Reasons to Consider Changing the Lighting in Your Home

Posted on by

Installing New Lighting in Your Home Has it been more than a few years since you last updated the lighting in your home? If so, it could be making your entire house look outdated. You might not necessarily realize it, but your lighting could be taking a toll on your interior design if you have older fixtures in place. Consider changing the lighting right away to bring your home up to speed. Here are some of the other reasons why you should do it.

New lighting will revitalize different parts of your home

If there are some specific areas in your home that are too dark almost all the time, new lighting can change that right away. Whether you choose to install a larger lighting fixture that will add more light to a room or several lighting fixtures, you’ll be able to make any area brighter. This can enhance your mood and allow people to see what they’re doing in certain parts of your home.

New lighting adds character and personality to your home

Many homeowners try to create a feel within their home through their use of interior design. But unfortunately, their lighting can mess with that feel and throw it all off. New lighting will add some much-needed character and personality to a space and work nicely with the other interior design aspects within it. From lamps and pendant lights to chandeliers and sconces, you can choose whatever will fit the feel of your home.

New lighting reduces your energy costs

Using older lighting fixtures and traditional lightbulbs in your home can drive your energy costs way up. You can bring them back down with new lighting fixtures outfitted with LED bulbs. You could cut your costs pretty significantly when you choose the right fixtures and bulbs for your home and reduce the numbers of times you have to change your bulbs moving forward.

Are you already thinking of all the ways you can change the lighting in your home? Call Always on Electric at 970-309-2616 today to see how our residential electrical services can help you install new lighting in your home.

Things to Keep in Mind When Selecting an Electrician

Posted on by

Electrician Choosing an electrician for a project at your home or business may be an intimidating process. How do you know if an electrician will do a good job, will treat you fairly, is honest and trustworthy, and has the skills and experience needed to safely complete the job? These tips are good things to keep in mind when selecting an electrician.

Personal Recommendation

Personal recommendations from family members, friends, or co-workers are often a great way to find a professional service provider. Recommendations of this sort are usually based on personal experience so they can be valuable. After all, if a contractor has a reputation of treating customers right then you can expect the same experience.

A similar option to personal recommendations is to check online review sites. This takes personal recommendations up a level by allowing you to see what others in the community have experienced when dealing with a business. Consistently positive reviews or recommendations of an electrician should provide a good indication of what your experience with be as well.

Professional Experience

Electrical work requires considerable training and experience. This is not the type of work where you want to hire someone who does not have considerable expertise.

Safe electrical work requires detailed knowledge of all applicable codes and best practices. Faulty electrical work may expose you, your loved ones, or your employees to hazards like electrical shocks or fire.

Licensing and Insurance

Always look for an electrician who is properly licensed and insured. If you hire a electrician who is not licensed and insured, it means you are forfeiting a great deal of protection.

Licensing requirements help to be sure that only qualified professionals are performing electrical work. Insurance further verifies that the electrician is a professional, but also helps to protect you in case something does go wrong while work is being performed on your property.

Always On Electric, Inc. provides quality electrical services to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers in the areas around Aspen, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, New Castle, and Vail. We have always been licensed, insured, and bonded so you can be sure that you are hiring a professional electrician for your project.

Contact us today at 970-309-2616 to learn more about our services or to request a quote.

The Importance of Quality Exterior Lighting for Businesses

Posted on by

Exterior Lighting for Commercial Businesses Whether you realize it or not, your business presents itself to the public at all hours of the day. People will pass by your business even if it is closed, so it’s important to have quality exterior lighting, especially when it’s dark outside. When your business is open after the sun goes down and it’s really dark outside, people need to be able to see it in order to find it. Even when you’re closed, leaving the lights on has numerous benefits, including free advertising for your business.

Mood Setter

Did you know there are many ways to describe light? Soft or bright are typical adjectives used when describing light, but there’s also hue (shade), colorfulness, and saturation (intensity/chroma). Lighting helps set a mood for a place. Did you know red/orange light heightens people’s appetites? Or that nightclubs will use blue/purple light to help make people feel more comfortable and ready to socialize? Light is essential to business.

Encourage Business

With exterior lighting, your business should be lit up in such a way that it encourages “walk-in” business. The light(s) should literally attract customers. A great idea is to use path lighting, which literally lights the pathway to your door so customers know exactly where to walk in order to get into your place. Pathway exterior lights will also help draw attention to your business and its doors. Meanwhile, people feel more comfortable going into a place that’s well-lit. A bright storefront, for example, has better “curb appeal” than a dark one.

