Electrical Repair

From the Amazon Echo to the Google Home device, “smart home” technology has taken the world by storm. If you’re not ready to take the full tech plunge by inviting Alexa into your home, smart thermostats are a great way to test the waters while also having a big, positive impact on your daily life. These devices connect to your in-home Wi-Fi and your HVAC system to always provide the perfect temperature for optimal comfort and higher energy efficiency.

The best part about smart thermostats? If used properly, they can save you money.

For homeowners, the effects of power outages can range from an annoying inconvenience to a life-threatening issue. No matter the reason for wanting a backup home generator, it’s helpful and important to understand how they work in order to effectively use and maintain them.

Fuel source

Imagine your generator is like a big hamster wheel building up energy for your home. You need something to feed it. Natural gas, propane, and diesel are common fuel sources used, with natural gas being the most common. As long as you have a plentiful supply of fuel, you can run the generator indefinitely.

Power goes out, generator comes on

Backup generators from BriteBox are installed alongside your home’s electrical system to power exactly what you choose to energize when the power goes out. They have a trigger, called a power transfer switch, that will start the generator as soon as it senses a loss of power. You may notice a flicker or nothing at all. Once your utility power comes back, the automatic transfer switch immediately shuts off your generator.

Reduce Your Risk

Installing a visible home security system may reduce your risk of becoming a burglary victim, protecting your property from theft and damages. Let’s explore some home security statistics below

According to the FBI’s latest published burglary data

• There were an estimated 1,401,840 burglaries in 2017.
• Burglaries accounted for 18.2 percent of the estimated number of property crimes. 
• By subcategory, 57.5 percent of burglaries involved forcible entry, 36.2 percent were unlawful entries, and 6.3 percent were attempted forcible entry. 
• Victims of burglary offenses suffered an estimated $3.4 billion in property losses in 2017. 
• The average dollar loss per burglary offense was $2,416. 
• Burglaries of residential properties accounted for 67.2 percent of all burglary offenses. 

Many assume that burglaries take place at night, but they most commonly occur from 10 AM – 3 PM. Summer months are prime months for burglary due to travel plans. A recent study published by researcher Joseph Kuhns from the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at UNC Charlotte provides insights on habits and motivations of burglars.

Findings included:

• When selecting a target, most burglars said they considered the close proximity of other people – including traffic, people in the house or business, and police officers; the lack of escape routes; and signs of increased security – including alarm signs, alarms, dogs inside, and outdoor cameras or other surveillance equipment.
• Approximately 83 percent said they would try to determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary, and 60 percent said they would seek an alternative target if there was an alarm on-site. This was particularly true among the subset of burglars who were more likely to spend time deliberately and carefully planning a burglary.
• Among those who discovered the presence of an alarm while attempting a burglary, half reported they would discontinue the attempt, while another 31 percent said they would sometimes retreat. Only 13 percent said they would always continue with the burglary attempt.
• Most burglars reported entering open windows or doors or forcing windows or doors open. About one in eight burglars reported picking locks or using a key that they had previously acquired to gain entry.
• About 12 percent indicated that they typically planned the burglary in advance, 41 percent suggested it was most often a “spur of the moment” event, and the other 37 percent reported that it varied.

If you read the above statistics and don’t feel alarmed by living without a security system, you’re not alone. According to the National Council for Home Safety and Security, only 17 percent of houses in the U.S. have a security system installed.