Chad – Page 31 – Turn It On Electric

Can Nest thermostats save money?

24May2020

Your air conditioner is the single largest contributor to your electric bill. If you’re working from home, keeping the entire house cool during the day can get expensive. Nest thermostats save U.S. consumers about 15% on their cooling bills and between 10-12% on heating costs.

Nest Thermostats Take You Beyond ‘Smart’ to ‘Intuitive’

Why should you have to figure out your thermostat? The Nest Thermostat learns from you. –Nest.com

Most people want programmable thermostats. We know it will reduce energy consumption and lower heating and cooling expenses. But programming them is tricky, and many people simply give up.

Nest thermostats raised the bar forever. Your home may have the same architectural floor plan as your neighbor’s, but your energy use won’t be the same. The type of home furnishings, number of household members and pets, and how you live are unique. Those dynamics greatly influence heating and cooling usage.

Nest thermostats don’t need to be programmed. They analyze your heating and cooling patterns. They learn about you; from you.

12 Benefits of Nest Thermostats

When reviewing the best smart thermostats for 2020, TechHive said, “You could just buy a Nest Learning Thermostat and call it a day.” The advantages are numerous:

Advanced auto-programming – Your Nest thermostat evaluates your patterns and preferences. Then, based on what it has learned, it programs itself to fit your schedule.
Airwave™ – Your air conditioning runs 30% less without a reduction in air comfort using Airwave technology.
Display – Nest thermostats light-up and display weather, outdoor temperature, humidity level, and time.
Ease of use – The Nest mobile app is easy to use and user-friendly.
Integration – Nest thermostats sync with other devices/appliances: security cameras, doorbells, lights, locks.
Leaf light – If the green leaf is displayed on your thermostat, you’re saving energy (and money).
Mobile alert – If the temperature drops low enough to freeze pipes or too hot, the Nest thermostat sends an alert. If your HVAC (heating, air conditioning, ventilation) system malfunctions, you’ll be notified.
Mobile app – You can change the temperature of your home from anywhere.
Reports – Energy History generates a Home Report which summarizes energy usage and also offers tips for saving energy.
Safety – If a smoke alarm or CO detector goes off, Nest will shut off the fan and/or turn off your heating/cooling system.
Save energy – Here’s a fun fact from our California friends: Since 2011, Nest users have saved enough energy to power San Francisco for 2 years.
Save money – Average energy bill savings are about $140/year.

Turn It On Electric: Helping You Find Better Ways to Manage Time and Money

You may find yourself working at home more this year. Economic conditions continue to fluctuate unpredictably. Homeowners are finding time and money management are more important than ever, but we also want to manage energy consumption.

Energy conservation is simply the right thing to do for our planet. (It’s the right thing to do for our budgets, too.) If you find you’re using more electricity this year, here are two ways to lower energy consumption:

If your family is forgetful about turning the lights off in bathrooms and other areas, consider light motion sensors for areas of your home.
Rewire your home office to accommodate increased work-at-home hours. It’s a solid investment in saving energy and increases your property value.

Turn It On Electric wants to be your electrical contractor. Please contact us if you have questions about cost-saving energy management.

Outdoor, Residential, Safety

Are Ring Doorbells Really Worth It?

24May2020

This year, you’ve likely personalized several standard security options (cellphone password plus thumbprint authentication, for example). Your financial service providers have also personalized data protection. And now, ring doorbells are being replaced by more personal technology: video identification.

Disadvantages of Traditional Doorbells

In Arizona, one property crime occurs about every 3 minutes. Burglary ranks as the number-one crime committed here. Video doorbells are “smart home” technology, but they also serve as security cameras.

Traditional ring doorbells:

Put you at risk. You must get near the door to verify the identity of your visitor or delivery person.
Put your home at risk. You must open the door to address the need.
Puts your possessions and valuables at risk. When you don’t respond to the doorbell, it verifies the house is empty. Thieves will take advantage of your absence.

Advantages of Video Doorbells

Video doorbells can be the “eyes” and “ears” of home security. Their capabilities and technology alone are worth the investment. Video doorbells increase your property value. They need professional installation, but once in place, the mechanics are easy to implement.

Buzzer
High-definition 1080p camera
Smartphone connectivity
Two-way audio

You can always view who is at your door using live video. You can talk using the audio function. The two-way audio function also works from your cellphone, so if you’re not home, the visitor or delivery person won’t know.

Video doorbells put a safe distance between you and your unknown visitor. This is something that will prove beneficial beyond 2020.

