Summertime is right around the corner, and that usually means spending more time outdoors. The nights get longer in the summer also, so having the proper lighting outside can make a big difference. Whether you want a lot of lights, just one or two, ones you plug in, or ones that charge in the sun - we can help you choose the right lighting to improve your outdoor space!

One of the more popular and modern options for outdoor lighting are string lights. Outdoor string lights create a picturesque setting and add a soft glow to your patio (or other outdoor setups). The amount of light these give off isn't extreme but sets more of a mood. They shine in the darkness but not projecting too much light out from where they're set up. This is also a widely popular choice for outdoor wedding/party settings. They do make only string lights that run off solar power as well as ones you plug into an outlet. 

Another popular option is a tried and true classic, a lantern! Lanterns come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes, ranging from simple, sleek designs to ornate and exquisite detail work. The best part of these lanterns is that they're mobile! You can move them from the surface to surface, walking from one side of your yard to the other and have a well-lit path. Of course, there are more decorative lanterns that are large and heavy and meant to stay in place once set up, but the more traditional lamps are very versatile in where they can go. You can fill the lantern with stones, shells, other items that add to the look of your outdoor theme. Same for the candles inside, they can be real candles, but it's a safer and better option to get LED candles.

Light your path with solar stake lights! These come in all different designs and styles. You can go modern and get a sleek, simple stake light, or go for more flair with colorful glass and wire design stake lights. These lights charge in the sun and light up your entire walkway/driveway as soon as the sun goes down! The amount of light these can put off is no joke either; you'll know where every sidewalk crack is when walking to and from your front door in the dark. 

When figuring out the best lighting for your outdoor space, it's best to go for what works best for your home and personality. As well as paying attention to how much light you desire from your outdoor lights. Improve your space with just a simple twist of a light bulb and redo your outdoor lighting today!

SOURCES: 1

Lately, when there's the talk of advancements in everyday comfort technology, Tesla has become a household name. While being known mostly for its version of smart cars for the future, the company is expanding to various outlets to make every day living even more straightforward. The source of power for a lot of household things comes from a collection of batteries and Tesla's advancements didn't skip this chance to excel. 

Tesla's home battery named the Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery that is rechargeable on solar energy and is the only battery that stores that solar power for use at in the evenings where there is no power source from the sun! So how exactly is Tesla able to make this work? Here we will cover the ins and outs of Tesla's home battery that show the future of powering up!

Solar panels work pretty just as you'd think, the sun charges the panels and the panels power whatever you need that's hooked up. With the Tesla Powerwall, it stores energy from key times during the day (midday to be exact) to be used later in the evening when more power is typically consumed. 

As the Powerwall becomes readily available for market consumers,  constant updates are being made to the product. At this point, the entire home battery consists of a solar panel that is installed on your rooftop and the inverter that takes that power and makes your home appliances, and whatever else, run.  The inverter works by 'converting the current electricity from solar panels or a home battery into the alternating current that makes those things run'. 

The fact that a company as big as Tesla is taking on this type of project means great things for the advancement of solar energy. More and more people are switching to a better, reliable, and renewable source of energy that is naturally occurring every day. Tesla continues to outdo themselves on what they can do, and the home battery is only one of many great ideas to come from this future-minded company. 

SOURCES: Quora

There's not a person alive that hates saving money, so it should be no different when it comes to saving on utility bills every month! Fortunately, there are a few top tricks to help you keep your power bill down and your funds high.  Here we discuss the top 3 energy efficient methods to save money on your power bill!

When we were all kids, our parents would always tell us to shut off the light in the room behind us after we left it. Besides simply flicking the light switch, nowadays there are various plug-in items throughout your home that could be draining power even when you're not using it. Things that fall under this category are TVs, video game consoles, computers (even laptops if left plugged in to charge), DVD/Blu-ray players, printers, and anything that requires a charging port/pad that is left on. All those extra fun things that we don't use all the time can take up to 10% of the entire power bill! All that wasted energy and money can be combated with the use of a handy power strip that allows the user to shut off power to all plugged in devices at once. This is much better and safer than going through and manually unplugging from outlets every time a room is empty. Doing this will ensure a visible decrease in your utilities for months to come.

How's the lighting in your home? Is it something you think about often beside just to replace a burnt bulb? Well maybe now is the perfect time to start looking into what you choose to light up your home with. Replacing the old bulbs in your house with Energy Star-branded bulbs will show you a difference right away in your power bill. It's been demonstrated that is saves an estimated $75 a year by making the switch to these less wasteful bulbs.

Besides switching the bulbs and turning everything off, there's one last fundamental way to lower your power bill, and that's merely paying attention to all the doorways, windows, and other openings in your home. If you've seen a recent spike in your power bill due to excess heating or constantly running the a/c, it could be because some of that warmth or cold air is escaping through cracks in your home! This can mess with the heater or air conditioner efficiency levels and leave you with a much higher bill than anticipated. Cracks in the walls are easier to spot, but cracks above a window or door frame might be a bit trickier to see right away. They can all be easily sealed and send your power bill back to a more desirable rate.

There are quite a few other ways to keep your power bill down each month, but these have proven to be some of the most effective in seeing that change immediately. Making a few small adjustments can keep that money where it belongs, in your pocket!

There are many ways an inspection from a licensed and insured electrician can save you money on your power bill. Contact Leinster Electric today! 

Technology has advanced so far in the means of making life more comfortable, even for the simplest of tasks. Installing smart home upgrades is one of the most significant advancements in this type of healthy living via technology. From checking the status of your refrigerator from the grocery store to having a remote control to almost anything in your house, there seems to be no limit to what smart home upgrades can do. 

Let's start with one of the more simple smart upgrades, which is tossing out your old bulbs for LED ones! Some homeowners take it a step further and have specific LED lighting fixtures installed in their home that they can have remote access to. This means not having to get out of a comfortable bed because you forgot to turn the lights off ever again. You can grab a bedside remote or even your phone and use an app to turn the lights off, all while you stay comfy in bed. This upgrade will also save you money in light bills, an investment that is well worth the upfront cost. 

