Top Warning Signs of Electrical Wiring Problems

Some types of problems in the home are easier to spot than others. It’s easy to notice things like broken windows, a faucet that won’t stop dripping, or a furnace that suddenly stops working. But when part of your home is something that’s typically hidden behind walls, like your electrical wiring, it’s a lot harder to know when there’s a problem. But if there’s a problem with your home’s electrical wiring that doesn’t get taken care of, it can potentially cause a fire. So, how can you tell if there’s something wrong with your electrical wiring?

Lots of Tripped Breakers or Blown Fuses

Making an occasional trip to the circuit breaker or fuse box to replace a blown fuse or fix a tripped circuit is not a big deal. This just means your circuit breaker/fuse box is doing its job in preventing your electrical circuits from being overloaded. But if your circuit breaker trips frequently or you’re blowing several fuses per month, that’s a big red flag. This could be a sign that your home’s electrical system isn’t designed to handle the amount of electricity you need, that there’s a short somewhere in your wiring, or that your circuit breaker/fuse box is getting old and worn out.

Flickering Lights

Have you noticed that your lights flicker or get dimmer while you’re running another appliance, like the washing machine or dishwasher? Electrical lights tend to use relatively little power compared to most other appliances, so if you notice that your lights flicker or dim when you’re using other appliances, it might indicate that there’s a lot of stress being placed on that circuit. It might also be a sign that a wiring connection to your light fixture has come loose. In either case, calling an electrician can help solve the problem.

Do You Hear Something?

When electrical wiring is in good working order, it won’t make any noise when it’s being used. But if you hear a buzzing, popping, or crackling noise coming from an electrical outlet, stop using it immediately, turn off the power to that circuit, and call an electrician right away. If you’re actually seeing sparks coming from an outlet or circuit breaker/fuse box, you definitely need to call an electrician immediately.

Hot Outlets and Switches

If you touch an electrical outlet or switch with your hand, does it feel warm or hot? Some types of electronics or appliances will get warm if they’ve been plugged in for a while, but light switches and electrical outlets themselves should not. An electrical outlet should also never look burnt or scorched. If you’ve noticed this, give an electrician a call so they can come out and see what’s causing the problem.

The Smell of Burnt Plastic

Burning plastic has a very distinctive smell. If you’ve noticed this smell around your house, but aren’t sure where it’s coming from, there’s a good chance it might be coming from your electrical wiring and you should call an electrician.

These are just a few of the biggest warning signs to watch out for. Of course, if you’re able to see frayed or damaged wiring, that’s another big sign you need to have an electrician come out to your home. But if you live in an older home, you may want to consider having an electrician come out to evaluate your system. Even if you haven’t noticed a problem, there may be things that could be done to make your system safer and more in line with modern code standards.

Enhancing Your Windows With Shutters

Looking for new window treatments for your vinyl replacement windows? Remember, you aren’t just limited to curtains and blinds. Window shutters are another great type of window treatment. Just like blinds and curtains, shutters are available in many different styles and colors and are made of many different materials. But no matter which type of shutter you choose, they can provide a lot of benefits for your home.

Shutters are available in many different styles, but there are two main types of shutters you can choose from: interior and exterior. If you live in an area that tends to get a lot of storms, exterior window shutters are a way to help protect your windows from being damaged. All you have to do is close your shutters and your windows will have an extra layer of protection from things like strong winds, hail, and other debris. When exterior shutters aren’t closed to protect your windows, they can add a very charming touch to your home’s exterior. In fact, many homeowners place non-functional shutters on the exterior side of their windows because they’re such a great way to improve curb appeal.

Regardless if you choose interior or exterior shutters, window shutters can help make your windows more energy efficient. Since they create an extra layer between your window and the rest of your home, closed shutters can help keep cold air out during the winter and heat from the sun out of your home during the summer so you don’t have to keep your furnace or air conditioner running so much. You’ll be able to save money and live more comfortably at the same time!

Interior shutters can add a very stylish touch to the rooms in your home, but they can also make it very easy to control the amount of light and privacy you get in a room. Opening the louvers of your shutters at an upward angle will help let just a little bit of natural light in and angling the louvers at a downward angle will let fresh air in without sacrificing privacy.

Have asthma or allergies? Window shutters can be easier to clean than blinds or curtains. Typically, all you need to clean window shutters is a dry cloth. Blinds can definitely be a challenge to clean and it’s very easy for curtains to accumulate dust that can irritate your allergies.

Unlike other types of window treatments, shutters have a very unique benefit: they’re the only type of window treatment that can help improve your home’s value. Unlike curtains or blinds, shutters are permanent fixtures in a home so if you were to sell your home, they’d be included as part of the deal. With all the benefits shutters offer, it’s no wonder so many home buyers are willing to spend a little bit more on a home that has them!

Best of all, window shutters can easily be custom made to fit virtually any size or shape of window. With so many different styles of shutters out there, they can easily make a great addition to any home.

Want to Improve Energy Efficiency? Don’t Forget Your Attic!

When you think of the rooms of your house you spend the most time in, odds are that your attic isn’t at the top of that list. Attics are often a very overlooked part of the home and unless you’ve converted your attic into a living area, you probably only go into to your attic if you need a place to store something or if you need to check for signs of roof damage. But if you’re trying to make your home more energy efficient, your attic is one of the most important places to check.

Attics are often full of opportunities to boost your home’s energy efficiency. It’s believed that as much 85% of a home’s heat is lost through the attic, so your attic should be at the top of your list of places to look when you’re trying to make your home more comfortable and lower your energy bills. So, what sorts of things should you do to improve your attic?