Images are amazingly clear.
Infrared night vision allows you to see who’s outside, 24/7.
Suspicious activity can be recorded.
You can photograph who’s on your doorstep.
Wifi capabilities are available in most models.

Hardwire vs. Battery Video Doorbells

Some video doorbell installation kits come with a rechargeable battery. It will need to be recharged regularly, depending on its battery life. In bad weather, battery-powered video doorbells have difficulty holding a charge and can fail completely.

If your video doorbell is hardwired, there is no battery to worry about. An electronic video doorbell uses between 8-24 volts AC (alternating current).

The Best of 2020

“If you’re looking for the best video doorbell*, chances are it’s among those we’ve tested,” said CNET. This year you might consider replacing your ring doorbell with a . . . Ring doorbell.

Saving space and competitive pricing make the Ring Video Doorbell Pro a good fit for most doorframes and budgets. Doorbells average 7.6 centimeters and you wouldn’t think size matters that much.

But just slightly larger units can lead to rewiring, re-routing wiring, or worse – rerouting through bricks or siding. A few centimeters can make a big difference. Ring Doorbell Pro is a compact 4.7cm and transmits in terrific 1080p HD resolution.

The Ring Doorbell alerts you even when visitors don’t ring the doorbell and includes:

Wide-angle video shows people from head to toe
Continuous recording for up to 30 days
Advanced Motion Detection
Two way talk with noise cancellation
1080p HD Video
Video history for 60 days (with subscription)
Live View
Near motion zone motion capability

Knock, Knock! Who’s There?

Turn It On Electric is open for business.

Now’s a good time to replace your ring doorbell with the kind of protective technology you need. Turn It On Electric continues to install security lights and motion detection lighting. We believe video doorbells address additional security solutions for Phoenix homes. They can serve you well for many years.

Turn It On Electric is available for all your home automation needs, including smart doorbells. We’re your Phoenix-area electricians. Call or email us to learn more.

Electrical Wiring, Residential, Safety

Are you ready to work from home?

6May2020

Working at home is convenient and cost-effective. You may be prepared to work from home, but is your home ready for full-time employment?

With more families working from home, they often find they need more computers to support their job and their kid\’s schoolwork. This adds up to a lot of data requirements. Especially when you include streaming tv and game consoles. Without the right infrastructure in your home, you could feel like you\’re back on dialup.

What Do You Need to Work from Home?

People are working from home so much more today and many families are now homeschooling their kids.

Perhaps videoconferencing what was once face-to-face appointments and meetings will become the norm. And now we\’re using technology to stay in touch with loved ones and connect with business associates.

If you weren’t familiar with “streaming,” this might be a good opportunity to learn. You’re going to need some electrical upgrades to run an efficient home office or homeschool.

You’ll need to consider:

Better lighting
Child-proofing
Computer
Furniture/office equipment (File cabinet, desk, etc.)
High-speed internet
Monitors
Network router
Personal server/backup drive
Printer/scanner
Software
Surge protector
Telephone/VoIP
UPS (uninterruptible power supply)

Create an Efficient Work Environment

Bob Vila™ says to configure your homeschool or home office properties before you tackle electrical work. Know what you want and get the technological components in-place in the room(s) you plan to utilize. Will conference calls and online classes be in the same room with your office or a separate location?

Vila recommends “structured wiring.” Structured wiring is a data-delivery system. It can accommodate phone/fax, broadband internet, and networking (video/television) technologies. The system requires three segments:

Cables/wiring inside your house
Hardware for connections/connectivity
Panel/module for outside service to enter your home

Get Ready, Set, and Turn It On to ‘Go to Work’

Once you know what you need and where it should go, contact your LEED-certified local electrician to schedule your “go-live” day. “The data capacity of copper wire is designated by category and how the wires are twisted,” explains Vila. “The main difference between the wiring designations is the transmission frequency (bandwidth/megahertz).”

This installation shouldn’t involve knocking down walls. Wiring and cables can be strung behind and in-between walls. What you don’t want is a tangle of extension cords and cabling.

DIY (do-it-yourself) will be unattractive and won’t work as well. It’s dangerous to your family and property, too. Your insurance company may reject any damage claims resulting from your attempt to rewire a room.

Comfort, Convenience, Safety at Home

Working at home is a convenience for many. You can wear your sweats to work while enjoying a comfortable, safe workspace. The electrical upgrades you make during this time will increase your home’s value and lower energy bills at the same time.

