Electrical Detectives' Blog
 
LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON! 
You may already know that compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs and can last up to ten times longer. What you may not know: Turning off CFLs when exiting a room for less than 15 minutes costs more than leaving them on. So if you are likely to be back in that part of your house within 15 minutes, leave the lights on to save!
Some good places to have CFLs are in lamps, in your living room, outside soffit, coach or security lights. Just remember this good rule of thumb. If it's on more than 15 minutes use CFLs.
Check out our website http://www.electricaldetectives.com/ for more money saving tips and offers or to schedule work online.
SAVE 10% on new ceiling light fixture installations by mentioning this blog!
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Lighting Ideas - There are three or four basic types of lighting that should work together to light any room, including a bathroom. They are task lighting, general lighting, accent lighting and lighting that is sometimes called decorative lighting or sparkle lighting. A good lighting plan combines at least the first three, and sometimes all four types of lighting.

This article, however, will focus only on the task lighting in a bathroom. In the bathroom, especially around the vanity mirrors, task lighting is critical. Task lighting can assist in performing specific tasks such applying makeup, shaving, dressing a wound, or performing a manicure.

Tip #1: It is strongly recommended that good task lighting be installed either above the vanity mirror located near the sink or on both sides of the mirror. This is absolutely critical for providing good bathroom task lighting.

Tip #2: It is recommended that the vanity light fixtures installed around the vanity mirror be incandescent or halogen fixtures because this will allow you to easily control the brightness of these fixtures with a dimmer.

Tip #3: Make certain that the vanity light fixtures you select provide more than enough light. One of the simplest techniques that you can use to ensure that you will always have enough light is to over light the space, and then use dimmers to control the amount of light that you want or need at any given moment.

Tip #4: It is recommended that special neodymium light bulbs be used in the vanity fixtures, since they provide excellent light that very closely simulates sunlight. A neodymium light bulb is an incandescent light bulb that has a slight bluish tint to it. The bluish tint, created by a thin coating of neodymium inside the glass envelope will cause the light bulb to provide less yellowish light that a standard incandescent light bulb emits, and therefore be more like the sun.

Tip #5: Recessed downlights should not be used to light your face while standing at a mirror, because the light coming from these fixtures will cause too many shadows on your face. Recessed downlights can be used in other parts of the bathroom for general lighting but not for task lighting at the vanity mirror.

Tip #6: Consider installing a small lit concave mirror near the main vanity mirror. The concave curvature of the mirror will magnify what you see in the mirror, and the additional light will help improve the lighting for special tasks such as shaving or applying makeup.

Tip #7: An area of bathroom lighting that is often overlooked is the shower, tub or Jacuzzi. It is suggested that one or two recessed downlights with special shower trims be used to illuminate each of these areas. If the bathroom is already finished, a remodel, recessed housing can be used for this purpose. A shower trim, with a glass diffuser and a special gasket, should be used in these areas. You may want to consider selecting a shower trim with a domed glass diffuser because this shape often gives the most uniform distribution of light.

Always remember that light is the first element of design; without it there is no color, form, or texture. Check out our monthly specials, which includes lighting at www.ElectricalDetectives.com and click on the big billboard!
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Check out RSP... 09/03/2010
 
Recently many of you may have noticed that our friends at RSP updated their look. While their look has changed a little bit, their customer service has not changed at all. They still have some of the best service technician's around in the heating and cooling industry.

When you call our friends at RSP Heating and Cooling, you will receive the same great customer service that you have grown accustomed to with Electrical Detectives! Call RSP today to schedule an appointment at 942-2424. Their yearly Cozy/Comfy Club program can actually pay for itself and then some. They will help you get your heating and cooling system running at peak energy efficiency. They'll inspect and clean the coils, check and charge the refrigerant, clean or replace the filters and get everything running like new!

Check them out online at www.RSPhvac.com or call them today at 942-2424.
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The past two days almost everyone here in the office has been strung around by a customer service representative from a larger company. We have been placed on hold numerous times, tranferred from department to department, hung up on, spoken to machines, and told that nobody could help us...Ultimately leaving us with no answers and with a mountain of frustration.

Well if there is one thing that we can guarantee is that you will never speak to a machine or be placed on hold numerous times just to be told nobody could help you. We promise that you won't be transferred from department to department and you will always be speaking with a professional and friendly customer service representative that truely cares about your experience with our company.

