Newsletter
10/08/2019
It’s time to check your smoke detector batteries yet again — and to learn more about those white pucks that hang out on the ceiling.
Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Smoke Detector
Every single day, your smoke alarms hang around next to the ceiling, just waiting for something to go wrong. They don’t ask for much, which is why most people tend to forget they even exist. But the job they do is vital to the safety and security of not only you and your family but the families that neighbor you.
You’ve heard it a hundred times: check your smoke detector batteries. Check those batteries! Hey, by the way, have you checked your smoke alarm batteries? But for most people, that’s as intimate as they ever get with these clever devices. Here are some things to know about smoke detectors:
- Working smoke alarms give you additional escape time in the case of an actual fire. Thirty-eight percent of home fire deaths from 2009 to 2013 was due to a lack of functioning smoke alarms. In the homes that had smoke alarms that failed, 46 percent had missing or disconnected batteries.
- Best places to install smoke alarms are in each bedroom, in halls outside of bedrooms and in every major living area. (1st level, basement, upper level) Why so many? Closed doors can slow the spread of smoke and living areas on upper or lower floors may have a significant blaze going before smoke is noticeable; as per the National Electrical Code.
- Interconnected smoke alarms are considered the safest option currently on the market. These alarms are connected to each other and often directly powered through your home’s electrical system, with a battery backup. When one detects smoke, they all go off. It can be annoying if you tend to burn the toast, but when it’s a real fire, all that noise will be a lifesaver. Typically done during the construction phase!
- Smoke detectors work in one of two different ways. One type called an ionization detector because it uses electrically charged particles to detect smoke in the air, is faster to respond to flaming fires with small smoke particles. The other, known as a photoelectric detector, uses beams of light to check for smoke particles in the air. These are better for smoldering fires. Both will get the job done, though!
- Most people don’t realize that smoke detectors need maintenance, too! You should check the battery monthly and use the bristle attachment on your vacuum to clean any debris off of your detector twice a year. You’ll also want to change the battery twice a year. Many people do this when they change their clocks for Daylight Savings Time. (Newer units come with a 10 year Lithium battery)
- Smart Smoke Detectors can save you money on insurance. It’s true! If your smoke detectors are connected via WiFi, they can call for help or send you a message about their status. Many insurance companies love these features, as they reduce the amount of damage insured homes suffer in case of a fire. Break out the cool new tech and reap the savings!
- There are other, similar detectors on the market. While you’re shopping for smoke detectors, you may come across heat or carbon monoxide detectors. These units look very similar, but they function very differently. Heat detectors literally detect high heat, so they aren’t very fast to respond in a residential setting. They’re best used in small, confined spaces. Co2 Detectors should be placed in every level, and the hallways leading to a bedroom within 10' of the bedroom door...
Carbon monoxide detectors "Co2", however, are very suitable for home use. They measure the amount of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas created by combustion, in the air. If dangerous amounts are detected, you’ll know and be able to make your home safe again. Most homes use these in conjunction with smoke detectors as per NEC.
Where There’s Smoke, Well… You Know
No one wants to deal with a house fire, but if your morning bacon cookery gets out of hand, it’s good to have an early warning system. If your house doesn’t have adequate smoke detectors or CO2 detectors, it’s time to reach out to Ferrer’s Electric LLC for their expert services. (203-733-3310 / 845-913-5175)
National Fire Prevention Week is observed in the United States and Canada, during the week in which October 9 falls. In the United States, the first Presidential proclamation of Fire Prevention Week was made in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge. Wikipedia
https://catalog.nfpa.org/Fire-
October is Fire Prevention Month! The goal of Fire Prevention Month (and week October 6th – 12th ) is to raise awareness about fire safety and help ensure your home and family is prepared in the event of an emergency.
