Boy's Electric Blog

BBB Integrity Awards

Boy's Electric — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:07:00 GMT

Boy's Electric is very excited to announce we are a finalist (1 of 4) for the 2011 BBB Integrity Awards chosen from hundreds of nominations in MN and ND. The integrity awards are designed to recognize companies that display an outstanding level of ethics and integrity in all their business dealings. While we are thankful for this recognition, we are also thankful to you, our clients, neighbors, and communities. Our success comes from you and through your support of us.

Lack of Outlets Isn't Just Annoying

Boy's Electric — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:25:00 GMT

Are you frustrated that you can never find a place to plug something in? Do you have 12 different things jammed into power strips littering your home? Do you have extension cords snaking around all your walls? Well, it sounds like you need more outlets!

A lack of electrical outlets isn't just a pain - it's a safety concern. Extension cords are designed for temporary use. Overloaded power strips and misused extension cords cause thousands of fires and hundreds of injuries each year. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently released a report on the dangers of using extension cords long term. Click here to read the report.

If you need to use extension cords temporarily, be sure to follow these safety tips:

* Make sure cords do not dangle from counters or tables where they can be pulled down or tripped over.
* Replace cracked or worn extension cords.
* Insert plug fully so no part of the prong is exposed when cord is in use. If plug won't stay in outlet, that outlet needs to be replaced.
* When disconnecting cord, pull the plug itself rather than the cord.
* When using outdoor tools and appliances, use only cords labeled and rated for outdoor use. They have a special covering designed to temporarily protect the wiring from temperature and direct sunlight.
* Never use an extension cord while it is looped or coiled.
* Never cover an extension cord with newspaper, clothing, rugs, or anything else while in use.
* Don't use staples or nails to attach extension cords to a surface. It could damage the cord and create an even bigger shock or fire hazard.

It's important a licensed electrician install your new outlets. If outlets are installed on an overloaded circuit or installed improperly, your risk for electrical fire dramatically increases. As always, we are happy to help. Give us a call today to get power to the areas of your home the way you've always wanted!

Your Smoke Alarm is like your Seat Belt

Boy's Electric — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:04:47 GMT

You've probably never heard smoke alarms and seat belts mentioned in the same sentence. However you do need both of them (and yet hope you never really have to use either of them to their full potential). Unfortunately, too many families learn too late that they should have paid better attention to their smoke alarm system. Fire kills an estimated 4,000 people every year and seriously injures another 30,000, and that doesn't include property damage and losses! Fire experts conclude a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm system can reduce property loss, injuries, and deaths by 90%!

What makes up a properly installed and maintained smoke alarm system? Let's look at the maintenance part first. Smoke alarm sensors are only rated for 10 years. Regardless of whether your smoke alarms are battery-operated or hard-wired into your electrical system, if they are 10 years old or older, they need to be replaced. For battery-operated alarms, you should change the batteries every 6 months even if the old ones are still working. For the simple cost of a battery or two, you could save your home and your family. You should also hit the "test" button monthly on all smoke alarms to make sure they are still operating correctly. Also, if your smoke alarm gets overly dusty or cobweb covered, make sure to clean it off so the dust and cobwebs don't interfere with the smoke sensor.

What is a properly installed smoke alarm system? The first step is looking at where your smoke alarms are placed. You should have one on each level of the home, one within 10ft of each sleeping area, and one in each bedroom. Why one outside and inside the bedrooms? Because if a family member's bedroom door is closed (or they are a sound sleeper), they may not hear the hallway alarm. Also if the fire starts in the bedroom, the hallway smoke alarm may not alert you in time.

Fire experts recommend smoke alarms be inter-connected. This means if one alarm triggers, all the alarms in the home trigger to give you as much warning as possible. Electricians can install smoke alarm systems that are run by the electricity in your home, with a battery backup. Those alarms are then set to work as a team and all will alert when one senses smoke. Since 1973, State of MN building codes have required all new homes have at least one hard-wired smoke detector and, in 1995, the code was changed to state hard-wired smoke detectors with battery backup are required outside of all sleeping areas. If you have questions about your smoke alarm system, give us a call! One of our top priorities is keeping our clients safe, and we'd be happy to help!

Save Energy while Cooling Down

Boy's Electric — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:29:00 GMT

Everyone who has air-conditioning has it on this week! With heat indexes topping out at 127 degrees, you might be a little scared to look at your electrical cooling bill. Here are some tips to help keep your home a little cooler and keep the air-conditioner off a little longer.

* Block out the sun by closing the blinds and drapes. According to the US Department of Energy, this can reduce the amount of heat coming into your home by 45%.

* Replace your air-conditioner filter as recommended (usually once a month). The more dust, fuzz, and dirt in your filter, the harder your air-conditioner needs to work to move the air.

