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February 23, 2018 at 8:01 am

3 Facts About Carbon Monoxide Detectors

carbon monoxide detectors

Some dangers in this world are visible, but others may sneak past your senses and affect your health without you knowing it. This is the case of carbon monoxide poisonings, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says has caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of emergency room visits.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented, and one of the best preventive measures is installing a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide poisoning may increase the risk of headaches, nausea, shortness of breath, and cause a general feeling of weakness. Having appropriate prevention techniques can protect you from experiencing these symptoms of CO poisoning, as they are often associated with many other sicknesses and the source can be hard to identify.

If you’re not yet familiar with this device, here are three important bits of information about the carbon monoxide detector:

Carbon monoxide detectors have a specific purpose.

Comparing it with other types of alarm devices, a carbon monoxide detector measures the level of CO. It checks the atmosphere of the room where it is. When the air approaches the critical CO limit, the device alarm will trigger.

When used properly, CO detectors alert the people inside the facility about the low CO level. This should prompt the people to either evacuate from the area or introduce better ventilation.

Carbon monoxide detectors are different from carbon monoxide fire detectors.

Carbon monoxide detectors determine the presence of the invisible gas in the room. On the other hand fire detectors check the level of CO in the atmosphere to anticipate a fire outbreak.

Choosing the right CO detector requires careful research.

If you plan to buy a CO detector for your home or office, you need to check the following factors:

  • The detector should carry a voluntary UL standard 2034 certification.
  • Choose between battery-operated or electric CO detectors.
  • Opt for quality over cost. You don’t want to use a cheap detector only for it to fail in a real low-CO scenario.

Using the device correctly reduces the risk of panic and leads people to safety.

Carbon monoxide poisoning may be too big of a problem to solve. But with the availability of carbon monoxide detectors, we can all breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that we’re making steps to protect ourselves from this silent killer.

Need help with carbon monoxide issues? Wire craft professional will surely help you out. Contact us now.

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February 14, 2018 at 7:10 pm

The Value of Surge Protectors

As people welcome more gadgets and appliances inside the home, a sudden electrical surge may increase the danger of fires and accidents. In this case, surge protectors can minimize this risk.surge protectors

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February 2, 2018 at 9:12 pm

Outdoor Lighting to Brighten Up Your Home

Outdoor Lighting

The holidays may have passed by so quickly, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy flickering lights and festive sights anymore. Today, we’re going to share with you some ways to upgrade your outdoor lighting so that you can illuminate and liven up your home.

Tips For Unique Outdoor Lighting At Home

Let’s cut right to the chase, and check out these amazingly beautiful outdoor lighting options that you can use outside your home:

Solar Mason Jar Lids

Mason jars have risen in popularity because of their classic and sturdy look, making them perfect Instagram accents. Why not use the novelty of this jar for your lighting needs? Some online shops and local novelty stores sell solar-powered Mason jar lids, which consists of a regular Mason jar screw lid and a solar panel lid insert. Put the jar under the sun for at least 6 hours, and this can illuminate your evenings outdoors with a unique twist.

Christmas lights wrapped around posts and trees

Who says you can use these babies only during the holidays? Christmas lights are perfect for outdoor lighting any day of the year, if you ask me. It might be best to choose lights in one to two colors, preferable with LED bulbs for the sake of safety and energy conservation. One great way to showcase this kind of lights is by wrapping them around posts or trees. This can instantly give you the holiday feels even outside the season.

String seashells with lights

Bring the sea into your backyard by attaching seashells to your Christmas lights or string lights. The seashells can mute the glaring illuminance of your bulbs, while at the same time giving you a summer kind of feeling.

Old string lights placed in glass shades

Here’s a quick and easy tip: You can combine old glass shades (that you may have stored somewhere in your home) and some string lights (preferably in one color) to create a nifty outdoor light! Just place the string lights inside the glass shade, and hook up the lights to a power source.

Railing lights

To create a perfect mood lighting outdoors, install railing lights onto the bottom surfaces of your outdoor steps. You can also add it on railings or counters. The effect is a soft illumination without the glare of traditional outdoor bulbs.

