Where GFCI Should Outlets Be in Your Home and Why

January 8, 2025

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are a critical safety component in a wide range of household electrical applications. If you’ve ever seen an outlet that had two small buttons between the two sockets on the panel, then there’s a good chance you’ve seen a GFCI outlet. It’s important to understand what a GFCI does, where such outlets belong in your home, and why. This will help you make better decisions about how GFCI systems fit into your home’s overall electrical system. What Does a GFCI Do? A ground fault circuit interrupter measures the electrical current that runs between a hot wire and a neutral one. The current should be balanced between the two wires, and the presence of any noticeable imbalance is a sign that something is wrong. This triggers a fault and causes the GFCI to turn off the circuit. While this might sound a bit like what the circuit breaker does, there are a few notable differences. A circuit breaker doesn’t detect the ground condition. Instead, it simply measures the load and shuts off the circuit if there is too much load. A GFCI system detects when the electrical current is out of balance because something is taking...

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Zoned HVAC Systems: Better Personal Comfort With Benefits

January 1, 2025

Standard HVAC systems attempt to cool or heat the entire home when they cycle. One drawback is that you’re pushing conditioned air into areas that may not need it, driving down heating and cooling efficiency. The solution is installing zones in your home. This guide explores what a zoned HVAC system is, the kinds of zoning available, and the benefits zoning has on your home’s comfort. What Is a Zoned HVAC System? Zoning is segmenting your home into smaller sections for the HVAC system to heat or cool. Zoned systems usually have a thermostat in each zone, allowing you to set the desired temperature in that particular zone. In basic systems, each zone may only have a sensor instead of a full thermostat, and the temperature is still centrally controlled at the primary thermostat. When a zone doesn’t need conditioning, the HVAC system doesn’t expend any energy in that area. This keeps energy consumption directed specifically at those areas that need the heating or cooling most. In central systems, dampers in the ducts open and close to allow conditioned air into that zone or keep it moving to the zone that needs it. In ductless systems, the zoning control happens...

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How Do You Reset a Breaker That Keeps Tripping?

December 8, 2024

A tripped breaker can occur in any home and is a common challenge that many households face. If handled correctly, you can usually apply a quick and simple fix. However, it’s important to follow all guidelines to ensure safety and keep your household functioning efficiently. This guide will walk you through what it means when a breaker trips, how to reset it and ways to prevent a breaker from tripping in the future. What Happens When a Breaker Trips? Although it can be frustrating, breaker tripping is actually a safety mechanism to protect your home. When the breaker trips, it cuts power to prevent overheating. It’s important to know why a breaker trips to help keep it happening in the future. Some of the most common reasons include overloaded circuits, short circuits and ground faults. How Does This Hurt the Home’s Electrical System? In extreme cases, frequent breaker trips can lead to wiring damage or increase the risk of electrical fires. This is because when a breaker trips, it disrupts the stream of electricity. This weakens the circuit and puts a lot of strain on your home’s electrical system over time. Step-by-Step Guide to Resetting a Tripped Breaker This step-by-step...

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What Is the Best Thermostat Setting for Winter?

December 1, 2024

As the colder months approach, you might wonder about the best temperature to set your thermostat during the winter to balance your family’s comfort with the need to manage your heating bills. This can be even more challenging when different people who live in your home disagree about what a comfortable temperature is. Battling over the thermostat can waste energy and cause tension. However, when you know the right temperature setting for your thermostat when the weather is colder, you can be more comfortable while saving energy and money. What the Experts Say The ENERGY STAR experts recommend that people set their thermostats to 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months. This setting is meant to help people remain comfortable while also saving energy and money. The reason why the government considers this to be the best heat setting is that 68 degrees is high enough to allow your heating system to warm your home’s interior air and counteract heat loss through your home’s doors, windows, and walls. At this temperature, you won’t be overheating your home and will maintain a fairly comfortable indoor air temperature. Researchers have also found that a temperature of 68 degrees meets the preferences of...

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What are the Environmental Benefits of Gas Fireplaces?

November 13, 2024

For homeowners who value coziness and environmental friendliness, gas fireplaces are a great option. Compared to conventional wood-burning fireplaces, they are less harmful to the environment and more efficient. When you know the environmental benefits of gas fireplaces, you can make a better choice for your house and the future of our world. Lower Carbon Emissions Compared to Wood Burning The reduced carbon emissions produced by gas fireplaces are among the most notable environmental advantages. This is unlike fireplaces that burn wood and release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air, which adds to the emissions of greenhouse gases. Compared to other heating options, gas fireplaces emit much less carbon dioxide gas for the same amount of heat. Plus, methane, the main component of natural gas, burns cleaner than wood. Furthermore, state-of-the-art gas fireplaces often include cutting-edge combustion technology to significantly reduce pollution. When combating climate change, this reduced carbon footprint is of the utmost importance. Increased Heating Efficiency and Reduced Waste You get more heat from less fuel with a gas fireplace, which is why they are so popular. Many of today’s modern gas fireplaces have heating efficiencies of up to 90%. This means they convert almost all the energy...

