Now is the time to get into planning mode for your home projects for the spring.

Click to contact us today!

If you are planning on completing your home renovation projects such as new indoor or outdoor lighting, remodeling, surge protection, etc. then now is the time to get in touch with us. The local construction economy is very strong and most reputable contractors are already booking well into spring! Getting started as soon as possible will allow for adequate time to plan the project thoroughly and avoid mistakes that come from rushing the planning process.

Key advantages to starting your project early:

The A-Team can get your project rolling!

• For larger projects that require architectural plans and permitting, selecting a good General Contractor to help with the process is essential to success. This takes time.
• Having some extra time allows you to consider different choices of contractors, not just having to take the first one that is available.
• You can save as much as 25% on your project by getting bids now rather than when everyone is booked solid during the height of construction season.
• Staying on budget is always a challenge with any project, so having time to evaluate alternative approaches can minimize cost overruns and schedule delays.
• You gain the advantage of having time to plan and refine ideas. Working on your spring projects now allows all parties the necessary time to plan those essential details that turn a good project into a great project.

(L-R): Chad, John, Ethan

Help from the Professionals

Planning, designing and installing of your projects require input from a knowledgeable electrician. The A-Team can ensure all wiring is to code and is weather proof to insure everyone’s safety. Any one of our certified electricians on the A-Team would be happy to discuss your plans and provide input on any projects you are considering. Give us a call to set up a free estimate at 765-414-3913 or contact us at Artisan Electric.

The time is here for bonfires, sweaters, pumpkins, and falling leaves… But are you prepared for winter? Let’s discuss the top three electrical checklist items you should have completed before the cold weather hits.

1) Generator

Kohler Generator

Are you prepared for a potential power outage this winter? Cold-season power failures arise due to freezing rain, high winds, and winter storms which can damage power lines and equipment. Without a steady supply of heat, not only are you impacted, but your home can suffer from dampness, damaging walls, floors and plumbing. Today’s residential generators are cable of automatically transferring the selected household circuits over to the generator in less than 10 seconds. The LP or natural gas powered units are clean, quiet, and nearly odor free. Most homes only need 10kW to 14kW capacity for basic emergency loads and units are available that can provide 100% complete coverage for even 6,000 square feet or more of living space. While it is possible to purchase a home generator from the local home improvement warehouse or even online, the best way to determine your needs and ensure the unit is properly installed, is to work with your local dealer to determine your current electrical demands. We are proud to inform you that we are authorized dealers of Kohler backup power generators and we offer complete sales and service in Lafayette, West Lafayette and surrounding counties.

Outdoor Deck Lighting

2) Outdoor Lighting and Outlets

Cold weather days approaching means digging out the outdoor holiday lighting and decorations! Have you checked your outdoor outlets to ensure they are working properly? We can test, fix, and/or replace your outdoor outlets to help you ease into the holiday season worry free! We also offer holiday lighting installation and removal! With Daylight Savings Time right around the corner, consider installing walkway lighting to guide your way from your driveway to your front door so your family and guests will safely reach your front door at any time of day or night.

3) Overloaded Outlets

Did you know that half of home heating fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February? We can help you stay safe this winter by double-checking your electrical appliances in your house to make sure the outlets they are using aren’t overloaded. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests only using one heat producing appliance plugged into one outlet at a time. Reach out to us today if you’d like us to come ensure your home is safe by performing the above checklist items and giving you some peace of mind going into the holiday season!

The A-Team is here to keep you safe!

Call us at 765-414-3913 or fill out our contact form on our website to set up an appointment today!

The A-Team is excited to announce we were awarded the electrical contract for the new Culver’s of West Lafayette project! 

(L-R): John, Chad, Rob onsite working to get the conduit installed into the slab.

Large commercial construction projects such as this are commonly fast paced and the A-Team is up for the challenge! The current deadline for this project to be turned over is Thanksgiving. Did you know this will be the first Culver’s in the country to have a dual drive-through?

