Six Reasons Your Home Might Be Guzzling Electricity

June 19, 2019

The Shock of High Electric Use At some point, most of us have experienced the unpleasant surprise of opening a larger-than-expected electricity bill. Did the unanticipated expense send you scrambling to understand why your bill was so high? Did you wonder how you might be able to avoid such surprises in the future? This blog is for you. Here’s a look at six things the residential electricity experts at GVEC say often contribute to high energy bills. 1. Weather Matters on Your Electricity Bill Weather matters. You’ll find this simple refrain spread across all GVEC’s social media, on our blog, and in The GVEC Review each month. The hotter or colder the weather outside, the harder your HVAC system must work to maintain the temperature you set the thermostat to. If it’s 103 degrees on a hot August day, for instance, and you set the thermostat to 70, that’s a 33-degree differential! Your AC will likely run nonstop to keep up as long as the difference remains so high. That’s why GVEC recommends a thermostat setting of 78 degrees during the summer. At this setting, the differential on that 103-degree day would be 25 degrees—still not small, but certainly more...

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How LED Lighting Can Make a Difference in Your Home

June 1, 2019

LED Lighting: A Switch Worth Making These days, many people are switching from traditional incandescent lighting to LEDs. This technology provides multiple benefits, and at GVEC, we recommend that you consider making the switch, too. LED costs have come down in recent years, but they remain slightly more expensive than traditional bulbs. The extra upfront cost, however, is worth it in the long run. Here’s why. LED Bulbs Help Lower Energy Costs LED lighting consumes only a fraction of the energy used by incandescent bulbs. In fact, LEDs use less energy per lumen than any other current lighting technology. And of course, the less energy consumed, the less money you pay on your electric bill. As an added bonus, less energy consumed means less demand on the grid, which can be beneficial for all GVEC members, especially during the peak demand times of summer. Consuming less energy is better for the environment, too. LED Lighting Lasts Longer LED light bulbs last longer than any other bulb on the market. In fact, they last 40 times longer than incandescents. No matter where a light fixture is located, a reduction in the need to change bulbs saves time and hassle, but reduced...

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Do It Yourself Electrical Work Isn’t Your Safest Bet

May 23, 2019

It’s a common practice to do repairs around the house without hiring a specialist. The list of reasons for this can range from saving a few bucks to the sense of pride you gain from doing it on your own. With electrical work, it’s important to weigh the safety risks into your choice. Let’s look at the reasons why doing electrical work yourself is not the best option. Many homeowners dislike hiring outside specialists for small and, sometimes, even large repair jobs around the house. “Why pay someone to do a job I can do myself?” these do-it-yourselfers often rationalize. This practice isn’t terribly uncommon. Many do-it-yourselfers take great pride in completing the work—and doing it well—all by themselves. With electrical work, though, it’s important to weigh the safety risks against the cost savings; even that feeling of accomplishment from a job-well-done should take a backseat to issues of safety. Let’s look at the reasons why doing electrical work yourself is not the best option. Getting Your Wires Crossed A home or a business building can contain hundreds of yards of electrical wires, serving to power appliances, electronics, lighting and more. Getting any of these wires crossed or making improper...

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Five Ways to Keep Your Kids Safe Around Electricity

May 2, 2019

Kids are born ready to explore their world. Because of their natural curiosity, they should be taught the risks associated with electricity. Here are five tips for keeping them safe. Kids are born ready to explore their world. Because of their natural curiosity, they should be taught the risks associated with electricity. Here are five tips for keeping them safe. 1. Electricity and Water Don’t Mix Each year, many accidents happen when electrical items come into contact with water. Teach kids to never mix the two. Also, if they notice an electrical appliance in a body of water, they shouldn’t reach in to retrieve it or even touch the water and should instead tell someone about it. 2. Don’t Yank the Cord; Pull the Plug Instead When electrical devices need to be unplugged, kids should be taught how to gently pull the plug to disconnect it from the outlet. Some people have a tendency to yank the cord, and this is dangerous. Yanking a plug can damage the appliance, the plug itself and/or the outlet. Exposed wires can cause much bigger problems. If you notice any electrical issues in Gonzales, TX, GVEC Electrician Services can repair it for you—just give...

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How to Find Quality Electricians for Your Next Project

April 20, 2019

Without a doubt, electrical wiring is one of the most important systems you’ll find in any home or business. Consequently, it’s important to have qualified professionals install and maintain your electrical infrastructure. Here are a few proven tips for finding the best electricians to tackle any given electrical project. Check Out Their Bond and Insurance Virtually every state in America requires electricians to secure a surety bond before a license is granted. Bonds and insurance protect consumers against fraud and shoddy work. Don’t hire an electrical firm for a project if it doesn’t have a current bond. Look at Their License and Credentials Due to the potential danger of their work, electricians must undergo rigorous training to guarantee their competency. Both master and journeymen electricians must pass state-sanctioned tests before they’re issued licenses. Make sure that your electricians are properly qualified before you hire them. Investigate Their Fields of Expertise Like other professionals, most electricians will typically have a niche or two in which they specialize. For instance, some electricians may focus on solar panel installation or exterior lighting installation. Look for electricians who specialize in the wiring that your project requires. Ask Around About Their Reputation Performing research on...