Security plays a role in smart home upgrades and gives homeowners peace of mind while they're away. Light sensors that go off with movement can also be connected with cameras that have fed straight to your computer or phone. Alarms can also be set on personal devices to notify occupants of anything suspicious going on. There are also cameras explicitly made for doorbells, letting you know who's at your door before you even reach the lock. 

Smart outlets are another upgrade you can control via your phone, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device. These are set up to turn on and off household appliances (or whatever else is plugged in) from a remote location. Worst case scenario - you're on a long drive away from home, and you have that sudden panic of 'oh no did I turn the oven/iron/hair iron off?'. You can't turn around now, but you can pull over and get your phone out to turn off those outlets or make sure they're off. This is also where an in-home camera system can help as well, checking the status of inside you're home while away. 

Plugged into the smart outlets are smart appliances. One of the most revolutionary ones to come out over the past couple of years is the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth enabled refrigerators. At first, it sounds a bit silly, why would someone ever need that? But have you ever been in the grocery store only to forget practically everything you need to get? Check the status of your refrigerator shelves while walking the aisles at Publix is ideal in those moments. Another bonus to this is never standing in front of the fridge, letting out the cold air ever again. You can just hit a button on the door and instantly see the insides without ever opening it up until a decision is made. 

Smart thermostats are becoming increasingly popular as they perfectly regulate temperatures in your home and save an average of 23% on your power bill. Just like with practically all the smart home upgrades, this is something you can control from any Wi-Fi enabled device. Dads everywhere can now rejoice from a password protected thermostat that no one but dad can touch. 

These smart home upgrades and those like it genuinely make life easier. Technology is continuously advancing to make things more accessible and enjoyable in day to day life. The homes of the future are happening today!

Source 1,2 

Many home upgrades are made for the sake of convenience, functionality or even personal taste. But, there’s one upgrade that serves a much higher purpose: Protecting the safety and well-being of your home and family from the dangers of knob and tube wiring.

Between the 1880s and the 1930s, the most common form of home electrical wiring was Knob and Tube. With the advent of modern advances in electrical technology, there are safer and much more efficient methods for electrical wiring. Additionally, there are many benefits to upgrading or phasing out and replacing the knob and tube wiring in every home.

The most common issue with Knob and Tube is that the insulation material that constructs the outer casing consists of rubber, which (over time) breaks down and degrades. What this means for homes with Knob and Tube wiring is that eventually, it becomes dangerous as moisture and air reaches bare, live wires. Modern wiring systems, use durable plastic insulation materials - providing lasting protection.

While the complete conversion from Knob and Tube wiring to standard modern wiring is an investment, the benefits are well worth the costs. Ask your electrician how to gradually phase out your knob and tube wiring over time for cost-effectiveness. The safety this vital replacement provides far outweighs the tragedy and cost associated with a home fire or electrocution. It will also most likely make you eligible for a significant reduction in your home insurance premium.

While retail sales of the latest in air conditioner technologies continue to grow, many homeowners are still underestimating the value of ceiling fans even though when used correctly, they can lower the temperature of a room up to five degrees.

Here are some other fantastic benefits to the purchase and professional installation of a ceiling fan in all the rooms of your home:

1. Ceiling fans work together with your air conditioner, helping it to run more efficiently and significantly reduce your energy bill.
2. Ceiling fans can be installed both indoors and outdoors - in a porch or other covered area, helping to keep pesky flies and insects away while you enjoy the shade on a beautiful afternoon.
3. Ceiling fans have been improved in recent years to become more efficient and contain up to date technology in the fan’s motors, blade design, and control. They’re also lighter than they were in years past, giving them the element of a decorative feature within a room rather than an eyesore. 

Hunter Pacific has developed an innovation in ceiling fans with their latest version of the Typhoon model, which includes molded plastic blades instead of the traditional steel or metal variety. This promotes large amounts of airflow with minimal noise. 

An outlet that can do it all is the goal of the makers of the Swidget. A Swidget is an outlet that has been adapted to more modern times. In fact, this invention is so modern it’s created on a future-minded basis. This ensures that this product will stand with the times and have the functionality to work alongside more developed and advanced technology.

A simple set up that is done in a snap is so easy to use. Installing the Swidget requires no hardware, but a simple snap of the insert and the consumer is ready to set it up in the room. The installation of the Swidget advances and adds to the benefits of having a smart home. Pre-existing smart home products are also compatible with the Swidget and will work synonymously with everything else coming through the product. Ideally, products such as Alexa or Google Home work perfectly with Swidget.

The Swidget can do more than  benefit an ever growing smart home, the list of its capabilities is quite long. Besides the control of the outlet itself, the Swidget’s duties are:

• Motion Sensor
• Bluetooth Speaker
• Temperature/Humidity Sensor
• Alexa Repeater
• Video Camera (i.e., indoor security/nanny cams)
• Emergency Light (in case of outages)
• Power Monitor (notifies what is using up the most power)
• USB Charger
• Automatic Timer
• Wireless Boost
• Mood Lighting
• Aromatherapy Insert
• White Noise Speaker
• Carbon Monoxide Detector

So not only does the Swidget give great technological benefits, but it also aides in home safety thanks to the Carbon Monoxide detectors.

Wiring for the Swidget is also very DIY, and their Kickstarter provides those invested with an instructional how-to video in installing their product. With a Swidget, it seems  always to have a use no matter how the technology advances. The amount of services it provides easily outweighs a possible non-competing factor it may have (though it seems that factor is yet to be discovered).

Source

Unless you’re already an electrician, thinking about changing the fuse box is not often on people’s minds. That is until the power goes out and you’ve got to go hunting for a new fuse to switch it out with. If that sounds familiar to you, it may be overdue to change out your fuse box. In fact, it may be time to get rid of the fuse box altogether.

