LED Lighting

You’ve been hearing a lot about these lights, but did you know one reason they are so efficient is they emit less heat than their incandescent counterparts? Offering cheaper utility bills, and fewer replacement bulbs, LED’s are a must have for Maryland homes. Safety first—when retrofitting fixtures for LED, be careful to also use LED compatible dimmer switches.

AFCI’s, GFCI’s, Tamper Resistant Receptacles

All help reduce fire risk and are mandatory now in new construction. If your home does not have these, consider installation. AFCI’s will cut off power when detecting an Arc (or unsafe electrical current), which could prevent sparking or high temperatures. GFCI’s will protect you from shock as this outlet will automatically detect a shock hazard and cut off electricity to the outlet. Tamper resistant Receptacles contains shutters which will only allow a plug to enter and will will not open if a child tries to insert an object into only one hole of the opening — preventing contact with electricity.

Generators

Portable generators are a big convenience when experiencing a power loss. However, knowing best practices is important to keep your family safe. When in use keep it in a well ventilated area, away from windows and doors. Never use in an attached garage. And make sure you are using Carbon Monoxide detectors in your home. And never refuel a generator while it is running.

Smoke and CO2 Detectors

3 out of 5 home fire related deaths occurred in homes without smoke alarms. When instaling, make sure they are in every bedroom, on every floor of the home, and interconnected. They should be interconnected so If one detects a fire, they all go off. For those who are deaf or hard of hearing there are special smoke detectors which have lights or even bed shakers so they too can be alerted in the sign of danger. And always remember to change the batteries every year, and replace the units after 10 years.

Clothes Dryers

Accounting for over 15,000 home fires yearly, your dryer is one of the biggest fire hazards in your home — best practice is to get your dryer vent cleaned every 6 months so your unit has proper ventilation of heat and lint.

Walter Electric is prepared and ready to inspect your home’s electrical, wiring, receptacles, and install smoke and CO2 detectors for optimal home safety.

If you are concerned about your home’s aluminum wiring, we can offer an estimate for aluminum wire remediation. Call us at 410-590-5959.