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!

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!