In 1922, the National Fire Protection Association named the second week of October Fire Prevention Week in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Today, we celebrate Fire Prevention Week and Month by raising fire safety awareness and educating families, students, and communities across the United States. During this month, fire departments educate their communities and encourage parents and loved ones to practice fire safety and whole-home safety. The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 2019 campaign for Fire Prevention Month is "Not Every Hero Wears A Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape."
https://www.firstalert.com/
Home Fire Prevention
Electrical failure or malfunction is a leading cause of home fires year after year. Yet, many home electrical fires can be prevented simply by understanding basic electrical safety principles and following safe practices.
Resources:
Fire Prevention Week - We encourage you to use our free Fire Prevention Week resources including our info-graphic to increase fire safety and electrical safety awareness in your family, community, workplace or school.
Home Electrical Fires - Home electrical fires account for an estimated 42,210 fires each year, nearly 500 deaths, 1,370 injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage.
Space Heater Safety - Portable electric space heaters can be a convenient source of supplemental heat for your home in cold weather, but they also increase the risk of fire and electric shock if not used properly.
Smoke Alarms, Carbon Monoxide Alarms, and Fire Escape Planning - Working smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a home fire, but there is more you need to do to ensure your family is prepared to safely escape from a fire emergency.
Virtual Fire Drill Simulation - Take part in the Virtual Fire Drill Simulation!
Simulacro de Incendio Virtual - Take part in the Virtual Fire Drill Simulation in Spanish!
Additional Resources - See additional fire prevention resources
https://www.esfi.org/fire-
ELECTRICAL SAFETY INSPECTION SERVICE
- PURPOSE: Ensure the safe operation of electrical components in your home.
- Identifying common electrical mistakes made by contractors and previous Do It Yourself homeowners. D.I.Y
- Recognizing outdated wirings such as aluminum or knob and tube.
- Identifying electrical wiring and components that may have degraded over time.
- Spotting oversized fuses or breakers that could lead to a fire.
- Allowing for the correction of fire and safety hazards.
- Helping you save energy and reduce costs.
- Verification of proper light bulb wattage
- Switch and wall outlet operation and condition
- Shock or electrocution hazards
- Verification arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are operating properly
- A check of all safety and security lighting
- Confirmation of grounding systems ( Meg/ohm ) Ground Rods
- Validation of appropriate surge protection
- Portable heater safety
- Verification of the proper placement of smoke detectors
- Check detectors
- Check carbon monoxide detectors
- Inspection of the electrical panel for appropriate labels, size/amps, and operation
- A detailed, prioritized report on all areas of attention concerning the electrical system of your home ( Can also be made available for a small fee ) of $39.99
09/06/2019
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There’s little more frightening than losing your electricity in the middle of a big winter storm or even a spring tornado.
Whatever natural disaster is common in our area, you have probably experienced at least one major disaster in your life. Because of that, you may tend to linger around the generators at your favorite home improvement store when bad weather season starts.
Is this the year you’ll finally install a whole-home generator? Before you swipe that card, take a look at these must-know things about choosing a whole home generator.
A Generator Can Be An Investment In Your Home
You probably know that in some areas you can get tax credits for installing efficient whole-home generators, but what you may not realize is that a permanently installed generator can also increase your home’s value. According to Consumer Reports, a three to five percent increase in appraised value after a generator is installed isn’t uncommon.
But, you can’t just stick any old generator in the yard and call it a home improvement. The generator you choose will be part of your home’s electrical system for the foreseeable future, so it has to be able to do the job you need it to do.
Here are some things to keep in mind while you’re shopping:
Generators are far from universal in size. You should make a list of the items you intend to keep turned on while you’re running on generator power before you start to shop. Appliances, HVAC systems, hot water heaters, and even light bulbs add up when you’re talking about an entire home. Although your appliances may differ in their power consumption, in general, refrigerators use about 600 watts of electricity, your lights can soak up to 600 watts, even your computer may need 300 watts to stay running.
