Electrical | McKinzie

How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill in Bryan & College Station

Are you at the point of cringing before opening your electricity bill?  Not a good sign.

Of course, it doesn’t NEED to be that way.  Especially if you’re willing to make a few simple changes at home to help cut that bill down to size.  And there’s no better time than this spring, before your AC system starts running for even higher electricity bills.

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents  or LED’s

While the bulbs themselves cost a little more, they consume far less electricity and last a great deal longer. The average lifespan for a CFL is 10,000 hours vs. 750 hours for those energy hogging incandescent bulbs you may be burning now.

Do you love the fresh scent of clean clothes?

Then shut off the dryer and hang your clothes out to dry now that the weather permits.  In the process, you’ll do more than cut your energy bill.  Your clothes will last longest as electric dryers gradually weaken threads which then leads to pre-mature rips and tears.

Don’t just shut off, unplug!

Here’s something that takes quite a bit of self-discipline:  not just shutting off your coffee maker, but unplugging it when not in use.  That’s because it’s still drawing power.  Same goes for all your other appliances, computers, AV equipment, and so on.  To start a brand new and cost-saving habit, start by unplugging just one such item after each use.  It won’t take long before you become a big-time energy- and cost-saver.

Reduce Your Water Heater Temperature Setting.

The correct temperature setting for a water heater is 115 – 120 degrees.  Anything higher than that means wasted energy and higher utility bills.  Plus, you run the risk of scalding, a common bathroom injury among children and seniors in particular.

There you have a few quick energy-saving ideas to get you started.  Here’s one more:  by installing one or more two-direction ceiling fans in your home, you can slash your heating and cooling costs dramatically, even when you factor in the cost for running the fans.  Contact us today for expert installation and other creative ways to keep your energy costs in check.

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Why You Need GFCI Outlets in Bryan & College Station

Who’s in charge of the acronym department?  You know, the folks responsible for coming up with a never-ending supply of alpha-based abbreviations, as if the rest of us can’t understand plain English?

Well, while we at the AC Store generally agree that the world could do with a few less acronyms and simpler names for things to boot, here’s one that’s here to stay:  GFCI.  Chances are you’ve heard of it before.  Chances are you even have one or more of them in your home.  But the chances are just as good that you don’t, and that you don’t know what GFCI stands for.

So let’s start there.  A GFCI is a “ground fault circuit interceptor.”  Quite the mouthful, huh?

But what’s even more important is their function and, to put it simply, they exist to help protect you and your family from shock and electrocution.  By Texas law, GFCIs must be installed in all new buildings (residential and commercial) everywhere water can come in contact with electricity.  They’re also required for all home renovations.  Still, not everybody complies and those who don’t are only hurting themselves.

How about your home?  Do you have outlets in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, room, etc., that look like the one in the photo?  If not, you should pick up the phone right now and give us a call for your own protection.  No fooling.

A typical GFI outlet has three holes. The one in the center is for the ground wire, while the other two are for the neutral and hot wires. The outlet monitors the current flow in the two wires. If it experiences any change in the electrical flow, it immediately cuts the flow of electricity.

They also have built-in test and reset buttons.

Here are the three primary benefits that GFCI outlets deliver:

Advantage #1 – Shock Prevention

A GFI outlet has a built-in sensor that monitors the inflow and outflow of electricity from an appliance. For example, if a live wire inside an appliance is in contact with the metallic surface, you’ll get a shock if you touch it. However, if the appliance is plugged into a GFCI, the outlet will notice the change in electrical flow and will immediately shut down the power

Advantage #2 – Fire Prevention

Since ground faults can cause electrical fires, GFI outlets offer you added home protection.

Advantage #3 – Prevention of Damage of Appliances

As wire insulation breaks down, a certain amount of electric current will leak into household appliances or other electronic items. If the outer body of the equipment is not made of metal, you may not get a shock, but this constant leakage of current will damage the equipment. In fact, electricity leakage is one of the most common causes of computer hard disk drive failure.