* If you're using a window air-conditioner, fill the cracks between the window frame and the unit with peelable caulk or a sealant strip to keep the hot air outside where you want it!

* Use your bath fan. When taking a shower, turn on the fan to get that extra moisture out of the air.

* Turn off the drying cycle on your dishwasher. It adds extra steamy moisture to the air. Also use your dishwasher in the evening when it's cooler.

* Keep drinking - water that is. In this hot weather, it is easy to get dehydrated. When you get dehydrated, your body temperature rises. Watch out for alcohol, caffeine, and drinks with lots of sugar though because they can actually increase your dehydration.

* Don't use the oven. Use your stovetop, microwave, or crockpot. An even better idea is to grill outside. Yes, you'll be outside but all that cooking heat will be as well.

* Shut off any lights you don't need. If you have dimmers on your lights, use them to keep the lighting (and its heat) to a minimum.

* Change your light bulbs to a compact fluorescent (CFL) type. CFL bulbs produce 70% less heat than standard bulbs!

Lighting your Home on Vacation

Boy's Electric — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:47:00 GMT

One of the most common items used during summer vacations is an outlet timer. Many people use this while on vacation to try and give the illusion their home is occupied by setting up lights, televisions, radios, etc. to automatically turn on and off at set times.

That is a great idea! However, if you have an observant burglar, that person will probably figure out that the lights keep going on at exactly 7pm and turning off at exactly 9pm. What is a better way? Using a random light timer. A random pattern timer randomly activates items around the same time every day but it's not at the exact same time. One day it might turn on at 6:52pm and the next day not until 7:05pm. It will make a burglar think twice about whether or not someone is home.

Home Vacation Safety Tips

Boy's Electric — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:39:00 GMT

Most people never expect to be the victim of a burglary; yet thousands of homes are violated each year! Money, valuables, and family heirlooms are all taken. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. It especially becomes a concern during vacation season when more homes are left unattended.

Don’t let your home be an easy target! Instead, be proactive about your home’s security. Make it a difficult target for burglars by installing security lighting. Security lighting can illuminate the dark areas outside your residence, and it can give the impression that someone is home, even when you’re not! Contact us to learn more about developing the perfect home security lighting system for you home today.

Air-conditioner Energy Savings

Boy's Electric — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:19:00 GMT

Some of our employees tend to wait until it's REALLY hot to turn on their air-conditioners. Needless to say, yesterday qualified as really hot. Summer usually brings with it the dreaded electrical utility bill. As those air-conditioners rev up, so does your electric bill. Here are some tips to help bring that electrical bill down:

Install a programmable thermostat so you can vary the temperature when you're not home. Set it to a comfortable level when you're home. If you'll be gone for more than a few hours, turn it up to 80-85 degrees. You can then set it to start cooling down again before you get home as well.
Install Energy Star approced ceiling fans and run them on hot days. If it's just a little too warm for comfort, use the ceiling fan without air conditioning. If you need the air conditioning, using the ceiling fans at the same time allows you to raise your thermostat by 5 degrees which will reduce your energy costs.
Close drapes or shades on the sunny side of your home.
Make sure the cool air vents aren't blocked by furniture or drapes.
Try to keep your home's internal heat down: cook outside on the grill, use a crockpot or microwave, set your dishwasher to "air dry", turn off lights when not in use, and turn off computers and home office equipment when not in use.
When buying a window air conditioning unit, more is not necessarily better. An air conditioner that is too big for the room will work harder and cost you more. Also look for an EER (energy efficiency ratio) of 11 or higher.
If your current central air-conditioner is older with a SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) of 8 or lower, it might be more cost-effective to buy a more energy efficient model. Make sure the SEER number is 13 or higher. High efficiency units do cost a little more but it will pay for itself in a few years by reducing your electric bill.

Minneapolis Storm Damage

Boy's Electric — Tue, 24 May 2011 16:12:00 GMT

We've been working throughout North Minneapolis to help restore power to homes that were damaged during Sunday's storm. Part of the difficulty with a situation like this is people want to help, but they aren't sure how. Plus you want to make sure your donations of time, money, and supplies are going to a recognized organization. Click here for a list from Channel 5 KSTP to find out ways that you can help.

Ceiling Fans Save Energy

Boy's Electric — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:59:00 GMT

Ceiling fans use very little energy (as much as a 100-watt light bulb) and they save tons of electricity and money! For example, in the summer, a ceiling fan can make a room feel 8 degrees cooler while reducing your air-conditioning bill up to 40%! In the winter, turn your fan clockwise and it will circulate warm air throughout the room making it feel cozier while reducing your heating bills up to 10%!

