Light bulbs have received a lot of attention in the media lately. Most recently, laws indicating which light bulbs are permitted to be manufactured have been a hot topic. You might be wondering, then, what are the benefits of energy saving light bulbs, especially if they will be one of your only options in the future. See for yourself why the benefits outweigh the costs of the bulb.

Prior to their popularity, CFLs — or fluorescent light bulbs — got somewhat of a bad reputation. The critique:

None of these factors are true today. While the most popular type is still the spiral bulb, there are some spirals covered with a smooth, round surface to appear as an incandescent. Energy Star-approved CFLs must perform just as bright as their incandescent counterparts, and many will even operate on a dimmer switch.

Benefits according to the US EPA Energy Star website:

1. One Energy Star-rated light bulb can save up to $30 in energy costs over its lifetime.

2. These bulbs last about 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

3. While incandescent bulbs produce substantial heat, energy efficient bulbs do not, which reduces cooling costs.

4. Each Energy Star-rated bulb must adhere to strict regulations in regards to efficiency and performance.

5. They have manufacturer-backed warrantees.

How many light bulbs do you have in your home? Now multiply that number by 30 and you will have approximately the amount of money you are wasting by not going with energy saving bulbs. For those interested in the benefits of energy saving light bulbs on the environment, the EPA addressed that, too.

1. In 2007, Americans saved enough energy by switching bulbs to power the city of Washington DC for 30 years.

2. Put another way, the switch reduced enough greenhouse gasses as if 2 million cars were taken off the road.

Additional Help

If these numbers seem staggering and unbelievable to you, or if you would like to know other ways to reduce your energy costs, it’s best to consult a professional electrician. Check out TalkLocal. We’re experts at connecting consumers with professionals in their area.

You know when it happens.  You have too many appliances running at one time, when suddenly, the power shuts off.  An overloaded circuit breaker is easy to point out as the culprit.  But how do you fix the problem?  Luckily it is a pretty simple fix.

How to fix overloaded circuit

1.      Locate your electric circuit panel.  This is typically behind a small metal door located in a dry utility area such as the garage, basement, or laundry room.

2.      Open the metal door and check on the positions of the circuit breaker switches.  All except for one should be in the “on” or “off” positions.  The switch that is stuck in a neutral position belongs to the overloaded circuit.

3.      Flip the overloaded switch to the “off” position.  Wait a few seconds, and then switch it into the “on” position.  This should restore power to the overloaded circuit.

4.      If the circuit quickly shuts off again, you probably have too many appliances on one circuit.  Unplug or turn off some of them before you restart the circuit breaker.

If you continue to notice problems with your electricity you may have a different problem that needs professional help.  Use TalkLocal to find a top-quality electrician in your area today.

To walk into a bathroom with a broken exhaust fan right after someone has either performed a “number 2” or taken a shower is no pleasant experience. Bathroom fans can be extremely handy in either sucking up and clearing away those more pungent smells, or removing the moisture and humidity that comes with taking a warm shower. If your bathroom exhaust fan is broken, here’s what you can do to troubleshoot the problem:

If the switch for your bathroom light works but the switch for the exhaust fan doesn’t, then it is most likely the fan motor that is broken. Replacing the motor is a fairly simple process if you have the right tools and take the appropriate safety precautions.

How to replace the fan motor

Before doing any type of repair work, it is critical to turn the switch for the fan OFF, and also to turn off the electricity for it through your house’s circuit breaker panel. If the power for the fan is connected to the power for the bathroom light, you will have to turn this off and continue with a flashlight or other source of light.

Next, unscrew and remove the cover panel for the exhaust fan, being sure to save any disconnected screws. Then inspect the fan for any visible damage. In most cases, you will see that there is a fair amount of dust built up from the fan’s use, so it may be helpful to clear this away before continuing.

If after cleaning the dust and inspecting the fan, you may see that there is a disconnected wire. If so, simply reconnect it. If you see no disconnected wires, the next step is to check out the fan motor.

Unplug the exhaust fan and pull it out along with the fan motor. You may need to apply some pressure and pull steadily to remove it, or there may be a couple screws holding it in place. Then, either take note of the specific model number of the fan, or bring it along with you to the nearest hardware store to buy a replacement. Installing the new one should be simple; just follow the removal steps in reverse.

If you are having trouble removing or replacing your exhaust fan, it may be a good idea to contact a professional. Try using TalkLocal to contact an electric contractor near you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable electricians in your neighborhood, within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location, and availability and TalkLocal will contact multiple companies who will then call YOU directly, ready to help.

Have you been experiencing trouble having too many appliances plugged into one circuit?  You might have too much wattage plugged into a single breaker handle.  You might be wondering, how many watts can a 20 amp breaker handle. Read on for more info.

When dealing with wattage and voltage, always remember this equation: Watts = Voltage x Amps.

This equation tells us that at 120 volts, total wattage would be 2400 at 20 amps.  Electrical code states that circuit conductors that are fed by this breaker on a continuous load can only be loaded to 80% . To keep up with code, reduce wattage by 20% to 1920.  To maintain the required wattage needed for the load you may need to adjust the wire and/or breaker size.

