Residential – Page 24 – Turn It On Electric

6 Ways to Save On Your Electricity Bill

16Mar2021

Now more than ever, Maricopa County residents are seeking ways to save energy. Electricity rates have been scheduled to increase – and delayed – for quite some time. Phoenix residents may be looking at a 3.9% price increase by mid-2021 and other areas, including Tucson will see a $4.93 per-month rate hike.

Continue to use all the tips you know for ways to save on your electricity bill. But there are some smart options that can make a very real difference in your energy usage and quality of life.

Save on Your Electricity Bill with Smart Home Devices

Have you heard about “energy vampires?” They’re the home appliances that suck electricity, even when they’re not being used. “The worst culprits,” says home security pro Emily Ferron “are…devices with standby modes, like TVs.”

Consider these 6 smart home devices that will help you save on your electricity bill:

Hoses/sprinklers – You can upgrade your hose faucet with a Bluetooth-controlled hose faucet timer. With apps like “know the flow,” it can track usage and create zoned watering for multiple uses. Sprinkler system controls can be upgraded affordably. Check out the Best Smart Sprinkler Controllers For 2021.
Lighting – Some are smarter than others, so be sure to compare smart light bulbs. Light controls are the best way to save money and energy. They can integrate with Nest and operate easily with Alexa voice control.
1. Automatically turns off when not in use
2. LED bulbs offer the same amount of light for less energy.
Meter monitors – You’ll have real-time insight into home energy use with an energy monitor. It also works with time-of-use rate plans. Maybe the best feature is its alert system. You can track energy when home and away, and you’ll be notified of a spike in usage.
Outlet/power strips – This automatically detects and stops “phantom power” usage by devices. Some have designated outlets for appliances that should always be on. Others have motion detection and voice control options. Smart plugs and outlets can reduce the plug load by 50%.
Thermostats – You can save on your electricity bill as much as 25% with a smart thermostat programmed to work with house size, your type of HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system, and comfort preferences. The top smart thermostats offer energy savings and ease of use.
Window coverings – Smart blinds can be controlled by your phone. They can be hardwired or powered by solar or batteries. And of course, they can respond to Alexa voice commands. Smart window coverages can save three percent in lighting and up to 20% in heating/cooling.

Saving Money, Electricity, and Protecting You: Why We Care

Turn It On Electric of Arizona cares about friends and neighbors – like you. We want you to save money and live comfortably. We want to help you find ways to save on your electricity bill. But we also want you to live safely and affordably.

Here’s why we care: Today, the team of professionals at Turn It On Electric live here with you. We’re invested in our company, our families, and our communities. We’re invested in you. But we also want your legacy – your children and their children – to live their lives in a clean environment.

Contact us or call with questions about ways to save on your electricity bill or smart home device installation. You’ll never be sorry you called us, but you might regret that you didn’t.

Ceiling Fans, Residential

Benefits of a ceiling fan switch

16Mar2021

Your ceiling fan has two chains and invariably, you turn the light off when, in fact, you want to turn the ceiling fan on. Or you tug the chain twice and it generates a whirlwind in the room. A ceiling fan switch solves both problems.

Quit Yanking Your Chain with a Ceiling Fan Switch

We like vaulted ceilings in Arizona. They are charming, have an “old-world” elegance, and if they offer plenty of natural light, can add value to a property. Some people think vaulted ceilings are a waste of space and energy.

If you have a vaulted ceiling, enjoy the natural light and add a ceiling fan because it conserves energy and costs about $12/year to operate. But you’ll need a ceiling fan switch. And the wiring may include working with cross-beams and drywall finishing. It’s a job for your local professional electrician.

Advantages to Ceiling Fans and Smart Switches

Ceiling fans are energy-savers. When you enter the house on a hot day, it’s tempting to adjust the thermostat to cool down. Turn on your ceiling fan first. Ceiling fans don’t actually affect room temperature, but they affect how you feel. They also can lower your heating bill if you have a reverse switch.