Need Help?

Many of these outdoor lighting tips are easy to do. Some of them may require intermediate knowledge on electrical systems.

Wire Craft can help you hook up a new set of outdoor lighting fixtures. Fixtures that are not only visually appealing, but also perfectly safe.

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January 30, 2018 at 6:03 pm

3 Common Electrical Problems and How to Resolve Them

common electrical problems

After years of living in the same home, we may have a tendency to overlook things. This is a dangerous attitude, especially when we’re talking about electrical safety. Today, we will talk about three of the most common electrical issues around the house, and the strategies to resolve them.

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January 12, 2018 at 7:03 pm

Guide to Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

energy efficiency

The world is ever-evolving, and the demand for electricity is at an all-time high. Apart from this, homeowners and building managers are finding it more difficult to keep power costs at bay, due to the increasing load requirement. For this purpose, energy efficient light bulbs could be your quick and easy solution to manage your power usage.

What is an Energy Efficiency Light Bulb?

As its name suggests, an energy efficient lightbulb is a device that emits light at a lower power requirement than others. This special kind of light bulb is designed to minimize electricity usage without reducing the amount of light that it generates. Energy efficient light bulbs have become extremely useful these days, since a significant portion of the electrical load is used for lighting.

Types of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Here are some of the most common types of energy efficient light bulbs:

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL)

The bulb works by heating up the components inside the tube, and is designed to use up only a quarter of the power required by incandescent bulbs. Most CFLs can last up to 10,000 hours.

Cold Cathode Bulbs

This is a special type of CFL that works well even in low temperatures (where most conventional CFLs won’t be able to function). It doesn’t use a filament to heat the tube components, but instead relies on a metal thimble that makes this bulb last as long as 25,000 hours.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

A more modern approach to lighting makes use of LED technology, producing much brighter light at significantly lower electricity usage. LED lamps are much more energy efficient that CFLs, and may last up to 50,000 hours. This is probably the reason why LEDs are more expensive than CFLs and incandescent bulbs.

Additional Tips on Energy Efficiency for Lighting

If you want to maximize the energy savings from your lighting, choose bulbs with an ENERGY STAR label. These lamps have passed the energy efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You don’t have to replace all of your existing bulbs at once. Just make sure that when your old lamps burn out, replace them with energy efficient light bulbs.

It’s also a good practice to turn off unused lights. That way, you can really save up on unnecessary energy expenses.

Being wise in choosing lightbulbs may involve some research and an increase in initial costs. However, energy efficient light bulbs will turn out to be cheaper in the long run. This is especially when you consider the power savings that you will incur.

Do you need help in choosing the perfect lighting option for your facility? If you’re looking for an electrical contractor to set up your lighting system, contact us at Wire Craft. We’ll send a professional to bring your lighting ideas to life.

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January 5, 2018 at 9:13 pm

Signs That You Need to Update Electrical Outlets

It’s another new year, which means it’s a perfect time to check up on your electrical systems for any potential issues and hazards. Today, we are going to discuss why electrical outlets need updating, and when you should seriously consider having this done.

Signs you Need to Update Electrical Outlets-WireCraft

Why you should update electrical outlets?

Much of the electrical system is found behind walls and ceilings, rendering them virtually invisible to people inside the home. When electrical malfunction strikes, you may find yourself scratching your head and wondering what the culprit is.

Perhaps the biggest reason why you should update electrical outlets is safety. When you replace old wires and outlets with brand new and industry-approved products, you minimize the risk of electricity-related hazards, such as fires and electrocution.

How do I know if my electrical outlets need an update?

The good thing is that you can look at telltale signs that your electrical outlets need to be updated. Do you experience any of these in your home? If so, it may be time for a visit from a professional electrician.

Frequent tripping of circuit breaker

When you observe that a circuit breaker trips frequently, it might be time for an update. The trip may be caused by power overload, when your wires and receptacles cannot handle the electricity requirement of your appliances.