Keep in mind codes unique to your specific area before handling electrical work on your own.  A certified electrician will be able to inspect your circuits to ensure proper wiring. Use TalkLocal to connect you to a reliable electrician in minutes!

Power outages are some of the hardest things to prepare for. You could be enjoying air conditioning and television one minute, then scrambling in the dark to find the flashlight the next. Being prepared is the best defense against a loss of power. Read on for tips for how to plan for a power outage.

First things first: if power goes out, you are going to want to have all your necessary supplies in one location. Keeping a backpack full of emergency supplies is the best way to go. This backpack should include a few days worth of nonperishable food and water, a first-aid kit, medication, a fully-charged prepaid phone, a radio, and flashlights. Keep this backpack in an accessible and memorable area. The last thing you would want to happen is to store all your necessities in one place and forget that location.

Knowing where your flashlights are is a must. If you’re without power during nighttime, maneuvering around safely becomes an encumbrance, let alone trying to survive. Having different types of flashlights (battery-powered, solar-powered, wind-up, etc.) is strongly recommended.

Keeping your food safe and cool without power may be difficult, but it can be done. Open your fridge only when absolutely necessary to preserve the cold temperature. To keep your freezer cold, place plastic containers nearly filled with water (with enough space to account for water expansion) and place these wherever there is space in your freezer. This helps keep food cold while minimizing the air in your freezer at the same time.

No one likes losing their power, but by following these steps, you can ensure your time without power is far more manageable.

If you would rather talk to a certified electrician, try using TalkLocal. Simply enter in your problem, availability and location, and within minutes, top-quality electricians will call you directly, ready and willing to help.

3 way light switches are for lights that you want to control with more than one switch, like at the top and bottom of some stairs.  They’re simple to function and extremely convenient in usage, but sometimes they may become defective or malfunction, becoming both an inconvenience and a major safety hazard.

The 3 way circuit

In order to repair the circuit, you’ll need to know some basics about how the circuit is wired.  The 3 way switch is the main player in the circuit, having one common terminal and two travelers terminals.  The common terminal is connected to a hot wire that usually leads to the lighting fixture or the main board, while the traveler wires lead to the other three way switch.

Repairing the circuit

The most common problem you’ll encounter is having a defective three way switch.   You should replace both switches as the same time, since it’s often very difficult to find out which switch is defective and additionally, if one has failed, the other can’t last much longer either.

When replacing the switches, you need to attach the common wire (black) to the common terminal on each new switch and reattach the insulated wires (white) on the travelers terminals.  If you connected the right wires to the right terminals, then you should simply be able to replace the switches into their boxes and turn on the power to see the switches work.

If the circuit still isn’t working, then you most likely incorrectly attached the incorrect wires to the terminals.  In this case, you’ll first want to use a multimeter to check for the hot wire; there should only be one hot wire in this case, which will be your common wire.  Attach that to the common terminal of the first switch and then turn off the power.  Go to the other switch and set your multimeter for continuity (or infinite resistance) and then ground one probe and touch the other three wires.  The common wire should be the only one to register resistance and that will now be your common wire for the other switch.  Attach the appropriate wire, and it should work.

If you followed the steps above and still could not get your 3 way circuit to work, then you may want to consider finding an electrician to fix this circuit, as there may be other factors or wiring issues.   TalkLocal can help you find an high quality electrician in just minutes.  It’s fast, easy and best of all, free!

There are times when you want the light to be just right for a romantic evening or a relaxing movie.  Dimmer switches make this possible, and are used to control the lighting in a room.  They can even save energy and increase the lifespan of your light bulbs.  Dimmer switches can dim any type of light bulb except compact florescent light (CFL).  If you’re asking yourself the question, “What type of dimmer switch do I need?” read on for more information to help you choose the right one.

Switch/Slide Dimmer

These dimmers are the most basic and are the most widely used.  They can attach to the wall, floor or directly in table lamps.  There are also switches that can be plugged into the wall outlet.  They usually have a rotator knob which adjusts the light.  The slider offers smoother action than the rotator knob.  These are also the most inexpensive type of dimmers.

Touch

These adjust lighting by touching a panel.  These can be put on the wall or can be connected to a lighting device.  This type of dimmer switch is best for people looking for a simple way to dim their lights.  On the negative side, these dimmer switches usually have a limited selection of lighting.

Remote

Remote dimmers are usually the highest quality dimmers.  The sensor is found on the wall, but can be control by a remote.  This gives the user a variety of lighting settings.  Your favorite lighting setting can even be programmed into the control.  On the downside, they are pricier than a regular switch dimmer.

Automatic Dimmer

This type of dimmer is currently the best on the market.  These dimmers appropriately adjust lighting according to the lighting outside.  This gives the best lighting for a certain room at a certain time.  This option has benefits of saving energy by giving optimal lighting for a room.  On the downside, these are the most expensive dimmers.