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How to Ensure the Electrician You Hire Prioritizes Safety

November 4, 2024

When it comes to electrical repairs in your home, safety should always be the first consideration. Hiring the appropriate electrician necessitates a comprehensive vetting procedure to ensure that the individual you select will handle your electrical needs responsibly. Let’s look at some of the ways you can find electricians for safe electrical work in your home. Check for Proper Licensing and Certification The first step in ensuring safety when hiring an electrician is verifying their credentials. A licensed electrician will have undergone the necessary training needed to perform safe electrical work in compliance with local building codes and safety standards. In most states, electricians are required to hold a valid license to offer services legally. For example, if you’re hiring an electrician in Washington, you can use the state’s licensing board website to search for their license number. This verification process ensures that the person you’re hiring meets the minimum qualifications required by the state. Additionally, consider electricians who are certified by a reputable industry organization like the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). This certification indicates that the electrician has voluntarily gone above and beyond the basic licensing requirements to specialize in certain areas of electrical work. Check Insurance Coverage...

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How Pets Impact Indoor Air Quality: Manage Dander and Smells for a Fresher Home

October 22, 2024

Pets are beloved members of the family for numerous households across the country. According to the National Pet Owners Survey from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), approximately 86.9 million U.S. families own at least one pet. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 97% of pet owners view their animal companions as vital members of the family, and many individuals can bond with their pets as much as they can bond with other humans. While pets enrich the lives of families, they can also bring unique challenges into homes. Per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pets produce various biological pollutants, allergens, and odors that can affect indoor air quality (IAQ). Fortunately, there are steps homeowners can take to minimize the negative effects of sharing a space with furry or feathered friends. A look at the top strategies for managing pet pollutants can provide a blueprint for maintaining a clean and comfortable home. How Do Pets Impact Indoor Air Quality? Pets affect indoor air quality in several important ways. All mammals and birds shed flecks of dead skin cells. Scientists refer to these tiny, microscopic flakes as dander. In addition to the flakes that attach to skin, dander...

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Is a Backup Generator a Good Investment?

October 11, 2024

You likely feel inconvenienced when the power goes out in your Kirkland, WA, home. You won’t be able to cook on the stove or oven, watch TV, power your appliances, or take a hot shower. If you or someone in your home has a health condition that requires the use of medical equipment, it can be life-threatening. Backup generators are available as an option to ensure the power stays on. Let’s consider if this investment is worth your time and money. What Is a Backup Generator? Before we look at the benefits of a backup generator, let’s consider what this equipment does. There are two main types of generators. The first is a standby generator, a permanent installation outside your home. Portable generators are mobile, so you can store them when unused. The most practical use for powering your entire home during a power failure is a standby generator. Installed by a professional, a backup generator is wired into your house’s electrical panel. When the power goes out, the generator will automatically turn on. Depending on the setup you have, you may need to flip a switch to get your backup power going. There are also fuel-powered backup generators. Benefits...

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Why It’s Important to Schedule Visits from Heating Contractors

September 12, 2024

Although you and your family members likely rely on your home heating system several months out of the year, you might not think about your system very much. After all, it’s easy to ignore a heating system that seems to be working properly. However, it’s still important to schedule regular visits with a home heating contractor like in Seattle, WA. There are a few reasons why you should schedule regular appointments with an HVAC contractor in the future, even if you haven’t always done so in the past. Keep Your Heating System Working Effectively It’s easy to forget about your heating system when it isn’t cold outside or when your unit is doing a sufficient job of heating your home. When your unit suddenly stops working properly (or at all) on a cold day, however, you’ll probably wish you had paid more attention to it. Unfortunately, issues can pop up at any time, particularly if you don’t take good care of your heating system. Older systems can be even more prone to issues. Luckily, regular maintenance can help you prevent unexpected repair issues and can help you ensure your unit is operating as effectively as possible. By keeping your unit...

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Zoning Your HVAC: Personalized Comfort in Different Areas of Your Home

September 5, 2024

Improve your home comfort by upgrading your HVAC to a zoned system. With a zoned system, you can program each part of your house to whatever temperature you desire. You can eliminate hot and cold spots and ensure every part of your house is fully comfortable. How HVAC Zoning Works Most homes have a single-zone HVAC system, controlled by a centrally located thermostat. The thermostat signals the AC or heating to run as needed, and the HVAC system always supplies conditioned air to every room at the same time. A zoned HVAC system essentially splits the home up into smaller areas that are each controlled by their own thermostat. In more technical terms, a zoned system splits the home’s ductwork up into different zones. This is done by installing metal gates, known as dampers, at the point where the smaller branch ducts that supply different parts of the home connect to the main trunk duct. Each of the dampers is individually controlled by the thermostat in whichever zone the damper is for. Once any of the zones is warmer or cooler than it should be and the thermostat in that zone calls for heating or cooling, the HVAC system will...

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