How to Cut Down Your Energy Costs: 4 Tips from a Certified Electrician

As the seasons change, electricity costs can start to creep up again. So, for homeowners, this might be a good time to take action on electricity waste at home. The seasoned electrical professionals at Crisp Electric have shared some of their top tips for cutting down on wastage, and it’s not the obvious culprits that might first spring to mind. Rather than focusing on the small wins such as mobile chargers and appliances with lights and a digital clock, the biggest energy savings can be found by investigating the appliances that consume the highest amount of energy.

These are the appliances use the most electricity, and Crisp Electric has shared their tips for minimizing them:

1. Water Heater

Crisp Electric’s Top Tips:

1. Take shorter showers and wash clothes on a cold cycle
2. Install insulation jackets around the water tank and accessible hot water piping throughout the house
3. Reduce the temperature of the thermostat (120 degrees Fahrenheit should be hot enough)
4. Consider regularly replacing the anode rod in the water heater to improve energy efficiency

2. Refrigerator

If the refrigerator is on, then it’s using electricity and that has a price tag attached to it. The best way to reduce a fridge’s electricity consumption is to upgrade to the latest energy-efficient model, but if that’s not an option, there are still things that can be done right now to cut the energy costs down.

Crisp Electric Recommends:

1. Increasing the refrigerator temperature to 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and the freezer temperature to 0 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Reducing the number of times the fridge is opened and the length of time that it is open for
3. Cleaning the vents and coils at the back and on the bottom of the fridge to improve efficiency
4. If the door isn’t sealing properly, replace the rubber door gaskets and seals

3. Electric Heating

Moving into fall and with winter approaching, electricity costs are likely to start going up as the heating requirements increase. Whatever type of heating the home has installed, whether it’s baseboard heaters, an electric furnace or a naturally fuelled heating solution, there are things that can be done to bring down consumption which will lead to huge savings. 

For reducing heating costs, Crisp suggests:

1. Reduce the thermostat setting and put on a jersey
2. Schedule yearly checks and replace the air filters
3. Seal any leaks – especially around doors and window frames to help improve the home’s insulation

4. Air Conditioning

With summer a distant memory, it can be easy to forget about the cost of air conditioning, but it’s likely to be the home’s highest contributor to electricity costs in summer and these costs add up quickly. 

Crisp Electric suggests the following energy-efficient best practices: 

1. Dress for the weather so that the thermostat temperature can be raised
2. Check seals and insulation throughout the home
3. Close curtains during the hottest hours of the day

Crisp Electric has been serving the homes of Raleigh, NC for many years offing fast, same day electrical repair services. For electrical work in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Garner, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Morrisville, Apex and surrounding areas, give them a call on (984) 377-7870.

The nextpost was originally seen on How to Cut Down Your Energy Costs: 4 Tips from a Certified Electrician and is republished from Crisp Electric. Find more on:} Crisp Electric’s website

Is it Time to Schedule an Electrical Inspection?

6 Ways a Commercial Electrician in Raleigh Can Save Your Business Money

Most businesses need a constant flow of power to ensure that they run optimally. It's one of the services local electrical contractors should supply. However, with great power comes an even greater electric bill.

With a licensed Raleigh electrician, there a number of steps that the business can take to reduce costs and improve productivity.

A commercial electrician will help implement energy-efficient technologies, ensure that the electrical infrastructure is done correctly, perform routine maintenance, prevent equipment failures and install backups to keep the business running even when the power goes out.

1 - Implement Energy Efficient Solutions

Energy efficiency looks at maximizing the output and minimizing wasted power. This work can be completed by a certified electrician who will install energy-efficient wiring, components, and lighting (working with LED technology). By doing this, businesses will use less power and save money on their utility bill.

2 - Professional Electrical Infrastructure

A licensed commercial electrician like Crisp Electric will ensure that the wiring and electrical infrastructure of a company have been installed correctly, which will ensure that internet speeds are optimized in addition to other benefits. This will assist with faster connectivity and raised office productivity.

