Tips for Reducing Energy and Saving Money
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AAA Plumbing Arvada Co
National Electrical Safety Month—Keeping Kids Safe
By · CommentsNational Electrical Safety Month—Keeping Kids Safe
Did you know there’s an entire month dedicated to Electrical Safety? The month of May is all about raising awareness on how to stay safe around electricity.
At AAA Service, our licensed electricians are trained to deal with electrical issues, but many homeowners aren’t.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) uses the annual National Electrical Safety Month to help prevent electrical accidents. According to the ESFI hundreds of people die and thousands are injured each year in the U.S. as a result of electrically-related incidents.
If everyone follows electrical safety precautions, many of these deaths and injuries can be prevented.
One of the most important ways to keep your family safe from electrical hazards is to teach children about the dangers of electricity and electrical appliances. Start talking about electricity as soon as children are old enough to understand.
Children will often let their curiosity lead them into trouble. Be sure to teach young children never to stick anything into an electrical outlet. The surest protection is to install safety outlet covers and power strip covers to prevent this from happening.
Use electrical cord shorteners to keep appliance cords out of the reach of children. Another good safety precaution is to unplug appliances when they’re not in use.
Children learn by watching what you do with electricity around the house, so set a good example. Always pull the plug—not the cord—when disconnecting appliances.
Another good habit to get into is to check electrical and extension cords to make sure they aren’t frayed or damaged. Replace old cords or those without a third grounding prong.
When you’re using power tools, explain the safety precautions you take and emphasize the dangers associated with them. Children should understand from a young age that power tools aren’t toys.
Explain to children how dangerous it is to combine water and electricity. Teach them to dry their hands before using anything electric. Make sure electrical appliances, such as radios, hairdryers, and toasters, are kept away from sinks, toilets, and bathtubs.
Make sure your home is equipped with working GFCIs. A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) automatically shuts off the electrical current if there’s a problem in the circuit. Most home codes require GFCIs for certain locations in the home, such as bathrooms or near kitchen sinks. Check GFCIs regularly.
If you have any questions about the wiring in your home, contact one of our Denver, Co licensed, professional electricians for a home inspection.
AAA Plumbing Arvada Co
Denver Contractors and Customer Service
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Home Improvements for Electrical Safety
By · CommentsHome Improvements for Electrical Safety
May is National Electrical Safety Month, and AAA Service Plumbing, Heating and Electric is joining with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety.
ESFI is a nonprofit organization that sponsors electrical safety month every May to promote electrical safety at home, work, school, and play.
We’re proud to join ESFI in reminding consumers about three home safety devices that can greatly enhance safety without requiring major renovations. These devices include:
Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
Tamper-resistant receptacles (TRRs)
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)
An arc fault is a dangerous electrical problem caused by damaged, overheated, or stressed electrical wiring or devices. Arcing faults are one of the major causes of the more than 50,000 home electrical fires that occur each year in the United States.
AFCIs replace standard circuit breakers in the home’s electrical service panel and provide a higher level of electrical fire protection by detecting hazardous arcing conditions and shutting down the electricity before a fire can start.
While AFCIs were originally only required to protect bedroom circuits, the 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that this technology be installed in additional areas of the home, including dining rooms and living rooms.
Although the new safety requirements apply to newly constructed homes, older homes with aging wiring systems can also benefit from the added protection provided by AFCIs.
AFCIs should only be installed or replaced by a licensed, qualified electrician. They should be tested monthly to ensure they are working properly.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)
A GFCI is a device designed to protect people from shock and electrocution. GFCIs constantly monitor electricity flowing in a circuit, and quickly switch off power if they sense any loss of current.
GFCIs could prevent over two-thirds of home electrocutions that occur each year according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). GFCIs can be installed at the main service panel, in place of standard electrical outlets, or can be used as a portable device.
Typically, GFCIs are installed in areas where water and electricity are in close proximity, such as the bathroom, garage, kitchen, and basement. GFCIs should be tested monthly, as they can be damaged as a result of voltage surges from lightning, utility switching or normal usage.
While GFCIs should be installed by a licensed electrician, portable GFCIs require no tools to install.
Tamper Resistant Receptacles (TRRs)
TRRs look just like ordinary outlets, but are designed with spring-loaded receptacle cover plates that close off the receptacle openings, or slots.
When equal pressure is simultaneously applied to both sides, the receptacle cover plates open to allow the standard plug to make contact with the receptacle contact points. Without simultaneous pressure, the cover plates remain closed, preventing insertion of foreign objects and protecting your children from painful, traumatic electrical injuries.
Every year in the United States, more than 2,400 children under ten years old are treated in hospital emergency rooms for electric shock or burns caused by tampering with a wall outlet, which could be prevented by installing TRRs in the home.
Tamper resistant receptacles have proven to be so effective that the 2011 National Electrical Code (NEC) requires installation of TRRs in all new homes.
TRRs should be installed by a licensed, qualified electrician.