Check for Drafts

Just like how you routinely check your doors and vinyl replacement windows for drafts, you’ll want to check your attic for drafts, too. Drafts most commonly occur in places where openings have been cut to create space for something else, like pipes, air ducts, or electrical wiring. If you find any drafts, seal them up ASAP. Caulk works well for sealing smaller gaps while a low-expansion foam tends to work well for larger openings. If you’ve found a draft around your chimney, use a piece of aluminum flashing and a silicone caulk designed to withstand high temperatures to fix it.

Add Insulation

The vast majority of American homes do not meet the current minimum standards for insulation. In many cases, homes were built to meet or exceed the standards for wall insulation at the time the house was built, but attics didn’t receive as much attention. Adequate attic insulation will do a lot to help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, so adding attic insulation is an excellent investment in your home. If you look in your attic and are able to see your floor joists, you could benefit from more insulation.

In addition to helping lower your energy bills, adding insulation can help your roof last longer. Ice dams commonly form on roofs when the attic gets warm enough to cause snow and ice on the roof to melt, but the temperature outside is cold enough for the water to refreeze. Ice dams can be very damaging to roofs, so anything that will help prevent that is beneficial.

Don’t Forget Weatherstripping

If you’ve been replacing the weatherstripping on your windows and doors, don’t forget to use some on the entrance to your attic. This will help keep the heat from your furnace from leaving the main part of your house so it will stay where it will do the most good.

5 Home Decorating Trends to Watch for in 2017

With the new year just around the corner, many homeowners are planning ahead for projects they’d like to do around the house in 2017. Whether you’re planning a major project like renovating your kitchen or something a little simpler like painting some rooms and getting new furniture, nobody wants to go through all that work only to find out their home already looks out of date. So if you’re planning to make some updates to your home in the coming year, here are a few of the biggest trends designers are expecting to see in 2017.

Jewel Tones

Pantone’s colors of the year for 2016 were both pastels and now many people are longing for some deeper, richer colors. Bold, vibrant jewel tones like emerald green, amethyst purple, and sapphire blue add a bit of drama and a luxurious feel to your home.

Cork

Thanks to the durable and environmentally friendly nature of cork, cork floors have become increasingly popular over the past few years. Cork floors aren’t going anywhere, but more and more homeowners are now looking for other ways to use cork around the house. One idea that’s been gaining some momentum lately is cork walls. Not only can cork be a very attractive wall covering, it helps keep noise levels under control. And if it’s used in an area like a home office, you’ll have a very convenient place to pin all your important notes and messages.

Earthy Pastels

Although jewel toned colors are definitely shaping up to be one of the hottest home decor trends in the new year, pastels will absolutely still be on the radar. In 2017, the most popular pastel shades will be pastel shades of very natural colors like blue and green.

Metallics

Copper and rose gold have been hugely popular over the past couple of years, but it looks like gold and brass finishes are well on their way to becoming the next big things. Speaking of metallic finishes, don’t be afraid to mix metals. Mixed metals are expected to be a very on-trend look in 2017.

If you’re planning to look for new appliances in the upcoming year, you may be seeing a lot of black and matte finish appliances in stores. Stainless steel appliances and brushed metal finishes have been around for a while, but a lot of people are starting to crave something a little different.

Marble

Marble was a very popular choice for home decor in 2016 and many designers expect it will continue to be in demand in 2017. Whether you’re looking for new countertops, flooring, or tabletops on accent tables, marble is a great way to add a touch of luxury to a home.

Get Prepared for Winter Storms

It’s no secret that Michigan winters can be rough. Temperatures can get bitterly cold and we often get hit with some pretty strong winter storms. When a winter storm moves through the area, homeowners are often left with several inches of snow and a thick layer of ice to remove from their sidewalks and driveways. Stay ahead of the game by preparing for winter storms now.

Inspect Your Home

If you didn’t give your home’s exterior a good general inspection during the fall, it’s a very good idea to do one before the first major winter storm of the season hits. Look for things like signs of roof damage, tree branches that come close to your windows or roof, and sections of gutters and siding that have come loose. Loose roof shingles and pieces of loose siding or gutters can easily be torn off by strong winds, making your home more vulnerable to damage. Tree branches that come too close to your home can damage your roof or vinyl replacement windows if they break off during a storm.

Be Ready for Snow Removal

Don’t wait until the first signs of a major winter storm to go out and stock up on snow removal tools. Make sure your snow shovels are in good shape and that you have plenty of ice remover on hand. There tends to be a rush on these sorts of things right before a big storm, so you might have a hard time finding them in stores if you wait until the last minute.

If you have a snow blower, make sure it has plenty of fuel in it and still starts up properly. The last thing you want to discover after a major snowfall is that your snow blower isn’t working and you’ll have to shovel all that snow by hand.

Don’t Forget Your Car!

Whether you park your car in a garage or leave it parked outside, it’s best to keep your car’s gas tank above a quarter of a tank full. This will help prevent your car’s fuel line from freezing.

Stock Up On Supplies

Depending on how bad a storm is and how fast cities are about clearing roadways, you might have a hard time getting anywhere for a little while after a storm. Make sure you have enough food and water on hand to last you through a few days. More specifically, you should have a good supply of non-perishable food in case your power goes out. If you have pets or babies, don’t forget about things they’ll need!

Also, don’t forget to make sure you have lots of batteries, flashlights, blankets, and warm clothing at home so you can have light and stay warm if the power goes out. If you have a fireplace or backup power generator, keep plenty of firewood or fuel on hand. Just make sure generators are kept outside the house, at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents that lead into your home.