3 - Robust Backup Power System

A backup power supply will keep the business
online and operating efficiently even if there is a power outage or
interruption. This provides essential security and safety for employees as well
as clients. Backup power systems will be designed and installed specifically
for a business to meet their needs and may include a generator, batteries, or
both. A reputable local electrician will be able to ensure that the generator
has been installed correctly and is regularly maintained.

4 - Effective Electrical Maintenance

A commercial electrician that comes in to
regularly inspect a business’s wiring will prevent problems before they happen.
If electrical maintenance is done well, the electrician will be able to detect
any issues before they cause injury, damage, or downtime. This saves on larger
electrical expenditure and allows for any fixes or replacement work to be
factored into a budget. With this early warning system in place, it is also
possible to plan for any future electrical improvements that might need to
happen.

5 - Internal and External Lighting

Correct lighting is vital for the
productivity and safety of employees. This extends to exterior landscape
lighting and parking lot lighting so that employees are able to safely navigate
to and from their cars when they arrive at work. This can save money as
employees feel safe working after dark, which improves productivity, and that
they can navigate to their vehicles without risk of costly injury.

For inside the office, improving internal
lighting offers better working conditions. Poor lighting can have a knock-on
effect of decreasing employee productivity and performance. A commercial
electrician will ensure that the lighting fixtures are optimally configured to
provide adequate, high-quality lighting and as well as checking that the
fixtures have been correctly placed. This has a positive impact on the office
environment and helps employees to give of their best.

6 - Improved Uptime

A certified electrician will be fully
informed about electrical code compliance and safety regulations and therefore,
will be able to check that a business’s electrical system
has very few equipment failures. They will also ensure that occupational
hazards for employees are minimized and that the business will not be liable
for any penalties as a result of safety compliance issues.

Crisp Electric in Raleigh, North Carolina is a commercial and residential electrician that serves the communities of Raleigh, Wake Forest, Knightdale, Morrisville, Garner, Cary, Chapel Hill, and Durham. They are fully licensed and insured and, with over 30 years of experience, offer a top-quality electrical service for homeowners and businesses.

The nextblog post was originally published to 6 Ways a Commercial Electrician in Raleigh Can Save Your Business Money and is courtesy of Crisp Electric. Find more on:} Crisp Electric

Three Reasons to Hire an Electrician Rather Than Doing the Work Yourself

If you have an electrical job at your home, it can be quite tempting to do the work yourself. You might think that it will be cheaper, that you can get it done immediately rather than having to wait for your local electrician to become available, and it’s probably work that you would like to control yourself. But there are a couple of good reasons why it’s better to hire a certified electrician with a good reputation to handle the job for you.

1. They’ll Get the Job Done Right, The First Time

While you may feel that you have the skills to get most of the job done, there is the adage ‘you don’t know what you don’t know,’ and that holds true for electrical jobs around the home. And while Google might be able to bail you out of trouble, it’s not worth the risk. Rather hire an electrician who knows the ins-and-outs of the job and will able to get it done from start to finish.

Also, most reputable electricians will offer a warranty for their work. This means that you have come-back if anything doesn’t work as expected (and you don’t have to spend hours trying to figure out why it’s not working).

2. Safety Should Always be a Top Priority

Every year over 30,000 Americans experience non-fatal shocks in their homes. There is also the risk of injury due to falls as a result of electrical work that you might need to complete using a ladder (in America, falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths in homes every year).

There is no need to become a statistic - the process of doing the work has some risk that can easily be mitigated by having an electrician do the work for you.  And if you have other people, and children living in the home, it’s important that the job is done properly so that nobody living in your home is exposed to any risk once the job has been completed.

Call an electrician to do the work for you, if you are unsure about whether you can get the work done safely and in a manner that will protect the ongoing safety of the members of your family.  There is no price tag that can be put on your well-being and that of your family.