Flickering of lights when turning on other appliances

This may look like a normal occurrence, but flickering or dimming of lights when you turn on another appliance could be a sign that you need an update. The fact that your lights are acting out may signify that your electrical system cannot handle your current load requirement

Age of the house

If you’re staying in a home that’s more than 30 years old, it’s highly unlikely for its electrical system to be up to date with the load requirement of today’s appliances. On top of this, the circuit breakers may have already become corroded or malfunctioned, and it may not trip in some cases

Plans to remodel or renovate the house

Most home remodeling projects involve an increase in space or a tech upgrade. In both cases, your electrical outlets and the entire system might not be able to handle the new home setup. We wrote about electrical issues that you could come across when remodeling your home last week, so be sure to reference this as well. It’s important to remember that you need to have your electrical system checked, in accordance with the house upgrade.

No matter how big or small the electrical issue is, you need to consult with professionals. This is to make sure that your electrical system is perfectly safe. Feel free to reach out to us at Wire Craft for a quick consult to start the new year. It’s time to consider to update electrical outlets.

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December 31, 2017 at 12:12 am

Electrical Problems: Staying Away From It When Remodeling

Home improvement is a major milestone that any homeowner dreams of achieving. While remodeling the home is a welcome change, there’s one simple but critical issue that some people may disregard: electrical problems and safety. That’s why we thought it best to write about tips on how to prevent electrical problems when doing a home remodeling project.

Staying Away From Electrical Problems When Remodeling-WireCraftKnow what’s behind the walls to address electrical problems

Before taking down anything or buying new lighting fixtures, you need to know what you’re dealing with in terms of your home electrical system. Much of your home’s electrical circuitry is hidden behind walls, and so it’s important for you to know where the wires are and how they are arranged.

Address damaged parts of the electrical system

Remodeling your house may involve tearing down old walls and putting up new ones. This is a good opportunity to check the hidden wires and outlets for signs of damage and deterioration. If you see them, deal with them immediately by replacing old wires and removing corroded sections. Meanwhile, check if your system is compliant with current electrical code standards. Make the necessary electrical upgrades if they aren’t.

Shut off the power when dealing with the electrical system

While remodeling, it may come to a point wherein you need to handle electrical wires and outlets. Make sure that the main power is turned off before you start touching any electrical item in your home. Consider this as one of the most critical safety precautions.

Check if the remodeling project will affect the electrical system

Some home improvement projects may be relatively small and minor, while others involve a major overhaul. Regardless of the scope and size of the remodeling, you need to check if the changes will have an effect on your home electrical system.

Here are some questions that you need to answer:

  • Will the home upgrade involve an increase in electrical load?
  • Is there a need to reroute electrical wires to accommodate the changes?
  • Do you need to install additional receptacles and/or outlets for your intended purpose?

 

If you say yes to any of these questions, then you need to consult with an electrician or electrical contractor. They will help you with all electrical system modifications. With that, call Wire Craft Electric, and we will be more than happy to receive your request and orders.

Make sure to never throw safety precautions out the window.

By making the necessary steps to prevent electrical issues, you’ll be able to enjoy your newly improved home without any worries.

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December 27, 2017 at 6:49 pm

Safety Tips for Christmas Lights

Safety Tips for Christmas Lights-WireCraft

The holidays are all about celebrations and joy, but it’s probably going to turn sour if accidents come your way. During this season, a lot of people hang decorations and lights outside the house, inside the rooms, and around buildings. Now more than ever, safety when handling Christmas lights is a priority that we need to focus on. As the season wraps up, we thought it would be helpful to put out some safety tips that you can keep in mind for the remainder of the season and as a preventative measure for 2018.

Here are some safety tips for Christmas lights when you want to brighten up your holiday mood this year:

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December 15, 2017 at 8:38 pm

How to Figure Out House Electrical Circuits

How to Figure Out House Electrical Circuits-WireCraftApart from aesthetics and comfort, homeowners need to consider safety as part of house management principles. After all, a simple error may lead to the worst home disasters. This is especially true when it comes to electricity. You need to understand how house electrical circuits work and what you can do to keep the system safe.