“To me, having to manually reach up and pull the pull-chain on a ceiling fan is as awful as having to manually lift up your garage door,” says Eric Blank. But it isn’t practical to toss out your old ceiling fan if it works well.

Blank says his ideal ceiling fan has:

Auto on/off with PIR motion sensors
Voice control
Wall switch – Sometimes you’re in a hurry. Nothing beats a ceiling fan switch.

You’ll have the best opportunity for customization if you install a separate light switch and ceiling fan switch on the wall. You can have wall-mounted fan-speed control; a “smart” process, but the convenience of manually adjusting fan and light.

Don’t DIY. Just Don’t.

The thing is when you’re wiring a ceiling fan switch, what seems logical – like using a dimmer switch that’s already in place – doesn’t work. You can’t use a dimmer switch for fan speed control.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll buy one of those WiFi switches that are sold as “fan controllers.” They don’t have the required circuitry to control a ceiling fan motor. The noise is the best thing that happens as a result; the motor damage is often beyond repair.

Fiddling with electricity is risky. And risking property damages that your insurance company won’t cover because of your do-it-yourself ceiling fan switch installation is a problem. Electrocuting the family pet is worse; much worse.

TIO Electric: Smart Electricians for Arizona

It’s just smarter to install smart controls throughout your home.

If you’d like to install a ceiling fan, you’re not stuck with a saloon-type rustic fixture. Ceiling fan styles are so interior-design savvy that some are room focal points.

If you want to upgrade your ceiling fan fixture, let’s discuss the possibilities. Turn It On Electric wants to make any home or office renovation exciting and affordable. Call or contact us today to learn more.

Ceiling Fans, Residential

Homeowners guide to ceiling fan installation

16Mar2021

There’s a lot to love about ceiling fans! For those of us interested in conserving energy while improving IAQ (indoor air quality), a ceiling fan installation is a logical upgrade to any room. Today’s ceiling fans are 60% more efficient, thanks to improved motors and blade designs.

5 Advantages of Ceiling Fan Installation

Five benefits of ceiling fan installation are:

Comfort – Ceiling fans circulate air, including warm air from your HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) unit. Just reverse the fan blade direction clockwise to draw the warm air from the ceiling down toward the room, where you need it.
Lighting – Lighting will be enhanced by your ceiling fan light fixture. If you already have a working light, you can upgrade it with a ceiling fan for more attractive lighting ambience.
Please note: Just because you have the wiring in-place for lighting doesn’t mean you have the ceiling support to add the weight of a fan. Your local electrician will determine what’s needed for ceiling fan installation.
Lower monthly bills – Ceiling fans don’t work like your air conditioning system. They don’t generate cooler air. But the air circulation feels like the room is cooler, even when you raise the thermostat.
Style – You won’t have to compromise your cutting-edge contemporary interior décor with a rustic saloon-type ceiling fan installation. You’ll be amazed at the diversity in ceiling fan and lighting styles! You may even choose to make your new fixture a focal point.
Unlimited versatility – Ceiling fan installation is appropriate for any room in the house. And with the rise of outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas, a ceiling fan will enhance your porch or patio comfort.

Quit Pulling Their Chains

You don’t have to yank the chain – and inevitably, you grab the wrong chain – then tug it once, twice…no, that’s too much like a whirlwind, so you begin the chain-pulling process anew.

Ceiling fans are much smarter these days. You can say, “Alexa, turn on fan.” And Alexa will cheerfully say, “Okay!” You can operate with a Bluetooth-enabled ceiling fan installation. You can turn it on before you reach home to begin cooling-down a room or rooms.

One ceiling fan model exceeds ENERGY STAR requirements by a whopping 450% and comes with integrated LED lights in 16 brightness levels.

What You Should Know

Remember, you’re only saving energy by-the-room and if someone is in the room. Don’t run ceiling fans randomly throughout the house. By raising the thermostat and using a ceiling fan, you will maintain the same level of comfort for less energy.

