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Home Maintenance Ben Soreff Home Maintenance Ben Soreff

Signs It's Time to Rewire Your Home

As you spend time maintaining your house and performing upkeep, the electrical system is one of the most important features on the property to give attention to each year. Over time, the wires can suffer from deterioration and damage, making it necessary to know when it's time to rewire your home. Here are a few signs you need to hire an electrician to replace the old wires that are currently in use and might be beginning to fail.

As you spend time maintaining your house and performing upkeep, the electrical system is one of the most important features on the property to give attention to each year. Over time, the wires can suffer from deterioration and damage, making it necessary to know when it's time to rewire your home. Here are a few signs you need to hire an electrician to replace the old wires that are currently in use and might be beginning to fail.

Flickering Lights

You may notice that some of the lights start to flicker in your house, especially the longer you leave them on. Although it might just be that a few light bulbs may be faulty, it can also be due to wires that are no longer reliable. Hire an electrical contractor to inspect the wires to determine if they've reached the end of their lifespan.

A Lot of Extension Cords

When you live in an old house that has a lack of outlets present, it can be easy to use a lot of extension cords to plug in your lamps and devices. Unfortunately, this can increase the risk of an electrical fire and is unsafe. A professional electrician can install additional power sockets in areas where you need to power different types of electronics.

Burning Smells

Any wires that are starting to short out can cause burning smells to develop in different areas of the house, especially around outlets. This is dangerous because it can cause small sparks under the floors and the walls, which can lead to a lot of damage in the building and can also put your safety at risk.

Blown Fuses

Although it's common for fuses to blow from time to time, it shouldn't be a frequent issue that you encounter. Blown fuses indicate that the fuses are old and should be replaced. This requires scheduling an appointment for a circuit upgrade.

Your home may also be old and still have the original electrical wires in place. Homes that are at least 30 to 40 years old require new wires to be installed. Although you may not be encountering any electrical issues, they can start to develop in the near future. It's important to replace the wiring before it requires repairs.

Rewiring your home can offer peace of mind by increasing safety in the building and reducing the risk of electrical issues. It can also boost your home's value and restore its functionality as you use the electrical system.

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Home Maintenance Ben Soreff Home Maintenance Ben Soreff

Important Things to Look for When Hiring an Electrician

The electrical system within your home is one of the most important parts of your space. It allows you to watch TV, connect to the internet, turn on the lights, charge your devices, and do so much more.

The electrical system within your home is one of the most important parts of your space. It allows you to watch TV, connect to the internet, turn on the lights, charge your devices, and do so much more.

While your system will often work flawlessly in the background, there are some times where some electrical issues may occur. With the ever-present dangers of DIY electrical work, it is always recommended that you hire an electrician to help you rectify these issues.

But with your city likely being home to dozens of electricians, how can you choose which one to work with? Without any further ado, let’s go over some important things to look for when hiring an electrician.

Their Education and Experience

One of the first things to think about is the education that the electrician has. Electrical work can be very precise and detailed, and having the right training and education is important. You should do your best to learn how and when they were educated. If they don’t have a proper education or aren’t up to date on their qualifications, be weary.

Your city is likely home to several institutions, and there are even online destinations, too (check TradesmanCE to see a great example). Once you confirm they have the right education and qualifications, you should also think about their experience. There are a variety of different types of electrical work that can be done in a home, and each may require the use of different skills and tools. You want to make sure that the electrician you choose has experience in the area that you need help with.

Their Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Next, you want to check out any reviews and testimonials that have been left by customers. These can give you an inside look at how the company works, and show you the experiences that customers have had with them. You want to look at all reviews, positive and negative, to get a sense of whether they are the right electrician for you. Of course, you want to choose someone who has primarily positive reviews and testimonials.

While visiting their site for these can help, it shouldn’t be the only place you visit. No company looking for new business is going to keep poor reviews up on their site, so going to a place like Google or another third-party resource can give you a true and honest look at how happy customers have been with this particular expert.

Their Communication

Communication is one of the skills that successful electricians need, and you need to make sure that the electrician you work with has it. Electricians often need to talk about confusing and intricate electrical details in ways that people can understand, and the last thing you want to do is be stuck there confused about what your electrical is talking about.

Also, when scheduling them to come out and going back and forth about issues, you need to ensure they are a solid communicator. If they take forever to respond, or do so with little detail, it can be incredibly frustrating. Make sure they are quick to respond, helpful, answer your questions, and provide the information and details that you desire.

We hope that this guide has been able to help you learn some important things to look for when hiring an electrician.

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Home Maintenance Ben Soreff Home Maintenance Ben Soreff

Home Checkup: Where To Pay Close Attention

One of the best ways to keep your home in good condition is to do checkups once or twice a year. A few impromptu inspections can make your home safer and avoid expensive repairs for things you might miss during your daily life. Owners should pay close attention to areas where hidden problems can develop that might cause unseen damage to the house.

One of the best ways to keep your home in good condition is to do checkups once or twice a year. A few impromptu inspections can make your home safer and avoid expensive repairs for things you might miss during your daily life. Owners should pay close attention to areas where hidden problems can develop that might cause unseen damage to the house.

A Firm Foundation

Everything rests on your foundation. You can't look at every square inch of your foundation, since it's buried in the ground, but you should take the time to look at as much as you can. The foundation is visible around the outside of the house as well as in the basement or crawlspace under the house. Cracks, signs of water damage, or any shifting in the structure should be cause for alarm and a professional inspection.

