It’s beginning to get dark earlier and earlier; depending on the month, after the autumnal equinox (September 22nd), we’re losing between 1-2.5 minutes of daylight each day leading to the winter solstice just before Christmas. This means that letting the dog out each night is going to require more and more squinting, taking out the trash becomes perilous, and dealing with evening snows becomes even more annoying. We at Electrical Gurus recommend you consider investing in exterior house wiring and backyard illumination now, while the temperature is still relatively warm and it isn’t yet dark before dinnertime.

By investing in backyard lighting, you stand to gain a large measure of safety for your family and guests alike. Motion-sensing backyard lighting can save you a sprained ankle, a fall on the ice, or even just a stubbed toe as you navigate your backyard space throughout the winter months. Year round, however, motion sensing light increases the safety of your home as a whole, as it can help to ward off intruders and invasive critters, such as raccoons, from nearing your home. While you will likely get the most use out of your exterior lights during the winter months, they are a great thing to have year round.

Its nice to watch the snow falling just outside the windows, as your family enjoys hot chocolate inside. By having lights for your outdoor space, you make the spectacle even better. It doesn’t always snow in Des Moines, surprisingly, and warmer winter days aren’t uncommon; these warm winter days should be taken advantage of, which is hard to do if it is dark at 5pm. With easily accessible outdoor lighting, your family can enjoy outdoor living areas, you can dust off the grill for a winter burger, and open up possibilities for a nice fire on a brisk night.

Investing in pleasant-looking lighting is a great way to add value to your home, especially in winter months. Nothing takes a home from looking plain to extraordinary in the evening hours quicker than some well-placed lighting. Whether you utilize uplighting to illuminate trees or your home’s exterior or landscaping lights to illuminate the lawn, these lights provide utility and bring value to your home. Exterior lighting can take your home to the next level of visual appeal, but does require help from a skilled electrician to do well. Get in touch with us today to learn what it will take to get your home’s exterior looking great at all hours.

Regardless of what you’re looking to gain by lighting up your home’s exterior, be sure to call Electrical Gurus for help with your electrical installation. Our highly-qualified electricians are happy to offer their experience in helping Des Moines homeowners with with internal and exterior electrical services. If you partner with our expert electricians, adding some lighting to your home’s exterior can increase its safety, usability, and give you a large boost to curb appeal.

Get in touch with our Des Moines electricians today!

In the current economic climate, in which everyone is trying to save money, you might not know that the best Garland electrician can help! Sometimes, saving money is as simple as finding a simple idea that makes your life run more efficiently. When it comes to electricity, one of the best and least utilized ways to save money and energy is by putting your lights on a timer.

As any Garland electrician can tell you, timers are extremely useful! You can use them to turn lights on and off, whether or not you are at home. This makes it easy for you to appear as though you are home when you are on vacation, or control your Christmas lights, but those are not the only instances in which timers are a good idea. For instance, you can set a timer to make your lights turn off after you go to bed, and come back on in the morning. This makes a great backup alarm clock, and also ensures that you don’t accidentally leave lights on all night. You can also set them to turn off lights when you are at work, in case you forget.

There are two types of timers for home systems: mechanical and digital. Digital timers look good and are very useful, with several automated features. Even though they can be installed by someone who is not an electrician, Garland homeowners may feel more secure hiring a professional, because digital timers have sensitive electronics inside that require a neutral wire that switches do not. The best Garland electrician will be able to choose the right digital timer for your needs, competently install it, and even change out the switch plates if necessary.

Mechanical timers are less common than digital, but are very useful. They are often used to control swimming pool equipment and outdoor lighting. In addition to controlling lights, they can be attached to a water heater to keep it from running when you don’t need hot water. This can make a huge difference in your electric bill!

The main difference between mechanical and digital timers is that mechanical timers are typically larger and sturdier, and can handle a larger electrical load. Digital timers are more aesthetically pleasing, and will fit better into your home’s décor. A competent Garland or Rowlett electrician will advise you as to which timer best suits your needs.

Whether you have an electrical problem, or are just looking for ways to save money on your electric bill, ElectricMan, Inc, can help!  Visit our website or the social sites for more information. If you would prefer, you can always call us at (972) 792-7270 to schedule an appointment or consultation today!

With winter descending full force, residents of northern states are bracing for the potential of major blizzards. Of course, other extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes and floods can strike throughout the year, putting life and property. Wise homeowners make sure they prepare in advance so their homes have a better chance of surviving disaster. The good news is that many of the steps that help disaster-proof a home also serve to make it more energy efficient.

Do what you can to help your home and belongings make it through the next big storm:

Use Surge Protectors: You spent a lot of money on your electronics, so why leave them vulnerable to a sudden power surge due to a lightning strike or disruption in the power grid? If you have advance notice that a storm is coming, you should unplug unnecessary devices, but sometimes disasters arrive without warning, so make sure everything goes through a surge protector, or better yet, an uninterruptible power supply.

Solar is Your Friend: One unfortunate result of extreme weather can be power outages that last for days, even if your house doesn't suffer a direct strike. Be prepared with solar panels so you can get by before the power comes back. Note that most home solar setups are tied into the power grid and therefore won't power your house independently if the rest of the electricity is out, but some systems do allow you to charge a battery directly so you can keep the lights on. Another option is to keep a generator on hand for emergencies. They aren't as eco-friendly as solar power but don't rely on the sunlight for fuel so tend to be more reliable.

Walls Matter: The latest in building wind-proof houses is using insulated concrete forms, or ICFs, to make a mold for quick and easy concrete construction. Not only are concrete walls far stronger than wood, making them more likely to survive extreme winds, they are much more fire resistant than standard construction as well. What's more, concrete usually costs a bit more than wood framing, but over the life of your house you should see big energy savings. The superior insulation provided by the concrete walls and foam molds means you spend less for heating and air conditioning. Estimates range from a few hundreds dollars per year in savings to as much as an 80 percent reduction in heating costs. You can also find cheaper insurance rates for concrete houses than for wood.

Let the Experts Help: Have a trusted professional inspect your house to make sure that your roof and foundation are in good shape and your HVAC and electrical equipment is all functioning correctly. You can resolve any issues in advance to increase your chances of weathering a bad storm, and if disaster never does strike you still know you made a good investment. Call local Mister Sparky for a check of your electrical system and any necessary repairs as a part of your disaster preparedness plan.

We are constantly looking for new ways to update our home and make it just a little better. Putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls, getting new furniture or installing new carpet are some of the cosmetic changes you can make to your home. These are all great ways to give your home a new look, while adding value, but they can be a bit costly. Wouldn’t it be nice to have another option to update your mom? A Los Angeles electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you transform your home by simply changing out a light fixture or two.

Lighting makes a huge difference in the overall look and feel of a room. Bright lighting encourages activity and conversation. A bright, well-lit kitchen is often desirable, especially when preparing meals. It is a lot easier to chop vegetables and determine just how much seasoning is going on your food when you can see. Track lighting gives you the ability to light up an entire kitchen with the flip of a single switch.

Dining rooms are often the time for mellow, quiet conversation while enjoy a delicious meal. A chandelier with a dimmer switch is the perfect way to control the atmosphere of the meal. Brighten it up for lots of chatter and dim the lights for a quiet, romantic meal. No matter what fixtures you choose, you will need an electrician. Los Angeles residents will want to ensure their new lighting is installed safely and correctly. When you hire an experienced electrician to do the job, you can rest assured the wiring is being completed up to county code. Take some time to browse the lighting aisles in your favorite stores. When you have chosen the perfect fixtures to update your home, give The Electric Connection a call.