Whether you’re undergoing a bath or kitchen upgrade, or simply want added protection for your family, contact McKinzie Heating & Air today for expert GFCI installation and for any other home electrical need.

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Electrical Repairs in Bryan and College Station Better Handled by a Professional

Saving money is never a bad thing.  But when it comes to do-it-yourself projects around your house, there’s always the flip side of that coin.  As in:  “saving money at what cost?”

Some people, for example, have certain DIY skills but just don’t have the time to give more challenging projects their due.  And that’s especially true for people who are self-employed.  If, for example, you earn $100 an hour working for others and the home repair you want done would cost your $40 an hour, it’s clear where your time is best spent, at least in terms of pure dollars and cents.

But, cutting to the chase, safety is another big reason to leave certain home repairs and projects to the professionals, even if you have more than a basic skill level.  And nowhere is this more true or relevant than when it comes to electrical wiring and repairs.

Let’s say, for example, that you want to replace with your older bathroom outlet with one that includes a GGCI (ground fault circuit interceptor) which are required in all new home construction.

So, why shouldn’t you install a GFCI yourself?  Here are a few very good and obvious reasons:

• In Bryan and College Station, you need a permit to install a GFCI so that alone should serve as an adequate deterrent for amateur electricians.
• Without an electrician handing the installation, you also could be violating the terms of your homeowners insurance policy.
• The most obvious risk to any project involving electrical wiring:  electric shock or electrocution.
• A wiring mistake can also cause an electrical fire or damage to your appliances.

And that says nothing about other practical matters, including which type of GFCI outlet is better for your home, and why:  a ground fault outlet or breaker?

For electrical repairs done right the first time, and with the highest priority paid to your family’s ongoing safety, contact The AC Store.  We’re licensed, insured, and experienced for all types of home electrical repairs.

Electrical Safety Tips for Bryan & College Station, TX

What does “home” mean to you?  Well, among other things, we hope yours is a place of top level comfort, convenience, and safety.  It’s what we all strive for, and yet sometimes it’s very easy to overlook some very simple but effective ways to improve our living environments, especially when it comes to personal and property safety.

As Master Electricians serving businesses and home owners throughout Bryan and College Station since 1995, McKinzie Heating & Air  is pleased to offer you four tried and true electrical safety tips:

Minimize Your Use of Extension Cord

Extension cords:  it’s not always easy or possible to function smoothly without them but, at the other end of the spectrum, it’s super easy to over-depend on them, too.  If your home has multiple electrical appliances or equipment plugged into the same outlet, you have an increased risk of electrical short circuits and fire.  One way to solve the problem is to contact us to install one or more new outlets in your home.  In the meantime, and if you must use extension cords, be sure to use only those that are UL listed and no more than 3-feet in length.

Don’t Use Light Bulbs with Higher Wattage Capacity than the Fixture Itself

About 95% of what incandescent light bulbs generate is heat, and only about 5% light.  So in general, it makes good sense to replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents.  But where you still do or prefer to use incandescent bulbs, please be sure that the fixture wattage limitation matches the bulbs you’re using now or for replacement purposes.

Install GFCI Outlets Wherever Water Can Come in Contact with Electricity

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are specifically designed for use near water, indoors and outdoors.  A GFCI outlet measures incoming and outgoing current and, if it senses a discrepancy, trips to stop the flow of electricity.  They are very effective in preventing electrical shock, and worse.

Use Only Properly Sized Fuses or Circuit Breaker

If you’re still using a fuse box to power your home, just be sure to replace a 20 amp fuse with another 20 amp fuse, and so on.  The larger the fuse, the more power it draws.  If it’s drawing more than the wires are capable of generating, you run the risk of causing an electrical fire.

Need a little help making your home a safer living environment?  Well, that’s just one of the things we’re here for, so give us a call and let’s get started.

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