Attic and Roof

Even a small crevice in the roof or a few missing shingles can become a real problem over the course of several years. A healthy roof doesn't leak at all. Unfortunately, the empty space in the attic or empty spaces beneath the roof can mask water damage for a long time allowing rot and mold growth to set in. Homeowners should take the time to poke their heads in the attic and crawl spaces, as well as check out the roof exterior if they can do so safely.

Pipes and Plumbing Fixtures

Residential plumbing systems are a labyrinth of pipes, fixtures, and appliances threaded throughout the entire home. It's something we rely on pretty much every day and this constant use means there's always a chance of a breakdown. A good home checkup should definitely include a close inspection of all accessible pipes, drains, and water pressure for sinks, tubs, and hoses.

Circuit Check

Electrical problems are one of the most difficult to test and it's important that homeowners avoid any kind of unsafe contact with outlets, appliances, or wires. The best way to do a checkup on your system is to note any changes or unusual behavior from your devices. If you notice certain rooms or fixtures burn out bulbs much faster than others or if certain breakers keep tripping during normal use, then it's a good idea to get an electrician to check things out. Of course, any visible signs of scorching around outlets or burning smells should be seen by a pro immediately.

When it comes to home checkups, safety and security are the main concerns. Plumbing, electrical, and water damage are always near the top due to the hazards to human health. Roofing and foundation checks are also priorities because it's easy for damage to start slow and go unnoticed until it reaches a critical point where prevention is no longer an option.

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Home Maintenance Ben Soreff Home Maintenance Ben Soreff

Home Electricity Tips to Save Money and Power

With electricity bills soaring from time to time, you're probably looking for the most convenient ways to save energy. Relying on electronics has become our biggest habit, that it won't be easy to break. However, you can adjust your lifestyle and modify your electricity usage to save money on electricity bills. Here's how.

With electricity bills soaring from time to time, you're probably looking for the most convenient ways to save energy. Relying on electronics has become our biggest habit, that it won't be easy to break. However, you can adjust your lifestyle and modify your electricity usage to save money on electricity bills. Here's how.

Switch to laptop

Desktop computers are one of the biggest electricity wasters. Unlike laptops, desktop computers require a constant power supply to work. Therefore, if you work from home, you keep the computer plugged in and on a power supply for eight hours or more. New laptops tend to charge to 100% in only an hour, allowing them to run on battery for up to eight hours. See the math? Consider swapping your dated PC for a new laptop model that will help you cut down the electricity bill and improve your work performance.

Unplug devices you don’t use

Phantom energy is often responsible for high electricity bills. Do you keep your devices plugged in even when you’re not home? Switch them off and unplug them to prevent phantom energy usage. You’ll notice in only a month that your electricity bill isn’t as high as before. Homeowners all over Australia manage to save up to $100 a year only by unplugging their microwave when they’re not using it daily.

Instal LED lights

LED lights last longer and use much less energy than standard bulbs. That’s why you should check your lighting fixtures and switch old bulbs for new LED ones. If you’re not electricity-savvy, look for a level 2 electrician Northern Beaches-wide who will assess the condition of your lighting fixtures and check if they are suitable for LED lights. Depending on how old the lamps and chandeliers are, the new bulbs may or may not be appropriate for your type of fixtures.

Rely on natural light

How lit is your home? Do you get plenty of daylight in your living room and kitchen? Or are you forced to use artificial light to see better? If your home is well lit and gets enough sunlight during the day, don’t turn on the lights until it starts to get dark outside and you’re able to see clearly. Instead of relying on lighting fixtures, consider expanding the window or decorating the room in a way that reflects more light from the outside. Task lighting will be more efficient than ambient one, so grab those LED lamps and read with their light shining over your computer or book.

Air-dry laundry

With every new gadget, we start relying more on technology. If you'd shown all the modern-day cooking and cleaning devices to your grandmothers and great grandmothers, they will probably call you lazy. In a way, they’re right. Why would you use a laundry dyer in the middle of the summer when you can hang the laundry in your backyard and let it air dry? We understand that laundry dryers are convenient when you travel a lot and don’t have time to wait for the clothes to dry, but for everyday use, leaving the clothes outside in fresh air is more cost-effective. Also, check the energy-efficiency feature on your dryer and upgrade to a newer model if your old one uses too much energy.

Use the AC wisely

Are you one of those people who turn on the Air-conditioning with the first hint of high temperatures? Have you ever considered just airing the room by opening all the windows? Closing the blinds while the sun is beaming will stop the heat from entering your home. As a result, you won't need to turn on the AC too early in the summer. When the time for AC comes, don’t be reckless but carefully use the device. Namely, if you need to go outside, don’t forget to close the door. Don’t open the windows and keep the interior sealed for as long as the AC is on. Adjust the need for the AC by using it in several short intervals rather than all day long. A ceiling fan is a cost-effective alternative to Air-Conditioning device that uses only 10% of the energy that a standard AC does while making the room cooler, up to 10 degrees F.

Final thoughts

If you're looking for ways to save electricity, our aforementioned tips will be of great help. Not only will this help you save money, but benefit the environment too. So, remember to unplug your electronic devices when you're not using them. Air dry your laundry and do your best to use as much natural light as possible. Switch to LED lights, invest in a laptop and forget about your old PC that used up so much precious energy. Your budget and the environment will be grateful. 

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