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Whether you’re trying to blow dry your hair or simply want to watch television, you’ll need electrical wires, outlets, and breakers operating behind the scenes to power everything. If your outlet is suddenly not working, it can be a major inconvenience. When an outlet malfunctions, you first have to narrow down the extent of the problem. With the right troubleshooting, you can determine the underlying cause and when you need to call for help. What

Flickering lights are a common household issue, especially when you start up some of your large appliances. The cause is a sudden and temporary voltage drop, as devices and appliances like your air conditioner and washing machine demand more power. But while minor and occasional flickering is normal, persistent and severe flickering is anything but. In fact, this usually indicates electrical problems. This article takes a closer look at the reasons your lights flicker when

How To Protect Outdoor Lighting Fixtures from Weather Outdoor lighting can make your home a more secure place to live. It can also add to the curb appeal of your property, which can increase its market value. Of course, any outdoor lights that you install on your yard will inevitably be exposed to the weather. Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to minimize exposure to rain, sun or other potential hazards. Place

How Bright Should Your Outdoor Lighting Be? Homeowners often struggle to find just the right level of lighting for different outdoor areas of their property. Over-lighting creates glare and light pollution, but under-lighting creates safety hazards. Many also make the mistake of focusing on wattage rather than lumens. Distinct areas on a property have different lighting requirements, and it’s important to understand the metrics for lighting and how to apply them. Lumens vs. Watts? People

Is a Concrete Pad Required To Have a Home Generator Installed? When the power goes out unexpectedly, the last thing you want to do is fumble around with candles and flashlights until the power returns. By installing a standby generator, you can instantly switch to backup power as soon as an outage hits. However, these units must be properly maintained for them to function at their best. A solid foundation is essential for protecting the

How Fast Generators Restore Power for Home Medical Devices If you use a CPAP machine or other critical medical device, you need to know that it will stay powered on at all times. Fortunately, a backup generator can help to ensure that you don’t lose access to critical tools when the main power goes out. Let’s take a look at how long it takes to restore power to medical devices using a generator, along with

How To Know If Your Home Has Enough Smoke Detectors Three-quarters of fire deaths in the U.S. occur at home. Worse, 40% of houses have no smoke detectors, and another 17% have at least one that doesn’t work. Working, properly placed smoke detectors throughout your house are critical for improving survivability in the event of a fire. Homeowners often wonder how many smoke detectors are enough to fully cover and protect their property. Here is

You’re aware that having smoke detectors reduces your fatality risk by up to 60%, but did you know that placing them in the wrong location can increase your risk? For example, it’s necessary to avoid putting ceiling smoke detectors in the corners of your room. Otherwise, you could get a delayed notification due to dead air space. To help you protect yourself and your family, Clearwater Mister Sparky is here with everything you need to

The Maintenance EV Charging Stations Need For most American EV owners, about 80-85% of charging occurs at home using a Level 2 charger. This puts the maintenance burden on the vehicle owner. The good news is that a lot of maintenance is simple DIY work, and much of the professional work fits well into an annual household electrical inspection. Routine Cleaning and Basic Care Wiping down the charging unit, cables, and connectors is an excellent

When you plug in your car at a charging station, the last thing you want is to be electrocuted. Considering how much electricity passes through the EV charging stations, it makes sense to worry about the impact of extreme weather conditions on charging your vehicle. To help allay some of your concerns, we’ll look at how charging in the rain works, which protective measures are installed on a typical charging station, and what kind of