RHS Electrical Services

LED vs. Regular Light Bulbs

Do LEDs Make a Difference?

There has been a seismic change in the way we light our homes and businesses. Not all that long ago, all that was available were old fashioned light bulbs that used heated tungsten filaments to produce light. They had a short life and were expensive to run. Then along came compact fluorescent bulbs, and now LEDs are everywhere. We are promised cool, cheap to run, efficient lighting but is this really so? Let’s compare LEDs vs Regular Lights and see if LEDs are really worth it.

What are my options when it comes to light bulbs?

There are three sorts of lighting available for you to choose from:

1: Incandescent bulbs
Incandescent light bulbs have hardly evolved since Thomas Edison and his team of researchers invented them in the late 19th century. Basically, a thin wire filament in a vacuum-filled glass envelope is heated by electricity until it glows. The vacuum prevents oxidation – which would essentially mean the filament would burn up very quickly.

It is a simple technology but fragile, with a short lifespan. It is also far more inefficient than either of the other options, much of the energy is wasted as heat. The heat also causes its own problems as it can burn anything that comes too close.

2: Compact fluorescent light bulbs
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) were the first generation of low-energy lighting. They use the technology of the fluorescent tubes that companies commonly use to light offices, stores and factories. The tubes are folded to make them compact enough to be direct replacements for incandescent bulbs, although some versions require special fittings.

For the same amount of light produced, CFLs use around 60-80% less power and last 8 to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The quality of light of a CFL is different from that of incandescent lighting. It has a discontinuous spectrum, and many think it is harsher and less pleasant. Modern versions have improved this quality immensely.

3: LEDs
The new(ish) kids on the block, LEDs are transforming every aspect of artificial lighting. You will now find them everywhere, from home, to store, to cars, to sports stadiums. They are sweeping the market.

Do LEDs save energy?

The huge benefit LED lights have over previous light bulbs is their energy efficiency. Compared to incandescent bulbs, they are a massive 80% more efficient, and they turn 95% of their energy into light, whereas older lighting would produce a lot of heat.

This has two major effects. The first is that this noticeably reduces the user’s electricity bill. With that sort of energy efficiency, the amount you pay for lighting will drastically fall if you’ve been using old-fashioned filament bulbs.

The second effect is more important. In the 21st century, we have finally realized that the demand for energy used globally must decline. We need to reduce greenhouse gasses and move away from fossil fuel power sources, and LEDs reduce the demand for electricity, meaning we can more easily rely on alternative renewable energy sources.

Hot weather doesn't have to mean a big bill. Stay cool for less with our tips to save energy in hot weather.

When the hot summer sun heats your home, you can keep cool without energy costs rising as high as the heat index. And, since heating and cooling account for more than half of your overall energy bill, these money saving tips can help lower your electric bill.

💥General Hot Weather Tips💥

💫Wait until later in the evening to use heat-producing appliances, like the oven, clothes dryer and dishwasher. Many dryers and dishwashers have timers you can set so they turn on hours later.

💫Shade south and west-facing windows during the hottest part of the day.

💫If you use a window air conditioner, make sure it’s the appropriate size and sealed properly.

💥Ceilings, Attic and Whole-House Fans💥

💫Run ceiling fans counter-clockwise during hot months. While standing directly under a ceiling fan, you should feel a cool breeze.

💫When using a ceiling fan, you can raise the thermostat setting a few degrees and still be comfortable.

💫Turn off ceiling fans in unoccupied rooms. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms.

💫Use or install an attic or whole-house fan for cooling air circulation in hot months. In many climates, these can be an inexpensive alternative to air conditioning.

💫Make sure your attic is properly ventilated to remove hot air.

💥 Cooling System💥

💫 If you don’t have a programmable or Wi-Fi enabled thermostat, set your thermostat to a temperature that is as high as you can tolerate. The recommended setting is 78° or higher when you are home and higher when you are asleep or away.

💫Don't set the thermostat lower than you actually want it, even if you're trying to cool your home quickly. It won't cool your home any faster, and it runs your system longer than necessary.