If you’re having trouble deciding on a dimmer type or experiencing difficulty installing it, you should consider hiring a professional.  Use TalkLocal to be put in contact with multiple highly rated electricians in your area within minutes!

For installation of dimmers, use an electrician. For electricians, use TalkLocal. TalkLocal can connect you to the best electricians in your area.

You may be asking yourself if it is safe to connect an extension cord to a power strip. An overloaded power strip or a faulty extension cord can put your entire family in danger. Electrical fires can be difficult to both predict and control, so follow these safety precautions when dealing with potential threats in your home.

Safety Precautions

Electrical devices like extension cords and power strips are made to handle the amount of electrical current as prescribed on the device. However, defective electrical devices can be overloaded easily and pose as a safety threat.

If you suspect a device might be defective, exercise the following precautions:

1. Look for a certification of testing. If it has one, the device is most likely fine. Certifications are found on the cord near the plug for extension cords. For power strips, check under the device’s casing.

2. Devices used with polarized plugs minimize the risk of electrical overload and shock. Use devices that account for plugs with one metal tip wider than the other, or plugs with a ground charge three-plug system.

3. Heavy-duty and commercial/industrial cords and strips have a higher current tolerance, further minimizing the risk of an electrical overload. Use these if you can get them.

4. Devices used outdoors and near water should be treated carefully, as not to come in contact with water. Make sure that there are no open wires hanging around.

5. Do not cover the cords in operation – this may result in the cord itself being overheated and causing a fire. If you find a cord that is unusually hot and it is not in exposure to direct sunlight and/or covered, stop using the device and check the cord immediately.

Additional Help

If you feel like you need professional help on using electrical connections and devices, TalkLocal can help with finding the correct local experts in this case, saving you time and energy in what may be a stressful situation.

Inground pool lights help make your inground pool safer for everyone who uses it, in addition to setting the atmosphere for use at night. Therefore, you need to pick a type of inground pool light that suits your needs best. Read on to explore your inground pool lighting options.

LED — The main attraction of LED lights is that they’re very energy efficient and can save you a great deal of money. LED stands for “light emitting diodes” and are composed of many small individual lights. They come in a variety of colors, which you should take advantage of to make your pool unique.

Halogen — Halogen lights are reliable and energy efficient, as well as environmentally friendly and child friendly. Because they release no harmful gasses, pool owners can rest assured that they’re being green when lighting up their pool.

Fiber Optic — Fiber optic lights are great if you want to keep the electrical source far away from the water, as fiber optic cables merely transmit light and not electricity. This also gets rid of the problem of hot pool lights that might hurt young children. However, fiber optic inground pool lights are not as bright as LED lights, so if brightness is a major issue, then fiber optic pool lights may not be for you.

Solar — Solar pool lights win the energy efficiency contest hands down, as they use zero electricity. They’ll charge in the daytime and then use that energy at night to light your pool. Solar pool lights come in many attractive varieties, including ones that float on your pool and removable ones that can also be used in other areas of your house when you don’t need them for your pool.

Incandescent — The classic incandescent bulb is still used in pools, as they come in a wide variety of wattages. They should all, however, be fitted with 12V transformers to prevent any major electric shocks if any water ever gets inside the sealed bulb.

After you choose the lighting that fits your pool and your needs the best, you’ll need an electrician to install that light. Because you’ll be working so close to water, wiring pool lights can be dangerous, especially when you refill your pool to find that you’ve done it incorrectly. To prevent this from happening, use TalkLocal to find a professional electrician that knows how to work with pool lights.

Have you noticed your light has been as bright as the sun? Do you notice yourself constantly saying “my light bulb is too bright”? If you notice a light has been burning bright, this is a major problem with your house electrical system. There are two problems that cause the light bulb to burn too brightly. Either there is a high voltage or neutral connection problem.

Before checking for these problems just recognize the type of light you have. If there are incandescent light bulbs and LED bulbs, they will be brighter than average bulbs. If these are the types of light bulbs that you feel are too bright in your home, switch to an average or lower watt bulb.

High Voltage

If supply of voltage is too great in the home, light bulbs will burn brightly and burn out faster.  If you notice the light bulbs in your home burning out unusually quickly, then this could be a high voltage problem. To check for a high voltage problem use a volt meter. Volt meters can be bought at your local hardware store for under $20. Use the voltmeter at an outlet or at a service panel. If you see a voltage over 125 volts, contact an electrician immediately.

Neutral Connection

If there is a main neutral connection problem, the light bulb will burn bright while other light bulbs dim. Other electrical appliances may also break in the process. If you notice these symptoms in your home, contact an electrician immediately as this problem will cause damages to other electrical appliances in your home.

To hire an electrician for these destructive problems, use TalkLocal. TalkLocal can connect you to the best electricians in your area for free.  Just type your problem, location, and availability into the online service form and TalkLocal will begin finding local businesses immediately. Within minutes, you will receive up to three phone calls from electricians who can help you.