A Deterrent

One of the main reasons businesses invest in quality exterior lighting is to deter thieves. Safety, with businesses, is always a concern. Criminals and people up to no good love to find dark spots to make trouble– where they can’t easily be seen. However, when a building is well-illuminated, it looks, feels and literally is safer than a building that’s dark. Also, lights help security cameras create clearer pictures of exactly what’s going on outside of a business at night, whether it’s on the sidewalk in front, in the nearby parking lot or wherever people tend to congregate.

A Touch of Panache

Finally, lights add personality to a place. Think of the unique businesses and their exterior signs that stand out in your memory. Lighting can add new decor elements to your building, making it even more attractive. Lighting can also double as signage.

Always On Electric handles exterior lighting for many businesses in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado; please call 970-309-2616 to discuss your exterior lightning needs/wants today.

4 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bills This Summer

Posted on by

Summer is right around the corner, and as the heat rises, so can the cost of bills. Many people enjoy the outdoors during the summer, but for some, the only way to beat the heat is to stay inside, out of the sun. Here are some ways to ensure you can have a cool, relaxing summer, while also saving money.

Woman cooling down in home from heat of summer

1 – Swap the AC for Some Fans

It’s tempting to crank the air conditioning at the first sign of summer- but holding off and using some fans provides relief from the heat, and relief on your wallet. A box fan in a window can blow cool air in at night, or, if you prefer less wires, consider getting some ceiling fans installed to get a nice breeze throughout your home.

2 – Upgrade to Energy Efficient Appliances

It may be time to look at some of your most used appliances and see if they could be the culprit of a high bill. Is your stove Energy Star Certified? What about your AC unit? Making the switch to Energy Star Certified appliances ensures you have the most energy efficient appliance- which allows you to rest easy knowing that you’re saving money, even when using them.

3 – Invest in Light Blocking Curtains

While long hours of sunlight are a bonus of the summer, it also adds more hours of heat to your home, particularly if coming from southern and western facing windows. There are many curtains that not only block bright light, but keep rooms cool as they block heat. Consider installing these curtains and keeping them shut throughout the day- even if you keep some curtains open, it will still make a dramatic difference in the overall temperature of your house!

4 – Get an Evaluation

Above all else, safety is the most important thing when considering any upgrades or electrical changes. Always consult with professionals to ensure you’re maximizing your savings this summer. At Always On Electric, we provide evaluations, as well as assistant in repairs, or do total installations. Let us help you get ready for a relaxing summer, today! Give us a call at (970) 309-2616 for a free estimate!

 

Outdoor Lighting Maintenance Tips

Posted on by

Exterior Lighting There are many benefits that come along with installing residential and commercial outdoor lighting. You can make properties safer and more attractive by doing it. However, in addition to installing outdoor lighting, you also must take steps to maintain it so that it continues to work both now and in the future. Here are some tips for doing basic outdoor lighting maintenance.

Replace any lights that have burned out immediately.

Outdoor lighting can really brighten up the exterior of a home or business. Nevertheless, it’s obviously not going to be able to do it if you have bulbs in your lighting fixtures that have burned out. You should replace any burned-out bulbs with new ones right away. You should also consider using long-lasting LED bulbs that won’t have to be replaced every few months. It might cost a little more to purchase these bulbs, but they’ll pay off in a big way when you don’t have to worry about replacing them for years to come.

Clean lighting fixtures that are covered in dirt, cobwebs, and more.

Are the lighting fixtures that you use to light the outside of your home or business filthy? If so, they might be bringing down your curb appeal significantly. You also might be putting them at risk for mechanical failure at some point in the future, and they just won’t work as well when they’re covered in gunk. Every so often, you should make it a point to sweep cobwebs away from outdoor lighting fixtures and clean your fixtures thoroughly. It will keep them shining and ensure your lights always turn on.

Fix any lighting fixtures that have been broken.

It’s not all that uncommon for a lighting fixture to break. An errant baseball or a large tree branch can come through and wreak havoc on outdoor lighting. If you ever notice that one of your lighting fixtures has broken, you should have it replaced right away. It can prevent further electrical problems and keep your outdoor lighting system up and running.