Circuit breakers are taking the place of old fuse boxes and for a very good reason. They have adapted to the change in the amount of power newer appliances, and household items can suck up. A fuse box can’t compete with most of the surge-worthy items used in an everyday setting. There’s nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of a big dinner, turning on your mixer, and suddenly you’re in the dark! Or worse, a fuse can overload itself and spark and cause a very dangerous fire that isn’t easily contained.

Besides eliminating the risk of electrical fire or being left without power, upgrading your old fuse panel allows for the possibility of homeowner’s insurance. Nowadays a home with an outdated fuse panel could easily be denied coverage because it’s a known danger and should be taken care of accordingly, otherwise, risk a fire and no coverage to help sustain your home after all is said and demolished. 

That’s a definite no-no.

Upgrading also allows you never to have to fuss over fuses ever again. Circuit breakers eliminate the need for fuses and installing fuses. Unfortunately, in some cases, the wrong size fuse in an old panel could also cause a fire, due to it not fitting correctly while in use.

The whole process seems like it could cost a pretty penny, but it is surprisingly affordable. It’s best to have a licensed professional, such as Leinster Electric, evaluate your electrical panels and determine if it’s time to upgrade your fuse box. You will be given an estimation, and you can decide from there what’s best for you and your family’s home. It’s a wonderful feeling having the piece of mind that running the microwave and a/c at the same time won’t end up in another blackout.

It’s an old tale that switching the lights off to a room can save you money. That tale is true but doesn’t save you much depending on which lightbulb you have. But is some light bulbs worth the energy of turning off?

Not all bulbs have the same efficiency. The amount of electricity you save by turning that switch off depends on the light bulb being used in your household. 

• Incandescent 

One 60-watt incandescent uses 0.06 kWh (kilowatt) of electricity per hour. At $0.11 per kWh an 1,000 hours of use, that bulb consumes $6.60 in electricity per year. 

• Halogen 

One 43 watt halogen bulb used around 25% less electricity compared to the Incandescent bulb, each bulb costing on average around $4.73 per 1,000-hour use. 

• Compact Fluorescents 

One 15-watt Compact Fluorescent bulb uses around 75% less energy compared to the Incandescent bulb, costing about $1.65 per bulb for every 1,000 hours of usage. 

• LED Bulb

The LED bulb is 80% more efficient compared to the Incandescent bulb, a single 12-watt lightbulb costs around $1.32 per 1,000 hours of usage. 

This doesn’t sound like a lot per single bulb. However the average household has around 40 bulbs in use, which accounts for about 20% of your electric bill. Looking at closer numbers, that’s about...

• 24 each year for 10 Incandescent bulbs left on a single hour per day 
• $17 a year for 10 Halogen bulbs left running an hour daily 
• $6 per year for 10 Compact Fluorescents left on for an hour daily 
• $5 per year for 10 LEDs left on for an hour daily 

 Building better habits (like turning the light off when leaving a room) takes extra time, turning the lights off saves money and energy. This small effort can make a huge impact when multiplied by the number of households and businesses across the U.S., and when combined with these decisions, it not helps your wallet, but the environment. 

If you’re tired of going back and fourth to deal with lights you or your family members left on, you may want to consider options such as dimmers, timers, and motion detectors. Don’t add extra money to your electric bill, keep the lights off and help your wallet and the environment. 

If you haven’t made the switch from traditional fluorescent lighting to LED lights in your office yet, you may want to consider it now  to improve your health and the health of your employees. 

LED lights to give off a whiter light than traditional compact fluorescent bulbs- resulting in less strain to your eyes when trying to read or focus. This is such a great benefit to reduce the strain your eyes already undergo during a day of staring at a computer monitor, spreadsheets or measurements. LED provides you with a clearer view of what you are looking at. Compact Fluorescent bulbs cast objects in a yellow glow, and light that is focused in one direction.

CFL light bulbs contain mercury - a highly toxic metal that poses serious health risks, while LED lights contain no such toxic chemicals or metals. Studies performed by the United States Department of Energy and scientists from Carnegie Mellon both found that LED lights are as efficient to manufacture as CFL lights and LEDs will become even more efficient in the future. With a market that’s rewarding businesses for going green by offering incentives for energy saving methods, LED lighting could benefit your business in more ways than one!

As soon as Thanksgiving dinner goes down, Christmas lights go up. For many families, it’s become a tradition in their homes, whether it be putting them up or just enjoying them around the neighborhood. As technology advances, it doesn’t skip the holiday décor. LEDs have made their way into Christmas decorating, and it is here to stay. It may be time to upgrade your holiday cheer this year and go full LED for a dazzling light effect!

Whether you plan to go full on Griswold’s or do a little more low-key lighting this holiday season, LED is the way to go. The benefits are staggering and blow old, traditional bulbs out of the water. One of the best benefits of using LED is how eco-friendly it is. Less energy means a better environment, as well all know. So it should be a no-brainer when LED Christmas lights consume only 5 watts of power vs. a whopping 20 watts of power for a traditional strand of lights.

Another big advantage is the shelf life of LED Christmas lights. Mechanically speaking, they were built to last. Unlike traditional Christmas lighting, there is no element inside the lights, causing heat and shorting out. This makes LED sets last ten times longer than any traditional strand lights. It also keeps the home safe, seeing as faulty wiring (i.e., old, traditional Christmas lights) can cause a potential fire inside and outside the home. LED Christmas lights eliminate that risk.

So you’ve got all these advantages and of LED Christmas lights, but what about the main course? How much do LEDs typically cost? Well, a strand of LED Christmas lights is typically a little over double that of a traditional strand of Christmas lights. In mass quantities, this can add up sure, but seeing the amount saved on the power bill during those brightly lit nights easily makes up for the one time cost of the lights themselves.  Not to mention how long they last, so replacements aren’t going to be needed for at least a decade.

