actually save money under the Clean Power Plan. The savings would be due to an increased reliance on cheap renewable energy as well as investments in household efficiency technology, which would reduce the amount of consumption and therefore lower utility bills.

The total savings could be much greater. None of the plans take into account the savings the nation could realize by averting some of the more devastating impacts of climate change, nor do they assess improved health care outcomes that could result from a reduction in airborne pollution.

Take Climate Change Into Your Own Hands

You don't have to wait until 2030 to do your part in the fight against climate change. Look for some easy ways that you can reduce your energy consumption around the home, or ask an electrician to conduct an energy audit and point out even more ways you can cut back. The environment, not to mention your pocketbook, will thank you.