Tap And Sons Electric

Leading Causes of Power Surges and How to Keep Your Home and its Contents Protected

Power surges are something every electrician is familiar with, and many homeowners have unfortunately experienced their aftereffects. Power surges can be caused by a variety of factors, both natural and artificial. Protecting your home and possessions is done through the use of surge protectors, which can be point-of-use or whole-house installations. Read on to learn more about power surges and keeping yourself safe.

Anatomy of a Surge

Power surges occur when overvoltage is carried through electrical supply lines. The scale of a power surge can range from nearly undetectable, such as those that occur almost daily within our homes, to city-affecting surges that can cause blackouts.

One of the most common sources of power surges is through high-powered devices. This can be your refrigerator, which can cause a minor surge every time it turns on. This surge travels throughout your home's electrical system, and may not cause any damage. Over time, however, these surges can take their toll on your electrical system.

Large power surges can occur due to lightning strikes or malfunctions at power plants. These surges enter your home from the outside, and can cause large amounts of damage. Depending upon the source of a power surge, your measures of protection will vary.

Protecting against a Power Surge

Many homeowners are familiar with point-of-use surge protectors. These plug into your wall outlet, and then have attached power strips so multiple components can be plugged into a single outlet. Keep in mind that power strips and surge protectors are not one and the same. It is important that you choose a surge protector that is labeled as such to protect sensitive components such as your computer or media center.

Whole-house surge protectors are designed to interrupt the flow of a severe power surge before it enters your house. These need to be installed by a qualified electrician, and will help keep your home safe in the event of severe storms and other causes of surges.

Learn more about keeping your home and possessions safe from power surges when you contact TAP and Sons Electric at (480) 507-2900. Your electrical service panel plays a large part in keeping your home safe from surges, so consider our lifetime warranty when you replace your panel.

How to Lower Your Electric Bill

Every homeowner wants to keep utility costs low, and that can be a bit of a challenge during the hottest and coldest parts of the year. But by developing a few key habits, you can save electricity in your home all year.

For example, simply turning off lights and appliances when you leave a room can make a difference. Using high-efficiency lighting, such as compact fluorescent bulbs, can help you save money more than one way because they last longer than incandescent bulbs while saving energy. Use your dishwasher or washing machine using only full loads, which maximizes their efficiency. Watch this video for more great tips.

Visit TAP and Sons Electric online for additional information about saving on your electricity costs. Contact us at (480) 507-2900 for more information.

The History of Electricity

Mankind’s knowledge of electricity dates back to long before Benjamin Franklin performed his famous experiment. Ancient Egyptians, Arabic naturalists, and Greek scholars all had experience with electricity in one way or another. Today's electricians all understand and respect the power of electricity, but not everyone knows exactly how that knowledge was gained.

• As early as 600 B.C., the Greek researcher Thales began researching the concept of electricity. In the beginning, he thought that static electricity was in fact magnetic, but he paved the way for further research. Thorough electrical research would not pick up again until the 1600s.
• The words "electric" and "electricity" have their roots in the Greek word for amber, which Thales discovered conducted static electricity. Perhaps the most famous researcher of electricity is Benjamin Franklin, who sold most of his possessions to fund his research.
• The relationship between nerve conduction and electricity was discovered as early as 1791 by Luigi Galvani. The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw major discoveries and inventions including electric motors, circuits, magnetism, and more.
• Famous names like Nikola Tesla, Ernst Warner von Siemens, Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison all play their part in pushing electricity forward. Edison founded General Electric, Tesla began research into wireless power, von Siemens founded a telecommunications company of the same name, and Bell is credited with inventing the first practical telephone.
• Today, electricity is used to generate light and heat, and to transfer energy from one area to another. It is used to cool our homes using air conditioning, refrigeration to preserve food, and battery-powered innovations such as all-electric cars that are becoming more and more practical.

Electricity is used throughout your home as a primary source of power. TAP and Sons Electric can help you understand and maintain the electrical systems in your home. Contact us at (480) 507-2900 to learn more, or visit us online or our full range of electrical services. We offer Service Panel Lifetime Warranties!

About Fuse Boxes

"Fuse box" is a general term for the electrical panel that contains you're fuses and circuit breakers. This panel controls all of the circuits in your home. It's a good idea to make yourself familiar with it in the event you encounter an electrical problem.

Inside your fuse box, circuit breakers and fuses regulate the flow electricity from your main utility line to every circuit in your home. They are designed to protect you and your property in the event of a power surge or overvoltage. If your home is more than 25 years old, you should contact your local electrical contractor to inspect your fuse box and circuit breakers. They can help identify potential safety hazards and ensure that your electrical panel is safe and updated.

TAP and Sons Electric can inspect your electrical panel and provide replacement circuit breakers or fuses as necessary. Visit us online or contact us at (602) 904-7942 today.

The Future of Energy-Efficient Lighting

Incandescent lighting is rapidly being replaced by compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which are highly efficient and outlast incandescent lighting by up to 10 times. There are also other alternatives for high-efficiency lighting, such as LEDs and even solid-state lighting that improves LED technology. Your electrician can help you understand what types of lighting applications can be used on your property to provide high-quality light for lower energy use.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting

For the interiors of many homes, compact fluorescent lighting is the ideal choice for most fixtures. A 13-watt CFL bulb can provide the equivalent light of a 60 watt incandescent bulb without producing as much heat or consuming nearly as much energy. Other fixtures in the home can benefit from compact fluorescent lighting, including areas where high levels of brightness are needed such as the bathroom or kitchen.

Commercial applications include standard fluorescent bulbs, which again offer low energy consumption and high light output. The lifespan of these types of bulbs makes them very practical and even more efficient.

LED Lighting

Light-emitting diodes are among the most energy-efficient and long-lasting forms of lighting available today. LED lighting has been around for many years, but it is only recently being widely applied in both residential and commercial settings. LED lighting is ideal for under-cabinet lighting, task lighting, and soon it will be appropriate for general lighting.

With innovative changes to solid-state LED lights, the typical bluish glow may soon be warmed in a way that is more appropriate for general lighting applications in the home. Standard LEDs can be had in a wide spectrum of colors, making them ideal for landscaping, novelty, or commercial applications.

To learn more about high-efficiency lighting, contact TAP and Sons Electric at (480) 507-2900. We can help your home or business become more energy efficient while enjoying the advances in lighting technology.