Active Electric are Trusted Regina Electricians and they get it right the first time, delivering all electrical services including installation, upgrade, and repair solutions.

Active Electric are your TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICAL EXPERTS

Active Electric Shares a Tip About Home Electrical Safety for Winter

We all know in Saskatchewan the winter season comes with difficulties and hazards. Winter brings weather that can create further dangers in the form of electrical hazards. Active Electric wants to ensure that everyone is equipped with the right licensed electrician tips for home electrical safety for winter to keep them safe and warm.

Electrical Winter Safety Tips

When winter comes around, it is important to be prepared for the difficulties that can come with the cold, wet weather. Some tips to keep in mind to make sure that you and your home stay safe this winter include:

Heater Safety

If you are using a space heater in your home, make sure you place it at a safe distance from furniture, walls, rugs, curtains, and other belongings. Space heaters are a great way to keep specific rooms warm without ramping up monthly heating bills but, because of the high heat output of electrical heaters, it is important to keep them away from flammable material. If you feel objects around the heater becoming hot, move the heater. Fires can easily be started by an unattended heater. Always turn off the heater when it’s not in use.

Prepare for Power Outages

The increase in snow and icy weather can cause downed tree branches and car accidents, which can damage power lines and cause electrical outages. In the event that there is a power outage, you should be as prepared as possible. Sometimes power can be out for hours; other times, it can be out for days. If an outage occurs at night, you cannot rely on space heaters to keep you warm. Be prepared for extended power outages with an emergency kit. 

The emergency kit should be readily accessible and contain batteries, flashlights, blankets/sleeping bags/warm clothes, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, and sufficient water for your family. This will help to keep your family warm, fed, and safe during an emergency.

If you have a backup generator, ensure that it is ready to go. The start of winter is a good time to have regular maintenance and check-ups done on your generator. Have a professional inspect it to ensure that oil and gas levels are correct and that the connection to the home or business is safe and secure. If a power outage occurs, you want to be confident that you can rely on your backup power supply.

Avoid using candles during power outages. Many people use candles to light their rooms during power outages and, while this can deliver a nice ambience, it is very dangerous. If the candles are unattended or wax drips and causes build up around the candle, it can result in a fire. Instead, use flashlights or LED candles.

Preparing Your Home’s Electrical Setup

Power outages can do damage to your home, and harsh weather can be a hazard to many of your home’s electrical components. There are a few ways you can defend your home’s electrical setup against winter:

Be aware of water and exposed wires. With freezing and thawing occurring repeatedly, it is possible for water to find its way into some of the nooks and crannies of your home. Walk around your home’s interior and exterior walls and look for any exposed wires that could come into contact with water. Make sure any problems are addressed quickly.

Having a home surge protector will help suppress surges to prevent electrocutions and damage to appliances and electronics.

You can also protect your appliances and electronic devices in your home with surge protectors. Review your home setup to check if surge protectors are active and still functional.

During an extended power outage, unplug your major appliances (oven, fridge, freezer, television) and turn off light fixtures (although you can leave on some lights so that you know when the power returns). This can prevent power surges from occurring and damage the appliances when power returns.

Keep Away from Downed Power Lines

If an icy tree branch knocks down a power line or if a car hits a power pole and the electrical wiring falls down, keep at least three metres or 10 feet away at all times. Power lines are very powerful and can cause serious electrocution if you are not careful. Keep your family and children educated, as they could come across a downed power line during their daily commute. 

Always call 911 when you see a power line down.

If you are interested in finding out more licensed electrician tips for home electrical safety for winter, or If you are ever uncertain about a potential electrical issue in your home please Contact Active Electric.  and one of their qualified professionals would be happy to help.  They also provide Free quotes! 

ACTIVE ELECTRIC is a TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICIAN -  Check out his listing here in REGINA ELECTRICIANS on the Regina Directory of excellence!

Active Electric are Trusted Regina Electricians and they get it right the first time, delivering all electrical services including installation, upgrade, and repair solutions.

Active Electric are your TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICAL EXPERTS

Experiencing Power Outages?  Active Electric Shares A Tip on Why You Should Install a Generator

When most people think of generators, they tend to think about things such as construction sites and those who are turning to off-grid solutions for everyday living. The fact is, however, that more and more people are choosing to install generators in their homes and businesses.