The Turn It On Electric pros want to protect your safety and help you maintain good health while working at home. Your home circuitry can manage the additional workload with proper installation.

Today, many are considering career changes. If you’d like to learn more about working as a member of our team, we’d like to hear from you. Contact us if you have any questions.

Electric Bill, Residential

Is the electricity bill going up now that you work from home?

16Apr2020

Companies across a wide range of industries are embracing the growing trend of letting employees work from home. With fewer employees at physical offices, companies can save on a variety of expenses, like facilities, meals, electricity bills and more. This can free up room in the company budget for other initiatives and move the company forward.

Working remotely can be beneficial for employees as well. They\’ll no longer have to deal with the time and stress of commuting each morning and evening. Workers also have more freedom in how they structure their days, including meals and breaks. However, being at home all the time can also have its negatives, like increased electricity bills. Because you are at home all day instead of just in the evenings, your energy usage is likely to be much higher.

Here\’s what you need to know to minimize your usage and keep your electricity bills under control when working from home.

Save on Your Electricity Bill with a Smart Thermostat

If you\’re like most people, a significant chunk of your energy bill goes towards heating or cooling. Temperature control, while essential for keeping your home and workspace comfortable, is one of the biggest energy expenses.

To help keep your usage in check, consider switching to a smart thermostat. This will allow you to program your thermostat to accommodate your changing needs throughout the day. It can also make adjustments based on whether or not you are home, the time of day, the weather and more. Although you\’ll still be using your system more frequently because you are home more often, the smart thermostat can help you make the most of it and reduce its impact on your electricity bill as much as possible.

LED Lighting

Throughout your day, do your best to open your shades or blinds to allow in natural light. Not only is this safer for your eyes and better for your mood, but it will also reduce your reliance on artificial lighting. The less frequently you need to use your lights, the more you can save on your electricity bills.

Of course, you are going to need lights at some times. Rather than using traditional incandescent light bulbs, make the shift to energy-efficient LED bulbs. In addition to using less energy, thus reducing your electricity costs, LEDs last significantly longer than other bulb styles, so you\’ll save money on replacement costs as well. You can even find varieties that let you adjust the color and color temperature to suit your preferences.

Motion Sensors

As you go about your day, it can be easy to turn on lights throughout the house. What is not so easy, however, is remembering to turn them all off. Leaving your lights on when you are not in the room can add to your electricity bills over time. With motion sensors, the lights in a room will automatically turn off when the sensor detects that no one is in the room. This way, the system will switch off your lights when you forget to do it, adding up to serious savings.

Get Set Up to Work from Home

If you need to make some changes around your Phoenix house now that you work from home, Turn It On Electric is here to help. Whether you need new wiring installed to accommodate a smart thermostat or want to make the switch to energy-efficient lighting, our team can handle the job. We\’ll help you identify trouble areas to reduce your home\’s energy usage and minimize your electricity bills.

Reach out to us today to learn more about our electrical services in Phoenix. Call now to get started.

Ceiling Fans, Maintenance, Residential, Safety

Can bathroom fans keep you from getting sick?

15Apr2020

Bathroom fans aren’t just for odors. Their primary purpose is to decrease moisture in bathrooms. New sensors and timers can keep your rooms’ humidity at a level that controls bacteria, mildew, mold, and viruses.

How Traditional Bathroom Fans Work

Bathroom exhaust systems have a ceiling fan connected to ductwork that leads to outside ventilation. Older bathroom fans may be noisy – in fact, if they’re too quiet they probably aren’t working.

Most bathroom fans are controlled by a wall switch. Usually, you turn it on as you exit the bathroom and forget to turn it off until much later. The exhaust fan should be on for about 20 minutes following toilet or shower use. If you leave it on too long, ball bearings inside can lock up which could cause the motor to overheat. That’s a fire hazard you want to avoid.

Bathroom Fans Can Reduce Bacterial Growth

There are ways to control bacterial levels in your bathroom. In addition to frequent cleanings, close the toilet lid when you flush. If your toilet is in the same room as your sink, store your toothbrushes in a cabinet. Exhaust fans can’t completely eliminate moisture-related bacteria.

Your bathroom fan may not be working if you have:

Ceiling/wall moisture stains
Frequent frost on windows
Metal corrosion
Mold
Peeling wallpaper/paint
“Uncomfortable,” heavy air quality

Humidity sensors not only “clean-up” your air; they also save money by lowering energy use. People with frequent allergies or illnesses are likely candidates for home humidity sensors.