Do you need maintenance done to your outdoor lighting? Always on Electric can set you up with services that will take care of all your outdoor lighting needs. Call us at 970-309-2616 to schedule an appointment with an electrician.

Steps to Take if Your Circuit Breaker Trips

Posted on by

Tripped Circuit Breaker If a circuit breaker in your electrical panel trips, it’s actually not the worst thing in the world. Your circuit breakers are designed to protect the electric circuits in your electrical panel from getting damaged. Nevertheless, there are some steps you should take if a circuit breaker in your home trips.

Check them out below:

Find the Electrical Panel

The first thing you’ll need to do after a circuit breaker trips is locate your home’s electrical panel, if you don’t know where it is. These panels can be located in a variety of places, but more often than not, they’ll be in your garage or basement.

Reset the Tripped Circuit Breaker

Resetting a circuit breaker that has tripped is easy to do. All you need to do is open up your electrical panel, find the electrical circuit that is facing a different direction than all the others, and flip it back on. This should restore power to the area of your home where it went out when the circuit breaker tripped.

Make Sure the Power Stays On

In some cases, a circuit breaker might trip again after you have flipped a circuit back on. This is the sign of a problem. You may have an overloaded circuit somewhere in your home. You may also have a short circuit. A ground fault could also be to blame. Whatever the case, it’s important to find the cause of the tripped circuit breaker.

Contact a Residential Electrician for Help

If you can’t find what’s causing your circuit breaker to trip, you should avoid flipping your electrical circuit back on and contact an electrician for help. Otherwise, you could do some real damage to your electrical circuits and potentially even start a fire in your home.

Always on Electric can help you with tripped circuit breakers and any other electrical issues you face in your home. Call us at 970-309-2616 today to schedule an appointment with an electrician.

Making Sure Your Electrical is Functioning Properly on Your Farm

Posted on by

It’s still the winter season, whether we like it or not. Here in Colorado, the agricultural industry is extremely important. All over the country, farmers depend on their fully functional farm to earn a sustainable living and deliver food and services to the entire country. When it comes to electrical, it’s important to make sure the farm is running properly before the season begins.

Energy savings in Colorado

Before the busy season begins, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your electrical is working and functioning properly on your farm.

Energy Audit from Always On Electric

An energy audit allows a professional electrician to come in and test for energy usage on your farm. Testing your electrical equipment can determine if everything is working properly. If you notice energy bills and electric bills increase, there is a good sign it can be because some of the equipment isn’t running properly. When this happens, electrical can be working harder than usual.

Always On Electric can give you an energy audit to determine how your electrical is running.

Maintenance and Repairs

If you do notice your electrical not working properly, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

All of our Agricultural services include:

  • Trough Heaters
  • Standalone Services
  • Barn/shop Lighting & Equipment
  • Irrigation pumps, well pumps, etc.
  • Gas pumps and equipment

Don’t go this season without proper electrical function on your farm. It’s important to tackle maintenance and repairs before the busy season of farming in Rifle, Colorado. Without proper electrical equipment working on your farm, the work will suffer and cost much more than you want. Saving money on energy bills can help you focus on the agriculture and what you do best.

Contact Always On Electric at 970-309-2616 today or visit us online for more information!

 

 

Lighting Your Home or Commercial Property

Posted on by

Realistically, not many home or business owners think about the lighting outside of their properties. Many people are most concerned about their interior lighting and don’t often consider the importance of exterior lights. The reality is, though, that having bright and well-maintained lighting outside of your property can add safety and improve its overall appearance.

Exterior Home LightingIn terms of safety, landscape lighting can help keep a residential property, like an apartment complex, safer. For instance, if the walkway from your parking area to the building doors has steps or isn’t a straight path, someone could stumble and fall if there isn’t enough light that would allow them to see where they’re going.

This is equally true for commercial properties, although with these buildings – since they are often unoccupied at night – some troublemakers may want to cause property damage or spray graffiti tags. If the exterior of your building is well lit, however, it serves as a deterrent. Without shadows to work in, any person trying to deface your building could be more easily seen by passersby who could notify the police.

Lighting can make a huge difference around the home as well. Say you’re having people over for the first time. Not only do you want them to find your house, but you want them to feel comfortable upon arriving, as well. Outside lighting can help in both of those regards, as well as make your home look nice to anyone driving by. You can also use exterior lighting to brighten up a porch or patio, giving you more space to mingle with friends, family or other guests outside after the sun goes down.

