7 Dangers of DIY Electrical Repairs

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Part of owning a home is learning how to make easy repairs and fixes to keep costs down. One place you shouldn’t skimp is on your electrical. Not only is the electrical system critical for your daily use of appliances, lighting, heating, and cooling, but if not serviced properly, you could open your home to significant damage an in some instances a total loss.

The low-quality installation of electrical has commonly been known to cause house fires. While you may be able to install a new light fixture or replace a damaged outlet, larger scale repairs and new electrical installation should always be left to the professionals. Be sure to read on if you’re not familiar with the risks you face with every DIY solution.

Electrical Hazards You Didn’t Know

If you’ve ever worked with electrical systems, chances are you’ve got a slight shock here and there. When you take on a larger project the risks and concerns become more severe. Some of the possible hazards you could face include:

  • hazardOverloaded electrical panel.
  • Damaged appliances and electronics.
  • Falling ceiling fan.
  • Hot or dead outlets.
  • Electrical fire.
  • High voltage shock.
  • Fluctuating energy voltage.

A vast majority of your daily routine is based on the use of electricity. From turning on lights to taking a hot shower – any miswired connection can put a damper on your life. The largest concern for any family is always going to be a high voltage shock or a fire.

Electrical shocks can be a harmless jolt or severe enough to cause death, which is why you should always be wary of performing installations in your home. Similarly, any miswired connection could also cause an electrical arc that can result in fire damage to your home.

Essential Electrical Safety Equipment

electricsafetyA professional electrician is equipped with plenty of safety equipment that allows them to offer accurate and reliable services in your home. This can range anywhere from a voltmeter to insulated gloves that keep them safe.

This is often another reason why a DIY approach can be such a concern for your safety. A voltmeter, for example, allows electricians to diagnose and gauge current levels throughout your wiring.

This ensures that a specific wire is safe to work with, while also giving them a useful tool when diagnosing damaged outlets with no power. Similarly, electricians also have wire locators that help cut down on structural damage to your home when performing repairs.

Finally, the most important safety equipment a professional electrician uses is the gear that protects their body. From safety goggles to fire retardant clothing, these essentials ensure that they’re never shocked or burned in the line of duty. In many cases, a homeowner will not have this essential gear, leaving them open to danger.

Take it Easy, Trust a Pro

callelectricianWhen it comes right down to it, you want peace of mind and safety in your home and the best way to get it is with professional help.

At Albritton Services, we are your Ruston electrical company of choice. We offer detailed solutions that get your home back in working order quickly, and also take the time to educate you so you understand your home a little better.

So be sure and help your family out by sharing this blog, and give us a call the next time you need some advice for your home needs.

In Your Feelings With Color Light Therapy

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Did you know that every single color on the color spectrum has frequencies of a distinct vibration that is related to a different physical symptom? Enter Color Light Therapy, the use of light and color combined to improve health and well-being. This may sound like a new millennial trend, but it is actually a science that uses colors to change the vibrations in your body into frequencies.

Color light therapy has been around since the late 19th century. It uses the light source from an incandescent bulb to transmit light. Adding specific colors to it can have many healing benefits. Color light therapy is already being used in hospitals and health spas as therapeutic, for calming stress and healing physical pain. Many of today’s modern homes are getting a lighting upgrade by incorporating this therapeutic system in their baths.

The end result is health, harmony, and healing in the comfort of your own home.In this article, you will read about Color Light Therapy and how it can help improve your quality of life or that of your loved ones. Many swear by color light therapy’s anti-aging capabilities. If you’ve been thinking about a lighting upgrade in your home, particularly in your bath, you should consider incorporating color light therapy into your upgrade.

Color Light Therapy at Home

Imagine coming home after a long, frustrating day. Wouldn’t it be nice to have color light therapy in your own home, where you can light up your bath water with an innovative chromatherapy tub? Want to soothe aches and pains and relax your day away? The built-in color light system can turn an ordinary bath into soothing spa therapy at home.

Every color incites emotion and restores balance. Each has a unique vibration, with frequencies that can mold and shape our emotions and how we feel inside.

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  • Red – elevates blood pressure and increases the breathing rate.
  • Orange – soothes tiredness and lifts depression.
  • Yellow – energy, stimulates enthusiasm, improves muscle tone.
  • Green – calming, provides calmness and enhances sleep.
  • Blue -tranquillity, produces a feeling of peace and reduces muscle tension.
  • Purple – activates your imagination.
  • Indigo – encourages inspiration and creativity
  • Magenta – improves vitality and mobility.

More and more health professionals are utilizing light and color therapies as a way to heal emotions and physical pain, and to restore balance in the body.

Health Benefits of Biophotonic RED Light

“red”Biophotonic RED Light increases blood circulation and reduces muscle and joint pain. Red light therapy can be used in homes to:

  • Accelerate cell immune response by fighting viruses and bacteria.
  • Regenerate new skin and blood cells.
  • Treat arthritis and reduces inflammation.
  • Stimulate stem cell growth.

