Categories Air conditioning

Why Do My Lights Flicker When the AC Starts?

Lights Flicker

You should be concerned if your lights flicker frequently. An occasional power surge because of your community’s increased electricity usage during peak demand is not uncommon. But if your lights flicker inconsistently or at specific times, like when your AC kicks on, it’s a warning sign.

4 Reasons Air Conditioner Start-Up Causes Your Lights To Flicker

Your Phoenix air conditioning system is getting a real workout this summer. It’s a fact that ACs pull a lot of power at start-up. When your cooling system starts, it temporarily drains the energy from other sources, including light fixtures.

Older homes in Maricopa County communities are already struggling with modern families’ higher electricity demands. Older wiring contributes to many electrical problems, including flickering lights. But greater use and a limited power supply means all homes can have electrical surges.

In one bizarre situation, a family’s lights flickered when their neighbor’s air conditioner turned on. They investigated and learned both older homes had insufficient, aging wiring and both were connected to the same transformer. Every time the neighbor’s AC kicked on, it caused a voltage drop next door.

Frequent light flickers can indicate your home or commercial property has a significant electrical problem. Here are 4 reasons why lights flicker when your AC starts:

  1. Broken capacitor – The capacitor gives your compressor the surge of power that’s needed for HVAC startup. If your lights occasionally dim about 3%-5% when the AC starts, that’s not critical. But if they lose half their brightness, you may have a damaged capacitor. Air conditioning capacitors are high-voltage components and very dangerous; call your professional electrician asap.
  2. Damaged, loose wires – Damaged and loose wires can cause a voltage drop when your AC turns on. Look for signs of discoloration/scorching or smoke coming from the outlet. Other signs of wiring problems are:
    • Outlet warm to the touch or has a burning smell, buzzing noises
    • Wire insulation frayed/crumbly
  3. Inadequate wiring – Sometimes your wiring is secure and in great shape but the type of wiring your home has may not be strong enough to support AC electrical requirements. This might occur if the cooling and heating system was installed without a licensed electrician and/or the wrong type of wire was used. Heavy-duty wiring is needed for HVAC systems. If aluminum wiring was used in place of copper, that could also be the reason the lights flicker. Consider copper rewiring.
  4. Overloaded circuit – HVAC systems need a dedicated circuit. Instead of dimming, if your lights turn completely off when the AC powers up, your circuit’s probably overloaded or double-tapped. There may be other large appliances pulling power or your older home’s wiring can’t handle modern AC electrical requirements. Overloaded circuits are dangerous and shouldn’t be ignored.

Choosing A Professional Electrician

Some electric services offer sales incentives to their service technicians. This can lead to recommendations for unnecessary purchases or pushes for a specific brand’s products. TIO Electric pros don’t receive commissions.

We have one agenda,and it’s all about you.Providing you with the industry-best electrical services you need is our priority. We care about our reputation for guaranteed satisfaction, but your family’s safety is even more important.

We don’t take shortcuts that might put your property at risk. You can trust us to leave our work area as clean as we found it. TIO Electric is licensed, bonded, and insured to protect your property and our electric professionals.

Contact TIO today if you have questions about your electrical system. You have choices, and we’ll work hard to make you glad you chose Turn It On Electric.

Categories Air conditioning

16 Best Ways to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs

summer cooling costs

If you thought 2022 was hot, get ready for 2023. You should increase summer heat health precautions for your loved ones. You’ll also want to reduce summer cooling costs.

The Phoenix high-temp record was set in 1990 at 122°, and Lake Havasu saw 128° in 1994. Predictions are this summer will see record-breaking heat in Arizona. Our summer heat records were already high enough, thank you.

This is nothing to ignore. Arizona Dept. of Health Services says high heat can lead to:

  • Cramps
  • Exhaustion
  • Stroke

During a heatwave, avoid strenuous outdoor activities, remain well-hydrated, and stay inside with suitable air conditioning. This will keep you and your family safe this summer. It will also lead to higher-than-anticipated energy bills in 2023.

