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Month: July 2019

Simple Cost-Cutting Tips for Electricity Usage

Posted on by oleg

These simple cost-cutting tips for electricity usage can help save homeowners money each month!

If you are like most homeowners, you are constantly on the lookout for ways to save money. Implementing some or all these cost-cutting tips for electricity can help to accomplish this important goal. When you are able to minimize the amount of electricity you’re using daily, weekly, and monthly, you are taking important steps in reducing monthly electricity costs and increasing your energy savings at the same time.

Reducing the amount of electricity you use in your living space not only will shrink your electric bill but will also help contribute to a healthier environment overall. There are several possible ways in which you can reduce your electricity usage and the amount of energy used in your home. If you are looking to reduce energy consumption in your home, then try these simple but effective cost-cutting tips for electricity.

  • Use cold water when you are washing loads of laundry rather than the typical hot water and see the difference in your monthly bill;
  • When possible, hang your clothes to dry instead of using a dryer since your electric dryer sucks up a whole lot of energy and money;
  • Unplug any items that are not being used throughout your living space, especially electronics. Items not in use, but are still plugged in, use a good amount of electricity and energy still;
  • Install LED light bulbs anywhere possible in your home and try turning off the lights for an extra two hours per day and see how much money you will save;
  • Turn off any ceiling lights you may have and start utilizing table lamps with lower wattage, even track lighting in your work-at-home area, or under-cabinet lights in your kitchen area;
  • Do not use the heat/dry setting when running your dishwasher; it uses a great deal of energy;
  • Set your refrigerator and freezer temperatures to an ideal lower setting. Try setting the refrigerator at or below 40° F (4° C) and your freezer at 0° F (-18° C);
  • Set your computers to flip over to standby mode whenever they are not in use;
  • If you are still using an old-fashioned desktop computer, switch over to a laptop now;
  • Be sure to pull phone and electronic chargers from the outlets once devices are fully charged;
  • Always turn off the lights when leaving a room;
  • Be sure to adjust the settings on your air conditioner so that it does not run at full force when you are away from home; and
  • Reduce the amount of heat that is generated in your kitchen, especially in the summertime.

In addition to the above practical cost-cutting tips, you can also contact your local electric company and find out more information about “time of use programs.” These programs charge different rates for peak hours in comparison to off hours. If you get in the habit of using most of the electricity in your home during what is referred to as the ‘off hours’ you can, over time, save a significant amount of monies.

At Gervais Electric, Inc. our clients are our #1 priority which is why we wanted to share these simple yet important cost-cutting tips for electricity. Be sure to reach out to our highly skilled and experienced team of electricians for all your electrical needs. We look forward to serving you with the highest quality electrical products, repairs, and services in Middle Tennessee whether winter, spring, summer or fall.

HVAC electrical problems you may experience this summer

Posted on by oleg

As we all know, home heating and air conditioning systems run on electricity, and a good deal of it. From time-to-time you may find yourself faced with HVAC electrical issues that need electrical repairs. It is never wise to attempt to repair your own air conditioning system when it encounters problems of any type, especially electrical problems. Instead, rely upon Gervais Electric, Inc. and our highly skilled and certified team of electricians.

Our certified and trained electricians are equipped to handle all your electrical repairs and needs, including all those electrical issues you may experience with your HVAC system. There are three primary HVAC electrical issues you can encounter with your air conditioning system this summer.

Wiring Issues

The many wires that are part of the overall makeup of your air conditioning system tend to corrode or fray over time and particularly those that are exposed to many of the outdoor elements. The fraying and corrosion of these damaged wires will affect the overall proper delivery of electricity and will continue to disrupt the flow of electricity until they are properly replaced by a professional. Again, we highly suggest you do not attempt to replace the wiring in your AC system on your own, but rather put your trust in our reliable team of electricians.

Overloaded Circuit Breakers

Electrical Panel

Every home’s air conditioning system should have its own circuit breaker in your electrical panel because of the excessive amount of power it continually draws. If your home’s circuit breaker keeps tripping time and time again, especially during the sweltering summer months, you need to take steps to have it inspected by a professional electrician. A professional will typically find the source of the problem to be one of two things. More times than not they find that the problem stems from an air conditioning system that is drawing too much power thus tripping the circuit breaker, or secondly, the breaker itself may be faulty. Whatever the source of your HVAC electrical problem, rest assure our team of professionals will identify it and provide you with fast and effective solutions to the problem to limit the amount of disruption to your AC system this summer.

Capacitors are key components of any air conditioning system. They are designed to assist the various motors in your AC system to start up when needed and to run consistently. With that said, every air conditioning system has two different types of capacitors – a start capacitor and a run capacitor. Over time, these capacitors may become damaged and cause malfunction to your AC system primarily due to age and lifespan issues. When the capacitors malfunction, they directly affect the motors within your AC system and create a serious HVAC electrical problem. As with the above, never attempt to resolve these problems on your own, but rather trust our professionals to get the job done and get your air conditioning system up and running again to handle all the summer heat.

Summer is certainly a favorite time of year for so many people. From backyard barbecues and picnics, and family gatherings, to vacation destinations and a variety of summer festivals and activities, the time spent in the summer is varied. However, when your air conditioning system is not working properly, or not working at all, it can certainly put a strain on all that summer comfort and fun. If you find yourself in need of HVAC electrical repairs or services or need any other type of electrical services, then surely you have come to the right place. Gervais Electric, Inc. takes pride in providing all our valued clients with the highest quality electrical products and services this side of Tennessee. With summer now upon us, we send along wishes for a safe and comfortable summer season and a safe and happy Fourth of July to all our valued customers!