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David Heintz
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A & H Electric Co.
3505 N. Loop 336 West
Conroe, Texas 77304
Office: (936) 756-0442

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4 Ways to Prevent Electrical Fires

Electrical Safety, power surges

Facts & Figures

  • Roughly half (48%) of home electrical fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment in 2007-2011.
  • In 2007-2011, 46% of electrical failure home fires involved other known type of equipment. The leading other known type of equipment involved in home electrical fires are washer or dryer, fans, and portable or stationary space heater.
  • U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 22,410 reported home structure fires involving electrical distribution or lighting equipment in 2007-2011. These fires resulted in 325 civilian fire deaths, 950 civilian fire injuries, and $817 million in direct property damage.
  • Some type of electrical failure or malfunction was cited as a factor contributing to ignition for 74% of electrical distribution or lighting equipment home structure fires.

Source: NFPA’s “Electrical Fires,” by John R. Hall, Jr., April 2013

Keep Your Home & Loved Ones Safe

#1: Inspect Electrical Wiring

The lifespan of a home’s electrical system is 30 to 40 years. But, considering that many homes were built before the 1965, most systems are past their prime. Homes built before this time are insufficient at meeting the demands of today’s high-tech appliances and electronics. That is why it is so very important to hire a licensed professional electrician to come to inspect the wiring throughout your home.

#2: Don’t Overburden Electrical Sockets

As you continue to upgrade to the latest and greatest gadgets out there – or you just add new ones to your home – make sure not to overburden your electrical sockets with too many cords. And, while it’s a great idea to use a surge protector, you won’t want to overburden that either. If fuses blow or trip more often than not, you may want to consider contacting an electrician.

#3: Repair or Replace Faulty Wiring

If any of your extension cords, surge protectors, electric cords or other wiring is frayed, tattered, discolored or otherwise worn out looking replace it. Wiring in poor condition can overheat thus putting undue pressure on your electrical outlets which can cause a fire. It can also cause sparks to fly which can also cause a fire.

#4: Make Sure Electrical Products Are UL-listed

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a nationally recognized electrical safety standards organization. Through numerous tests they determine just how safe a product such as extension cords, batteries, plug-in night lights and surge protectors are. Products that have passed their stringent tests will have a UL logo listed on them. Only buy these products.

6 Innovative Ways to Make Your Home Smarter

A&H Electric, Energy Saving, Home Automation Systems, Smart Home

The vision of the future, which was spelled out in sitcoms such as The Jetsons and movies such as Back to the Future II, isn’t as far off as you’d imagine. While we’re on the subject of Back to the Future II, this year (2015) is the year that Marty McFly travels to, or for a better word, crashes into.

While flying cars remain to be seen, our future lets us see who’s entering our homes via live feed, turn on and off the lights, even play with our four legged friends remotely all by using something we carry around with us daily – our smartphone. Guess what? You can get your hands on these and more…now!

#1: PETCUBE

When you’re an animal lover, it can sometimes be far easy to feel guilty about leaving our furry friends at home, especially when they give you those “puppy” eyes. The Petcube is a video-camera system that allows you to watch live feed of your pets as well as play with them from anywhere you are.

#2: WELCOME CAMERA

The Netatmo Welcome Camera uses facial recognition technology to alert you whenever your family members arrive home. If it detects someone unrecognizable, you’ll get a ping. It even lets you view a livestream at any time using your smartphone or tablet.

#3: LG TWIN WASH

Why wash one load, when you can do two? The LG Twin Wash System has transformed a traditional pedestal drawer into a second washer; thus providing you with the opportunity to wash colors and whites or towels and delicates all at the same time.

#4: SENGLED SNAP

This is not your average lightbulb! The Sengled Snap is a light fixture that doubles as a security system with built in motion sensor, microphone, wireless camera and facial recognition software. The Snap is designed to work with existing home or lamps’ electrical infrastructure.

#5: PRONTO PEEL SMART REMOTE

If you’re anything like me, you probably lose the TV remote daily, but always seem to have you smartphone in hand. With the Pronto Peel Smart Remote, you never need to worry about losing the remote again, as it’s a hub that works with iPhone to allow you to control your TV, Blu-ray player and more.

#6: ECOVENT

Ecovent is a smart thermostat that allows you to set the temperature in each and every room of your house individually. The device utilizes hidden smart sensors that look like normal household plugs to monitor a room’s individual climate. Ecovent is compatible with many popular smart thermometers.

Light Up Your Holiday; Not Your Power Bill

A&H Electric, Christmas, Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Christmas is nearly here! So let’s make the most of it by decorating our homes (if you haven’t already). Let’s break out the decorations, set up the tree, light up the house, wrap up the gifts, listen to Christmas carols and make freshly baked gingerbread cookies  – all in the spirit of the holiday.

