Small Electrical Changes Save Cash

As the New Year gets started change is in the forefront of most people’s mind.  New Year’s resolutions are something that most of us think about this time of year. A lot of us will focus on trying to get in better shape, lose a few of the extra pounds that we may have put on during the holidays. The gyms will definitely be overcrowded for a couple months with people trying to accomplish their goals. Saving money and maybe tightening up your personal budget might also be a goal. Especially for those who maybe got a little carried away with your holiday spending.

Well I’ve got good news for you! Wireworks Electric can’t help you shed the extra pounds, but we can help you save money. With just a few easy changes in your house you will become more energy efficient and, in return, save money!

Here are a few low cost ideas that will definitely help save some money:

 1.  By replacing 10 standard 60 watt incandescent bulbs with new 60 watt equivalent LED bulbs you can save on average $60 a year. If you add the annual cost times the expected life of the bulb you could be looking at a savings of almost $1,600! It's that simple. Check out this video (Video created and published by Tug at Your Heart) and you can actually see the energy consumption difference between the two styles of bulbs.  And right now there are great prices on all types of LED bulbs. 

2.  Installing dimmer switches instantly saves power as soon as they are installed. You will automatically save approximately 4-9% in energy usage even when the dimmer is on full. The more you dim the more you save.

3.  If you have children or just have a hard time remembering to turn off lights there is a solution to the problem. You can install a timer switch, which after the switch is turned on it will automatically turn off after a pre-determined amount of time. Also, an occupancy wall switch can be installed. This switch will turn the lights on in a given space when it senses movement. Once the switch no longer detects movement it will automatically shut the lights off.

4.  Something that most people don’t think about is the electricity that is used/wasted when our electronics remain plugged in but not on or in use. For example your TV or DVD player still consumes electricity even if it’s not on. It may be a small amount, but it definitely adds up over the years. A very simple solution is to plug your electronics into a power strip or surge strip that has it’s own power button. When not in use simply turn off the power strip.

Although these items may seem insignificant, I assure you that you will notice the savings sooner than you may think!

      Happy New Year! 

Matt

Exterior Illumination

It is time to get back into the holiday spirit!  Time to pull out those Christmas lights and start untangling the strands that have been packed away since last year.  There are a couple of ways to prepare for this. 

The first thing you need to do is test the strands, after successfully untangling them, to make sure that all the bulbs work.  Check for any broken bulbs that need to be replaced as well.

Secondly, make sure that you have proper GFCI protection before you start hanging the lights.  GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.  This is a device that is intended to keep you safe if you happen to have water come into contact with the outlet while using it.  When working properly, the receptacle will shut down so power does not continue to flow.  This makes sure you don’t get shocked while decorating.  

To test a GFCI, take a strand of lights and plug them in.  Push the test button on the receptacle and the lights should go off.  Then push the reset button and the lights should come back on.  If you push the reset button and the lights don’t come back on you know there is a problem, and you probably need to replace it.  Sometimes you can have a receptacle that is controlled by a GFCI that is located somewhere else, and you might have to track it down.  These are usually located in bathrooms, garages or kitchens. 

If you live in an older home you might not have GFCI receptacles.  It is a good idea to have these installed for your safety.  You can replace unprotected outlets with GFCI’s to make sure that things are up to code and ready for everything you have planned.  We are always ready to help if you feel like things need to be updated.

Now it is time to create your winter wonderland!

Happy Holidays! 

-Rob

Timeline Tips

Remodeling bathrooms, kitchens, basements....any remodel project... takes a lot of skill and coordination. Especially if there are multiple trades involved in the project.

While hiring a general contractor streamlines the process and removes all stress and coordination from your plate, it can be more cost effective for a home owner to lead their own remodel project if you're up for the task. Warning: acting as a general contractor for your remodel project is not for the faint of heart. :) But, with a little patience, knowledge and organization, it can be done.

We recently worked with a husband and wife team who remodeled their kitchen. They put a lot of elbow grease and sweat equity in to their project, but used experienced contractors for cabinetry, electrical and plumbing work. They were incredibly organized, which was very helpful. However, since they don't work in construction every day, we provided them with some timeline tips and guidelines, from an electrical perspective, for their project.

We hope these tips may come in handy for you if you're in the process of conducting your own kitchen remodel. Keep in mind that if you're in need of an electrical contractor for any project, we'll provide the same careful guidance for you if needed.

Red October

It’s my favorite time of year to live in St. Louis.  The temperatures have cooled off, the leaves are starting to change, the smell of camp fires are in the air, and our beloved St. Louis Cardinals are the National League Central Division champs for the third consecutive year. 

It seems as though seeing our team play meaningful baseball games in October is the norm. The team is such a well-oiled machine in the way they operate, manage, scout, and teach players. It’s pretty impressive to see the amount of success they have, and the loyal fan base they have maintained.  They’ve created the perfect recipe for running a business! One that we try to mimic.