Health Benefits of Biophotonic BLUE Light

“blue”Blue Light Therapy and natural sunlight can increase melatonin and serotonin levels to reduce anxiety and depression effectively.

Blue light has even been used to treat obesity, especially on those who easily gain weight in the darker winter months.

Other benefits of blue light therapy are:

  • Used in hospitals to treat newborns with jaundice.
  • Used to improve sleep and prevent certain types of cancer.
  • Effectively treats Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which causes depression due to lack of sunshine.

From Lighting Upgrade to In-Home Spa

You can enjoy the healing benefits of color light therapy simply by upgrading the lighting in your home. With the right type of light dimming and color, you can reduce stress, soothe pain and even become inspired!

Want to know more about color light therapy? Call the experts at Albritton Services in Ruston, LA at 318-251-0885 for an introduction to color light therapy and how it can improve the quality of your life. Albritton Services provides plumbing and electrical service in Ruston.

Looking For an Electrician Near You?

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If you are looking for an electrician near you, there are a few things you need to consider. Today’s modern homes are enhanced with high-tech home automation systems that will let you control temperature, lights, security, right from your smartphone.

So you need to hire an electrician who is trained in the latest technological advances. Make sure that they are knowledgeable about the current building codes and that they are licensed, bonded and insured, even if you just want to install a ceiling fan.

Do The Research

“electricalservicearea”Google electricians near you online. Visit their website and take a look at the services they offer. What do they specialize in? Many electricians specialize in one area, so make sure that they are skilled in the kind of issue you have.

If you hire an electrician who specializes in setting up high-tech commercial lighting, you will probably pay more even all you need is a light fixture installed.

Visit the State Contractors Board online and your local building authorities to check if their license is current and if they have had any complaints on record. Ask about their warranty and if they guarantee their work in writing. This will ensure that you have recourse in the event that something goes wrong.

Ask your friends and neighbors if they have a go-to electrical contractor. If they do, check them out and verify their credentials. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau and their reviews, but any review should be taken with a grain of salt. Some dishonest contractors will pay for good reviews and Five Stars.

Check crowd-sourced local search services like Angie’s List, Home Advisor, Yelp, and Google+ Local. Here you’ll find recommended businesses in your city. They will have a list of electricians near you and consumer reviews. But don’t trust too many five star reviews. Some unscrupulous contractors have been known to pay for dishonest reviews.

Ask Questions

Now is not the time to be shy. Ask any and all questions you may have. A professional electrician will not mind answering your questions. If they seem impatient with you, say good-bye. Some questions to ask are:

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  • Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
  • Will you be doing the work or someone else?
  • Is your staff also licensed?
  • How much will it cost? Get it in writing.
  • Do you offer a warranty? For how long?
  • Ask for references.

Get Estimates

“chooseelectrician”A high-quality electrician will always provide an estimate for the work they are about to do. Some professional electricians will provide a guarantee in writing as well as an estimate.

You should get the guarantee in writing to make sure the work is done properly according to building and city code. You don’t want to have any surprises at the end of the job.

Get at least three to five quotes. Compare prices but don’t go with the cheapest quote. Skill and experience should take priority, not price. It is better to zero in on their skill and experience rather than on their quote.

Price and time frame are important. A high-quality electrician will offer same day service when you need it and finish the job in a timely manner so you can return to your normal routine.

Call Albritton Services in Ruston, LA the next time you need a quality electrician. Their experts will be glad to discuss your electrical issue and answer all of your questions.

Common Electrical Generator Misconceptions

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Is your home equipped to prevent an extended power outage? If recent storms are any indication, the best way to protect your home is with generators.

Not only do they keep the lights on in your home, but also they can be a critical lifeline if you need to keep medicines refrigerated or temperatures down for someone in your family.

Whether it’s a severe storm or electrical damage in your area, a generator will turn on automatically and keep you and your family safe.

Like any appliance, however, there are plenty of things you should know before purchasing one, especially since a generator can have a serious impact on your safety.

Although there is plenty of information online, it’s key to understand the more common misconceptions surrounding generators so you can make the right choice for your home.

You Can Use Any Fuel Type

Not all generators are created equal, which means they don’t all use the same type of fuel. Before a storm, many homeowners will go to their local gas station and get a few gallons for their generators, without even knowing the specifications.

Not only can this be a waste of money, but also it can damage your actual generator.
You can have a full range of fuel types including:

  • Gasoline
  • Propane
  • Natural Gas
  • Diesel

And the options don’t end there either. Gasoline comes in varying octanes, which means you need to know exactly what you’re getting before you pour it into your generator. The best thing to do is familiarize yourself with your generator before an emergency rolls around. That what you’re prepared to operate it properly and keep it going for years to come.

They Can Be Installed Indoors

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Another major no no, that can have actual health implications for you and your family, is installing a generator inside. Like a car, generators produce exhaust fumes when in use.

If these fumes fill an enclosed space in your home, like a room or garage, it can poison the air your breathing, leading to serious health concerns and even death in extreme cases.