Full of LED Christmas lighting is the smart way to brighten up your home for the holidays. Year after year your family can enjoy the festive lights beaming brightly throughout the season with no worries of bulb burnouts, frayed wires, or unwanted Christmas fires.

Sources 1, 2

Imagine waking up on a cold winter morning, still comfortable and warm in bed, eventually getting up to  start the day and your feet hit an icy cold floor! It shakes the comfort right out of any morning. Sure, you could wear socks, but even they aren’t immune to the sting of a frosty uncarpeted floor. But there is another alternative that gets rid of that annoying cold floor for good, and that alternative is heated flooring. Heated flooring in itself is pretty self-explanatory, but how exactly does it work? And is never having cold tootsies again worth it? Continue reading and find out!

Heated floors are powered by a radiant heating system. Radiant heating is the same kind of effect an open oven has once heat escapes the confines of the oven. According to energy.gov, “The systems depend largely on radiant heat transfer -- the delivery of heat directly from the hot surface to the people and objects in the room via infrared radiation." The report goes on to say “Despite its name, radiant floor heating depends heavily on convection, the natural circulation of heat within a room as the air warmed by the floor rises." There are also three types of heated floor systems; air-heated, electric, and hydronic. The most popular out of the three being hydronic (which means the liquid is circulating) and is also the most cost-effective where available.

So is all the installing and work worth the  result? Well, the shelf (or in this case, floor) life of heated flooring can last up to 35 years, so it’s a sound investment. It is also a great add-on feature if the home were to ever be up for sale! Having heated flooring sounds like it would tack on more to utility bills every month, but quite contrary. The heat radiating from the floors, generally warming the feet, keeps the body at a comfortable temperature, making it easier on the thermostat in the winter. Sure, you could get a portable heater, but almost all of them have an odd sort of humming sound that is quite annoying if it’s often run  throughout the cold months. A heated flooring system creates no extra noise and lessens the usage of the central air in the home, pushing out allergens that could affect allergy sufferers. Another great benefit is that it doesn’t have to be all over the entire house! With the electrical heating system, mats can be placed under certain areas of the floor to centralize the flow of warmth.

Ultimately, having a heated floor system is a smart and comforting addition to a home in the winter, or anytime there’s a chill in the air. Never start your day on the wrong side of the bed to a cold floor ever again!

Source

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to prepare for the extended use of your oven, furnace, thermostat, holiday lights and decorations. This time of year is the perfect time to have everything looked over carefully, checked and tweaked for optimum performance.

Here are a few ways we suggest you tune up your home’s electrical system for the upcoming holidays:

• Trees - trees and holiday lighting can get tricky. Check to be sure the new tree growth isn’t threatening the wires around your home. If the wind can blow a branch into your electrical wires, you need to schedule a tree service to have the threatening branches trimmed back to avoid downed power lines and electrical fires.
• Electrical Panel - look inside your electrical panel carefully for any signs of burns or scorching around the fuses or breakers, which could indicate a loose or sparking wire. If these are noticed, contact an electrical professional immediately.
• Outlets -  look closely at all outlets in your home (even if they are not often used) to check for tell-tale signs of loose or sparking wires indicated by the presence of burn or scorch marks and if any are discovered, immediately contact your electrician.
• GFCIs - the easiest way to make sure your GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) are properly working is to carry a small lamp with you to each outlet, plug the lamp in, and press the “test” button on the outlet, making sure the lamp turns on and off each time you press the test button. Use this same test for each outlet to ensure they all work.
• Make a list - look around your entire house for leaks, breaks, cracks, wear, loose outlet covers, boxes, and receptacles and jot down anything you find may cause an issue to give to your electrician.
• Schedule an Inspection - using your list, contact the electrical professionals at DUT to plan a thorough and comprehensive inspection of your home’s entire electrical system. Your electrician will be able to address any issues you’ve discovered as well as provide you with information on repairing anything you may have overlooked.

As time goes on, it is increasingly important to preserve our natural resources and keep our planet healthy and continuing to grow. To attain this outcome, it takes a lot of work from a lot of different parts. One part, in particular, has a very big impact in the ultimate condition of where we all live, and that’s everyday auto emissions. Owning an electric car is a big step toward changing the world and here’s why:

• It drastically reduces your carbon footprint. Now, for one person that doesn’t do much for our planet as a whole but imagine the neighbors now have electric cars, then the taxis, next to public transit buses, and so on! Electric cars produce 0% emissions, which would be ideal for high traffic areas to switch to.
• No gas motor means no expensive repairs! Oil changes won’t exist anymore, in fact, no fluids will exist in cars anymore period. No leaks, no cracks, no rusting. This also benefits our need for petroleum, drastically cutting it if not eliminating itcompletely.
• Electric cars are being used more in fleets. The UK government added 140 electric cars to its ministerial range back in 2015 (Wang). And here in America, a company called Zero Motorcycles in Scott Valley, California offers a line of electric motorcycle fleets for police, military, and security (McCall).
• Police work just got a whole lot stealthier with the use of electric vehicles. It provides the L.E.O. With an advantage of a quiet motor, rather than a loud rev of a Crown Vic or Impala that’s classically used for most police vehicles. With this new quiet motor, it makes certain missions a bit easier for work to get done. This benefits everyone else though, too! Ask anyone who’s ever lived next to a busy highway; noise pollution can be just as frustrating as air pollution. Electric vehicles would leave busy highways peaceful for once.

In a nutshell, electric cars are already changing the world in little leaps and bounds and continue to grow. The energy waste of an electric car is much, much smaller than the gas guzzlers we own today (20% vs. 85%...yikes). The choices in electric cars are also expanding greatly, various models, sizes, colors, battery life; you don’t even have to drive some of them yourself! The choice to get an electric car is a choice to help continue to change the world for the better. 

SOURCES 1, 2, 3

Despite what most appliance stores would have you believe, if you are experiencing an issue with your dryer running but not heating or drying your clothes, the problem may not be your dryer at all - it's your electricity!