All this decorating, however, can drive up your power bill by 10 percent or more – depending on how big your display. So how do you light up your holiday; not your power bill? With a few smart moves, many of which are listed below, and a little creativity that’s how.

#1: Make the Switch to LED Christmas Lights

It’s a fact! LED Christmas lights demand far less electricity than old fashioned incandescent bulbs – almost 90% percent less to be exact – thus saving you a significant amount of money on your energy costs. Available in various styles and sizes LED Christmas lights are also safer and more durable.

#2: Timing is Everything

Being smart about when you turn on and how many hours you use your holiday lights or displays can lead to significant savings. You can purchase and set automatic timers throughout your home. We recommend setting your timer so that your lights switch on at 5:00 pm and switch off 4 or 5 hours later.

#3: Battery Operated Decorations

If saving money on your power bill is your primary objective, you may want to consider purchasing holiday decorations such as LED lighted garland, and door wreaths that are battery operated. However, to avoid the cost of replacement batteries, you should purchase batteries that are rechargeable.

#4: Think Smaller

Although the holiday season is the one time of year that the phrase “go big or go home” holds true for many homeowners, especially those attempting to outdo their neighbor – in good natured neighbor rivalry of course – you may want to think smaller if you don’t want to see your power bills skyrocket.

Happy Holidays!!!

~ From your friends at A & H Electric

Informational Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Light Bulbs: Learn the Differences Between Them

A&H Electric, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), Incandescent Light Bulbs, Light Bulbs, Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Did you know that the average light bulbs eat up 20 watts of electricity? Did you also know that with the recent changes in lighting technology, you, and only you have the ability to reduce the amount of electricity your home’s light bulbs use?

Learning the differences between today’s light bulbs can help you in choosing the right ones for your home or business. Here we’ve listed the most common types of light bulbs available in an effort to help you reduce high energy bills.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

Invented in the 1800s, incandescent light bulbs are the oldest and most common type of bulbs currently on the market today, however due to their relative inefficiency and short lifespans they are slowing making their way out.

Manufacturers are currently working on incandescent bulbs that use 24 percent less energy than those currently on the market. Incandescent bulbs are the least expensive type of bulbs you can purchase.

These type of bulbs work by connecting an electrical current that travels through a wire filament, heating up the filament as it goes, which almost needless to say produces heat as well as light.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

Invented in 1976 – in response to the 1973 oil crisis – Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) can be distinguished from any other type of bulbs on the market due to their distinctively bold designs.

CFLs work by transmitting an electrical current through a tube containing argon, and a trace amount of mercury, in order to trigger the actual illumination. CFLs have a lifespan of 9 years

Considering that they use 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs, you can expect to receive significant savings when you choose to use them, rather than choosing to use their competition.

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs), which were invented in the early 1960s, are rapidly taking over the lighting industry. This is due to their being highly effective.

LEDs work by connecting a diode (hence their name) to an electrical current. Electrodes are then triggered within the diode, which forces those electrodes to release photons, thus making light.

While the initial costs of LEDs are typically higher than any of the other light bulbs we’ve mentioned, their lifespan being 25% longer than incandescent bulbs, makes the price seem almost inconsequential.

A Professional Recommendation

If you’re looking to pave the way towards lower monthly energy bills, then you may definitely want to consider purchasing and installing LEDs throughout your home.

This post brought to by your friends at A&H Electric. If you would like more information, or are just in need of reliable electricity repair or installation services, please be sure to contact us at (936) 756-0442

Holiday Electrical Safety Tips

A&H Electric, Christmas, Electrical, Electrical Safety, Holiday

It’s getting to be that time of year again!

Yeah sure, it may only be October 30th to some people, but to other’s it is the start of one of the most festive times of year. It is during the brief period between Halloween, which is tomorrow, and the New Year, which is 63 days away, when homeowners find themselves quite literally decking the halls.

Unfortunately, however, the holiday season is also one of the busiest times of year for hospital emergency rooms. In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 12,500 people per year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to holiday decorations.

In addition, the National Fire Protection Agency, warns that 380 holiday related home structure fires were the direct result of holiday lights, decorations and trees within the years of 2007 to 2011. Holiday trees accounted for 230 of these home structure fires.

So as you can see the holiday season isn’t just about decking the halls, fighting the crowds on Black Friday, or exchanging gifts; it’s also about ensuring your safety so that you and your loved ones’ can enjoy this joyous time of year; preferably without incident.

Safeguard Your Family with These Holiday Electrical Safety Tips

Before flipping the switch and lighting up the neighborhood, or just your home, make sure you have followed these simple holiday electrical safety tips. These tips will ensure you’re able to safeguard yourself, your family and your home from electrical shocks and fires.

