Sunset Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Electrical’ Category

Perform an Energy Audit Before Buying a Generator

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014

Here in Olympia, generator installation is almost a necessity. Northwest winters have their share of heavy storms, and as we’ve been reminded the last few years, you can be left stranded in your home on a moment’s notice. A reliable generator will keep your lights on and your heater running when the snows start to fall and can significantly add to your home’s resale value to boot. If pays to speak to a qualified expert about you generator options, and also to perform an energy audit before buying a generator. They can help you make the most informed choice possible.

Generators are designed to handle a set electrical load, and placing more demands on it than it can take will cause innumerable problems. An audit will help your organize and plan for the amount of energy you’ll need, then let you select a generator that meets your allotted budget. Start with the electrical needs of vital components of your home: the heating or cooling system, your refrigerator and freezer, and lights in key areas of the home. After that, get the power needs of the remaining lights in the home, a computer with internet service to keep in contact with the rest of the world, nice-but-not-necessary appliances such as washers and dryers, and entertainment system needs.

Once you have all of the electrical appliances in your home listed, along with their precise power needs, you can determine how much power your generator needs to generate in order to meet the minimum needs during a crisis, as well as how much power you need to cover the entire household, bar none. These represent the minimum and the maximum power needs your generator will require. From there, you can select a unit that fits your budget: covering as much as you can without breaking the bank. You’ll then know which appliances you can plug into it during a crises, and which need to be set aside for the duration.

If you intend to perform an energy audit before buying a generator, let the experts at Sunset Air help. We have years of experience in this arena, generators are too important to be left to a fly-by-night company. Call us today to make an appointment and we’ll get the right generator set up for you!

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5 Reasons to Call a Professional Electrician

Friday, August 9th, 2013

How is the electrical supply in your home? Do you worry about flickering lights and other issues? There are numerous reasons to call on the professional service of a qualified electrician in Olympia, WA. As you know, electricity is a vital but also hazardous energy source that needs to be controlled as it moves throughout your home. Today’s equipment far exceeds its predecessors in terms of functionality and safety, but electrical wiring and fixtures must be respected. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so call on Sunset Air for all of your electrical needs in Olympia, WA.

Here are 5 reasons to call an electrician.

  • Flickering lights. One of the most common calls for electrical repair is flickering lights. Whether your lights flicker when turning them on or off, or continuously, there is obviously a problem with the connection, either at the fixture itself or where it connects to the main circuit that leads back to the service panel. Such problems need to be addressed as soon as possible, as faulty connections can cause fires.
  • Service panel upgrade. Whether you have a fuse box and need to upgrade it to a new circuit breaker panel, or simply want your existing service panel to have greater electrical capacity, you may want to enlist the help of a professional electrician to upgrade your system. Doing so not only brings your system up to date, but may be necessary for major remodeling projects like home additions.
  • Generator installation. A whole-house generator is a great way to back up your home in the event of a power outage, whether it’s caused by a flood, storm, or grid failure. A whole-house generator uses natural gas or propane to create an electrical energy supply that feeds your home. An automatic standby model can actually sense whenever your power goes out and start-up automatically.
  • Rewiring. Rewiring your entire home is a major job, make no doubt about that . But sometimes it’s necessary, mostly for safety reasons and for bringing your home up to local codes and regulations.
  • Whole-house surge protection. If you own sensitive electronic equipment like an HD television, desktop computer, or stereo system, then you probably already understand the value of surge protection. However, portable surge protection strips are not nearly as effective as a whole-house surge protection unit that makes sure your entire home is protected.

For excellent service from a professional electrician in Olympia, WA, call Sunset Air.

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