Humidity Sensors: How They Work

The sensor unit is a “hygrometer.” It measures and reports air temperature and moisture levels. Those measurement ratios are called “relative humidity” and impact your comfort level.

Capacitive sensors use metal oxide electrical components.
Resistive sensors use salts and ions to measure electrical resistance and reactance.
Thermal sensors conduct electricity using dry nitrogen and ambient air (the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen) sensors.

Any electrical appliance installation should be managed by your local electrical contractor. It’s not worth the risk of fire or damage and can void your insurance policy. Plus, installing a basic bathroom fan is a time-consuming and difficult job. (Don’t try this at home.)

Installing a humidity sensor is assuredly not a DIY (do-it-yourself) job. They must be calibrated on a 9-point curve system. A professional must adjust the voltage deviation.

Humidity sensors should have an accurate rise time and fall time for voltage output. This is known as “response time.” A DIY bathroom fan installation could be essentially worthless if the sensor is out of sync and you don’t know it.

3 Seasons for Allergies; 13 Weeks for Flu

We only have 4 seasons and three of them are high in allergens. This year, the flu season (normally 13 weeks) is taking longer to dissipate. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is important to keeping allergens at bay and controlling the transmission of viruses.

“It’s difficult to predict how (the flu virus) will behave,” says LiveScience, “But even if you can’t predict what will happen, you can prepare for it.” There are

IAQ Important to Health and Comfort

Good indoor air quality and clean water top the list of property owner requirements. Homeowners and commercial businesses want comfortable, clean air. Replacing your bathroom fam with a humidity-sensing appliance can be your ticket to better health, too.

Now is a good time to schedule that home improvement project you’ve been putting off! If you have questions about any type of electrical installation, please contact the professionals at Turn It On Electric.

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Chuck P

01:46 23 Jan 25

Friendly, communicative, and professional.High quality work.

Renee Delu

18:10 11 Jan 25

Mike you are the best!! God bless you for comming out saturday when I blew my fuse trying to vacumm and shout out to Josh who although not have sat office hours called me anyway after I left a voicemail. .Bob Best was here and gave me amazing information that NO OTHER electrician had. .!! I'm happy to say this is an amazing caring company...and I'm a customer for life!! Please recognize and reward Mike And Josh for them saving me on Saturday as my security system had no power and my smoke alarm had been beeping for hours. These men deserve kudos. .if you are looking fir honest and highly qualified electrical work. This is where to go. I'm thankful and grateful. Bob is now an instructor ..I'm happy to know future electricians are being schooled and trained by him. Thanks to you all

Wally Johns

01:31 11 Jan 25

Good work and very polite guys.

Rebecca RB

01:03 21 Oct 24

This company literally saved us! We had some electrical issues discovered that were rather alarming and created an issue with the garage door opener completely lost power as well as our outdoor dusk to dawn lighting and the interior garage lights. Mike the electrician came to the rescue! He listened to the issues in my non electrical language (haha) translated it and solved everything with confidence! Knowledgeable, Friendly, prompt, professional and efficient! Highly recommended! Will definitely call for future needs!

luci redmond

15:28 12 Oct 24

Great customer service & a job well done!

Samuel Heffner

17:04 14 Aug 24

I called TIO Electric because a friend referred them and they did not disappoint. I had an issue and it was rough identifying the source of the problem. Miguel and Conrad worked together to identify and solve the problem quickly. As a services based business it was extremely important to get the repair done quickly and the team stayed to ensure the job was done before they left. I expected to have to schedule another visit due to the complexity of the case, but they understood I needed to be back up and running as soon as possible and got the job done in just a few hours. They were very professional and personable and the cost was in line with what I expected.Update 8/14/24: TIO helped me again. This time with an issue I was having at my home. Marcus was very nice and knowledgable and was able to identify the problem and make the repair in quick time. I had a secondary issue I wasn't too worried about, but Marcus took care of that as well. These guys know what they're doing. Still highly recommend.They did a great job. I would definitely recommend them for projects big and small.

Caren Zellmer

12:46 03 Jul 24

Excellent service!! Marcus has been to our house a couple of times and completed the work doing an AMAZING job. He was very polite, professional and explained every process to us. His work was also completed in a timely manner. It is very rare to find anyone with great work ethic anymore! This company is very lucky to have him. We would definitely recommend and use Turn It On Electric again.

Bob

14:42 10 Jun 22

They were on time, clean, friendly, professional and did an amazing job. I would have to say that the price was fair considering the amount of work done. Highly recommend Turn It On Electrical!