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How Many Smoke Detectors Do You Need TO Install? How many smoke detectors does your home need? This is one topic where underestimating can be downright dangerous. All homeowners should know that you’re required by law to have working smoke alarms at your residence. However, the number of smoke detectors needed for your home can vary based on home size and layout. Let’s make sure you’re prioritizing fire safety at your Alabama home with some

How To Know When Smoke Detectors Are Too Old To Trust Smoke detectors need to work when there’s a fire. But when you’ve had a particular detector for a long time, it might not be as reliable as it once was. Detectors do age, and as they age, they deteriorate internally and externally. Leaving them in place is not a good option even if they still work during tests. With age comes uncertainty about when

How to Tell It’s Safe to Stay in a Home After a Lightning Strike Whenever lightning strikes a home, it’s a shocking event — and a violent act of nature. A blinding light flashes. The noise is deafening, like an extremely loud cracking of a whip. And the whole building might shake. In many cases, lightning strikes destroy houses completely. (That can be true even when a home has a lightning rod and surge protection.)

How Electricians Diagnose Lightning Damage Severe thunderstorms in Birmingham, AL, can be awe-inspiring. While we may need the rain, the truth is that storm damage can sometimes last long after the last thunder rolls. Lightning damage is common in our area, and ignoring a strike could lead to serious house fires and damaged appliances. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you understand how our electricians can diagnose the damage and help you

How To Prepare Your  Home for a New Generator Power outages can be inconvenient and even dangerous. Being without light, heat, or air conditioning, with no access to hot water or fresh food, can be uncomfortable and put your health at risk. Fortunately, having a standby generator, also known as a backup or whole-house generator, can keep the power on during a blackout until the electricity comes back on. When you’re installing a new generator

Natural Gas vs. Propane Generators Alabama is home to some of the country’s most extreme weather, and with that comes power outages. When they occur, you should have a generator that will keep your lights on and operate medical equipment and any other essentials that you’re dependent on. But how should you power that generator, with natural gas or propane? Natural Gas Generators The main feature of natural gas generators is that they’re hooked right

Do You Need Upgrades for Level 2 EV Chargers? A Level 1 EV charger is sufficient in a lot of ways, most notably that you just need a regular house outlet to use it. However, it’s relatively slow, only featuring a charging speed of about 2-5 miles of range per hour. If you use your EV sporadically for short trips, that’s fine, but if you instead utilize it nearly ever day or for long journeys,

The Difference In Level 1 and 2, Chargers Electric Vehicles As electric vehicles have become more popular, drivers still have concerns when it comes to keeping them charged. EV charging stations are certainly more common than ever before, but they still aren’t as plentiful and convenient as traditional gas stations. The best solution for most electric vehicle owners is to install a home charger that will charge a vehicle’s battery whenever they’re home. Approximately 80

How Electrical Grounding Keeps Holiday Lighting Safe Holiday lighting can transform your property into a stunning wonderland that puts everyone in the festive spirit. However, it’s important to take the necessary precautions when creating a luminous display. Not only can poorly installed outdoor electrical decorations create a serious fire hazard, but they also increase the risk of electrical shock. Here are some essential safety tips to keep in mind. Why Is Electrical Grounding So Important?

Can Surge Protectors Work Without Grounding? Surge protection is a common electrical safety feature in many homes. Surge protectors can guard against transient voltage spikes that may affect electronics, appliances, lighting, and other electrical systems. People occasionally make the mistake of believing that surge protection and grounding are different features, meaning that surge protectors will work fine without proper grounding. Here is a look at how surge protection works and why proper grounding is critical.