Here’s a look at the A-Team (L-R: John, Chad, Rob) installing the electrical conduits into the slab rough-in on this project. Take a look at Chad digging into the slab to run our conduit. These conduits are tubes that will protect and route the installed electrical wiring in the building. These tubes are placed into the slab prior to concrete being poured onto the foundation of the building. These pipes are then ran to a main distribution panel. Culver’s will have two breaker boxes placed above these conduits, this process is known as branch circuit equipment. A branch circuit is defined as that part of an electric circuit extending beyond the last circuit breaker or fuse. The branch circuits start at the breaker box and extend to the electrical devices connected to the service. Branch circuits are the last part of the circuit supplying electrical devices.

Installed conduit with Jetline Pull Line

Just how many electrical conduits go in the slab at a Culver’s you ask? About this many.

Large commercial construction projects require a sizable amount of conduits to be placed into the slab. Take a look at just how many conduits need to be installed! Above these conduits is where the two breaker boxes will be installed as explained above. This picture is prior to any wiring being pulled into the conduits. You can see string coming out of each of the conduits. This string is called Jetline String or a Jetline Pull Line which is a heavy duty Nylon rope blown, shot, or snaked into conduit to pull wire or a bigger pull line.

Can Lights Installed

This week the A-Team has begun installing the can lights to the outside of Culver’s.

Can lights, also referred to as recessed lights, are light fixtures that are installed into a hollow opening in a ceiling, concentrating the light in a downward direction as a broad floodlight or narrow spot light. Can lights are recessed lights that get their nickname from their housings, which are cylindrical, metal, and pretty much can-like. Can lighting is nearly flush with the ceiling and do not take up visual space.

This is just the beginning!

The A-Team will continue to keep you updated as we work through this large project. Please check us out on our Facebook page to stay up to date progress on this project!

Have you considered updating the lighting in your home?

Ethan finalizing installation on a custom chandelier

By adding new lights, replacing old fixtures and rethinking how you light each room, your home or office can take on a new appearance and even help you be more energized! Investing in your home as your sanctuary is now more important than ever. While working from home and students e-learning becomes the new normal, the lighting in our house is probably not the first thing we think of. Studies show that a bulb that is brighter, with a cooler white to natural daylight ranges best for reading and study. This is the equivalent of 4000k to 6500k. 

Take a look at this custom lighting project we completed last week:

Custom Lighting in Kitchen, Dining Room, and Living Room

Each room in your house requires different lighting layers in order to provide the light you need and to create visual interest. Some examples are:

• Living Room: For such an all-purpose area of your house you should consider lighting fixtures that will spread an efficient amount of light like: table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces.
• Home Office: In order to promote a productive environment you’ll want this to be brighter lighting fixtures than your ambient lighting so the contrast focuses the light in the specific area needed. Pendants and track lighting can be used to help achieve this.
• Kitchen: Ambient overhead lighting and lower task lighting similar to the lighting for your home office are a great option to help to illuminate your counter space.
• Bathroom: Consider lighting the bathroom mirror on either side and overhead ambient lighting to fully illuminate the room.

Custom chandelier we installed as part of this lighting project

Dimmers are also a great way to add versatility to your home that create a light source that is customizable to your needs. Set a different mood in your dining room, bathroom, bedroom and even outside on your deck or patio. You’ll have control over the intensity of light around your home and save energy at the same time. Being able to dim the lights in a given space is one of the quickest and most affordable changes that can be made to dramatically affect the lighting in a space. The custom lighting project we completed to the right is equipped with dimmers.

John Buttacavoli

Meet our newest team member!

We would like to introduce John Buttacavoli our newest team member and Journeyman Electrician to the A-Team! John has relocated to our area from Illinois. He is a seasoned service technician and has a very deep skill set as a job lead and PM for commercial electrical projects. We are excited to have him on our team and look forward to watching him grow with us!

