Tag: decorations

Save Money With Energy-Efficient Holiday Decorations

Switching to Energy-Efficient Holiday Lights Can Save Homeowners Money

Christmas decorations and lights are iconic parts of the holiday season that get people in a festive mood but can cost money to run. In this blog post, electrical experts share tips on how homeowners can reduce energy usage and save money this winter by using more energy-efficient holiday lights. 

Homeowners can save money on utility bills when they stop using old light-up decorations that waste energy. New Christmas decorations are designed with energy efficiency in mind. There are lots of ways that homeowners can enjoy a magical and bright Christmas without running up their electric bills.

LED Christmas Lights 

lightsLED lights are a much more energy-efficient option for Christmas lights than traditional incandescent lights. There are many benefits to using LED Christmas lights instead of old-school string lights. LED lights are safer because they don’t get as hot. They also last a lot longer and use much less energy, making them the clear better option. 

LED lights also come in every color or style that homeowners could want. They are easy to adjust and are safer to use outside than traditional lights. Homeowners can get many more years of use out of LED Christmas lights than incandescent ones, making them a good investment for many seasons to come. 

Battery-Operated Christmas Lights

Adding some battery-operated Christmas decorations and lights can also help reduce the strain on the electrical grid from holiday decor and can help save homeowners money. And a bonus is that they can be used in places where a cord will not reach or where homeowners want lights or decorations without a plug and cord sticking out, like on a Christmas wreath or garland. Homeowners should be careful not to let battery packs outdoors be exposed to rain unless they are specifically made for outdoor use. 

Using rechargeable batteries is the best way to use battery-operated holiday decorations efficiently. Battery-operated candles are one example of an elegant holiday decoration that lights up the room without using the home’s electricity. There is a large variety of versatile battery-powered holiday decorations for homeowners to choose from.  

Get Creative With Candles

candlesWant to add more holiday decor without using any additional energy? Go old school and use candles to light up the night. Real candles can add an elegant touch to a Christmas Eve dinner or holiday party. They also come in all sorts of colors, scents, and styles. 

Candles are a great way for homeowners to add additional decor and festive holiday scents to their homes without any effect on the power bill. However, homeowners should be mindful not to leave lit candles unattended or put them near flammable materials like curtains because they could start a house fire. Additional safety tips are to keep candles away from where children or pets can reach them to prevent accidents and always have a working smoke detector. 

About Modern Electrical Services

Modern Electrical Services has provided Groveland, MA, and the surrounding areas with high-quality electrical services since 2016. They offer straightforward pricing, same-day service, and a satisfaction guarantee. Call them today for smoke detector services in Groveland, MA.

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How to Make Sure Your Halloween Decorations Are Safe This Year

3 Easy Ways to Avoid Electrical Hazards This Halloween!

As Halloween approaches, many homeowners are getting in the festive spirit by adorning their homes and yards with ghouls, ghosts, goblins, and all the things that go ‘bump’ in the night. Of course, today’s Halloween decorating trends have gone beyond the classics like spiderwebs and rubber bats into the more elaborate and extravagant territory – giant inflatable monsters, fog machines, string lights, and animatronic villains complete with diabolical laughter.

These decorations can make for a fun, frightful time for trick-or-treaters and adults alike, but they can also become real-life horrors if not properly set up. Every year in the U.S., holiday decorations spark hundreds of electrical fires that result in property damage, injuries, and even death. So to ensure this year’s Halloween decorations are the right kind of scary, here are three electrical safety tips every homeowner should know!

Check Electric Decorations for Issues Before Putting Them Up

inflatablesFirst up, before plugging in or putting up any electrical decorations, homeowners should inspect them for damage and wear. This is particularly important if the decorations have been in storage since last year, but it also goes for brand-new decorations right out of the box. Faulty wiring is one of the leading causes of electrical fires and electric shock, so it pays to be extra vigilant.

Look out for cracked plugs, exposed wires, damaged wire insulation, corroded terminals, loose connections, and missing or broken bulbs. The same goes for extension cords, timers, or power strips homeowners plan on using. If they find any issues that can’t be fixed with a simple solution, such as replacing a missing bulb, homeowners should throw out the faulty decorations or damaged cords and buy new ones. The extra cost is well worth the family’s safety.

Have a Strategy for Where to Plug in Decorations

outletsNext, homeowners should plan where to run cords and plug in their decorations. Extension cords and power cables should be away from walkways, doorways, or anywhere else they can be crushed, twisted, pinched, or stepped on since this may damage the insulation. Instead of hanging lights using nails or staples, which can pierce the wiring and cause a fault, it’s best to use plastic clips or adhesives.

Homeowners should also avoid overloading outlets with too many decorations, as this can trip the circuit breaker and cause wires to overheat, which may result in a fire. This can be prevented by using multiple outlets, being mindful of amperage limits on timers and power strips, and not exceeding three sections of string lights in a row (or whatever the maximum limit is for that particular brand).

To prevent the risk of electric shock, homeowners should also ensure that outdoor decorations like Halloween inflatables, yard decorations, and lights are rated for outdoor use and only plugged into GFCI outlets. Most outdoor or garage outlets in modern homes require GFCI protection.

Use Surge Protection

Lastly, it’s a good idea to have surge protection to protect decorations. Whole-house surge protectors installed at the main electrical panel are the most effective, but most homeowners are probably more familiar with the smaller surge protectors that resemble power strips. Unlike power strips, surge protectors can help protect against electrical fires and damage to electronic devices.

Surge protectors work by sensing power surges (momentary spikes in voltage within a circuit) and sending the excess current into the home’s grounding wire and away from any electronics plugged into the surge protector (such as Halloween yard decorations). Suppose a power surge occurs on an unprotected circuit. In that case, any devices plugged into that circuit will bear the brunt of the surge, potentially being fried or even igniting an electrical fire.

Power surges can come from nearby lightning strikes, damage to power lines, restoration of power after a blackout, or even high-powered appliances like refrigerators or heating and cooling systems cycling on. So surge protectors are well worth the investment to safeguard against the unexpected this Halloween – and beyond!

About Modern Electrical Services

Founded in 2016, Modern Electrical Services has quickly become one of the highest-rated electrical contractors in Groveland. Their trustworthy electricians always arrive on time, provide friendly, professional service, and leave every home better than they found. They offer up-front pricing, financing, same-day service, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so there’s no one better to call for whole-house surge protector services in Groveland, MA!

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