You see, the heating element for your dryer runs off a 30 amp double pole breaker. If one side of your breaker is burned open, that leaves just 110 volts of electricity running through your dryer. That's enough power to make your dryer rotate, but not enough to dry your clothes.  Electric dryers require two legs of 120 volts AC totaling  240 volts. It is not uncommon for just one fuse or breaker to trip resulting in the dryer running but not heating. If this problem occurs with your dryer, it is important to contact an electrician. They will check the fuse box or circuit breaker or measure the voltage at the outlet using a multimeter.

Often, people will spend an exorbitant amount of money on a brand new dryer only to discover they have the same issue with the new dryer. Now you're out a perfectly working dryer, and you've spent additional money. So, before you head over to the appliance store to buy a dryer, you don't need, contact your electrician first!

Not too very long ago, the majority of newly constructed homes and buildings were wired with little more than alternating current (AC) electrical power lines, a few phone lines, and a few TV cables. Times have changed, and we’ve come a long way, baby.

In the past, low voltage communication cabling was installed for a broad range of smart home systems. Of course, new technology still, for the most part, requires connection to the same AC power lines; but several unique and highly specific requirements must also be met to meet the demand for smart homes and new, innovative technology.

Although most home automation enthusiasts install home automation in existing homes, many new construction homes are wired for home automation. A little pre-planning during a new home construction can save you a lot of extra work down the road.

One of the first things to have your electrical contractor do is run neutral wires to all junction boxes. Although most electricians do this as a matter of professional practice, making your preference known ensures you will always have a neutral wire available. Neutral wires are required for most powerline home automation devices.

Next, request deep junction boxes. Deeper junction boxes will give you more room to work, accommodate deeper in-wall devices, and in general make your life a lot easier.

Also, have your electrical contractor install (and wire) extra junctions boxes. If you don’t have a use for them at first, simply cover them with a faceplate. It is a lot easier to install extra junction boxes during the construction phase than it is coming back later and doing it.

Install cable conduits everywhere you even could remotely anticipate a need for wires (of any kind). Cable conduits are separate from electrical conduit and are used to run speaker wire, video cable, network cable, etc. Install conduits in walls even if you don’t anticipate using them right away.

Again, it’s a lot easier to install a piece of the conduit during construction than it is to fish speaker wire through a wall after the house is built.

Wiring Closets

Build a small, centrally located closet for storing patch panels, distribution panels, media servers, etc. Ensure your wiring closet is big enough to accommodate a rack with extra room for moving around. Make sure you install ample cable conduits in this room because much of your wiring will terminate here.

Speakers

Even if you aren’t installing a whole house audio system initially, you should plan for it in the future and wire every room for in-ceiling or in-wall speakers. Trust us, at some point in the future; you’re going to want to add whole house audio to your home.

Terminate your conduits into junction boxes, cover with faceplates and forget about them until you need them. Install at least one conduit and junction box at eye level in each room to accommodate a touch panel.

Source: lifewire.com

The biggest danger of DIY Electrical work is the simple fact that electricity is deadly and when not handled properly, the consequences are irreversible.

A lot of DIY electrical home improvement projects are often done while you’re in a hurry and without a proper plan. Something as seemingly small and straightforward as forgetting to turn off the electrical breaker, using the wrong tools for the project or even just touching the wrong wire by accident can send extremely high voltage coursing through your body - at the least causing major burns and at worse causing heart attack and death.

A lot of people feel like because flipping a light switch on and off is so simple, that we forget how truly dangerous and powerful electricity is. Most DIYers will only experiment with the breaker, testing different electrical circuits until they see the lights turn off in the area they intend to work in and assume it’s safe to start working. This "method" is a huge mistake because it is not always true that all outlets and fixtures in one area will be on the same circuit.

It is imperative to use a licensed electrician for your home’s electrical work. They will be well versed and licensed in all of the safety and building codes required to be sure the job is safely and correctly done. It is also critical to adhere to all safety and building codes should you ever intend on selling your home or having it inspected. DIY Electrical work can cause you to instantly fail an inspection, costing you a lot more money down the line to have the work repaired.

DIY Electrical work puts you and your family at the real risk of electrical fires, electrical shocks, injury or death that can be caused by even the tiniest mistake.

For a contemporary lighting solution for absolutely any area you can imagine, LED tape lighting is perfect for an instant home makeover. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Shelf Accent Lighting - A great accent lighting option, LED strips or tape will elevate the look of any open shelving display, as you can see looking at this contemporary living zone. Here, LED lights illuminate each of the cubby holes in the recessed display unit and help transform the two storage nooks into attention-grabbing architectural features.
• Under Counter or Bar Lighting - White-light LED tape placed under the counter and cabinet in this kitchen creates a glowing silhouette. When considering tape for kitchen and bathroom applications, it's a good idea to go with coated tape. It is more durable where chips are exposed to heat, moisture and food spills. Non-coated tape works best in areas such as inside cabinets where the chips aren’t exposed to damaging elements.
• Above or Beneath Cabinet Lighting - Above the cabinets, an LED tape described as "normal bright" casts a white glow, while warmer white tape shines under the cabinets.
• Bathroom Mirror Lighting - Transform your boring bathroom into a room that makes you feel like staying a while for a good long soak in a hot bath with blue LED tape lighting placed behind the mirror. Even a basic plate mirror with a few strips of LED lighting in a calming color brings an instant transformation.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, (EIA) a government agency that collects and analyzes information about the energy industry, the solar energy industry is geared up to add more electricity-generating capacity than any other source this year! Solar panels are not just going to “become a thing, " but it already surpasses other forms of energy as the most popular alternative energy source. Planned large-scale solar farms are expected to add 9.5 gigawatts of electricity-generating capacity to the power grid. And that figure doesn’t count electricity-generating capacity from distributed solar, such as rooftop panels.

Many homeowners have already installed or are exploring solar power options at home too. According to a Pew Research Study,  homeowners’ increased interest in solar panels reflects both financial and environmental concerns. Nine-in-ten homeowners said they have installed or considered home solar panels  to save money on utility bills and 87% say they did so to help the environment.