Ceiling fans really are your heating and air conditioning system's best friend. The less they have to run, the longer they will cooperate! If you'd like to save energy and money, ask about the new Energy Star approved fans. According to energystar.gov, Energy Star ceiling fans are over 50% more efficient than conventional fan/light units which means less energy usage for our environment and your checkbook.

DIY electrical projects gone bad...

Boy's Electric — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:46:00 GMT

If you're a do-it-yourself type person, that is great! Many of our employees and friends are as well. Some people are blessed with technical knowledge and great mechanical reasoning. However, two areas of your home you should always have professionals look at are anything dealing with natural gas and electricity. If you've started your own DIY electrical project and are feeling a little overwhelmed, that's okay. Give us a call. We'll get you back on track and make sure your work is done safely for you, your home, and your family. Click here for some examples of DIY electrical projects gone bad....

Earth Week April 17-23

Boy's Electric — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:16:00 GMT

Did you know Earth Day was started right here in the American Midwest? Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson asked the nation to set aside April 22, 1970, to celebrate nature and learn how to protect the environment. Earth Day has now grown into an international event celebrated by over 175 countries.

There are many ways you can reduce waste and your energy usage. Click here for some easy ways to reduce your energy usage around your home. Some other simple tips are to change out your standard light bulbs with CFL (sometimes called a "spiral" bulb) or LED lights and to install sunlight sensors on your outdoor lights (great security item as well). In addition, look at installing motion light switches in closets, utility rooms, and bathrooms.

Another good idea is installing dimmer switches in your home. Dimming your lights an average of 50% can cut your electric use up to 40% in those rooms. In addition, your light bulbs will last longer and you have the ability to adjust your lighting according to your exact mood and needs. Contact us today to schedule a lighting audit and learn how your lights can help reduce your electric bill!

Why does my outlet have buttons on it?

Boy's Electric — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:38:00 GMT

We frequently get asked about "outlets with buttons". The fancy name for those outlets is Ground Fault Interuppter (or GFI for short). But why do those outlets have buttons? Why do you need them?

GFI outlets are designed to cut off power before a dangerous electrical shock and/or electrical fire can occur. They are now the required outlet, according to national electric code, to be installed anywhere that is near water. Some examples would be bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and outdoors.

The GFI outlet monitors the electric current going out from it to whatever is plugged into it such as your hairdryer, coffee maker, washing machine, or iron. If the outlet senses the current has changed or is broken (so the current is going where it shouldn't), the outlet shuts itself off often as quickly as within 1/30 of a second so that no person is harmed and electrical sparking and/or fire doesn't occur.

GFI outlets should be tested monthly. To do this, plug a light into the outlet and turn it on. (Night-lights are great for this.) Hit the Test button. The reset button should "pop" out and the light will go off. Now press the Reset button in and the light should come back on. If the light does not turn off when you press the test button or if you cannot get the outlet to reset, then the outlet needs to be inspected by a licensed electrician to determine why it is not working correctly and ensure there is no underlying electrical issue.

We're on facebook!

Boy's Electric — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:56:00 GMT

Hello friends!

We've been working hard to bring you electrical safety tips, energy saving ideas, and help you learn more about your home's electrical system. There's now another way to communicate with us - on Facebook! Visit here to become our fan today to receive exclusive special offers and get more information on how to make your home safer and more energy efficient!

What’s the difference between a fuse box and a circuit breaker box?

Boy's Electric — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:29:00 GMT

Fuse boxes and circuit breaker boxes do the same thing. They are the nerve center of your electrical system and control the electricity running through your home. Circuit breakers are more convenient because the breaker can be easily reset instead of having to deal with the frustration, time, and expense of replacing the fuse each time it burns out. In addition, most fuse boxes are not designed to work with the electrical demands that our current lifestyles need.

According to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, electrical problems cause about 40,000 house fires each year. Annually those fires claim close to 350 lives, injure 1,400 people and result in $700 million in house, property, and other damages. Circuit breakers and fuses prevent fires and electrocutions by breaking the electrical current. When a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips, it is important to find out why.

One of the most common causes of blown fuses is the circuit is overloaded. For example, if you have lights that frequently stop working, you may have too many items plugged into that circuit. In other cases, blown fuses may represent more serious problems. Sometimes an electrical item could have a short circuit, or it could even mean a short circuit in your home’s wiring. If you have fuses that are constantly blowing or circuits that are regularly tripping, you should have a professional electrician evaluate the fuse or circuit breaker box and wiring to prevent electrical injury to yourself and your family and damage to your home.

If you'd like to speak with someone about your fuse box or circuit breaker box, please contact our Boy's Electric friendly client care representatives at 952-746-4050 or 651-485-9168.