L-R: Chad, John, and Ethan at this custom lighting project!

Ready to upgrade your home and not sure where to start?

Lighting design and solutions are one of our favorite things to assist clients with. We typically start with a walk thru with our clients to get to know their aesthetic and talk about ideas and options. We can help you with design considerations, placement of new lights, and installation. From there we can assist with visiting a local lighting showroom or on line vendors for fixture selections for your home to fit your taste and budget Give us the opportunity to help you achieve your home improvement goals call us at 765-414-3913.

Is Your Home Electrical Panel Dangerous? Check Your Panel for Discontinued Breakers or Brands

Pushmatic Breaker Panel

What is a Pushmatic Home Electrical Panel?

The Pushmatic panel board was a widely used circuit breaker panel installed in homes built between 1950 and 1980. This is a distinctive panel because it is the only electrical panel brand that does not have switches that flip left and right. As Pushmatic breakers age springs inside rust, corrode, and break and they become hard to trip and reset. Some insurance companies will not insure a home with this type of panel.

How to tell if you have Pushmatic Breakers:

Besides just the Pushmatic brand there are also other outdated and unsafe electrical panels that you should be on the lookout for in your home:

• • Zinsco Panels: Zinsco or GTE-Sylvania panels were popular electrical panels installed in homes throughout the 1970’s. Zinsco is now defunct, but many homes still have these panels.

Why they’re unsafe: The circuit breakers inside many Zinsco panels melt to the main ‘bus bar’. This means the breaker can’t ever trip, even when there’s a short or overloaded circuit. So if there ever is a short or other problems, the surge of power melts wires and starts fires in your home.

• • Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Panels: For a long time (1950s-1980s) Federal Pacific Electric was one of the most popular manufacturers of electrical panels in the United States. And they were installed in millions of homes. But these panels are extremely unsafe.

Why they’re unsafe: FPE electric panels’ circuit breakers fail to trip when they should (when there’s a short circuit or circuit overload). This problem has lead to             thousands of fires across the United States. There are also many reports that FPE circuits in the off position still send power to the circuit. This can cause electrocution   when working on a circuit you believe to be off.

• • Fuse box: Fuse boxes are old electrical panels that use fuses instead of circuit breakers to protect your wires from becoming overloaded. When a circuit draws too much electricity, the fuse burns out and must be replaced.

Why they’re unsafe: Fuses aren’t inherently unsafe. They work just like circuit breakers (except they can’t be reset and must be replaced.) However, most fuse boxes in homes today are unsafe because they’ve been modified to try to serve today’s energy demands.

Time for an upgrade?

Check out this before and after of a panel upgrade we did this week! The A-Team is happy to set up a time to visit and inspect your home or business’s electrical panel and service. If it still uses Pushmatic breakers then we’ll provide you with options to replace this obsolete system! Contact us today at Artisan Electric or call us at 765-414-3913 and let our licensed pros do a free site assessment.

Moving Artisan Electric Forward in Challenging Times

.
Artisan Electric, like all small businesses, has had to adapt and find new ways to respond to our clients in a year that has been difficult and unpredictable.  The impact of COVID-19 has shaken us all and provided many small businesses with a wakeup call. 

At Artisan Electric we decided to continue to make improvements and add processes to meet head on the challenges of a changing world.  These changes will ensure we continue to position ourselves to meet our client’s needs and those of our Artisan Electric team.

Lilly Gastineau

Adding to Our Customer Service Team

Artisan Electric has improved and streamlined our customer service operations by adding a full time office manager, Lilly Gastineau, and a new fully integrated paperless customer relations (CRM) system.  These were two big first quarter goals and we are over the moon with the progress and professionalism Lilly has added to our team, and the efficiency our new CRM has provided.

Gone Paperless

Artisan Electric has gone paperless, with our team members all managing their appointments and projects with IPads from the field.  Our new system allows us to communicate with our customer via email and text with automated “ON MY WAY,” “START”

and “FINISHED” messages.  With the click of a button our clients will now be able to see who their technician or estimator is and know when they are on their way.