Other homeowners say getting a solar tax investment credit is a reason they installed or considered installing solar power at home. A federal tax credit for solar projects, which was scheduled to expire at the end of this year, has since been extended five years for residential solar projects.

Many people wonder when the cost of producing power from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels will be equal to or less than buying from the grid as affordable solar panel options could accelerate solar adoption. But that question, as US News reports, is often a comparison of apples to oranges. The answer varies from place to place and from one type of installation to another. Residential electric rates, on average about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour in  the U.S., are much higher than wholesale electric rates – the price utilities pay to power generators – which are usually less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Predictions within the Energy community project solar energy usage and installation to rise, while the costs of solar power drops. Solar energy is predicted to cost less than coal or gas by 2017. MJ Shiao, GTM’s Director of Solar Research, in a roundtable discussion following the tax-credit extension, said “solar isn’t just a promising technology. It’s a real, deployable tool and platform for a next-generation electricity grid. The regulations and innovations that come together in the second half of this decade will set the stage for what the future of electricity in the U.S. looks like.”

Here are 5 cool tips to help you save money on your electric bill during the winter months.

1. Use the Sun’s Natural Heat to your Advantage
   Open the blinds or curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to heat your home naturally.  Close them at night to reduce the chill from cold, drafty windows.
2. Keep Drafty Windows Covered  
   Avoid being exposed to the chill brought in through drafty windows by purchasing and applying a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
3. Adjust your Thermostat
   Remember to wear layers so that while you are home and awake, your heater’s temperature stays as low as is comfortable. Turn your thermostat back up ten to fifteen degrees while you are asleep or away. This method alone can save you around ten percent on your heating bill. Programmable thermostats make it easier to set back your temperature at appropriate times.
4. Locate and Seal Leaks or Gaps
   Seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs for plumbing pipes, gaps around chimneys. Seal gaps around recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.Add caulk or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
5. Service and Maintain Your Heating Systems
   Schedule regular service and maintenance appointments for your heating system.Find out what maintenance is required by you to keep your heating system operating efficiently. Replace your furnace filter once a month or as needed. Find out what maintenance is required to keep your furnace or boiler running properly. Wood- and Pellet-Burning Heaters: Clean the flue vent regularly and clean the inside of the appliance with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your home is heated efficiently.

Oh, those pesky middle of the night bathroom trips. We have all made them. The ones where we do not want to turn on the overhead light and wake anyone up. The bright electricians at Leinster Electric have some ideas to light up your bathroom without disturbing the entire house.

Colored Lighting for the Commode

A softly lit hinged toilet seat gives a flexible alternative to a glaring overhead light. The Nightlight seat has a hinge that lights up, illuminating the bathroom perfectly to allow you to see exactly where you need to be without waking you up completely with harsh lighting. It is so perfect for children or adults who need routine late-night bathroom trips, and it is very easy on the eyes.

Rope Lighting Under the Bathroom Cabinets

Another way to avoid harsh lighting that seems to “kill” your eyes in the middle of the night, is subtle rope lighting underneath the bathroom cabinets. Rope lighting gives you just the right amount of light to illuminate the perfect path to the bathroom with assaulting your sleepy eyes, letting you fall gently back to sleep quickly after your bathroom trip. White rope lighting is perfect to light your way, or choose from a wide variety of colors to make the effect even more “dream-like."

Nightlight Outlet

Super easy to install without wiring or batteries, night light outlets give you just the right amount of light for washing your hands or navigating in and out of the bathroom at night without waking up the whole house. These handy gadgets include an automatic sensor that turns on at night and off in the daylight. In a year’s time, they use only about a nickel’s worth of electricity and the LED light bulbs in them last up to 25 years.

For more information on these and other handy electrical tips, contact the pro’s at Leinster Electric today.

The holidays are a time of increased power consumption, but they don't have to be. There are plenty of ways to get the utmost enjoyment during the season and still keep your energy costs manageable. Here are just a few:

1. 1. Switch to LED Christmas lights - LED Christmas light strands use around ninety percent less electricity than regular Christmas lights and only cost around $10 a strand. Incandescent or traditional light bulbs waste a quite a bit of energy; 90 percent of their energy is released heat, which is why regular light bulbs can burn your skin if you touch them. These bulbs can also be a fire hazard if placed too close to flammable materials. They also burn out quickly.  Typically, they need to be replaced every few months, whereas LED lighting tends to last for years!
2. 2. Decorate using fiber optics - For the ultimate in energy efficiency, you can't beat fiber optic trees and decorations. Typically, their power comes from a single light bulb located at the base of the unit that lights the entire decoration – now that's both energy smart and budget smart!
3. 3. Turn off the other lights in the room and enjoy your tree - The warm glow of a beautifully lit Christmas tree is one of the many things that make the holidays special. Not only does this tip help create memories that last a lifetime, but it's one of the simplest ways to curb energy costs during the holidays.
4. 4. When guests are over, turn down the thermostat - when friends and family come to visit on the holidays, not only does their love bring smiles to the faces of one another, but the natural body heat from several people in a home reduces the need for warmer thermostat temperatures.
5. 5. Limit the time that holiday lights are left running - If you run your lights only in the evening after the sun goes down, then turn them off before bed; you'll have plenty of time to enjoy them while they're at their most beautiful. Another solution that raises the enjoyment factor while curbing energy usage!

There's a famous saying: The best-laid plans often go awry. Never is that truer than when it comes to holidays. Wait times, cancellations, long lines, sellouts, closings and other unpredictable (yet predictable) inconveniences happen. Outsmart it by staying two steps ahead and getting your home wired now for the holidays.

Here’s a scary fact: There are over 32 million electrical fires during the holidays. Wiring has a lifespan of about 20 years. That may sound long, but it has to be replaced sooner than later. It may be time to update yours.