3. There Scale of the Project to Consider

This has two important implications, firstly, do you have the time to get the work done? And secondly, are there any permits needed for the job? Permits aren’t needed for basic do-it-yourself (DIY) around the house, but for most electrical work they is a requirement.

DIY electrical projects have the ability to get out of hand, what might start out as a small job can quickly escalate (especially if you live in an older house with questionable wiring).

In addition, pulling permits and getting approval can be frustrating and time-consuming if you aren’t familiar with the process. Using an electrician in Raleigh can be a convenient shortcut that saves time and money in the long-run. This is because they know which permits are needed and often have a way to get approval more quickly than you can. They also are familiar with the process so something that might take you months to get right can take a matter of days or weeks for them.

In short, if you have an electrical job that you need to be done around the house, get a licensed electrician to do the work for you. It will save you time and money, and a lot of frustration.

Crisp Electric in Raleigh, NC has been assisting homeowners for over 25 years with electrical work. They are fully licensed and insured to work in thirteen states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Georgia.

The nextpost was first published on Three Reasons to Hire an Electrician Rather Than Doing the Work Yourself and is courtesy of Crisp Electric. Find more on:} https://crispelectric.com

5 Times You’ll Need an Emergency Electrician in Raleigh, NC

Unfortunately, urgent situations often arise when it’s least convenient – late at night, or just before you’re due to host guests. At times like these, it’s important to have a licensed emergency electrician on speed dial.
Not all situations require an emergency electrician in Raleigh, NC; some problems can be easily resolved yourself and others can be resolved at a more convenient time. But there are 5 times when it’s important to get urgent assistance for an electrical issue. Call an electrician immediately if you have an unexplained power outage, are at risk of electrical shocks, can smell something burning, or have a malfunctioning or damaged circuit breaker.

You Have an Unexplained Power Outage

First, check that your home is the only one on the block that has a power outage, then try resetting your electrical power supply using the main switch in your breaker box. If this doesn’t work, then you should call an emergency electrician to identify the source of the issue and reinstate your electricity.

You Are at Risk of Electrical Shocks

Ordinarily, an electrical system has built-in fail-safes to protect you from electrical shocks. If you have had an electrical shock from an outlet or your circuit breaker, it is important to immediately call an emergency electrician. Shocks are a sign that your system is improperly wired or is overloaded and, as there is a high risk of electrocution, this is an issue that should be handled by a professional.

You Smell Something Burning

If there is a smell of burning plastic in your home, check that none of your lights or appliances are the source of the smell. If not, there could be damaged wiring in your walls that can escalate quickly into a fire. It’s important first to shut down the power, and then call an electrician to make an urgent visit.

A Damp or Wet Circuit Breaker

If your circuit breaker gets wet, it is important to call an emergency electrician immediately. If there is moisture around your main circuit panel, there is a greater risk of electrocution, as well as a risk of causing great electrical damage to your home’s wiring and outlets. If you notice rust or corrosion around or on your circuit board, that also could be a sign of damp or water that will impact your electricity.
This is something to watch for in Raleigh, NC with the increased humidity levels in the summer, as well as rain and snow in winter that can lead to damp coming through the walls if you have compromised roofing or wall insulation.

A Malfunctioning Breaker Box

If your breaker box is making a buzzing or humming noise, it could be a sign that the breaker switch is faulty or there is a wiring issue. A faulty breaker switch is very dangerous as it could be failing to trip the system (a fail-safe that protects your electrical system from further damage). An issue with the wiring is also problematic, as it can lead to fire or damage to the entire home’s wiring. Regardless of the source of the issue, it is important to get immediate assistance.
Across America, over 200 people die by electrocution every year so finding a licensed, certified electrician should be your top priority. They should offer a 24-hour electrician service and should be located close by so that they can respond quickly in an emergency. Crisp Electric offers a quality emergency electrician service to Raleigh, NC residents that is reliable and fast. All our electricians are licensed and certified to ensure that our clients enjoy great, efficient service.
The nextinformation was originally published on 5 Times You’ll Need an Emergency Electrician in Raleigh, NC and is courtesy of Crisp Electric. Read more on:} https://crispelectric.com