We will not rest until you are 100% satisfied with our services. Now how many big companies can really stand by those words?

Be sure to check out our website at www.ElectricalDetectives.com
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Today there is a contractor just about everywhere you look. But just like anything else in life, not all contractors are the same. As a reputable electrical contractor in Southern Illinois, it is getting more and more difficult to compete with the competition. The sad thing is, is that it's not because they're better than us. In fact, it's quite the opposite, but the average homeowner is unaware of the differences.

Homeowners have many concerns when choosing a professional to work in their home, however many of them are the wrong concerns. Everyday we bid against non-licensed, uninsured contractors who seem to have flooded our marketplace. "When can you do the job? I need it done right away." We hear this all the time. We try our best and can usually accomodate them. However, sometimes we cannot. And the reason why we can't accomodate them is because we are doing our jobs the right way.

Some examples of time delays are city permits and waiting on the utility companies. Both of these processes are designed with the sole purpose of protecting the homeowner, yet many clients are annoyed by them. It is very frustrating as a contractor to lose jobs to individuals who claim to be contractors and in fact are not. It is sad, because many homeowners who hire these people have no idea that anything is wrong. It is not the homeowner's job to know what requires a permit, if they are breaking the law by not having a utility company disconnect or spot a service, if the work is not being done to code, etc.

It is the contractor's responsibility as the professional in charge of the project. But when a homeowner chooses to hir a non-professional they lose that protection. If one contractor tells you something that contradicts what a second contractor says, you should question it. Contact your city inspector and ask them if you are not sure.

It amazes me how often, they are misinformed by the non-professional but yet since it is an easier or faster or sometimes cheaper solution for them, they don't seem to care. For instance, if I say we need a permit and "Joe" the Electrician says they don't need permits, the homeowner believes him. They believe him because his answer is easier for them and they like that. But why would we say that we need a permit and risk losing the project if it weren't true? Homeowners need to realize that the quick route today could end up being the long, expensive route of tomorrow.

Professional contractors do not cut corners or ignore rules and regulations. They do not ask you to obtain a permit in your name. They provide you with a written invoice. They provide you with proof of insurance. They do not demand cash only. There are reasons why "Joe" the Electrician does what he does. Perhaps he is not licensed. Perhaps he is not an actual business and does not pay sales and income taxes or does not purchase the proper insurances to cover any mistakes that he will make.

Perhaps he does not want you to be able to locate him if you have a problem. Perhaps these are reasons why he is cheaper than the professional contractor. There are lots of things to consider when hiring a contractor to work in your home...but most homeowner's skip the most important ones.
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You should be aware that many contractors in the home services business do not have the proper licenses or have not properly registered with the communities they serve. Hiring a contractor that is appropriately licensed or registered assures that the contractor will be allowed to obtain permits that may be required for the job. It also demonstrates that the licensing or registering community recongnizes the contractor as legitimate and will monitor the work to assure that the appropriate codes are being followed for your safety. Electrical Detectives are licensed, bonded and insured. Call Our Experts today!
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1. Check the wattage of all bulbs in your lights.
    
     Are the bulbs the appropriate wattage for the size of the fixtures? A bulb of too-high wattage may lead to fire
     through overheating.

2. Check all lamp cords and extension cords.

      Are cords placed out of the walking areas and free of furniture resting on them? Tripping hazards may result. Also,
      stepping on cords or placing furniture on them can cause damage and create a fire hazard.
      Are cords in good condition (not damaged or cracked)? Shock of fire hazards can result from damaged cords. Do not
      attempt to repair cords yourself. Contact us to have them checked out.
      Are cords wrapped? Tightly wrapped cords can lead to overheating.
      Are all extenstion cords being used only on a temporarty basis? Extension cords are not safe as permanent house
      wiring. Contact us to have receptacles installed where they are needed.

3. check all wall outlets and switches.

      Are all outlets and switches working properly? Improperly operating outlets or switches indicate an unsafe wiring
      condition exists.
      Are all outlets and switches cool to the touch? Unusually warm outlets or switches may indicate an unsafe wiring
      condition exists.
      Do you hear crackling sizzling, or buzzing from your outlets? Contact us to identify the cause.
      Are all outlet and switch cover plates in good condition? Replace any missing, cracked or broken cover plates.

Call us, your Electrical Detectives today for on the spot repairs, or installations.
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