We respect and admire homeowner DIYers (do-it-yourselfers) because they make informed decisions. The smartest DIYers know when to call a professional.

Ceiling fan installation is one of those times:

Building codes – Maricopa County and your city/town have specific building codes. If you don’t follow the codes, your ceiling fan installation would be a violation. If you’re thinking, “Who would know?” you’re right.
No one would know unless there was a house fire or injury resulting from your DIY ceiling fan installation. Then, you could be investigated, fined, and your insurance company denies coverage for property or personal injury resulting from your DIY project.
Danger – Did you know electricians wear textured-tread rubber-sole shoes? Some of our shoes are waterproof with safety toes. As you stand on your rickety ladder in your bare feet, seriously reconsider the DIY ceiling fan and chandelier installation.
It may look okay until it falls on the family pet. You may think it’s working well until someone gets shocked turning it on. Injury and electrocution are risks you shouldn’t take.
Electricity – The electricity you enjoy every day is a complex system. A DIY ceiling fan installation can lead to dangerous household problems with switches and sockets. You may pay more for the repair than the professional ceiling fan installation would have cost in the first place.

Call Turn It On Electric

Any ceiling fan or overhead lighting installation is a job for a professional electrician. Protecting your family and your property is your first concern. It’s ours, too.

Contact Turn It On Electric for more information.

Commercial, Lighting, Residential

4 Upgrade Lighting FAQs

8Feb2021

Our focus on comfort and energy savings is like never before. We want our homes, offices, and retail businesses to be inviting and eco-friendly.

But there’s an excitement surrounding interior lighting décor that’s energizing. Some trends are revealing unique concepts in home interiors and commercial properties’ lighting. If you’re thinking about upgrading your lighting this year, it’s a big project and one that will pay off in several ways.

The ROI (return on investment) of commercial lighting improvements is measurable:

Energy efficiency (reduced energy costs)
Increased office/workspace productivity
Lower maintenance with LED upgrades

Homeowners can see those ROI benefits in residential lighting upgrades, too.

There’s also something Amerlux calls “the possibility factor.” When you upgrade any area’s lighting, you increase the number of ways it can be used. Some things that weren’t possible before the upgrade now seem to be viable.

Here are four upgrade lighting FAQs (frequently asked questions) we recently received:

4 Upgrade Lighting FAQs

1. Q: Are there any new tax credits for upgrading lighting or electrical systems?
A: The two tax incentives that expired have been extended and are retroactive through December 31, 2020. There will likely be tax incentives available this year as well.

179D is based on energy-efficiency and square footage. It applies to commercial buildings and homes that are 4 stories or more. It’s good for:
- Additions
- Lighting upgrades to existing buildings
- New buildings
- Renovations
45L is a $1,000 or $2,000 tax credit for homes that meet Energy Star® requirements or that have energy use 50% lower than comparable properties.

2. Q: I’m a new facilities manager. Is there anything special I need to know about lighting upgrades?
A: The most important thing to know is commercial lighting installation or upgrades are not a DIY (do-it-yourself) project. If damages occur because of unlicensed non-professional work, the insurance company could deny coverage.

Specifically, facilities managers should study and know:

Energy code (maximum allowable watts/sq. ft.)
Newest commercial lighting trends, like color-tuning technology
Available daylight
Advances in lighting controls

3. Q: What are some of the residential lighting trends for 2021?
A: Some of the residential lighting trends to watch (or even better, consider for your home) include:

Colored glass
Geometric shapes
Horizontal lighting
Invisible, “hidden” lighting:
- Floor lamps
- Multilevel lighting
- Positional luminaires
- Recessed fixtures
Light scenarios:
- Color temperatures
- Different types of light sources (chandelier, lamp, sconce, etc.)
- Installing touch control panels, motion sensors
- Natural light maximization
- Relocation of switches/dimmers, control panels
- Several light source groupings
Mixed materials
Pendants
Portable lights
Rustic
Sculptural fixtures
Shades of black (especially matte black fixtures)
Vintage

4. Q: What lighting improvements are most Arizona homeowners making?
A: In 2020, lighting and overall electrical improvements (like installing more outlets) trended. Popular lighting upgrades continue to be security lighting and “smart” lighting. Installing outdoor motion/security lights, walkway lights, and being able to operate light fixtures from your phone improves safety (and can be fun).