5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Raleigh Electrician

How to Find the Right Electrician for the Electrical Work That You Need Done

Finding an electrician in Raleigh that you can trust is more straightforward than if you are looking for a plumber or a carpenter as electricians have licensing requirements as well as an easy to understand set of qualifications that will give you an idea of how much experience they have working as an electrician. Because electricity (and the electrical components in your home or business that receive the electric service from the utility company) is dangerous but also vital to the operations of a home or business, it is important to find a local electrical contractor that you can trust and build a relationship with. It is not advisable to call on different electricians from one need to the next unless absolutely necessary.
At Crisp Electric, we look to establish life-long relationships with our valued customers and service their electrical needs for their home and/or business for the long-term. This allows us to learn the electrical schematics of your home on the first service call we come out for. Crisp Electric is a full-service electrical contractor in Raleigh, NC serving the greater Triangle and larger commercial projects throughout the state.
There are a number of important questions that you should ask an electrician before hiring them for a job. If they are able to answer the questions satisfactorily without being evasive and able to present the relevant documents, you can be assured that you have done the due diligence in discerning whether they are capable of completing the job that you need to be done and can be trusted to come into your home or business.

Do they have the correct qualifications and licenses for electricians in North Carolina?

There are two main types of qualifications depending on the level of experience of the electrician. A journeyman electrician is typically less experienced although they do hold an electrician qualification. A journeyman electrician can qualify as a master electrician license after 4000 hours of work (roughly two years of full-time employment).  If you are hiring an electrician for a big job that will require experience, you will want to hire a master electrician.
Also, ensure that they have an electrician license and the correct business license and that they are both valid.

Do they provide a 5-Star experience as an Electrical Contractor?

If you type in the term ‘electrician companies near me’ or ‘electrical contractors near me’ into Google search, you will likely see a list of local electricians in your proximate area. Along with their contact details, you will also be able to see the number of stars and reviews that they have for their work.
If you are not able to get personal recommendations from friends or family members, this is a good way to see if the electrician that you’re thinking of hiring has the requisite skill level and experience to get the job done. At Crisp Electric, we take pride in providing each of our valued customers a 5-star electrical service experience no matter the size or scope of the electrical project you may have.

Do they have the right electrical contractor experience?

Take time to read some of the reviews either on their website or on Google local listings; it might be that they have completed a similar electrical repair service for someone else and you will be able to see if the client was satisfied with the work or not. Even the electrician’s website is a reflection of their level of professionalism and how serious they take their craft and their business.
If the electrician came personally recommended by a friend or family member, ask them to go through the experience in detail to see if the electric service company is likely to be a good fit for the job that you have in mind. In most cases, no two jobs are alike and even if an electrical contractor did a great job installing some new hallway sconces or kitchen lights doesn’t mean they have experience and expertise in handling large electrical contractor projects or whole home generator system installations.
One last option is to ask the electrician for references from people who have had similar work done. Give the references a call and ask them about their experience with the electrician.
At Crisp Electric we have decades of experience with plenty of current and past clients who can provide reference and service experience feedback on request.

Do they follow the law and have liability insurance for North Carolina electrical contractors?

A licensed electrician in North Carolina should have up-to-date general and/or professional liability insurance information that they can share with you. In addition to having peace of mind knowing that the electrical repair will be insured, it is also a good way to see if your prospective Raleigh electrician is serious about the work that they do and is knowledgeable about the technical and legal requirements of carrying out an electrical repair service business in North Carolina.
In North Carolina, electrical contractors need to follow North Carolina Electrical Contractors Licensing Law which can be found here.