Now is the perfect time to avoid conflicts with an overloaded system or surges and keep your home safe by installing the proper wiring. It can save you big bucks down the road and preserve your TV and devices as well.  Electrical rewiring is the process where old, hazardous or non-compliant electrical equipment such as cables, distribution boards, fittings, are replaced for better performance. There are several ways available through which you can make improvements to your home, and one of such is to have your home completely rewired. Whether your home is new or an old house, rewiring will provide a massive improvement both in function and safety.

An integrated home network consolidates all your wiring. Instead of many separate wires (for power, telephone, cable or satellite TV, computer, and so on) all daisy-chained through your walls, a network puts everything you need in a single, central hub. The wire then runs directly from this hub to each room, where modular outlets provide access to services.

The benefits of completely having your house rewired cannot be overlooked. Although different methods of rewiring have their unique benefits, you should decide which method to use based on what your home specifically requires.

Regardless of any method, you used in rewiring your house; you can feel re-assured that the wiring in your home is new, clean and safe and will also meet your demands on it. Also, if you decide to sell your home, a recent rewire will help boost its price by adding value to it; there won’t be any nasty surprises when a survey, including a review of the electrical installation in your home, is conducted.

If you're looking for some Autumn Electrical Safety Tips, please check out this blog at our friends at John's Electric Service. They may be down south, but all of this info applies!

Contact Leinster Electric and get your home ready to sparkle beautifully and safely today!

Electric car charging just got a whole lot easier and is as simple as positioning your vehicle above a plugless charging pad!

This technology was previously only thought of as a concept before being integrated into plugless car charging stations. But, Plugless charging is now available fober installation in your very own garage. It requires virtually no effort on your part. It begins by giving your electrician a call.

With a plugless car charger, your vehicle will operate  as it always has. It delivers no interference or effect on your vehicle's native systems, software or apps. You won’t have to exchange it for your existing charging system. It allows you to continue to charge at plugging stations. Your car will charge just as quickly as it does with an L2 system – only charging becomes wireless.

When you visit an authorized plugless installer, your plugless adapter is installed in your vehicle at no charge to you. The electrical installation requirements for your home can be met simply by calling your electrician.

Your electrician must perform the hardwire installation of the Plugless system in your garage. Your Plugless system comes with the necessary hardwiring equipment to allow your electrician ease of access for a quick and seamless installation.

When you contact the expert electricians at Leinster Electric, we will examine your existing electrical system and discuss where you plan to install your Plugless system. We will perform all required electrical work needed. We will then prep and mount the control panel to your wall, connect the control panel to your home’s wiring, position the parking pad exactly where you need it in your parking area and configure the Plugless system to recognize your vehicle.

To take your electrical vehicle convenience to the next level, contact the professionals at Leinster Electric today.

By Tennille Shelley

The kitchen is the heart and soul of a home. Whether it’s small or large, it’s the hub. With dining rooms becoming obsolete, the kitchen is the most used room in a house. Meals are created, homework done and guests gather there. Today, kitchens are more than just where the oven is located. They’re family living spaces.  A house’s value depends greatly upon its kitchen.

If yours could use some updating, here are some simple and cool options for your electronics and peace of mind.

Hate Cords? Check out the Invisible Outlet. It’s recessed into a wall a half-to-an inch deep so all your appliances fit flush against the wall and their cords can be tucked into the inset.

See Everything! Add LED under cabinet lighting. It’s gorgeous, highlights back splash and you can see what you’re cooking! It’s also very low cost to leave on at night.

Ban Clutter. Get a pop up outlet. This boasts several outlets and simply pops up when you need to plug in the toaster, coffee maker or your laptop. Then it disappears when you’re done. It’s best installed where there is a cabinet underneath.

Update Your Lighting. This is fairly simple and makes a huge difference. Changing fixtures, color and even the location of your lighting can really update the space. Just because there’s a light fixture in a certain area already doesn’t mean that’s where the table must go. You can move that without much effort if you wish.

USB Combo Outlets. We live in a plugged in world. There are outlets that let us recharge everything at once with a combination plug/USB outlet. Swap out your current outlets for a combo.

Upgrade Switches. Yes, there’s such a thing as designer switches and light plates. If you have backsplash, you may want to upgrade your switches to work with your design. Touch sensor switches are another modern option.

Think Safety. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) are required by code where ever there is water present, such as bathrooms and kitchens. It shuts off if it detects an unintended path, such as liquid or a person.

These are some simple and fantastic upgrades you can do to make your kitchen more enjoyable to spend time in! Sound like a plan? Call Leinster Electric today at 973-349-4184 and let us bring some new life to your kitchen.

With storm season upon us, it’s time to prepare for Summer and the inevitable power issues that comes along with thunderstorms. In the Summer, your home is more at risk than ever for dangerous electrical surges that can damage pricey electronics and even put you in harm’s way.

A whole home surge protector keeps unruly electrical arcs and over voltages from reaching the inside of your home while letting in only the exact amount of electricity your home needs.

Usually wired directly to your home’s electric box, whole home surge protectors are located in the perfect location to prevent electrical surges to your appliances and electronics using metal oxide varistors (MOVs) to stop surges. Unlike the MOVs used in surge strips (which can be rendered useless with one surge), the MOVs in whole home surge protectors are built to stop the largest of surges and can last for several years.

With the latest advances in technology, whole home surge protection is needed now more than ever. Washers, dryers, refrigerators, stoves and even LED lighting all have little circuit boards in them. Almost everything we plug in these days is in need of surge protection.

Even with the issues that lightning brings, lightning isn’t actually the leading cause of electrical surges. They’re usually caused by short little transient bursts that we generate ourselves. Appliances like generators and air conditioners cause small surges that build up over time, negatively affect the performance of appliances and shorten their lifespan. This is caused by the largest appliances (like the AC) sending surges through the electrical panel and affecting all of your home’s other appliances.

