If you are a homeowner or business owner, you are likely familiar with scheduled routine maintenance. Lawn care, site cleaning, and restocking essentials are a basic for everyday life. If you’ve already invested in a whole home generator, there will be a few minor things it would be important to keep up with as time passes.
The Danger of Negligence
You’ve got your generator all set up! It’s installed, tested, and you’re confident in the case of an emergency that you’ll be protected and safe. What now? Now it’s time to protect your investment with a maintenance plan.
Leaving maintenance forgotten and neglected can have disastrous consequences. The solution is simple: routine maintenance.
Preparing For Tomorrow
How often should you inspect your standby generator? It’s good to do a visual check monthly, direct maintenance as needed, semi-annual inspections, and an absolute minimum of annual detailed inspections.
Why so often? A visual check should be self-explanatory and takes less than a couple of minutes, but problems can arise when more detailed inspections aren’t done on a regular basis. Home generators require lube oil, battery fluid, coolant, and filters. These need to be regularly maintained, which is a very easy process with our two-tier service plans. Check out our two levels of service on generators at your property. We make the process simple with bi-annual or annual service contracts that take the guesswork out of the health of your whole home Generac generator.
NEEC Helps You Protect Your Home & Property
A vehicle with 150,000 miles has on average been driven for around 2500 hours, but a well-maintained standby generator can last you between 20,000 to 30,000 hours! Likely, your yearly generator use will be much lower than a vehicle and will last you much, much longer. Regular maintenance is essential to getting the most out of your investment.
At New England Electrical, our maintenance plans are proven effective at giving busy owners peace of mind to use their standby generator with confidence. Contact us by phone or our website to schedule a free inspection and learn more about our maintenance plans.
If you’re anything like us, you would never say no to more space! Here in the Northeast, many of us are equipped with a basement area or cellar. There are many reasons for this, one of the largest being that foundations should be built below the frost line.
With our cool climate in the wintertime, and a frost line several feet below the surface, many homes and even business owners are equipped with a basement. Whether you use it for storage, or sport a beautiful finished area, there are several reasons why a whole home generator may be a wise addition to your subterranean space.
Lighting!
It can be a challenge to find a creative way to enjoy a comfortable, naturally lit space while underground. The threat of a power outage can go from annoying to downright dangerous if you are caught unaware in an enclosed, perfectly dark space. Our Generac whole home generators are excellent at keeping you from a surprise blackout! With their near-instant, automatic backup power, the fear of a pitch-black basement becomes a thing of the past.
Humidity!
Perhaps the most important reason to have a professionally installed standby generator is the danger of flooding. If your house is equipped with a sump pump, it is critical that it remain powered. Whether you live in a flood zone or not, basements can be prone to issues with waterproofing. This issue is compounded even further if there is a storm.
If a sump pump loses power, a basement will rapidly fill with water. The financial damage of a flooded basement, especially if it is finished, can be astronomical. There is also the emotional weight of losing cherished possessions. While a sump pump is key to preventing this, a power outage will render it inoperable. Installing a backup, standby generator with your basement sump pump wired in will provide a family or business owner with peace of mind during even the strongest storm.
Mold!
When a basement becomes humid, moist, or damp, there are additional threats aside from water damage. Mold and smells can cause more than frustrations. If you are sensitive to smells, diagnosed with asthma, or have a condition that affects your breathing, a damp basement will become a health concern. The purchase of a dehumidifier becomes essential if you have a damp basement. It can also save time and energy to have the dehumidifier drain directly into a drain, even a sump pump.
While a basement is a great addition to most homes, even necessary at times, they come with inherent dangers. A wired, standby generator can make all the difference in the world. At New England Electrical, our job is to give you peace of mind before disaster strikes with our expert attention to your electrical needs. Reach out today and learn more about our certified services and award-winning service.
Are you weighing the benefits of purchasing a generator for your home? Naturally, you have questions:
What kind of home generator should I get? Portable or Automatic Backup Generator?
Do I even need a generator?
How much should I invest in a home generator?
If you’ve been searching the web for “Home Generator”, you’ll know that many sites advertise Portable Generators on the first page, and for good reason: They’re cheaper, mobile and good in an emergency.
But are they the best option for a homeowner or commercial business? Consider for a moment what a portable generator is intended to be used for, and why a standby generator may be preferable.
What is a portable generator used for?
Using a gas-powered engine, portable generators generate electrical power. There are power sockets directly built into the device for ease of access when plugging in small devices. While this sounds very convenient, a portable generator is really only intended as a stop-gap: A very temporary backup, in an emergency. They can also be used as camping tool, or the power source for a small shed.
In an emergency, you’ll need to physically set the generator up in a secure outdoor location, ensure you follow all safety measures, get it going and run an extension cable to the devices you’d like powered. Also, a steady supply of gasoline is needed to keep this generator operational.
While effective in the short term or under specific conditions, a portable generator is by no means a good choice for an automatic backup power supply for an entire home or business.
Generac home backup generators draw fuel from your existing natural gas or LP fuel supply. These generators are much safer and cheaper to run than portable units and are installed safely outside your home, just like a central air conditioning unit.