Are you available for emergency electrical repair service?

This might seem like a trivial question to ask, but having an emergency electrician on speed dial is a necessity for any homeowner in need of emergency electrical repair service. Dealing with electrical faults can be a time-sensitive issue and quick intervention may prevent further damage along with restoring peace of mind and your electric service. A 24-hour electrician will be available any time of the day or night to perform emergency electrical repairs.
If you need more information on finding a licensed electrician, Crisp Electric in Raleigh, NC would love to help. They are a preferred 5-star rated electrical service contractor, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, servicing Wake Forest, Knightdale, Garner, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Morrisville, Apex and surrounding areas.
The nextpost was originally seen on 5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Raleigh Electrician and is republished from Crisp Electric. Find more on:} https://crispelectric.com

Electrical Repairs: Why You Need to Hire a Professional Electrician

Regardless of the size or type of electrical repair your home or office needs, to ensure complete safety and professional work, it is best advised to seek the services of a licensed electrician.
Even a minor task can have dire consequences. Here is a list of reasons why is necessary to hire a certified electrician, the next time you need to have electrical repairs done.

Licensed Electricians Easily Acquire Permits

Unlike paint jobs and other tasks, by law electrical repair is required to be inspected and checked in some states. For instance, only a certified electrician can provide electrical repair services in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Moreover, for a number of jobs, including generator installation, hot tub and spa installation, and outdoor lighting, require that permits be acquired, prior to any work being started. However, with a Raleigh licensed electrical contractor such as Crisp Electric, you don’t have to worry about anything.

Professional Electrician Cost Less

Unlicensed electrical contractors or do-it-yourself (DIY) tasks are much cheaper to do than hiring a  licensed electric service company, but in hindsight, they tend to cost more in the long run.
With appliances and safety being at risk, it is not worth the extra bucks that would be saved on a DIY project.  Professional electricians get it right the first time and save you the extra money you would have to pay the second time around. Most importantly, they save your home or office from possible damage.

Professional Electricians Provide Safety

According to the U.S. Centers For Disease Control, in the workplace, "falls remain a leading cause of unintentional injury nationwide, and 43 percent of fatal falls in the last decade have involved a ladder."
Electrocution was sixth in the list of reasons for deaths that have occurred in the workplace. Without the specific tools and necessary professional experience that an electrical engineer possesses, DIY can prove to be dangerous.

Licensed Electricians Provide Assurance

Crisp Electric has certified residential electricians in Wake Forest, NC area, who provide homeowners with the peace of mind that their electrical repairs are being handled by a professional. Their licensing and permits are a testament to their work quality.
Additionally, it is pertinent to note that only an experienced, professional electrician will possess the appropriate licenses. This, in turn, means that you don’t have to worry about faulty connections or exposed wiring.

A Professional Electrician Saves Time

When opting for DIY electrical repairs, homeowners oftentimes lack access to proper equipment. Even uncertified electricians are sometimes ill-equipped with right tools required for sophisticated repairs.
Led by years of experience and with access to proper equipment and specific tools required to do their job, certified electricians like Crisp Electric can detect and correct electrical faults and perform electrical repairs quicker.

Professional Electricians Save You from Violations

Licensed and permitted electricians are required by law to take regular classes to keep them up-to-date with regularly updating state codes.
Violation of the state law can land you in hot water, because electrical guidelines are to be followed to the tee, and the government ensures strict regulation. Furthermore, real estate disclosures involve wiring and electrical permits that affect the value of your house and whether it is suitable to be sold or not.

A professional electrician ensures that all the updated guidelines are met and that all relevant permits are acquired with relative ease.
Electrical repair service is a professional task that requires a blend of knowledge, experience, and professional expertise. Crisp Electric is a renowned name catering to a wide array of electrical services in Raleigh, Wake Forest, Knightdale, and the surrounding areas.