Some like it hot

We're getting some warmer days lately, and they'll seem almost hot compared to the last few months.  It's a good time to test you central a/c system.  It'll probably work fine and that's a relief.  However for some, it won't work and you'll have a chance to have it checked out before you really need it.  If your system doesn't seem to run right, use the checklist in the Helpful Hints section of our website to do a little troubleshooting yourself and determine what to do next.  Click here to read it.

Assault on batteries

Daylight savings time means not only changing your clocks, but also changing the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.   Write the date on the batteries too so you'll know how old they are when you check next time.
(The previous post talks about replacing units after a certain age since they lose their reliability.)

Are smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors important?

Are seat belts important?  When was the last time you used them?   I talk about how important it is to replace smoke detectors every 10 years, but what about carbon monoxide (CO) detectors?  They have a similar issue.  They lose sensitivity over time.  Manufacturers recommend replacing them every 5 years.  (Some now have ones that last 7 years.)  Our web site's Helpful Hints section has more detail, but why would you not replace them?  And when you do, write the date on them for when they should be replaced, eg: "Replace March 2016".  Safety sometimes means doing small things to avoid big risks.

Water, water

Freezing and thawing. Do you have a water sensor to alert you if water comes into your basement from the sump pump, water heater, etc.?
Water sensors can be simple battery operated alarms, or elaborate systems connected to a security system. 
(There are special devices for a/c systems for the summer.)


The key is that you want to know when a problem is developing rather that hours or days later.  The Helpful Hints section of our web site has more info.  http://www.a-1electricco.com

Some like it hot

Recently, we've had a few calls where people have lost power in parts of the house.  Either due to cold, or a furnace problem, they were using multiple electric heaters.  Even in different rooms, they can end up on the same circuit and a circuit breaker can typically only handle one plug-in heater. 
At least the solution is easy:   Unplug the heaters, reset the breaker (it may not look like it's tripped so you do each individual one - click Off, then On), and plug in just one heater, and/or use them at different times.

Ice dam (or the reverse if you want)

Icicles were a lot more fun when you were younger.  Now, if you see the big icicles on your house, with gutters filled solid with ice, you worry about what can happen next.  In most cases, the water melts and runs down and out.  Sometimes however, big ice dams can block melting snow and ice from draining away properly.  The water can work its way into the house interior and that can be summed up by saying "it's not pretty".
What to do?
Short tem, try to get the snow off the roof and melt the ice without damaging the roof.  You may need to call in roofing contractors for this. Once off, you may be fine for the rest of the season but it all depends on the weather.
The long term solution is to install roof-gutter heating cables that provide a path for the water to drain away.  It takes planning for where the cabling goes, how much to use, where it plugs in, how to turn it On and Off (manual or automatic). 

Why do lights flicker?

It's a common question we hear:  "My lights sometimes dim or flicker, is that dangerous?" 
Usually not, but it can be a sign of a problem. 
Basically, light brightness is a function of your house voltage -120 volts.  If the voltage drops, the lights will dim a little.  That's not a problem if it's due to a big appliance starting (refrigerator, a/c, iron, hair dryer, etc.)  Think of it as it taking extra work to get the refrigerator going so the voltage strains a little. 
However if the lights get brighter than normal, that's a sign of a bad connection in the wiring.  It's causing the voltage to drop and jump, also called a surge.  A higher voltage can damage the electronics in your house: TV, DVR, etc.  That's not good.  And since these things do not fix themselves and will only get worse, you should call us sooner rather than later.  
Flickering lights are also an indication of a bad connection that has gotten worse. One cause is tiny sparks in a connection, causing heat in the connection, and the heating and cooling of the connection makes things get worse.
I hope this explanation helps 'enlighten' everyone.
(More info about surges and surge protection, click here.)