These generators are known as “standby generators”. This means that they turn on automatically, without any action from the owner. Within seconds of an outage, you will be back online! Once power is restored, it will also automatically power off, safely and securely.
The Takeaway?
It is impossible to know when a blackout is going to happen, so having a strong electrical backup generator is essential. Nearly everything in our houses require electricity to work, and there is no guarantee that power will also be available.
We at New England Electrical are committed to ensuring you get the best generator for your home or business. Our free in-home consultations assess which size, type, and location would benefit you the most. Call us today or book online to know more!
June is here, and summer is just on the horizon! Along with the picnics, BBQs and beach days, the rest of our time will still be spent at home, trying to escape the summer heat:
Is your home or commercial air conditioning unit adequately prepared for the heat?
Basic Maintenance & Best Practices
If you want your unit to last, a simple routine of bi-annual maintenance is key!
Vacuum around the vents and ensure they are unblocked.
Adjust your thermostat 5 – 8 degrees (up in summer, down in winter).
Clear the drain line by the cooling coil (usually above the furnace in the basement).
Insulate any exposed ductwork.
Avoid using the oven or dryer during the hottest hours of the day.
Clean the internal unit (evaporator and blower).
Be sure to consult your manual for the specifics, but cleaning the evaporator coil, evaporator drain, and changing your blower filter is important to maintaining an efficient AC unit. If after following these basic tips you notice that your utility bill is still high, there may be an electrical issue to troubleshoot
Energy Efficient Air Conditioners
HVAC units are the biggest power drainers in our house, but there has been progress in reducing the drain. One of the most popular industry standard certifications you may have heard of is known as ‘Energy Star’. The Energy Star program was started by the EPA in 1992 with the intention of reducing air pollution. As a result, these Energy Star certified units are designed to be much more efficient to operate when compared to regular A/C Units. They generally use about 8% less energy than conventional models and are guaranteed to save you substantially on your monthly utility bills, when installed correctly.
Tried and True vs. Bold and New
The simple fact is that HVAC manufacturers have become much better at making efficient, smaller, and cheaper units. For example, if your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it could be using a refrigerant blend (R-22) which may be costing you money! Newer units have fluid that better transfers heat, use variable stage fans to meter how much energy the unit draws, and use multi-stage compressors for an air conditioner that adapts to your specific home needs.
The Takeaway
Simply put, energy efficient units mean more savings in the long run. Depending on the wiring, type, and size, an inefficient standard A/C unit can cost homeowners substantially more than a well maintained, newer, Energy Star unit.
Whether you decide to purchase a newer unit and want to make sure all the electronics are in good order, or would like a professional to inspect your home electrical grid and appliance load needs, we’re here to help.
Let our certified professional electricians give you the best service possible. Contact us for a free home estimate today!
May is around the corner, and most of us have yet to complete our spring cleaning. We often associate this “cleaning” with housework, organizing, and a deep-clean, but it is also a perfect time to complete home repairs and maintenance projects.
Apart from repairing minor leaks and squeaks, a complete home check for electrical issues goes a long way in preventing future electrical hazards. Why not make this year’s spring cleaning even better with some of these tips!
Maintaining Safe Power Flow
Many of our appliances and electronics use a short electrical cord. Over time, especially when cords are running under carpets or near walkways, they can become damaged or frayed. Our first thought may be fear of electrocution, but damaged power cords can also present a fire hazard.
Check all cords and outlets to ensure they have no damage. Cheaper electronics can be easily replaced. However, if a power cord on an appliance, or even an outlet, is damaged, you’ll need to immediately call an electrical technician to replace or repair the damage.
Overloading circuits by plugging in too many items is also a hazard. In fact, if we keep our items unplugged until we need them, this practice will help us save on our monthly energy bill.
Outlets and GFCI
Have you ever noticed a power outlet with two buttons in the middle? These are called GFCIs, and they are great in places with water like the kitchen or bathroom. If your device has an electrical short due to water damage, a GFCI outlet will immediately shut itself off. This helps you avoid electric shock and can help prevent major electrical home damage.
On the subject of outlets, ensuring your home outlets are not overly warm is critical to maintaining a safe home. If you notice any abnormal temperature, color, or damage, please contact one of our professional electricians.
Lights, not Fire!
Light bulbs are everywhere, and these days there are numerous energy saving bulbs available. If you’ve made the switch to CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs with the intention of becoming more eco-friendly, watch out! Using a CFL bulb in a place it was not designed for presents a fire hazard. In fact, using them in track lighting, pot lights, or in dimmer plugs is dangerous. A good rule of thumb is to always use a dimmer bulb for a dimmer fixture.
Also, always confirm your bulb wattage matches the correct wattage for the fixture. Too low of a wattage may not be noticeable, but if you exceed the allowed wattage then your light fixture can be damaged or even start a fire.
While these techniques are preventative, it never hurts to have your home inspected by a trained specialist. It may seem like something small, but the peace of mind you’ll have from a full inspection is priceless. Not to mention the time and money saved in the event faulty wiring would have led to an electrical fire.
This year, let spring cleaning end with greater peace of mind, not just a clean house: Get in touch with our expert team today and get this season started right!