Portable generators can be an inexpensive alternative. If you’re only hoping to keep a few lights on and maybe a small refrigerator running during a power outage, you might be able to limp along with a portable generator. These smaller units can be loud and require lots of manual intervention, including refilling their fuel tanks multiple times during prolonged use but can push out 3,000 to 8,500 watts reliably for under $1,000. Better units we recommend with key start features can be a little more. Sometimes around the $1100.00-$1300.00 marks!
Generators run on different types of fuel. Those portable generators almost exclusively run on either gasoline or kerosene, though some can be converted to run on propane or natural gas with a special kit. A whole house generator connects to a gas line by default, be that propane or natural gas. Depending on where you live and what your utility supplies, you’ll want to choose one that matches your fuel supply. If you live in a rural area, you may have to rely on your propane tank to run your generator, keep it full through the toughest weather of the year.
Regular maintenance on generators includes running them frequently throughout the year to ensure that there isn’t an unplanned problem when an emergency does crop up. Some whole-home generators have an automatic maintenance cycle, allowing you to ignore them most of the time. However, these auto-run cycles can be very noisy, so you’ll want to consider the decibel level of the generator you choose.
You’ll need a transfer switch, but there are several options. Transfer switches are electrical devices that allow you to change the power source that runs your home from the utility grid to your home generator. There are many different types, rated both by amps and switching type. Manual switches are less expensive but require you to make the connection in all kinds of weather, automatic switches will flip on the generator when they detect a lack of power from the grid.
Older homes may need electrical panel upgrades. Even homes that aren’t considered antiques can have very limited electrical systems that aren’t compatible with a large transfer switch. If you want to use, say, a 200 amp transfer switch and your house will only support 100 amps, either your system needs to be upgraded or your generator transfer switch will need to be downgraded.
It needs to be installed by a professional. There are people who have installed their own whole-home generators, but because of local building codes and the general difficulty of the project, this is not something that’s generally encouraged. You’ll be tapping into gas lines, electrical systems and you’ll need to place the unit a very specific distance from combustible materials and above areas that may flood.
Don’t Spend One More Season Without Power
Storms can blow in fast and at times without much notice. Whether rain, wind, snow and or ice; either can easily bring down power-lines, but you don’t have to worry with a whole home generator that’s properly sized for your house and carefully installed. Talk to us about finance options. Although we don't do in house financing we have partners in the industry that have helped many in the past; make a whole house Generator a reality. We ALSO do plenty of adequate whole house portable systems as well. So anyone with a smaller budget can still benefit.
Call us today for a consultation. Let us be of added value to your Home and or Business!
8/5/2019
Way back in 2012, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was being phased in. One of the most useful — and controversial — results was that old fashioned light bulbs had to be reinvented. All light bulbs manufactured after the phase-out dates, which varied from state to state, had to use 25 percent less energy than their ancestors.
With that one change in the way light bulbs would be made rose three major options for homeowners, and business owners: the curly compact fluorescent bulb, halogen incandescents, and the light-emitting diode. Although there are some specific uses for halogen incandescents, the most commonly used bulbs in residential settings are CFL and LED. Of the two, the LED is currently the most cost-effective option, even when adjusting for the difference in price.
Smart lighting has emerged as a key entry point into the connected home, and these days you've got more options than ever. Even better: The uptick in competition means that you've got plenty of options that are easy to afford, too.
"Check out the best of 2019"
https://www.cnet.com/news/
Click here to see some Top 10 LED Picks for July 2019 and to learn more about LED bulbs, click here.
Some important details about LED bulbs:
- Unlike incandescent bulbs that waste electricity by converting up to 90 percent of the energy they use into heat and CLF that release about 80 percent of their energy as heat, LED release so little heat that they’re often cool to the touch even after hours of use.
- An Energy Star rated LED bulb uses significantly less electricity (up to 75 percent!) and lasts up to 25 times longer than traditional lighting. This is no small thing, especially when you consider that every home, every business, every street light, may eventually sport these bulbs.
