Winter Safety Tips

 Most home first are preventable, yet they remain more common during the winter months. According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment, fire places and cooking are leading causes of winter house fires. Use these updated tips to help protect your home and family. 

1. Schedule Annual Heating System Inspections - Have your furnace or heating system professionally inspected and serviced once a year. Regular maintenance can catch small issues before they turn into costly or dangerous problems 

2. Clean Chimneys and Vents - Fireplaces and wood stoves create creosote buidlup, which is highly flammable; If you use your fireplace reularrly, have your chimeny professional cleaned at least once per year. 

3. Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms - Test alarms monthly and repalce batteries at least once a year. 

4. Use fireplace screens - install a tempered glass or metal screen to keep sparks and embers from escaping. 

5. Practice Candle Safety - Never leave candles unattended. Keep away from children, pets, curtains and decorations. Blow candles out before leaving the room or going to bed. 

Simple Winter Energy - Saving Tips that actually work

 Heating your home uses more energy than anything else - especially during the winter months. The good news? A few small changes can help lower you energy bills without sacrificing comfort. 

1. Let the Sun Do the Work - During the day open your curtains and blinds to let natural sunlight warm your home.
2. Close Curtains at Night - Once the sun goes down, close your
   
   curtains and blinds to help trap heat inside. 
3. Dress for the season - It's much cheaper to warm yourself than your entire house. Keep the thermostat a little lower and layer up with sweaters, warm socks and cozy blankets. 
4. Lower your water heater temperature - Water heaters run all day, even when you're not using hot water, Turning the temperature down just a few degrees can save energy and money and you likely won't even notice the change. 
5. Reverse your Ceiling fans - Most ceiling fans have reverse setting in winter - switch them to rotate clockwise at a low speed. This pushes warm air down from the ceiling and helps heat rooms more evenly 
6. Switch to LED lighting - LED Bulbs use far less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. They're also perfect for holiday and decorative lighting without increasing your electric bill.

Should You Invest in a Generac Generator?

 A Generac automatic generator provides reliable back up power when you need it most. Power outages can happen at any time of year - during winter storms, high wins, sever weather or unexpected gird failures. Being prepared means protecting your comfort, safety and home. 

Power Outages Get Uncomfortable Fast 
Losing power isn't just inconvenient - it can quickly become uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. In the winter long power outages can mean no heat and frozen pipes. The Generator comes on automatically to keep your stay warm. 

Protect Food & Essential Appliances 
When the power goes out, refrigerators and freezers can only keep food cold for so long. A generator keeps your appliances running so food will not spoil.

Automatic & Easy to Use 
The Generator will turn on automatically when the power outage occurs. You do not need to be home to start it manually or worry about set up.

Reliable Power During Emergencies
Power outages can occur due to storms, equipment failure or aging electrical grid. A generator ensures your home has dependable power during emergences, giving you peace of mind all year long - not just during severe weather seasons. 

Trusted Generac Installation & Service
Quality Electric Service & Power Systems provides professional installation, maintenance and service for Generac Generators. We help homeowners choose the right generator for thei
r needs and ensure it operates safely and efficiently for years to come. 

👉Contact us today to learn if a Generac Generator is right for your home. 609.861.1408

Electrical Fires Start Small

Many winter house fires are caused by overloaded outlets, aging wiring, and increased electrical demand. Space heaters, holiday decor, and added appliances can push electrical systems beyond their limits. 

Help reduce risk by: 

• Avoiding
  overloading outlets and power strips
• Replacing damage cords immediately
• Having older wiring inspected
• Using GFCI protection where needed

Give Quality Electric or your local electrician a call to help identity any risk. 

Space Heaters & Winter Electrical Safety

Space heaters can be a quick way to warm your home, but they place a heavy load on your electrical system. Each winter, improper use of space heaters leads to overloaded outlets, tripped breakers and even electrical fires.

Here are some tips to remember:

•  Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets
•  Never use extension cords or power strips
•  Keep heaters at least 3 feet from furniture 
• Turn off when leaving the room

If your breaker trips or outlets feel warm, it may be time for Quality Electric or your local electrician to come out and inspect.

The importance of Generator Maintenance

It is typically understood that regular oil changes and tune-ups on a car are necessary to prolong the life of the vehicle, minimize costly repairs and maintain fuel efficiency. Much like a car, a standby generator is powered by an internal combustion engine and requires maintenance. Regular oil, air filter and spark plug changes are an important part of maintaining  a generator. But similar to a car, it is also important to periodically check and maintain other components of the system to ensure longevity, safety and manufacturer warranty compliance.

Even if utility power has not been interrupted, a generator still runs a weekly exercise cycle to maintain ideal performance levels. Regular visual and diagnostic tests should be performed while the generator is not running to ensure optimum performance & reliability.

You should have a Preventative Maintenance Agreement (PMA) to help your Generac Generator maintain ideal performance. One of our factory trained, Generac Certified technicians would perform routine maintenance twice a year as well as manufacturer required service and testing on the Generac Generator and automatic transfer switch components.

Quality Electric Service offers maintenance agreement for all new standby Generac Generator installations as well as existing Generac generators, even if we did not install it. You have made a significant investment in your standby generator. With Quality Electric's Preventative Maintenance Agreement we will protect your investment to assure years of service that you can rely upon whenever there is a power outage.

Quality Electric Service
www.qualityelectricservice.com
609.861.1409

Follow Us

Spring Electrical Tips

Spring time is a great time for yard work, garden and many other outdoor activities. No matter what is on your agenda electrical safety should be an important part of your plans. 

In light of May being Electrical Safety Month, here was some great Spring Electrical Safety Tips. 

1. Always keep power cords and electrical equipment away from water or other wet areas. 

2. Look up and look out for overhead power lines. Be sure you are aware of any nearby lines before you climb on a ladder. 

3. Call before you dig

4. Keep materials, tools and all parts of your body at least 15 feet away from overhead power lines at all times. This includes during the installation of antennas or satellite dishes. 

5. Never fly kites or model airplanes near power lines. If you kite does get tangled with overhead lines, don't try to get it down yourself. Call the utility company for assistance. Also, don't use any metallic material in your kite. 

6. Before every use, inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers for frayed power cords, broken plugs and weathered or damaged housings. Don't use damaged equipment until it has been repaired properly. Keep tools unplugged and stored in dry areas when they are not in use.

7. Before you trim tree limbs and shrubs, watch out for power lines that could be hidden by foliage. Contact the utility if there are concerns about tree limbs growing into or around overhead power lines on your property.

8. Keep vegetation and permanent structures away from the large, green ground-level boxes that house components of an underground electrical system. Utility workers may need to access the underground lines and equipment near these boxes during unplanned outages and routine maintenance.

9. Do not use electric-powered mowers on wet grass or around water. Always use an insulated extension cord designed for outdoor use with the correct power rating for that equipment.

10. Treat all electric lines with caution and respect. Even low-voltage electric lines and cords can be hazardous if damaged or improperly handled.

Quality Electric Service 

www.qualityelectricservice.com

609.861.1409

Follow Us