Start Now To Reduce Summer Cooling Costs

Ceiling fans are a natural, effective way to circulate cool air in your home. They can reduce summer cooling costs, will add value to your quality of life, and are a solid investment. A professional ceiling fan installation is affordable and protects the manufacturer’s warranties.

Before it becomes dangerously hot, practice these energy-saving ways to lower your electric bill this summer:

  1. Air dry – It’s been a laundry trick used for decades to give clothes a more wrinkle-free appearance. It’s also a great way to reduce electricity.
  2. Air filters – If you change air filters more often, you’ll lessen the load on your air conditioner and enjoy cleaner air.
  3. Close doors – Closing doors creates natural, zonal cooling.
  4. Digital/mechanical timers – These little add-ons can reduce vampire electricity use without compromising comfort. Most things we’re too lazy to turn off or unplug at night qualify for a timer.
  5. Duct cleaning – If you can’t remember when, it’s probably time to clean your ducts. Your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system won’t work as hard and you may breathe easier.
  6. Fireplace chimneys – Seal the chimney for summer and put a nice dried flower arrangement in the fireplace.
  7. Insulation – A common misconception is insulation keeps your house warm in winter. It also keeps your cool air inside, where you need it. If you need a retrofit or new insulation, now’s the time.
  8. LEDs – These lightbulbs save energy consumption by design, but they also emit much less heat. Switching to LEDs naturally cools every room.
  9. Lower water temperature – Reduced water heater settings can save $36-$61/year.
  10. Ovens – This is the summer to reduce oven use and increase ovenless dinners, especially during peak energy usage hours.
  11. Seal cracks/leaks – Use silicon seal strips to seal drafty doors and windows. They are often priced best on Amazon.
  12. Smart thermostatSmart thermostats save money. If you have one, use it. To upgrade, ask your local electrician what’s best for your home.
  13. Sun-facing windows – You’ll generate a lot of heat from the sunshine. Consider blackout curtains or upgrading window blinds.
  14. Unblock vents – If you have furniture blocking cooling vents, consider rearranging them to allow for better air circulation.
  15. Vampire electronics – Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use. This good habit can reduce your energy bill every month.
  16. Window screens – Opening the windows in extreme heat isn’t a good idea. But your older window screens could be the source of air leaks. Replacing them offers a better seal.

Ask TIO Electric About AC Protection

Losing air conditioning on a high-heat day is much more than uncomfortable. It’s dangerous, especially for infants and elderly family members. Make sure your HVAC system is performing at maximum efficiency and consider a whole-house generator for consistent comfort during power outages and blackouts.

Let’s discuss options to reduce summer cooling costs while keeping your family comfortable and safe in 2023. Contact Turn It On Electric.

Categories Air conditioning, Electric Bill

Can Nest thermostats save money?

Can nest thermostats save money?

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Airwave™ – Your air conditioning runs 30% less without a reduction in air comfort using Airwave technology.
  3. Display – Nest thermostats light-up and display weather, outdoor temperature, humidity level, and time.
  4. Ease of use – The Nest mobile app is easy to use and user-friendly.
  5. Integration – Nest thermostats sync with other devices/appliances: security cameras, doorbells, lights, locks.
  6. Leaf light – If the green leaf is displayed on your thermostat, you’re saving energy (and money).
  7. 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.
  8. Mobile app – You can change the temperature of your home from anywhere.
  9. Reports – Energy History generates a Home Report which summarizes energy usage and also offers tips for saving energy.
  10. Safety – If a smoke alarm or CO detector goes off, Nest will shut off the fan and/or turn off your heating/cooling system.
  11. 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.
  12. 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:

  1. If your family is forgetful about turning the lights off in bathrooms and other areas, consider light motion sensors for areas of your home.
  2. 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.