  • Thinking of using a real holiday tree? Make sure you keep it properly watered the entire time it’s inside your home. A dry tree can quickly burst into flames. Plus, a properly watered tree, will keep it looking good and smelling great while in your home.
  • Whether you plan on placing holiday lights inside or out, you should always check each strand thoroughly for any damaged or frayed cords, as well as loose connections prior to installation. You should also replace any older light sets since they may no longer be up to code.
  • To make sure your light sets stay in good condition, which will hopefully save you money on the expense of replacing them or their light bulbs, you should store them in a tightly sealed container when not in use (so for the other 11 months of the year).
  • You should always refrain from using nails, tacks, staples, or anything of that sort when hanging your holiday lights. To prevent power shortages from affecting your décor, use insulated hooks or holders. The nice thing about this is that if you get the clear ones you can just leave them up.
  • If the cords and plugs of your holiday lights are running across the ground you should elevate them by again using insulated hooks or holders. This will you help you avoid damage or shorts from wet conditions such as snow, rain and debris.
  • If you must run extension cords across the ground, you may want to tape them in place to prevent anyone from accidentally tripping over them, and injuring themselves. Use a bright colored duct tape so that it is visible to anyone visiting.
  • Only purchase lights that been laboratory tested. You will typically notice that these lights have a UL listing on the outside of the box. These will ensure that the lights you purchased have passed rigorous safety and performance standards.
  • Always adhere to the recommended usage for your lights. So if your lights say interior use only…then only use them inside. If they say exterior use only…then only use them outside. You will find that many of the light sets on the market today are rated for both interior and exterior use.
  • Always turn off your lights whenever you are sleeping (this includes on Christmas Eve) or away from home; even if it’s only for a short while.
  • Overloading electrical circuits is a BIG no, no! Just don’t do it.
  • Plug all outdoor lights into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. These outlets are designed to shut off the flow of power whenever a short is detected.
  • Contact a professional electrical repair technician and request an annual safety inspection be completed on your home’s electrical system prior to the start of the holiday season.

Happy Holidays!!!

Whole House Generators: Powering on Demand

A&H Electric, Electrical, Power Outages, Whole House Generators

Some dangers rear their ugly head without any warning, as we have already evidenced with the United States’ recent natural disasters, but knowing this – knowing that danger is around every dark corner of the world – doesn’t mean we shouldn’t or can’t protect ourselves for its arrival.

In fact, when we prepare ourselves for dangerous situations, our chances of surviving increases significantly. Taking precautionary measures such as ensuring you’re not left in the dark for any extended period of time should a storm take out your electricity aids in your survival just as much as any other measure.

This is especially important for older adults. As well as those that may be more susceptible to hypothermia (below normal body temperatures) or hyperthermia (exceptionally high fevers) during intense cold or heat conditions. Ensuring your electricity remains on is also important for maintaining your quality of life.

Whole House Generators: Your Solution to Power Outages

One solution, which experts all seem to agree on, is whole house generators. While these type of generators can be quite expensive, when you consider the fact that 3.5 million Americans can be left without power in any given week, they just may be worth the expense.

The way whole house generators work is actually quite simple. Built to look much like an air conditioning unit, except for the fact that they are enclosed and are much larger, these types of generators power on automatically in the event your home goes off the grid.

They typically supply enough energy for your family to maintain your quality of life until the power is completely restored. And, although they’re expensive, they have the added benefit of increasing your home’s value; thus presenting you with the chance to net some of your expense back should you ever decide to move.

Whole House Generators: What You Should Look For

  • Generators come in a variety of sizes and workload capacities. You’ll want to ensure the one you purchase is capable of handling everything that you’ll want it to power until electricity is restored.
  • You should look for generators that have built-in transfer switches as this will ensure you don’t have to face the elements in order to turn the unit on by hand.
  • You should look for the highest quality units for maximum durability. Those that are made from stainless steel resist corrosion better than any other type of generator currently available.
  • These types of generators typically operate with the use of either natural gas or liquidized petroleum gas therefore its important to inquire about their fuel efficiency.
  • Whole house generators require professional installation. It is important to locate a professional electrician to ensure the proper placement and installation of your new unit.

Home Automation Systems Save You Money

A&H Electric, Electrical, Energy Saving, Home Automation Systems

Automating Your Home

Home Automation SystemsAs home energy prices continue to climb…and climb…and, well you get the picture, in a time when many homeowners are still feeling the effects of a bad economy, home automation systems are being used to alleviate the headaches associated with a homeowner’s rising energy costs.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average homeowner shells out more than $100.00 per month on home energy costs alone. Their HVAC system can be found guilty of costing them at least half of this expense.

