As home air conditioning use rises with summer heat waves, your monthly energy bill will also start to climb. That’s why now is the right time to start thinking about how you can use less electricity and save some cash.

At A-1 Electric, we have bucket truck services in Bucks County that will save you from summer power outages. We can also help you bring down your electric bill with these five tips:

Shut Your Curtains

When you keep your curtains closed on a sunny day, you can reduce incoming heat by up to 30%. That might be the difference between turning on the AC and staying comfortable without it. You might also choose to invest in solar shades or curtains, which are available at most hardware stores.

Regularly Change Your Air Filters

Your HVAC system’s air filters will become clogged over time, which makes your AC work harder and use more energy. Most homeowners should change their filters every three months. If you have pets, however, you should change it every two months.

Plug in a Few Power Strips

According to the Department of Energy, home electronics use the most electricity when they’re turned off. You can stop this energy drain by unplugging electronics or plugging them into a power strip. Regularly turn off your power strips when you leave the house, and watch your energy bill nosedive.

Do Your Laundry With Cold Water

You can save up to 50% in energy costs by washing your clothes in cold water. Unless you’re dealing with a particularly dirty load of laundry, cold settings will clean it just as well as hot options. Cold water is also gentler on your clothes, preserving their color and preventing shrinkage.

Switch Your Light Bulbs to LEDs

Pick up a pack of LED light bulbs, and they will quickly pay for themselves. LEDs can last twenty times as long as incandescent bulbs and save you more than 70% in energy costs. Additionally, unlike fluorescents, these environmentally-friendly light bulbs cast a soft and warm light.

Is Your Energy Bill Still Making Your Eyes Pop Out?

If your monthly bill is still sky-high, it’s possible that there is an issue with your home’s wiring. For example, a short in your circuit breaker can drain power and raise your bill.

Fortunately, the master electricians at A-1 Electric offer skilled electrical services, including routine repairs and parking lot lighting installation near Philadelphia. We also provide third party electrical inspections — though we can’t inspect our own work. Give us a call today at 800-401-6114!

Completing maintenance on your generator at least once a year is vital to its efficiency, especially in the long run. While we perform bucket truck services in Montgomery County and other nearby areas, we also perform generator inspections. Perhaps you’ve forgotten about your generator the last few years. If that’s the case, now is the time to act. Here’s why you need to have your generator inspected.

Make Sure It Works

If you have a generator on your property, it’s probably not used very often and only in the case of an unexpected power outage. When the power unexpectedly goes out is when you need it the most, and therefore, the worst possible time to discover that there is an issue. If you schedule a generator inspection, you can make sure that your generator will operate correctly when the time comes.

Avoid Fuel Problems

Without regular maintenance, generators can become more susceptible to algae buildup, clogged fuel injectors or dead batteries. If issues like these go unnoticed, they can ruin your generator for good.

Cuts Costs

While avoiding generator maintenance may save you some money in the short-term, it will most likely cost you more in the long run. Instead of paying a small amount for maintenance here and there, you might have the cost of entire replacement on your hands.

Increase Longevity

Generators are not cheap. You don’t want to buy new ones often. By keeping your generator properly maintained, it will operate effectively for a longer period of time and prevent you from having to buy a new unit sooner.

Improves Efficiency

When the time comes to use your generator, you’ll obviously want it to run as efficiently as possible. Generator maintenance will ensure you aren’t wasting fuel or energy, cutting costs.

Here at A-1 Electric, the leading commercial electrical contractors serving Bucks County, PA and beyond, we are certified to perform inspection and underwriting on electrical generators. We follow all codes and conducts when it comes to our inspection process. We service residential, commercial and industrial locations with superior craftsmanship and quality customer support.

In accordance with state law, our team can perform both electrical services and inspections but not both for the same job.

Call 800-401-6114 to have an inspector at your door in 24 hours!

After the massive nor’easter swept through the east coast, Pennsylvania residents quickly found themselves dependent upon electrical professionals to restore their power. A-1 Electric, along with emergency service providers, was recently able to restore electricity to over 100,000 residents through their emergency electrical services and bucket truck services in Bucks County.

Nor’easter storms are macro-scale cyclones that are most commonly experienced in the eastern United States and Canada. Characterized by low temperatures, high-speed winds, and the potential for flash flooding, nor’easter storms can cause massive amounts of damage in short periods of time. This past month, Pennsylvania residents were rocked by a massive out-of-season nor’easter, causing over one hundred thousand residents to lose power in their homes and businesses.

During a major storm, electrical restoration is more than just an issue of convenience. Many members of the Delaware Valley community rely on their electricity to run medical devices, so a blackout can be of much more consequence than simple boredom. Businesses also rely on electricity not only to keep their doors open but also to make sure that their goods stay fresh. For example, grocery stores that are not outfitted with a generator have the potential to lose thousands of dollars worth of food should the electricity go out.

The team of high-voltage line crews and inspectors at A-1 Electric partnered with emergency management services to spring into action and help restore power to over 100,000 residents. They worked quickly and efficiently to bring power back to Pennsylvania. In the hour when speed and skill mattered the most, A-1 Electric is proud to announce that their team did an amazing job serving their community while minimizing loss.

When the next storm arrives, residents of Pennsylvania can rest with the peace of mind that comes along with knowing that they have the team at A-1 Electric, the leading electrical contractors in Montgomery County, on their side.

Additionally, remember that A-1 Electric can perform electrical services and inspections but not on the same job due to state law.

When it comes to keeping you and your family safe, ensuring that your smoke detectors are functioning is one of the most important preventative steps to take to avoid tragedy. Current recommendations by the U.S. Fire Administration suggest that you should test your smoke alarms about once a month, but, unfortunately, most homeowners forget to do so

Can’t remember the last time you checked your smoke detectors? Follow these simple steps provided by our experts at A-1 Electric, a leading electrical service company serving properties in Bucks County, to improve the safety of your space!

• Alert your family members. Smoke detectors emit a high-pitched screeching noise when activated, which can frighten small children and startle adults.

• Station an assistant. If you don’t have smoke detectors in every room of your home, station a family member as far away from the smoke detector you are testing as possible. If they cannot hear the alarm or it is muffled, you will want to consider installing another detector for maximum safety.

• Press the button. Locate the test button on your smoke detectors, and press and hold it down. Though it may take a minute to activate, you should hear a loud, ear-shattering beep or siren noise. If the sound is weak or you do not hear anything, try replacing your batteries.

• Clean the grates. Locate the grates on your smoke detector and clear away any dirt of dust that may have collected after your last test. Leaving debris to collect makes it more difficult for your smoke detector to sound an alarm when there is a fire.

According to data from the U.S. Fire Administration, smoke detectors have a lifespan of about 10 years. Even if an old smoke detector is working after this time, its decreased efficiency level may be putting your family at risk.

If it’s been 10 years since you’ve replaced your smoke detectors, call our team at A-1 Electric to schedule an appointment for new detector installation.

As a reminder, our team can perform an inspection on your property and provide electrical service in your Montgomery County home but not at the same time according to state law. This is also to avoid any conflict of interest.