💫Have your system inspected regularly. An annual tune-up helps your system run more efficiently. Plus, loose or inefficient duct work can mean much of what you spend to cool your home is actually cooling the outdoors.

💫Change or clean your filter once a month. Dust and dirt make your unit work harder.

💫Vacuum registers and vents regularly.

💫Don't let furniture and draperies block cooling airflow.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲?⁣
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Since we use electrical outlets nonstop every day, it’s easy to forget how dangerous they can be. All that separates us from the dangerous, high-voltage electrical currents flowing through our wires is a hard plastic shell. If your outlets ever look loose, it’s very important to fix it right away. Loose outlets could expose you to , , or other . ⁣
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Outlets can loosen in two different ways. Either the whole outlet face wobbles or the receptacles are so loose that plugs fall out of them. These problems occur for different reasons, lead to different dangers, and require different fixes.⁣
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Loose, damaged, or disconnected wires could shock you or spark, leading to fires and other electrical hazards.⁣
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𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗥𝗛𝗦 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗡𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗦. ⁣
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𝟲𝟭𝟰-𝟵𝟴𝟳-𝟴𝟭𝟲𝟳

Are your electrical outlets sparking?

You’ve probably seen it many times: Sparks briefly shooting off an electrical connection, perhaps when you pull the plug on an appliance or plug it in. Sometimes it’s perfectly normal and nothing to worry about, but other times, it can signal a potentially dangerous problem. Knowing what causes electrical outlet sparking can reassure you when the issue is harmless. Here are some of the main reasons an electrical outlet might be sparking.

Ordinary Sparks

In American homes, the electricity runs along available circuits and then back out to the main grid without interruption. When something is plugged in, or turned on, some of that very fast, hot electricity transfers from the outlet into the appliance, light, computer or whatever. A rapid draw on available power occurs, resulting in a brief spark. This is normal and no more threatening than a mini-jolt of static electricity.

Short Circuits

When excessive heat builds up in an outlet, it can melt insulation that covers the wires. Electricity running through exposed wires can cause a fire, and when an electrical connection occurs, a serious spark can result. A professional electrician should address the issue immediately.

Water Exposure or Age

Exposure to water will trigger a spark in a circuit and short it out. A ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlet will shut down the circuit to avoid a fire.

Age also could be an issue. Over the years, outlets gradually wear out and connections will loosen, raising the chance of a short circuit occurring and sparking a fire. Old, frayed appliance cords also can result in an outlet sparking.

Negligent Repairs

If your electrical system has been repaired by someone without the skill or experience to do the job right, those poor repairs can result in big problems, either in the near future or far future. Use a certified electrician for all electrical repairs.

Dealing with an electrical outlet sparking? Check out RHS Electrical Service skilled electrical services, or give us a call at (614) 987-8167.

Individual must have at least (2) full years of experience in residential wiring. Old work skills are a plus.

Able to change 100 amp panels, meters, ceiling fans, outlets, light fixtures etc.

If you have one of these, you definitely need my help! This is a FPE Electrical Panel, they no longer are in business due to numerous malfunction which resulted in fires 🔥

Call me and I can help have it replaced with a newer modern panel. Market cost to replace a 100 amp main breaker panel will run you from ($600-$800), we can replace it for ($300-$400). If you have a 200 amp that needs replaced it will run you ($800-$1000), we can replace it for ($600-$750).

We charge a fair price based off our overhead operations cost. It’s not to say that the service is over priced, we simply enjoy what we do and we do a lot of the same type of services daily.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Be Blessed

Downtown just keeps building, and building, and building!

Arena District, downtown Columbus see $1 billion in development proposals - Columbus Business First The northern cusp of downtown is poised for a billion dollars of new construction in the next few years. Eight projects alone are in development promising $1 billion in investment.

When is the last time you checked your bathroom exhaust fan?

With growing number of related fires, a warning to check your bathroom exhaust fans It's the fire hazard in your home that many people aren't aware of firefighters say, and now they want to bring more attention to the problem. "It is one of our leading causes of fires here in Westerville," said Westerville Fire Chief Brian Miller. His safety message has to do with bathroom exhaust....