A generator will power your home through power outages caused by storms, other weather, or man-made problems.  Generator installation is on the rise, be a part of the community and be prepared.  Below are a few reasons home generators can be a practical, cost-effective solution at your home or business.

Emergency Preparedness

Storms not only have damaging wind and rain that can knock down power lines, in some cases, but they also spawn tornadoes that can do even more damage to the power grid.  Power generators ensure you have access to electricity in emergency situations. Storms, rolling blackouts, and damage to power lines are just a few of the things that can come about when you least expect them. Having a power generator in place before these problems occur means you never have to worry

Furthermore, if a disaster were ever to occur, scrambling to find a power generator may be the last thing you want to do.

Backup Power For Home Appliance & Medical Devices

When the power is out, appliances shut off. Usually, worst-case scenario is having to reset clocks and power devices back on when electricity becomes available. Some appliances however have consequences. Food storage for instance can constitute a problem if refrigerators and freezers become inoperable for any substantial amount of time, as many items can spoil in just a few hours at room temperature.  

A much more serious reason to have a power generator on standby is the need for home medical devices. Equipment such as a CPAP machine for those suffering from sleep apnea, electrical hospital beds and chairs for those with mobility issues, heart monitors, dialisis machines and more are all dependent on electricity without fail. When you depend on one of those, you cannot tolerate the risk of a power outage.

Using a generator in a storm can preserve food, it can keep damaging mold from growing in your house from a lack of air-conditioning. A generator can let you operate pumps to keep your home from succumbing to water damage from flooding. It can allow your business to keep running during a power outage and prevent profit losses.

In cases where these devices are present, it is a good idea to have a power generator on standby that is dependable and will not let you down. This is a situation where you will want a professionally installed system that you know you don’t have to worry about.

Safety and Security

As many security experts in Regina will tell you, one of the first things many home intruders often do with the increasing presence of home cameras and security is cut the power of a home. In the absence of backup power or batteries, this will not only turn off the lights but shut down cameras and alarms preventing anyone home or away from that there may be an intruder.

Permanent power generators that automatically turn on with power loss can mitigate these concerns, and ensure continued security and monitoring in the event of a blackout or loss of power.

What type of generator do you need?

If you are only interested in keeping a refrigerator going and perhaps a few small appliances, a portable generator is the best. If you have a home or business and want to keep the air conditioner and all the electric powered items going, then a stationary (standby) generator is best. This generator should be installed by a licensed electrician to ensure it works correctly when a power outage occurs.

Portable Generators

These types of generators are much less expensive than their permanent counterparts. However, they are completely dependent upon your presence.

You have to manually start the generator and, if you have to use it for any length of time, monitor the gas consumption. 

Furthermore, a portable generator must be no closer to your home than ten feet, because of the carbon monoxide emissions. At the same time, you will want to house it in an enclosure that keeps it safe from the elements but also allows for free movement of air.

If you are using a portable generator in an emergency situation, it’s likely that it will only be able to power the most important appliances in your home. They simply are not big enough to handle the brunt of everything from appliances, televisions, lighting and everything else. Plan to downplay your energy output if you will be depending on a portable.

Permanent Placement Generators

You can find these in many different sizes, but all in all the expense will be more. The main reason for this is that you are paying for more peace of mind. Should you need to leave your home for vacation or business for a few days, you can rest assured your generator will take care of any random power outages. 

They are very quiet, much safer than a portable generator and, should you decide to sell your home, they can bring about 50% of their original cost in the sale.

The downside to permanently placed power generators is that they need maintenance every two years. However, with that maintenance, the reliability can be determined, and if there are needs such as medical equipment involved, the peace of mind is absolutely priceless.

If you are considering a home generator, and need assistance with electrical or infrastructure to ensure the safety and reliability of your investment, feel free to contact us for cost estimates and recommendations. 

If you are ever uncertain about a potential electrical issue in your home please contact Active Electric and one of their qualified professionals would be happy to help.  They also provide Free quotes! 

ACTIVE ELECTRIC are TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICIANS -  Check out his listing here in REGINA ELECTRICIANS on the Regina Directory of excellence!