Lighting at a commercial property can also improve its appeal. Having bright, well-placed lighting on the outside of your property can draw potential clients’ and customers’ eyes to the business as they drive by at night. If the lighting looks good, you very well could improve your overall chances of creating new business for yourself just by having a well-kept and attractive exterior appearance.

If you’re interested in adding exterior and landscape lighting to your home or commercial property, Always On Electric can help with our full range of electrical wiring and installation services. For more information or to find out more about how we can light up the outside of your home or business, call us today at 970-309-2616!

Electrical Safety Tips for Kids

Posted on by

Electrical Tips for Children If you have kids in the home, whether they’re always there because they’re yours or they’re just visiting, it’s a good idea to go over some electrical safety basics with them.

Electrical Safety Precautions to Share With Your Children

For instance, tell kids not to plug too many things into one outlet or overload an extension cord. As much as it seems like “no big deal” to do so, the truth is that having too many things plugged into one or two outlets can end up overwhelming the circuit. At worst a fire could result, and nobody wants that to happen.

Speaking of outlets, with kids around it makes sense to have parents or the adults-in-charge put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets. Not only does this help save energy by stopping cold drafts, but it also prevents babies and toddlers and others from sticking their fingers into the outlet area where they could get a bad shock or worse.

Teach kids not to yank cords from the wall. Instead, teach them to literally go up to the outlet and pull the cord out from it right there. If and when a cord is pulled from anywhere besides its head, damage can be done to the plug, the outlet and/or the appliance.

Another thing: cords need to be kept out of the way so people don’t trip over them. Furthermore, if a cord can be placed in such a way that a pet can’t easily get to it, that’s great– too many dogs and cats have chewed cords and gotten shocked– not good. With little kids around, too, it’s best to find ways to keep them away from cords whenever possible– they’re not toys to be played with.

Kids also need to be taught that water and electricity don’t mix. So, for instance, they have to be extra careful in the bathroom when using things like a hair dryer near the sink, toilet or bathtub.

Finally, with regards to electricity outdoors, kids should know not to play on or near electrical boxes/substations. They need to stay away from power lines. And if they fly a kite, which kids like to do, make sure they’re not flying the kite anywhere near power lines.

If you need help repairing the electrical lines in your home, contact the experts at Always on Electric, Inc. today.

When is it Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Wiring?

Posted on by

Electrical Wiring Most people don’t think much about the electrical wiring in their home, unless or until something goes wrong. For instance, the big football game is coming up on TV and people are gathered at your house to see it. A couple minutes before the game starts the TV inexplicably turns off. Nothing seems to work to get it back on. Maybe it was a blown fuse? Maybe it was something else? Whatever it was, it’s frustratingly irritating!

Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Electrical Wiring

When is it time to upgrade your electrical wiring? For most people, if their house is over 40 years old, then it’s time. Things have changed a lot since the original electrical work was installed. Think about how much different our world is today– back then, they didn’t have the kind of devices and appliances we have now, like microwaves, desktop computers, and tablets. Furthermore, if you have several people living in a house trying to plug all their stuff in at once, you might have run out of outlets– so it’s time to expand the number of outlets in your home to properly accommodate the power needs of all the people who live there.

One thing that might scare you– and it should– is that faulty wiring is a leading cause of house fires. The older your house is, the more likely the wiring is outdated and/or unsafe… which could very well lead to a fire. You don’t want that. You want wiring that’s “up to code,” or, more importantly, up to the current code.

Hire a Professional Electrician

When’s the last time your wiring was professionally inspected? Most of you would say, “I have no idea.” Others might say, “When we first bought the house.” If it has been “some time” since it was checked, make it a priority this year to have a company like Always On Electric come take a look at what’s going on in your house with your electrical wires.

You’ll especially want to have your wiring checked if you’ve noticed fuses are blowing repeatedly, lights are flickering or dimming, you smell burning coming from a certain room or appliance, or– don’t laugh– you get a tingling sensation when you touch a certain appliance.

Your wiring should also be inspected if you’ve noticed particularly warm outlets or ones that have become discolored or spark when you plug things into them.

Call 970-309-2616 to connect with Always On Electric.