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Benefits of Whole Home Surge Protection

April 9, 2019

Whole home surge protection is a way to reduce the possibility of a power surge risk that can cause damage or harm to wiring, appliances, and valuable electronic equipment. Power surges are described as short bursts of electricity that create a spike in the electrical current. The stronger the surge, the more likely it can cause damage. It’s to be noted that surges inside the home aren’t protected by a whole house system because that protection is designed to stop surges before they enter your home. Here are some important benefits of having whole home surge protection. Stops a Possible Surge When you have a whole home surge protection system, it stops a possible surge prior to entering the residence because a special protection device is hard-wired into the main electrical panel/breaker box. This device should preferably be installed by a licensed professional, like the ones from in Gonzales, since most homeowners aren’t knowledgeable about this procedure or trained to do it properly. In addition, installing the device means working with electricity. This can be a serious hazard for the inexperienced because working around electricity requires continual diligence and caution. Limits Voltage Surge protectors inside the home are power strips...

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Is My Home Up to Code Standards?

March 19, 2019

Many factors go into ensuring your home is comfortable and safe. Beautiful furniture is one of the obvious factors. Sturdy appliances and good lighting also contribute to a family’s comfort. However, the more important features seem to be behind the walls. Your home’s electrical system is one of the biggest determinants of its safety. Making sure that your home’s electrical components are up to code can literally save a life. Don’t Be a Statistic Every year, there are many electrical fires that could have been avoided. To help with this epidemic, the National Fire Protection Association has developed the National Electrical Code. This code lays out what the standards are for installing electrical outlets. For example, outlets must be installed at least 2 feet apart. This code also regulates certain appliances to having their own dedicated circuit. There are also codes that specify the voltage levels used with the circuit boards. The average person is not expected to know all these codes or even to know if he or she is in compliance with everything. There are, however, some red flags to be mindful of. Signs Your Home Is Not up to Code Short outs when too many devices are...

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How to Know if I Need Rewiring Service?

March 1, 2019

When you need rewiring service, your house lets you know; it’s not one of those issues that typically stays under the radar for long. Whether it’s blown fuses, sparks shooting from outlets or the smell of burning plastic, you’ll know when it’s time to give a professional a call. See the list below for five of the most common warnings that it’s time to have your home’s wiring serviced. 1. Frequent Blown Fuses Have you ever flipped a light switch in your house or plugged in an appliance only for the whole room to go dark? While blown fuses occur from time to time, if you find that it’s happening a few times a month, then you may have an issue with your wiring. 2. Flickering or Dim Lights If you notice a light in your home is flickering, then there’s a chance that it’s just a dying light bulb. However, if after you replace the light bulb and the light is still flickering, or you notice multiple lights in the room are flickering, then you should definitely give a professional a call. 3. Buzzing Sounds from Lights Have you noticed that some of your once quiet lights are now...

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How Do You Know if Your Home Needs Any Electrical Repairs?

January 26, 2019

You need electricity in your home in Gonzalez for many reasons. You use it for cooking, lighting, powering appliances, heating, and many other functions. However, you have to ensure that your electrical connections are working properly because it can be a threat to your safety if they’re not. Not all electrical faults are dangerous, but some can lead to serious problems, including fire. Therefore, you need to know when it is time to call an electrician. Let us look at some of the signs that you should never ignore. Tripping Circuit Breakers Indicate the Need for Electrical Repairs Circuit breakers are designed to detect when there is a fault in the wiring system. For instance, when there is contact between two cables, the circuit breakers will go off. This happens automatically, but you have to turn them on manually to use the power again. If the breakers keep tripping, call an electrician. Sparking Appliances When Plugged in Indicates That Electrical Repairs Are Needed If you plug an appliance into an outlet and it sparks, it indicates that there is a problem with your connection. This problem can lead to short-circuiting. The appliance may be damaged, too. It can also cause...

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Benefits of Electrical Safety Upgrades

December 19, 2018

Older homes may have older electrical systems that can be dangerous. Even if the system is working fine, there are still some benefits to replacing the electrical panel. Smoking outlets and tripping breakers aren’t supposed to occur all the time and, if this is happening, these are warning signs that something more damaging could be coming, such as a fire. Peace of Mind No one wants to live in a home that is unsafe, and you want to keep your family protected. With an electrical safety upgrade, you will have more peace of mind that your home can handle the electrical needs of modern society. Oftentimes electrical safety can get overlooked because it’s easy to just turn on the light and appliances and forget how they are operating, but knowing you have done the necessary upgrades can make you rest easy. May Be Legally Necessary Older systems may not adhere to modern codes. If a panel is still using fuses it may not be up to code and should be upgraded. If you plan on doing any other upgrades to your homes, like remodeling or additions, you will need your electrical system up to code. Safety Having a safer home...

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