Please keep electrical safety foremost in your mind this month—and every day throughout the year.
AAA Plumbing Arvada Co
Are You Prepared For Emergency?
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Prevent Burst Water Pipes
By · CommentsPrevent Burst Water Pipes
If you forgot to disconnect your outdoor hose from the faucet last fall, watch out when you turn the water on this spring. Plumbers are kept busy during the early spring, answering emergency calls from homeowners with burst pipes and flooded basements.
Here are some ways to prevent water pipe ruptures:
- Always disconnect the hose from the outdoor faucet and store the hose in the garage or shed in winter. When hoses are left on the faucet, the water in the tube freezes during cold weather then expands when weather warms causing the tube to rupture.
- Turn off the indoor cut-off valve located near the faucet and open the outdoor faucet before the first deep freeze. If there is no cut-off valve, consider having one installed. Any water left in pipes exposed to below-zero temperatures will freeze.
- Keep outdoor faucets protected from the elements with an insulated (Styrofoam) cover or wrap old towels around the faucet, cover with plastic and seal with duct tape.
- Replace the faucet with the new burst-free hose faucets that are now on the market. These freezeless and anti-rupture faucets allow for expansion during freezing temperatures—even if the hose is inadvertently left on all winter.
Here’s how to safely turn the outside water on for the season:
- Turn on the indoor cut-off valve.
- Connect the hose to the faucet and then turn on the water.
- Go to the basement or crawlspace closest to the outdoor faucet to inspect for leaks.
- Keep checking for leaks intermittently during the day the water is first turned on. There can be a considerable amount of time between the actual rupture of the tubing and the discovery of the problem.
- Continue to watch for leaks while watering. Delays in noticing and fixing the rupture will result in more extensive water damage from the flooding.
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Take this home safety quiz
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Celebrate National Plumbers Day
By · CommentsCelebrate National Plumbers Day
April 25 is National Plumbers Day and we want to help you celebrate with some advice on how to save money on plumbing repairs.
It might sound strange to celebrate Plumbers Day with tips on how to avoid calling a plumber, but we just think there are times when you really need us and times when you don’t. In fact, the best way to save money on plumbing help is to minimize the need for calling us in the first place.
A good place to start is with the drains in your house. Problem drains are often the result of an excess buildup of grease, soap, hair and other debris. If you keep drains clean on a regular basis, it’s less likely you’ll need to call a plumber to clear them.
Here are a few tips for keeping drains clear:
- Don’t pour grease down the kitchen drain. While grease is still liquid, pour it into an old can or container, wait for the grease to solidify and then toss it out with the trash.
- If grease accidentally reaches the drain, rinse it down with cold—not hot—water.
- Clear the drains at least once a month with a combination of baking soda and salt (about ¼ cup each). Sprinkle the mixture down the drain and follow it with a teakettle full of boiling water.
- For bathroom sinks, install screens or drain covers to prevent hair from clogging the drain.
- If you really want to celebrate National Plumbing Day—and save money in the process—consider replacing high-use water fixtures, like toilets, showerheads and faucets, with new water-saving models.
- To unclog the toilet—another kind of drain—shut off the valve behind the toilet and use a ball-type plunger until the water flushes. If it doesn’t try pouring a bucket of water quickly down the drain and repeat plunging.
- Once a month, plug each sink and fill with water. Then unplug the drain to let the volume and weight of the water flush drain lines.
AAA Plumbing Arvada Co
Prepare Your Furnace Now Before Next Winter
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How to Select a Contractor
By · CommentsHow to Select a Denver, Co Contractor
Spring is the time for home improvements and a good way to enhance the value of your home. However, before you start a big project—whether it’s plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning or building an addition—take time to research the contractors you’ll be inviting into your home.
Before calling on a contractor, think about all aspects of the project. Then get several bids in writing from different contractors. It’s tempting to always go with the lowest bidder, but that’s not always the smartest investment in the long run. And remember, upfront estimates or price quotes should be free of charge. Check to see if the contractor will honor the estimate, even if the job is more involved or takes more time than anticipated.
Another important step before hiring contractors is to interview them about their approach to the project. Pay attention to how they answer your questions. Good contractors take time to answer questions completely and will not try to rush you into making a decision. Contractors also should be able to give you several options for the project, so you can decide which is best for you.
Be sure to ask if the contractor is licensed and insured—and ask for proof. If you’re still unsure, check with the appropriate regulatory agency or the Better Business agency.
Another good step is to ask for references and talk with previous customers about their experiences. Don’t rely solely on reviews you may read about online which may be inaccurate. Also ask if the contractor conducts background checks of employees and inquire about their hiring practices.
Finally, don’t pay the full amount until the work is fully completed to your satisfaction.
We know these all sound like common sense suggestions, but it sure doesn’t hurt to be reminded of them from time to time, especially when you’re getting ready for a large home improvement project.
AAA Plumbing Arvada Co