Author Archives: electric

3 Things Everyone Should Know About Power Surges

Most people have experienced the familiar light flicker that comes along with a power surge. Though most homeowners think of power surges as little more than an everyday annoyance, the truth is that power surges can actually be much more dangerous than we think.

But what exactly is a power surge?

How can home and business owners protect themselves?

Read on to learn three things everyone should know about power surges.

A power surge is a quick spike in your power usage. A power surge is basically a single second in which you use much more power than your outlets can handle. It can occur for a number of reasons, ranging from starting a large number of high-energy devices at a time to a lightning strike. A power surge is more likely to occur if you live in an older home or one with faulty wiring.

A power surge can damage your appliances. Power surges can be extremely dangerous to both your appliances and the structural integrity of your home. Frequent power surges can trip the wiring in your household appliances, making them useless. In the most extreme of cases, power surges can even start a fire in your home.

A surge protector won’t fully protect you. Unfortunately, most commercial surge protectors are too weak to withstand a power surge if your home is struck by lightning. Power surges resulting from the overuse of electronics can also override most surge protectors. Look for a surge protector that can withstand surges of “600 joules” or more for the best protection. If you live in a home that has older wiring or you’re always using powerful electronics, regular inspections from an electrician in Feasterville-Trevose, PA, can help to keep your family safe.

Now that you understand why power surges are dangerous, let’s go over a bit of information you need to know in order to protect your home or business after seeing damage from a power surge.

How Often Do Power Surges Occur?

Power surges occur when an electrical current in your system is stopped and subsequently restarted. This interruption can send voltage backwards into your system, which can damage your home or business’s electrical system. Surges can range in voltage from a few volts from a household appliance to tens of thousands of volts in the event that a lightning bolt strikes your transformer. This means that how you use your appliances and how you’ve set your home up both play a major impact on how many power surges you’ll deal with.

Every year, thousands of homeowners deal with power surges. The frequency that you’ll see power surges in your home will vary depending on where you live and the precautions you take against internal surges. More than 50 percent of power surges seen in the country are internal surges, so taking steps to have an electrical inspection in Montgomery County performed on your home regularly can help you avoid future power surges.

How Can I Tell if There Was a Power Surge?

If you aren’t sure if a power surge occurred in your home, look for these common signs:

  • A device that will not turn on or that doesn’t seem to be responding correctly.
  • Clocks that are stopped or flashing.
  • A surge protector strip that requires a reset.

In some extreme cases, you might also notice a burnt smell near an appliance that has withstood a power surge. If you believe that there has been a power surge in your home, call for an electrical inspection to ensure that your home’s system hasn’t been damaged and is still safe to use.

Keeping your electrical wiring up-to-date and safe can help limit damage from power surges. Does your home or business need electrical work or a wiring inspection? A-1 Electric has got you covered! No matter if you’re in need of a simple home inspection or you need new parking lot lights in Philadelphia, the team at A-1 Electric can get you the fast, professional service that you need!

5 Tips to Lower Your Energy Bill This Summer

As home air conditioning use rises with summer heat waves, your monthly energy bill will also start to climb. That’s why now is the right time to start thinking about how you can use less electricity and save some cash.

At A-1 Electric, we have bucket truck services in Bucks County that will save you from summer power outages. We can also help you bring down your electric bill with these five tips:

Shut Your Curtains

When you keep your curtains closed on a sunny day, you can reduce incoming heat by up to 30%. That might be the difference between turning on the AC and staying comfortable without it. You might also choose to invest in solar shades or curtains, which are available at most hardware stores.

Regularly Change Your Air Filters

Your HVAC system’s air filters will become clogged over time, which makes your AC work harder and use more energy. Most homeowners should change their filters every three months. If you have pets, however, you should change it every two months.

Plug in a Few Power Strips

According to the Department of Energy, home electronics use the most electricity when they’re turned off. You can stop this energy drain by unplugging electronics or plugging them into a power strip. Regularly turn off your power strips when you leave the house, and watch your energy bill nosedive.

Do Your Laundry With Cold Water

You can save up to 50% in energy costs by washing your clothes in cold water. Unless you’re dealing with a particularly dirty load of laundry, cold settings will clean it just as well as hot options. Cold water is also gentler on your clothes, preserving their color and preventing shrinkage.