This Year’s Lighting Décor Possibilities Are Energizing with TIO Electric

Turn It On Electric works with interior designers, other contractors, and home improvement weekend warriors. Together, we can effectively and safely create a new look for your home or install exciting lighting in your new home build.

If your questions weren’t included in these upgrade lighting FAQs, please let us know. Contact us to learn more about ways to upgrade your lighting this year.

Electrician, Residential

Working with a Residential Electrician in Tucson, AZ

8Feb2021

Every remodeling project or new-home build involves working with contractors and subcontractors. “The most common problems that homeowners experience on remodeling projects are cost overruns, missed deadlines, and results that don’t match their expectations,” says HomeAdvisor. “And almost every time, such problems stem from miscommunication.”

Hiring the best Tucson electrician is possible. When working with a residential electrician in Tucson, communication before and during the project is essential. Start by asking questions.

10 Questions to Ask A Residential Electrician in Tucson

Maybe this is the year you’re finally building your own home. Perhaps you’re planning a renovation project or an electrical lighting upgrade.

One way to avoid problems when working with an electrical contractor in Tucson is to ask questions:

Do you have links to your online reviews?
Do you have insurance that covers your workers, clients, and property damages? Are you able to provide proof of insurance?
Have you completed a similar job?
How long do you think my project will take?
How long have you been in business?
How much will you personally be involved in my project?
What is your Arizona ROC license number?
What is your physical business address?
When could we meet in person to discuss my project?
When will you be able to start?

Pay Attention to Red Flags

Here are several signs you’re dealing with the wrong residential electrician in Tucson:

The company doesn’t have a website
Does not have proof the company is licensed, insured, and bonded
Doesn’t have any professional or community affiliations
Doesn’t provide a lot of details about the project
The initial price quote is almost too good to be true
Is unable to explain the project stages to you using words you understand and dodges questions about safety
Says the job is too small to need a contract
Shows up late for meetings
Smells so strongly of cigarette smoke (or other kinds of smoke) that you don’t want the smell in your home
Unprofessional appearance; clothing, demeanor
Wants entire payment up-front
A work vehicle is dirty and in disrepair
You can’t find online testimonials or references

\"\" — Our new vans for Turn It On Electric electricians.

It’s Never Too Late to Demand Good Work

Unfortunately, several signs you’re dealing with an unreliable residential electrician in Tucson appear after-the-fact. Trust yourself and always trust your instincts. If you don’t think your job was finished correctly, make sure. If you have a gut feeling there’s something “not right” about the way the electrical contractor left the job, go with that feeling.

If an electrician walks away from your project too quickly or doesn’t solve your electrical problems, speak up. Get a second opinion if you need to, but don’t “let it go.” You could face additional expenses later or worse – risk your safety.

Other signs your electrical project wasn’t completed by a reputable Arizona electrician include:

Acted impatient when you had questions
Didn’t have the right tools
Had to go to the local hardware store for parts multiple times
Left exposed wires
Made a mess; didn’t clean work area afterward
Wore a t-shirt that had an offensive message

Your Residential Electrician in Tucson: Turn It On Electric

Sometimes a reputable company does a bad job. It happens. If you suspect your electrical project is incomplete or unsafe, contact Turn It On Electric.

We want to be your residential electrician in Tucson. Tell us your ideas and let’s see if we can structure an exciting, affordable home project this year.

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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!