Anytime you’re considering installing a backup generator in our home, it should always be at least three to five feet away from any opening to your home.

Professional Installation May Not Be Needed

With YouTube and DIY articles all over the web, many homeowners may be included to try their hand at generator installation. However, if improperly installed in your home, you can:

  • Cut the lifespan of your generator.
  • Damage your generator.
  • Risk the indoor air quality of your home.
  • Damage the electrical components in your home.

If you’re planning on investing in a Generac generator or another standby unit for your Ruston home, it’s always best to get the job done right. Not only will you have peace of mind knowing that your safe from noxious gasses, but also you’ll have a guarantee that when your power goes out, all your most essential appliances will stay on.

Choose Your Local Pro

Now that you know how to debunk some of the more common generator misconceptions, your next option should be to choose your local pro. Albritton Service Company is a family owned and operated home service company helping homeowners like you. Their experts have the skills needed to complete a full-service generator installation so you can enjoy the peace of mind that the light will always be on.

What You Don’t Know About Conserving Electricity

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As more homeowners are taking an interest in conservation and the environment, more creative ways of saving electricity are being developed. Apart from purchasing eco-friendly appliances, there are a large number of ways Ruston, LA residents can lower the energy they are using in their homes.

In this article, we mention some of the newer, lesser-known methods of conserving electricity. Here are some suggestions that are sure to get you thinking.

Grill Food Outside More Often

“grillfood”If you love to barbecue, this may be appealing to you. Grilling food outdoors instead of cooking it your kitchen can save you on electricity costs in different ways.

First, you’re not using energy to power your stovetop or oven, and second, no heat is being produced by these same devices, so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work harder to counteract the extra warmth.

Instead, you’re just burning charcoal or propane outdoors, where the temperature doesn’t matter concerning energy being spent. It’s also advisable to use a microwave instead of a stove or oven to reheat food.

Shut Your Doors All the Way

“shutdoors”It might seem a bit obvious, but it’s something we often forget to do. Shutting doors to your home can prevent drafts and humidity from entering the house.

This practice is key during both summer and winter months since you don’t want your HVAC system to work harder cooling or heating your home.

Consider buying a door draft stopper to place on the bottom side of any entrance. Also, if you don’t want cool or heat up particular rooms, close the vents and the doors to them to conserve more energy.

Trees Can Protect Against Sun and Winds

“houseshade”One way of saving on energy while adding beauty to your home is to plant specific types of trees in certain spots to help with cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.

Plant deciduous trees, which shed their leaves in the winter, on the west and southwest sides of your home to provide shade from the hot sun.

Set up rows of evergreen trees, which keep their leaves all year long, on the north and west sides to help block cold winds. These will help the overall regulation of the temperature in your home.

Install Low-Emissivity Windows

“lowemissivitywindow”Low-emissivity glass is a new technology designed to reflect infrared and ultraviolet light, so it doesn’t enter your home without reducing the amount of natural light that comes through.

Essentially, these windows have a microscopically thin coating that is transparent and reflects heat. That means the temperature inside remains consistent, so your HVAC devices don’t have to work as hard to maintain your desired climate.

What Would a Day Without Electricity Look Like?

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If there’s one thing modern civilization takes for granted, it’s the presence of home electricity. It’s just always around us. Think about how many gadgets Ruston, LA residents use on a given day from the moment we wake up until we fall asleep. There’s almost no part of our day we’re not focused on something powered by electricity. Monitors, radios, clocks, music players … the list goes on.

What would it be like if we suddenly weren’t able to rely on electricity? How do you think our lives and routines would change? Just how dependent are we on power? It’s a utility human beings rely on so much, even though it’s not actually essential to our survival. Let’s attempt a thought exercise. What would a day without electricity be like?

No Heating or Air Conditioning

heatingacWithout power, we’d be at the mercy of the weather with no way to control our climate. Things could get either nippy or boiling hot depending on the time of day and season. If it’s cool, you can wear multiple layers and bundle up beneath a series of blankets or even start a fire if you have the right tools and space.

As for hot summer days, well, there are only so many clothes you can take off. Perhaps it would be best to try and find a nice spot of shade since staying out of the sun would be key. Considering the health risks associated with extreme weather, be it hot or cold, it should be a top priority finding a way to regulate body temperature.

No Hot Showers

showersHaving zero electricity doesn’t affect plumbing systems too much, except for one key device. No power means no warm water and no hot showers.

If you’re okay skipping a shower session for one day you probably will be fine, but if feeling sizzling jets of water is a part of your daily routine you’re simply out of luck.

They say cold showers build character. Well, now’s your chance to put that theory to the test.

No Lights

lightsThis may be the most apparent thing you miss with no electricity. A lack of light makes it difficult to navigate anywhere at night, be it the streets or your very own home.

Once the sun goes down, visibility disappears quickly. This is where you need to go old school. Households should always have candles and battery-powered flashlights at the ready in case of emergencies.

They’re no substitute for electric lights, but they get the job done. Just be patient and be careful when you’re walking.