Anywhere our technicians go they are connected.

Clients can now call us, text us, or contact us thru the web to schedule an appointment for both estimates and service calls. Within a few seconds they will receive an email or text containing detailed appointment information.  Estimates and bid work can now be approved electronically and are much easier to modify and revise.  Our goal is to provide same day estimates for smaller projects, and in some cases before leaving the appointment.

Transparency of Services and Invoicing

We now offer improved payment solutions and simplified “in-field” credit card processing when we complete a job.  We can also include before and after pictures of your project within minutes of your technician leaving.  We also log and track all elements of the work performed in the CRM so that information is available electronically both in the field and in the office for our team to reference. We value the ability to easily communicate with our clients and the ability to develop transparency regarding the completion of the services we provide and how they are invoiced.

Ongoing Commitment to Bettering Ourselves

All of this adds up to our continued commitment to bettering ourselves and the services we offer to our customers.  After 16 years of business Artisan Electric is one of the most respected and reviewed electrical contractors in Tippecanoe County on Angie’s List (67 reviews), on Facebook (30 reviews), and on Google (42 reviews).

Please take a moment to see what people have to say about us.  Just click on the icon below. It is one thing to commit to being good at your trade, it is another when your clients and customers are also willing to help say it, too.

Thank you all so much for the continued trust as we grow and improve.

Chris Voglund and the A-Team at Artisan Electric

Does Your Home Office Need “Extra” Surge Protection?

.

Home offices require a number of electronic devices.

Working from home has become the “new normal” for many of us. In order to be productive at our residence, we’ve installed additional computers, monitors, printers, scanners and other electronic equipment.  

These are all devices that are essential to doing our jobs. What would happen if all of this necessary equipment went out at once?  What would you do then?

Power Surges Can Hit at Any Time, Anywhere

With the spring/summer thunderstorm season just getting started, now is the time to make sure all your recently added electronic equipment is properly protected from electrical surges. Surges from lightning strikes can instantly ruin unprotected and poorly protected computers, printers and other electronic devices, even your programmable coffeemaker.

Electrical surges can occur at any time.  The most damaging are lightning strikes close to your home that enter through the power, telephone and cable TV lines. Although surges caused by lightening are the most destructive, it is more common that surges result from motors in our large appliances kicking on and off and creating electrical spikes within your home.

Today’s homes are more reliant than ever on appliances and electronics that are controlled by extremely sensitive microprocessor circuits. These circuits are easily damaged or disrupted by power surges originating both inside and outside the home. 

Sensitive electronic circuits are susceptible to electrical surges.

Take These Steps to Protect Valuable Electronics

Step 1: Ask a qualified electrician to take a look at what you have in your home or office that is susceptible to power surges and where surge protection is warranted.

Step 2: Add surge protection at the main power panel, cable TV/satellite service and telephone service. This prevents major electrical spikes from outside sources i.e. lightning strikes, from entering your home.

Step 3: Or, if you choose, install individual surge protectors for each device to protect sensitive electronics from surges from both inside and outside your home.

Avoid Expensive Replacement or Repair Bills

Protecting your valuable assets now by adding surge protection will prevent you from dealing with expensive replacement or repair bills later.

Artisan Electric offers surge protection products for commercial and residential customers. For more information on these products go to SurgeAssure.

Free Site Assessment

Have questions or concerns about surge protection for your home or business?  Contact us today at Artisan Electric or call us at 765-414-3913 and let our licensed pros do a free site assessment.  We can then discuss the best way to protect all your electronic devices.

How Can You Live Stream Your Next Event?

.
When all the shelter-in-place orders went out the need to connect did not go away.  Classes had to be taught, businesses had to function, churches needed to congregate, and we all still wanted to be entertained.  All of which has to be done remotely at this time.