So being in the baseball kind of mood I thought I could relate the Cardinals to a relevant electrical topic.  According to an article published by the Alliance To Save Energy, the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball in the seventh most energy efficient stadium in the entire league. Since Busch Stadium opened in 2006 they have reduced their energy consumption by 23%. The expected savings average $150,000 annually.  

The Cardinals accomplished this by replacing traditional spot and flood lights to LED lamps, saving up to 90% in some areas. They also improved their HVAC systems. They installed smaller units to heat and cool smaller areas more efficiently, which created smaller power consumption. 

In 2012 the Cardinals installed 106 solar panels which produce approximately 32,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy each year.  So next time you order up your hot dog know that it may have been cooked using power created by the sun!

So not only are the Cardinals great at baseball, they are in the forefront of energy aware stadiums.

Lets Go Cards!!!!

-Matt

Are Your Smoke Detectors Reliable?

Smoke detectors are a vital part of your family’s home safety plan.  It is important that you have them installed in all bedrooms, hallways, unfinished areas, and on every level of your home.  The reason so many are recommended, is because when you are sleeping at night, there should be one close enough to alert you. 

There are different types of smoke detectors for you to choose from.  One is battery operated which runs only on batteries, as the name states. 

The second kind is a wired smoke detector with battery backup.  This option has 120 volt hardwired into it, and has the battery as backup in case of a power outage.  The nice thing about this option is that they can be interconnected.  If a smoke detector anywhere in your house detects smoke, it will send a signal to the rest of them to trigger all of the alarms.

The last option is a wireless smoke detector, which is primarily chosen in situations where there is no easy way to get wires to the desired locations.  These are things like flat roofs with no attic space, or addition rooms on houses.  This option is also the most expensive of the three.

No matter which option you choose for your home, it is always necessary to change the batteries at least twice a year.  It is recommended to change them when you change your clocks.  By doing this you guarantee that they will operate at their fullest potential.

With all of the choices available, I would recommend the wired/battery backup option.   This option will give you the best overall product reliability.  If you feel like you may need to add smoke detectors to your house, or maybe it’s time for an upgrade of your old ones, give us all call.  We are always happy to discuss options and what would work best for you and your family.  Safety is always a priority for us!

-Rob

Don't Let This Happen to You

While reading my community newspaper last night, I came across this article and thought it would be good to share. Not as a scare tactic, but to show that working with electricity is not the same as other DIY projects. It can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. 

Please be careful if you choose to work on the electrical system in your home. The safest way is to call a licensed electrician who works with electricity day in and day out. 

Our thoughts are with this family as they work to restore their home. We're happy to hear no one was injured. 

Article found in The West Side Leader, Vol. 3, No. 11

Current Meter Base Requirements

The new Ameren required meter base has been raising some questions by homeowners. We hope this short explanation will help identify who is responsible for what when it comes to your electrical service and why the new requirements make your home safer.

On all of our homes, condos, apartments, etc… we have a main electric service. Some homeowners are a little unsure of what they own and what they are responsible for. To simplify things it’s easier to tell you what you are not responsible for.

The only pieces of equipment that Ameren owns is the meter that measures how much electricity is used and the wires that generally attach to your home over head or are buried underground and terminate in a meter base. 

Meter - Ameren property

Underground termination

Overhead termination

You, as a homeowner, are responsible for the main distribution panel, the SEU cable, and overhead riser (only needed on overhead services to aid in reaching height requirements) and meter base that Ameren wires first terminate in. And as of January 6, 2015 Ameren started to require a new style of meter base. 

Meter Base - Homeowner property

This new meter base has to have a lever action bypass arm. Basically this allows first responders to safely shut off power to your home in an emergency situation.  Unless your home was built after January 6, or your service was upgraded since then, your meter base is technically not up to code. The good news is Ameren is not automatically requiring homeowners to upgrade to this meter base. However, if an electrician is changing a main distribution panel or doing any kind of work on the main electric service the meter base needs to be upgraded at that time. 

This new code-required meter base is having the biggest impact on homeowners who are in the process of selling their home. A large number of older homes have a cloth-based SEU cable that is used to bring power into the house from the meter base to the main panel, and from the meter base to the location that connects to Ameren’s overhead service drop. Over years of being to exposed to the elements, the cloth sheathing is showing signs of deterioration. Many municipal inspectors and private home inspectors will cite this as a code violation or need to correct. Prior to the new requirement this would have been a lower cost replacement. Now, under the new guidelines, the meter base needs to be upgraded which is a more expensive repair.  

We educate all of our customers so you can stay informed as new codes are put in to place. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call. 

-Matt Ursch