- According to the Department of Energy, those LED use 75 to 80 percent less electricity than the 60-watt bulb and only costs about $1.00 to use for two hours each day for a year.
- LED bulb life is approximately 25,000 hours, compared to 1,000 hours for incandescents.
Welcome to our First Newsletter
7/8/2019
Happy Summer. Welcome to our first newsletter! I hope you find information here you can use to keep your loved ones safe and secure in your home.
Ferrer’s Electric LLC, led by owner Pedro (Pete) Ferrer, is highly trained in all facets of commercial, industrial, and residential electrical work. We have assembled a team of highly trained and qualified technicians, ready and willing to service your needs. With more than 100 years of combined industry experience, we are ready to take on our next challenge daily! We continue to not only meet all of our commitments but most importantly; we exceed our customers' expectations. Providing quality electrical services in all facets & phases of electrical.
As a client, you will receive my personal attention from the bid phase, planning, project design and layout to final completion. Our Philosophy is to offer our customers a one-stop-shop or “single source solution” when possible. In addition to competitive pricing, we pride ourselves on superior workmanship and dependable and reliable service you can count on.
Signs You Need An Electrical Systems Expert
- Lights that flicker or blink. A light bulb that’s not screwed tightly into a socket will flicker or blink because of bad contact. The same thing will happen when there’s a bad connection in an electrical circuit.
- Light bulbs that pop or have a bright or dull illumination. If you notice that some lights in your home burn unusually bright while others are dimmer than they should be, or even pop, there’s an evident electrical problem.
- Outlets that spark, buzz or crack, or won’t hold a cord end. An occasional spark is normal when you plug into an outlet because of the sudden draw on the electric supply. If an outlet sparks every time you use it, that is a clear indicator of a problem. It needs to be replaced. The same goes for noisy outlets. Electrical outlets that don’t hold cord ends (or plugs) securely— i.e. “they can be wiggled, they droop, or completely slide back out” — need to be replaced.
- Electrical outlets that don’t work. As long as the circuit isn’t blown or the breaker hasn’t tripped, an outlet should work. If not, there’s probably a loose or broken wire or another cause that has broken the electrical connection.
- Constant blown fuses or tripped breakers. Drawing too much power on a circuit will cause fuses in a panel box to blow. Nuisance tripping is referred to as breakers that trip frequently. This commonly happens when too many things are plugged into the same electrical outlet or outlets shared in a circuit. Overloaded circuits create dangerous conditions and are fire hazards. There can also be additional safety concerns related to breakers that constantly trip. Don’t leave any of these symptoms untreated! They can cause thousands in repairs later on, or even worse, someone’s life.
July Special
Summer is finally here and there is no time like the present to make sure your home is the safest it can be. This month, Ferrer's Electric is offering a FREE Electrical System Safety Inspection Assessment with the sale of any $250.00 billable service. Offer valid for residential customers only. No other coupons or combined discounts allowed. The assessment includes:
- Free Infrared panel scan — Limited to 1 panel per household.
- Itemized report — available for $39.99.
- Free correction estimate, if applicable.
- Free smoke detector & CO2 coverage placement evaluation — Proper placement assessment. Testing not included.
- System grounding and bonding check also included with free assessment offer.
Trade Affiliations & Memberships
- NFPA (Member of the National Fire Prevention
- Association)
- ICCEC (International Code Council Electrical
- Code compliant)
- OSHA certified (Safety 1st)
- GREEN/LEED (Green Tradesmen Training & Certified)
- NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association)
- BTA (Building Trades Association)
- Red Cross Certification for CPR and First Aid
- AED Certified
Organizations & Community Involvement
- Member of POMPERAUG Warriors POP Warner Football and Cheer Program
- Danbury Jericho Partnership (Program Sponsor)
- St. Jude Children’s Hospital
- Southbury Food Bank and Christmas Fund
- Danbury Chamber of Commerce
- Southbury Business Association