All of a sudden live streaming of numerous activities is being done everywhere to allow groups to take part in live events as they occur.  Not only can we view what is taking place, but we can also respond and participate.

Advantages of Live Streaming

What we are learning as we “keep our distance” from others is that live streaming offers several advantages.

1. Participants view content as it takes place. This means those taking part can see and hear what is occurring. Concerts, church services, business meetings and classes are seen in real time.
   .
2. Live streaming permits direct audience interaction. Face to face time with participants allows businesses to humanize themselves and connect with their customers.  The opportunity for direct dialogue for students, businesses and congregations makes for a more dynamic and productive interface.
   .
3. For marketers no other content marketing channel provides the opportunity to connect with customers the way live streaming does. This allows product messages to be directed to highly specific audiences who want more information on what you offer.
   .
4. Participants can take part from remote locations. Those that work remotely, travel or are just not able to attend can still take part through live streaming of an event.
   .
5. Broadcasts can be viewed on multiple devices. This includes phones, tablets, TVs and computers. Having this capability means it is easy to participate from just about anywhere, as long as you have a good internet connection.

Getting Started with Live Streaming
One of the common myths of live streaming is that it is extremely expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. With some basic equipment, it’s possible to get up and running. High-quality streaming is possible with just a small initial investment in gear.  See below:

1. Video and audio source(s) – these are cameras, computer screens, and other image sources to be shown, as well as microphones, mixer feeds, and other sounds to be played in the stream.
   .
2. Your audio setup. Too many people spend too much time thinking about picture quality, and not enough time considering audio quality. This goes beyond just having a good microphone, but also includes making sure the acoustics from wherever you are broadcasting from are good as well.
   .
3. A video encoder – this is the computer software or standalone hardware device that packages real-time video and sends it to the Internet.
   .
4. A streaming destination – the place your live video will become available online. Popular ones include YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook Live.
   .
5. A stable Internet connection – so your stream doesn’t freeze, buffer, or drop off entirely.

Artisan Electric Can Set You Up
Artisan Electric understands what is involved in putting together high quality live streaming broadcasts.  This entails what audio visual equipment is needed, how to address acoustic issues in a venue, and the intricacies of wiring and connecting everything together.

For those wanting to integrate live streaming into your business, church or entertainment venue, now is the time to get this capability set up.  Not only will it benefit you today, but it will provide the ability to connect remotely after we are all back together.

Image Credit: ID 132158252 © Zoaarts11 | Dreamstime.com

Now’s the Time to Line Up an Electrical Contractor

.
This is the time of year that contractors are being lined up to work on spring and summer projects.  With all the building currently being done in our area, it is not easy to find an electrical contractor.

And since every project typically includes some electrical work, it is important to get on a reliable and qualified electrical contractor’s schedule as soon as possible.

Ask These Questions Before Hiring an Electrical Contractor

There are a lot of individuals and companies that offer to do electrical work.  In choosing which one is best suited to install a new electrical service; wire your home or business; or perform service calls and repairs; you’ll want to ask the following questions.

Do they hold the correct license(s) for the location? Are they up-to-date on code requirements?
A license is your guarantee that the contractor has completed the necessary courses and practical work to perform the job safely and correctly.  Failure to adhere to code and license requirements could mean additional costs down the road to re-do a non-compliant job.

What type of training have they received?
Degreed journeyman electricians, who have completed a 4 or 5 year certified apprenticeship program, have the field experience and education to provide top level services and deal with the unforeseen in a professional manor.

Are they bonded and insured?
Check with the City Engineers Office in the town or county where you live to determine if the trade you are researching requires a state license, and if the specific contractor you are researching is bonded with the city or county they are working in.

Be sure your contractor carries their own workers’ comp insurance. Ask to see copies of current policies and make sure they have not expired. Make no mistake, if an electrician is injured on the job, it will come back on the homeowner’s insurance policy if the contractor doesn’t carry workers’ comp insurance.