Switch Your Light Bulbs to LEDs

Pick up a pack of LED light bulbs, and they will quickly pay for themselves. LEDs can last twenty times as long as incandescent bulbs and save you more than 70% in energy costs. Additionally, unlike fluorescents, these environmentally-friendly light bulbs cast a soft and warm light.

Is Your Energy Bill Still Making Your Eyes Pop Out?

If your monthly bill is still sky-high, it’s possible that there is an issue with your home’s wiring. For example, a short in your circuit breaker can drain power and raise your bill.

Fortunately, the master electricians at A-1 Electric offer skilled electrical services, including routine repairs and parking lot lighting installation near Philadelphia. We also provide third party electrical inspections — though we can’t inspect our own work. Give us a call today at 800-401-6114!

6 Crucial To-Dos for First-Time Home Sellers

Now is the time to sell your home! Prices are high, interest rates are low, and buyers are competing for a limited number of properties. Plus, the spring is the prime time to put your house on the market.

You can’t just post a sign on your lawn and watch the offers roll in, though. To sell your home in record time, you need to:

Improve Your Curb Appeal

Your kitchen might be ultra-modern and your living room decorated to perfection, but no one will want to step inside your home if the exterior is uninviting. Sometimes, small fixes like planting flowers, repainting your door and trimming your shrubs can make a solid first impression.

Take Down Your Drapes

Natural light makes your rooms look larger and cheerier. Replace heavy drapes with shades or blinds to let in more sunshine!

Put Your Family Photos in a Drawer

Homebuyers want to picture themselves in your home, so it helps to depersonalize your space. Pack up your family photos, clear away clutter and remove flashy decorations. Additionally, consider swapping out your comfy furniture for smaller pieces that make your rooms seem more spacious.

Go Neutral

Break open a few paint cans! Bold oranges, yellows, and greens can distract potential buyers from the space itself. A new layer of paint will also refresh a room, making old stains and scuff marks disappear.

Bring in a Few Houseplants

A potted plant in the corner, a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or a bouquet on a bedside table will welcome guests into your home.

Call an Electrician

After your property has wowed them, potential buyers want to know that everything is in excellent condition. Don’t wait for their home inspector to come and hand you a last-minute laundry list of problems! Instead, hire an electrical inspector in Philadelphia to ensure that your home is safe and up to code.

We at A-1 Electric offer residential and commercial electric services throughout Feasterville and Trevose, PA. Our professionals are always happy to inspect your home, but in accordance with state laws, we cannot offer inspection services if we have performed any electrical repairs or installations in your home. To schedule your inspection, call us today at 800-401-6114!

Why You Need Generator Maintenance

Completing maintenance on your generator at least once a year is vital to its efficiency, especially in the long run. While we perform bucket truck services in Montgomery County and other nearby areas, we also perform generator inspections. Perhaps you’ve forgotten about your generator the last few years. If that’s the case, now is the time to act. Here’s why you need to have your generator inspected.

Make Sure It Works

If you have a generator on your property, it’s probably not used very often and only in the case of an unexpected power outage. When the power unexpectedly goes out is when you need it the most, and therefore, the worst possible time to discover that there is an issue. If you schedule a generator inspection, you can make sure that your generator will operate correctly when the time comes.

Avoid Fuel Problems

Without regular maintenance, generators can become more susceptible to algae buildup, clogged fuel injectors or dead batteries. If issues like these go unnoticed, they can ruin your generator for good.

Cuts Costs

While avoiding generator maintenance may save you some money in the short-term, it will most likely cost you more in the long run. Instead of paying a small amount for maintenance here and there, you might have the cost of entire replacement on your hands.

Increase Longevity

Generators are not cheap. You don’t want to buy new ones often. By keeping your generator properly maintained, it will operate effectively for a longer period of time and prevent you from having to buy a new unit sooner.

Improves Efficiency

When the time comes to use your generator, you’ll obviously want it to run as efficiently as possible. Generator maintenance will ensure you aren’t wasting fuel or energy, cutting costs.

Here at A-1 Electric, the leading commercial electrical contractors serving Bucks County, PA and beyond, we are certified to perform inspection and underwriting on electrical generators. We follow all codes and conducts when it comes to our inspection process. We service residential, commercial and industrial locations with superior craftsmanship and quality customer support.

In accordance with state law, our team can perform both electrical services and inspections but not both for the same job.

Call 800-401-6114 to have an inspector at your door in 24 hours!