Make Home Electrical Safety a New Year's Resolution!

While many New Year’s resolutions revolve around making improvements to one’s well being, the start of the new year is also a great time to look around the house for potential electrical safety hazards.

Winter is the most dangerous time of year for electrical fires due to increases in lighting, heating and appliance use. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), home electrical problems cause more than 26,000 fires and $1 billion in property damage in a typical year.

RHS Electrical Services encourages you to practice electrical safety measures that can prevent fires and help keep you and your family safe throughout 2019.

The USFA reports that many home electrical fires are caused by:
-faulty electrical outlets
-old wiring, and
-problems with cords, plugs, receptacles and switches

Consider having your home’s electrical system inspected in 2019.

Check the label on the cover of your electrical service panel to determine when the system was last inspected. An inspection will reveal potential hazards, such as exposed wiring or wiring in need of replacement.

In addition, keep the following resolutions to make sure your electrical system is in good condition:

**Resolve to install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, garage and any other areas where electricity and water might come into contact. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, GFCIs should be tested at least once a month and after a power outage.

**Resolve to periodically check that smoke alarms are working properly.

**Resolve to replace appliances that have worn, frayed or damaged cords.

**Resolve to install tamper resistant receptacles (TRRs) to electrical outlets if you have small children. Spring-loaded shutters on these devices close off contact openings, or slots, of the receptacles. Both springs must be compressed at the same time to create an electrical circuit. Therefore, no contact with electricity is made when a child attempts to insert an object into only one contact opening. TRRs are recommended by the National Fire Protection Association over receptacle caps, which may be lost or be a choking hazard.

**Resolve to have your furnace cleaned and inspected once a year by a licensed professional.

**Resolve to clearly and correctly label fuses and circuit breakers. The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends labeling fuses and breakers with the rooms and outlets they service, as well as their amperage.

Contact RHS Electrical Services at 614-987-8167 for all your electrical needs!

www.rhselectricalservices.com

How do I know when my breaker box is full?

If you plan on installing a hot tub or building a pool, you need to know that your home’s breaker box can handle the extra load. If you notice appliances aren’t operating at full capacity, you wonder if it’s time to upgrade the fuse box. Pulling more electricity into the house doesn’t always call for professional breaker box repair or replacement. There might be room for increased capacity in your breaker panel, but how can you be sure?

Take a Look Inside
If all the slots in your fuse box contain breakers, you assume it’s full. However, take a look at the diagram inside the door. It indicates how many circuits a breaker box can handle. If you see a 20/40 notation, that means your box has 20 spaces for breakers and the capacity to operate with 40 circuits. It’s not uncommon for builders to fill all the slots with single breakers, but the door drawing maps out spaces that can accept tandem breakers. If your panel doesn’t have a layout diagram, a licensed residential electrician can determine its capacity.

Double Down With Tandems
A tandem breaker takes up the same space as a single on the panel board, but it allows for the installation of two circuits in one slot. Often, the solution to a full breaker panel is as simple as replacing singles with tandems, but it’s important to know if your box meets Circuit Total Limitation standards. CTL certification became a part of the National Electric Code in 1965. If your electrical panel was installed before 1965, you’ll need a professional electrician to confirm its integrity and take care of any breaker box repair before installing tandems.

Don’t Do It Yourself
As handy as you are with home repairs, it’s never a good idea to work on the electrical panel. A licensed residential electrician knows his way around all kinds of electrical panel upgrades, and that expertise ensures your home’s safety. He takes care of special tandem requirements in older panels with industry-proven installation techniques. Very few homeowners understand proper breaker placement in a bus bar or the danger of two circuits sharing the same neutral. Improper breaker installation creates a fire hazard, and DIY work can void equipment warranties.

While tandem breakers are more expensive than their single cousins, they do a great job of safely increasing the load capacity in your fuse box. Electrical panel upgrades cost far less than replacements, and our master electricians are always happy to help you decide on the best options for your home. Just give RHS Electrical Services a call at 614-987-8167 and we’ll put more than 20 years of experience to work on your breaker box.

www.rhselestricalservices.com