Therefore, the best home automation systems must work to regulate and control a home’s HVAC system, as well as its main electricity hogs – namely appliances, lighting, electronics, etc.  Home automation systems can transform your home into a smart home by allowing you to control the following:

  • The automation of your home’s lighting. You can turn your lights on and off remotely or on a schedule.
  • The temperature in which your air conditioning and heating system works to cool or warm your home.
  • Can open your blinds during the day and close them at night. You again can do this remotely or on a schedule.
  • Feed your pets according to the schedule you set. You forgot to feed Fido before going to work? Log-in remotely and feed him/her at your leisure.
  • Command your garage door to open and close.
  • Have a freshly brewed pot of coffee awaiting you first thing in the morning by setting your coffee maker.

This is, of course, just a small list of the things home automation can do for you. To put it very simply, everything in your home – at least everything that works off electricity – can be automated according to your exact specifications, ensuring you your complete comfort and peace of mind.

So, what type of system is best for your needs? Here we, at A & H Electric, discuss some of the more popular automation systems that can be easily incorporated into your home.

Choosing the Correct Home Automation System

  • Smart Thermostats – Thermostats that only control your HVAC system. Once installed, which is relatively easy to do, they allow you to remotely control your home’s temperature.
  • Home Automation Switches – These switches and outlets plug directly into your existing outlets making installation a breeze. They connect directly to your WiFi and can be controlled by your smartphone.
  • Central Automation – If you’re looking for the total package when it comes to your home’s energy and security, you’ll need to choose between the various central automation systems available on the market today.

Gain Confidence And Learn How To Replace Your Own Outlets

A&H Electric, Electrical, Electricity 101, Home, outlets

Are you interested in upgrading one or more outlets in your home but have no idea how to? Do you need to replace a damaged outlet? If yes, to either of these questions, then this is the blog post for you!

The idea of changing an outlet usually gets mixed feeling from many people. Some people will either know how to do it with no problems and others may have a fear of getting electrocuted which can prevent them from ever learning how. Whatever the reason, many people fail to learn how to replace an outlet, which is a very simple and basic home repair.

So, whether you are updating an old outlet or replacing a damaged outlet, these step-by-step instructions will help you ensure a smooth replacement while giving you confidence in your actions.

What You Need:

  • Outlet
  • Outlet Cover
  • Flathead and Philip Screwdrivers
  • Wire Stripper

When changing outlets, it is important to remember to shut the power off in the area where the outlet is located.

You can do this by turning off the switch in the fuse box to the specified location. Once the power has been shut off, the next thing to do is test the outlet. Plug a small appliance in the outlet to test if the outlet has no power. If the appliance is off, you have turned off the right circuit switch, if not, go back to the fuse box and locate the correct switch.

Once the power is off, grab your tools and begin replacing the outlet:

  1. Remove the outlet cover with a flathead screwdriver and place aside.
  2. Unscrew the two outlet screws and pull “old” outlet from wall, carefully.
  3. Unscrew one wire from the old outlet and then use the wire stripper to expose more wire.
  4. Take the exposed wire and using a Philip screwdriver, screw the wire onto the new outlet on the same position as it was on the old outlet.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you have unscrewed, stripped, and screwed in all stripped wires to the correct location on the new outlet.
  6. Place new outlet back into wall and screw the outlet cover back in place.
  7. Turn the circuit switch to the outlet back on and test the outlet.
  8. Enjoy you’re new and upgraded outlet!

If you would like any advice from your Electrician Experts, please contact us today for your questions at (936) 756-0442.

This Math Problem Will Change Your Home, Forever; All You Need Is Time, Patience, & a Little Curiosity

A&H Electric, Circuit Breakers, Electrical, Electricity 101, Helpful Tips

It is safe to say that most people own at least one computer. Owning a computer may also mean owning accessories for your personal computer. For example, speakers, an additional monitor, printer, modem, router, keyboard, and mouse. For those who use their computers for picture sharing or school work may also have an external flash drive, which allows extra space for storing files and pictures without slowing down the computer. Now, consider how many power cords will need to be plugged into an outlet in order to power a computer and its accessories. If you try to plug in all of these appliances, you will find that your standard outlet only allows for two appliances at a time. You could plug an extension cord to another outlet to power more devices and appliances, but still, more plugs are needed? This is the point where you are hoping you have a power strip, which allows for housing several different outlets on a single bar.

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4 Electrical Issues That You Can Troubleshoot in Your Home

A&H Electric, Circuit Breakers, Electrical, Electricity 101, Home, Lighting, outlets, sparking

Most electrical problems need to be handled by a licensed electrician, like the ones at  A&H Electric.  If you are not a qualified professional, a mistake could be made that could cause an electrical fire and the results could be disastrous!  Every year many house fires are caused by improper electrical wiring, so if you aren’t sure, don’t try to fix it yourself.  There are, however, a few problems that can be safely solved with a little bit of troubleshooting.

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