At Expert Electric we often get calls from our customers requesting chandelier installation. A chandelier is a great lighting option. Adding a new chandelier can do a lot to change the look and feel of a room. It adds style to your home while lighting effectively. A chandelier is basically a beautiful piece of illuminated art. The installation of a new chandelier will vary with the type and size you choose and the location it is to be installed in. Choosing the right chandelier is a very personal choice. But whatever chandelier you choose, your electrician, in almost all cases, can install it for you.

Ceiling Heights and Chandeliers

In many of our past electrical safety articles we have talked about electrical fires. The reason we warn homeowners so frequently about the threat of an electrical fire is because of the danger it poses to your home and your family’s lives. Electrical fires can result from poorly managed electrical wires or equipment and result in huge damages and health hazards. It’s important that you have taken the necessary steps to avoid this.

Electrical fires are fires that start as a result of electrical wires that are hot, overloaded, or sparking. Electrical wires run throughout your home, next to hundreds of feet of wood. If a circuit is overloaded or damaged it can become extremely hot and product a spark. If your circuit breaker does not detect this and fails to shut it off quickly the wires can heat up the surrounding wood structure and start a fire. The biggest problem with these types of fires is their location. The fire has now started behind the wall, out of sight. By the time the smoke is visible through outlets or vents, significant damage can already be done. By the time you notice the fire, call the fire department and they arrive to extinguish the fire, there will already by substantial damage to your home. This situation can be even worse at night while you and your family is sleeping. The fire can creep up on you and spread behind the walls before you notice. You may even find yourself in your home and unable to prevent the fire from overtaking the entire structure.

Some common causes of electrical fires are:

To prevent electrical fires ensure that your electrical circuit panel is properly organized and up to date. If your electrical panel is old and not properly organized, it will not detect overloads and do its job of protecting your home. We recommend having your home inspected every 10 years. Some problems you will not be able to identify on your own. Our electricians will be able to identify areas that need to be upgraded and brought up to code. There are some precautions that you can take on your own. Check on your appliances, electrical equipment, and extension cords to ensure they are not frayed or have exposed wiring. If you notice that one of your electrical devices is very old, it may be time to repair it. If you are not sure contact your local Expert Electric.

To schedule a home inspection or receive more information about keeping your home safe from electrical fires, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. We are your neighbourhood’s electricians committed to keeping you safe.

“Smart” technology is all the rage right now. However, it’s a bit of a disservice to call the Nest a smart thermostat. A learning thermostat suits the bill better. The Nest system learns your heating and cooling habits, and is able to incorporate the information that it gathers, and the data that it compiles, in order to help you live comfortably in a far more convenient manner. With Nest Sense, the Nest thermostat is able to learn about how long it takes your house to warm up and to cool back down, as well as how it can utilize your existing HVAC equipment in a more efficient manner. You will get monthly energy reports from your Nest, but the truth is that this system is able to help you make your home a more efficient place, without you even having to think about it.

With technology as advanced as the Nest thermostat, you may be wondering what its applications are beyond simply heating and cooling your home in an incredibly convenient and efficient manner. Well, there are many different products which are actually being designed to work with the Nest, as denoted by the “works with Nest” logo. When you see this logo, you’ll know that the products it appears on, from washing machines to lights, are Nest-ready. Contact us today to learn more, or to bring your household further into line with the technology of the future.

With more and more emphasis being placed on renewable energy sources, especially options such as home solar panel systems, many homeowners are wondering whether or not they can do the work themselves in order to save a few dollars. Although many of the basic concepts of a solar power system may seem rather simple, it is important to get local solar panel installers involved so that you can ensure that the system that you are installing is appropriate for your needs, that it follows all local codes, and that it is properly and safely installed.

The cost of solar panels is by far one of the main reasons why anyone would look into the option of installing solar panels themselves. Having a professional installation team work in conjunction with a local electrician, however, can make a huge difference in the overall health and life of your solar power system. This is especially true if you are connecting your solar panel array to your electrical service panel. Performing a step like this requires very specialized skills, tools, and knowledge and could result in very serious injury or death if not done properly.

All in all, choosing to install solar panels on your home is one of the best ways to reduce your overall dependency on traditional electricity sources. It can also help to reduce greenhouse emissions and lower your carbon footprint. To make this type of project even more attractive are all of the credits, incentives and different payment options that are helping to make green energy technologies more accessible than ever before. For any questions regarding the purchase, lease or installation of solar panels, please browse through the solar power info that we have here. You can also contact us at any time.