I heard this on NPR today on the Diane Rehm Show, and am roughly quoting the speaker, “If consumers don’t get back to the days of supporting local small business owners, their neighbors, their friends – soon they will have neither. Look at the mess we are in, big business at it’s finest. Walmart does not sell friends and neighbors. The way out of this recession will be led by small business.”
Electrical Tip of the Day: Florescent lamp color is rated in degrees Kelvin. Natural sun light on a clear day is about 6000K. Florescent lamps are available in a wide range. From as low as 2000K (which tends to be the old yellowish cool white color) to as high as 7500K (which tends to go into the blue / red spectrum). If you are not happy with the light quality at your office or place of business chances are a lamp change out can make a huge difference.
Electrical Tip of the Day: Attic vent fans with temp control t-stats do a lot more than keep the hot air from building up in the attic. Proper attic ventilation is essential for keeping your shingles healthy and extending the life of your roof system. Now we even have access to solar powered units that do not require AC electrical power to run!
Electrical Tip of the Day: In a commercial space, exit and emergency lighting is a code requirement. Typically there must be (2) clearly marked means of egress with approved exit and emergency lights. Exit and emergency lights are required to be AC powered with a battery back up system. If you are in a space and see an exit light burnt out that is a great referral for us.
Electrical Tip of the Day: There are many types of can lights available today. It is best to use the ones with a safety shut off in case they get too hot or become covered with combustible materials in the attic space. These types of cans are designated with the term “insulated rated – IR” or “insulated can – IC”. These also have the advantage of being able to be fully covered by insulaton and not affect the R value of the attic space.
Thankfully one thing that never goes out of style is quality work and honesty! There are some pretty seedy things going on in the trades these days – consumers beware, do your research and check out the people you are doing business with. If you need a referral for work let me know. I’d be happy to point you in the right direction to a quality contractor.
Electrical Tip of the Day: LED manufacturers are selling this stuff everywhere… buyer beware, just because something has “LED’s ” in it does not mean that it will last or it has been made with quality – this is especially true with lighting products you find at the home stores.
Electrical Tip of the Day: Reversed polarity is the condition in an electrical circuit where the “HOT” and “NEUTRAL” conductors have been wired backwards. This is a dangerous condition and is very bad for electronics. I recommend that everyone (renters too) get a plug checker and test all the outlets where you live – the life you save could be your own.
Electrical Tip of the Day: Having problems with your HDTV picture image quality (pixelation / screen jump / fuzzy stuff) or drop outs with your broadband internet service? Chances are you have a grounding issue. All parts of this system have to be grounded to work right. This becomes an issue in older homes that only have two wire (ungrounded) outlets or are missing ground rods and water bounds.
When dealing with any contractor remember that full disclosure of $$$ / job costs / mark ups / percentage of profit is your right! Don’t let yourself get backed into a corner – it’s your money, you are entitled to know how it is being used . If you have questions about the process, just let me know; I can help you avoid some common pitfalls.
