Eco-friendly homes are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners for a great reason. Making the right modifications to your home makes the environment inside and outside of your house healthier.
Building your home with sustainable products ensures they are free from harmful chemicals, finishes, and environmental pollutants. This can help provide cleaner air for your family to breathe. Building sustainably also gives back to the environment by lowering your carbon footprint.
Your home’s electrical system lets you keep your food cold, maintain a comfortable home temperature, cook your meals, wash your clothes, clean your house, entertain guests, run your devices, keep the lights on, and much more. None of that is possible if your electrical panel malfunctions. Issues with your electric system could also lead to serious hazards, such as a fire.
Southwest Florida homeowners live in one of the most turbulent climates in the continental United States. In a matter of hours, the weather can transform from a dreamy tropical paradise into a nightmarish barrage of swirling hurricanes, relentless tornadoes, destructive waterspouts, pounding rain showers, or endless lightning strikes.
For most people living today, using electricity is something of a second nature. Without a moment’s thought, we blast our air conditioning units all day and night, store food and beverages in our refrigerators, reheat food in our microwaves, work in the radiance of indoor lighting, and charge our computers, phones, and countless other devices every day.
However, with the attitude that electricity is taken for granted comes the tendency to mismanage the power we have at our fingertips. Heavy use of appliances and devices at home can overwork our electrical system or even cause an electrical accident. Learning how to use your home’s electrical system and all your devices properly can improve their efficiency, prevent accidents, and keep you and your family safe. That’s why we’ve put together this guide of tips and tricks to stay safe at home, starting with the basics.
Before getting into the more advanced stuff, it is important that any homeowner know the fundamental electrical safety practices that protect their property and their family.
Thanks to home improvement shows and a vast array of online tutorial videos, the “do it yourself” attitude is thriving across the United States. However, in order to make these shows and videos entertaining, they are often edited deceptively to make the projects seem much easier on screen than they are in reality. These tutorials and shows also seldom take the time to account for the individual needs every DIY project has, leaving out vital steps and instructions on the metaphorical cutting room floor. Furthermore, important information is often missing such as building code requirements, safety precautions, the proper personal protective equipment to use, and the necessary materials to complete the project. When it comes to electrical repairs, DIY instructional videos and shows are especially lacking in these areas.
All this considered, DIY homeowners who want to do their own electrical installations or repairs should rethink any plans they have to do so. Here are some reasons why:
Electric bills in Florida can soar in the summer months. Rising temperatures and high humidity mean more family members fiddling with the thermostat to get cool. We have a few tips that help support your manageable electric bill as well as your family’s comfort.