Understanding House Electrical Circuits

In a nutshell, electricity moves in a circular pattern throughout the circuitry in your house. Current passes through electrical wires going towards devices (via lighting fixtures, receptacles, switches, and sockets), and then returns to the circuit going back to the power source.

In other words, an electrical circuit is a loop that starts from a service panel or power source, goes through wires, receptacles and fixtures, and returns to the panel. The electrical circuit may also include a meter to measure the power usage.

Mapping Electrical Circuits in Your Home

When you look at your service panel, you should see a series of fuses or circuit breakers, which you may find with labels to indicate which parts of the house each device is controlling. A typical home contains a handful of electrical circuits – say, one for lights, one for the basement, and another for the kitchen. The process of identifying the electrical circuits in your house is called mapping.

If the breakers or fuses are properly labelled, you can identify which one controls a particular electrical circuit of the house. This is helpful when you want to troubleshoot an electrical problem, and you want to isolate a section to work on. If you discover that your circuits haven’t been mapped, it’s probably best to contact an electrical contractor to help you do it.

How To Keep Electrical Circuits Safe

Make sure that your home is safe from potentially risky electrical failures. Here are some tips to keep your electrical circuits as safe as possible:

Upgrade your electrical panel:

Circuit breakers offer a lot more advantages than fuses. So it’s probably best to upgrade your current panel towards a safer and more modern technology.

Install a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) breaker or outlet:

This device shuts off the power in mere milliseconds, when it senses a potential shock. This is useful in areas where moisture is present, such as bathroom, kitchen, and the outdoors. For more on GFCI, click here.

Have your electrical system assessed for potential problems:

Precaution is always a great option to ensure safety in your home.

Contact an electrician or electrical specialist to help you check for any loose wire contact. Also feel free to contact of any corroded circuit components, and other dangerous signs.

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December 15, 2017 at 1:02 am

Home Wiring and Tools

home wiringA lot of homeowners are now getting into DIY projects. Apart from the savings that they can get from doing away with contractors, starting a home improvement project is an exciting activity that tickles the creativity of anyone who does it. However, wrong decisions may lead to accidents and safety risks – especially when it comes to home wiring.

If it’s your first time to encounter the term “house wiring diagram”, you need to read this short guide on home wiring basics!

What You Need To Know About Home Wiring Diagrams

A home electrical wiring diagram is a visual representation of the electrical wires and power sources inside the house, laid out in a document complete with labels. When a house is built, the construction blueprint needs to come with an electrical wiring diagram in order to determine where the wires are running, where to place electrical sockets, and which power sources are near the rooms.

A typical home wiring diagram should include the following details:

Service head: This represents the entry point of wires from the outside of the home going in.

Main service panel: Also called breaker box, this device is responsible for distribution of power throughout the building circuits.

Electrical box: This represents the endpoint or connector of wires to provide electricity via an electrical outlet or a switch.

Electric meter: This device measures the amount of power used by the home.

Ground: This serves as an electrical safety precaution by directing the electrical system to the earth or ground.

Tools Needed for Home Wiring

Here are some of the tools that you need to prepare, when planning to install or reconfigure the home electrical wiring circuitry:

Fish tape: This device pulls the wire to a conduit (either metal or PVC).

Voltmeter: This allows you to check if the circuit is “live” or not.

Wire stripper: This tool removes the wire insulation, with other variations able to cut through wire.

Linesman pliers: This all-purpose tool can twist and cut wires, and provide gripping action.

Allen wrench set: Most electrical panels use Allen screws and so this wrench set will come in handy.

Electrical tape: This adhesive tape can join two wires together or affix them on surfaces.

Safety Precautions When Handling Electrical Wires at Home

There’s nothing too safe when it comes to handling electrical circuits, and so here are some tips to make sure that safety is maintained during a home wiring DIY project:

Turn the power off: Don’t attempt to work on wires without shutting off the breaker.

Check the diagram: It’s a good practice to review the wiring diagram before diving into any circuitry modifications.

Replace old items: If you see corroded breakers and torn wires, replace them immediately.

Consult an electrical professional: When in doubt, seek help from an electrical contractor. We at Wire Craft Electric are more than happy to help.

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