Always ask that a COI (certificate of insurance) be sent directly to you from their agent!

Are they listed with the Better Business Bureau or well-reviewed on Angie’s List?
The Better Business Bureau has an ever growing data base of information on contractors – you can find out a lot from their website or a phone call.  Angie’s List is a great resource to find out about first-hand experiences other customers have had with a contractor.

Does their company do background checks?
Not all electrical contractors perform background checks. In this day and age it is important to know who you are hiring and letting into your place of business or home.

Is their estimate clear and in writing?
A proper estimate for work should be fully itemized, provide adequate details and a scope of work, outline the terms and obligations of all parties, and always be in writing.  It should be clear what is and what is not going to be done for the dollars you are about to spend.

Will they provide full disclosure?
If you feel uncertain about an initial estimate ask the contractor to provide a schedule of values.  This is a document used to break down and track all job costs, including % mark up of material and profit.  A good contractor should be willing to share this information with you up front.

Ask for recommendations and references.
Talking with someone you trust, who has worked closely with an electrician, can give you valuable insight into what you can expect in service and workmanship. If you cannot get a recommendation then ask the electrician for references.  Contact the references to learn firsthand about their experience with the contractor.  You can also review our 7 Guiding Principles.

We’ll Be Happy to Answer Your Questions

Talk to us about your next project and we’ll be happy to answer all your questions. We’ll follow up with one of our licensed pros providing an estimate on any electrical work you wish done.

Contact us today at ASK A PRO or give us a call at 765-414-3913.

Brighten the Dark Days of Winter with Updated Lighting

Winter brings dark, gloomy days and long nights.  Much of this time we spend indoors.  If our homes and offices are poorly lit, then even our time inside can add to the gloominess of this time of year.

By adding new lights, replacing old fixtures and rethinking how you light each room, your home or office can take on a new appearance and help you be more energized.  Using newer lighting products can even save you money.

Assess Each Room or Work Space

Lighting should be tailored for each room or work space.  Rooms that are used for multiple purposes will require different lighting schemes than kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.  Assess how a space is used before doing a lighting makeover.

Lighting in layers allows you to choose light fixtures that provide light where you need it and add visual interest as well.

• Ambient or General Lighting
  Ceiling fixtures and chandeliers provide light throughout a room.
• Task Lighting
  Add extra light to areas where chores and activities get done. Reading, cutting up food, applying makeup, and work areas benefit from task lighting.
• Accent Lighting
  Add interest to the décor or unique features of your home.  Lighting over a painting or display, or below or above cabinets will set these areas apart.

Lighting Upgrade Options That Inspire

Here are some suggestions we have to upgrade your lighting and not only enhance the ambiance of a space, but also make it more functional.

• Use wall-washing recessed lighting fixtures around the perimeter of a small room to illuminate the walls and make the space feel larger, or highlight artwork or other special features.
• A combination of ceiling lights, wall mounted sconces, and table lamps can create an overall look that resonates.  Adding sconce lights to living rooms and dining rooms is a very cost effective way to spruce up a space and really change the look of a room.
• Install under-cabinet light strips in the kitchen, desk area, or workroom. The light will shine directly on the work area and make any task easier. Switch them off when you leave the job.
• 

  Illustration of white switch with dimmer

  Install dimmer switches on as many lamps and light fixtures as practical. Dimmer switches and controls add versatility – creating a light source that’s customizable to your needs.

  Set a different mood in your dining room, bathroom, bedroom and even outside on your deck or patio. You’ll have control over the intensity of light around your home and save energy at the same time.Being able to dim the lights in a given space is one of the quickest and most affordable changes that can be made to dramatically affect the lighting in a space.

Not Sure Where to Start

Talk to the designers at a local lighting showroom to discuss your options.  You can then select lighting that fits your taste and budget.   Artisan Electric can also help with design considerations, placement of new lights, and installation.  Just give us a call at 765-414-3913.