So, whether it’s storm season or you live in a relatively mild area, whole home surge protection is vital to the protection of your home and valuables. Contact Leinster Electric today to discuss your options.

Often, when customers consider options for adding recessed lighting to the interior of their home, they feel like they are limited only to areas that are readily accessible at first glance. The truth is though, that recessed lighting can be added anywhere you would like it to be, even if at first glance the placement seems impossible.

Recessed lighting is all about style and function. You want to choose recessed lighting options that illuminate your living space in such a way, that you feel completely comfortable with and attracted to the room. Lighting should encourage you to relax, linger and thoroughly enjoy an inviting environment.

Recessed lighting can come in a variety of styles including eclectic, contemporary, modern or traditional and can be placed in unique areas in any room of your home. Common recessed lighting locations are ceilings, mantles, and under cabinets. But for a unique approach to lighting, we can provide you with ideas for lighting you may have never thought of.

Have you ever considered recessed lighting along the baseboards of a room for an ambient glow from the bottom up? Awesome. Another great idea is lighting beneath your bed for a warm relaxing glow in the bedroom. Truly Awesome. Recessed lighting can also be added in the bathroom (who’d a thunk?)- underneath a vanity counter, around the shower or bathtub area or in the ceiling above the shower. Recessed lighting also works great in display shelving units, transforming the cubby holes and storage nooks into architectural displays! Again? Awesome.

Your recessed lighting can go wherever your imagination takes you, and along with the help with Leinster Electric, your [awesome] recessed lighting transformation can start today.

It seems like such a simple project, you’re only making a couple small changes, you’ve wired an electrical outlet before and how much harder can another seemingly simple project be? You’ve done as much research online as you can do, watched enough YouTube videos to make yourself feel like a pro, and you might think you’re ready to go ahead and get started.

But, no matter what you’ve convinced yourself of, it is vital for you to remember that there are certain things in your home that should be left in the hands of a professional and electrical wiring is always one of them. Every time you take the risk (even if you’ve taken it before) of attempting a DIY electrical project, you are putting your life and the lives of your family and safety of your home in danger.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, electricity is the cause of more than 140,000 fires every year, resulting in 400 deaths, 4,000 injuries and $1.6 billion in property damage.*

If you’re eager to upgrade any of the electrical amenities in your home to things like iPod adapters, USB ports, digital stereo systems and car charging stations, old electrical wiring in your home or overlamping can spell disaster without the help of an electrician. If your home’s electrical wiring isn’t prepared to handle the new gadgets, you could blow a circuit, blow a fuse or damage your wiring further.

Overlamping is caused by a fixture that pulls more electricity and wattage than the outlet can handle and can cause the sockets or insulation to melt on to the wire itself. Frayed wiring can be anywhere and by the time it’s discovered an electrical arc can occur causing an extremely dangerous fire hazard or even death by electrocution.

What starts off as a seemingly harmless DIY electrical project can quickly cause more damage to your home leading to costly repairs, physical harm and loss of life.

So why take the risk? A quick call to Leinster Electric can save you from much bigger problems down the road. No call is too small, give us a call today before considering your next DIY.

*source

We’d all like to think the best of everyone, but unfortunately, you can't trust everybody. This is especially true when it comes to utility meter readers knocking on your door. Sure, we’ve all heard the stories, but this is still a common occurrence! It’s a sad and sorry truth. In cities from Morris Plains to Parsippany, there has been an increasing number of scams and robberies from fake meter readers. If your water meter is indoors, this puts you in an even more vulnerable position. You should always feel safe and secure in your home.

In some areas, people like to claim they are working for the local utility company or city utilities, so that they can gain access to your home. Once in your home, you’re at risk of robbery then and there, or the criminal casing your home and figuring out where your valuables are, in order to bring their accomplices later.

Here we have a few tips to keep you from getting scammed.

• Check for identification: Any person attempting to access your home should have a photo identification and company ID to provide you. If you’re in doubt, call your utility company to verify the ID given is not false.
• Look at the vehicle: It should be easy to identify the utility company vehicle, and they’re employee. The vehicle should always display an official logo and the employee should be wearing an official uniform.
• Know where your meters are: Most utility meters are actually located outside of the home, so the person coming to read it doesn’t need to enter. If your meter is outside but someone claiming to be a meter reader insists on coming in, lock the door and call the police.
• Don’t provide personal information: Some criminals are looking to steal your identity, not your belongings. Never give out personal information to people claiming they work for the utility company.

Make sure the rest of your family understands not to open the door to anybody. Children and elderly relatives should be advised to never unlock the door to a stranger, no matter how convincing they are.

By following these tips, you can help ensure your family and your belongings safety and well-being.

Contact Leinster Electric, North Jersey’s premier electrical contractor if you have any questions about meters, or if you need any other electrical help!

Commonly, when customers consider adding recessed lighting to the interior of their home, they feel like they are limited only to areas that are readily accessible. The truth is however, that recessed lighting can be added anywhere you would like it to be, even if at first glance the placement seems impossible.

Recessed lighting is about style and function. You want to choose recessed lighting that illuminates your living space in such a way, that you are completely comfortable with and attracted to the room. Lighting should encourage you to relax, linger and enjoy and inviting environment.

Recessed lighting can come in a variety of styles including eclectic, contemporary, modern or traditional and can be placed in unique places in any room of your home. Common recessed lighting locations are ceilings, mantles, and under cabinets. But for a unique approach to lighting, we can provide you with ideas for lighting you may have never thought of.

Consider recessed lighting along the baseboards of a room for an ambient glow from the bottom up. Another great idea is lighting underneath your bed for a warm relaxing glow in the bedroom. Recessed lighting can also be added in the bathroom - underneath a vanity counter, around the shower or bathtub area or in the ceiling above the shower. Recessed lighting also works great in display shelving units, transforming the cubby holes and storage nooks into architectural displays.

Your recessed lighting can go wherever your imagination takes you, and along with the help with the design experts at Leinster Electric, your recessed lighting transformation can start today.