Tag: Kootenai County | NextGen Electric

Halloween Electrical Safety Tips

July 23, 2018October 31, 2016 by Next Gen

For most of us, Halloween and decorating with lights indoors and outdoors is the kick off to the holiday season.

As you and your family celebrate Halloween with elaborate decorations, fun costumes, and candle lit displays, Next Gen Electric wants to make sure you are equipped with the following electrical safety tips to help you and all your little trick-or-treaters remain safe.

Always select/create costumes, decorations, and accessories made from flame-resistant, flame-retardant, or non-combustible materials.
Toss out the flame candles and use flashlights or battery-operated candles when decorating your home including your outdoor lighting: Jack-O-Lanterns, and other outdoor displays.
Carefully inspect each decoration before use. cracked, frayed, or bare wires can cause serious electric shock or start a fire.
Plug your outdoor decorations into circuits protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to prevent electric shock.
Are your electrical decorations you plan to use outdoors are marked “For Outdoor Use”? If not, ditch them and get outdoor graded décor.
Keep your electrical cords out of high-traffic areas, including doorways and walkways, to minimize tripping hazards.
Don’t nail or staple light strings or extension cords. They cause damage to the cord’s insulation and can create fire and shock hazards.
Don’t forget to turn off your electrical decorations and put out any open flames before leaving your home or going to bed.

Next Gen Electric is your electrical and solar expert. We have over 15 years of experience supporting homeowners to stay safe while connected in their home.

Give us a call today for any electrical or solar needs!

ReplacingYour Smoke Alarm FAQ’s

July 23, 2018October 12, 2016 by Next Gen

Did You Know That Your Smoke Alarm Has An Expiration Date?

It does!

Every smoke alarm has a manufacturer’s date. According to the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72), it’s required that all smoke alarms be replaced within 10 years of that date. Actually, the manufacture’s instructions for most smoke alarms state that they are to be replaced when they fail to respond. This could be BEFORE their expiration date of 10 years.

What does that mean for you?

It’s Time To Check Your Smoke Alarms!

Be sure to walk around your home and check all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms for their manufacture’s date. This can be found either on the side of the alarm or the back cover. In order to check, you’ll need to remove the alarm from it’s base on the ceiling. To do this, twist the alarm counter-clockwise.

It’s best to replace the alarm with the same manufactured alarm so that no other assembly is required. The new alarm from the same manufacturer can be placed on the ceiling or wall plate with no problems. However, if you’re replacing the old alarm with a different manufacturer, you will need to remove the old ceiling plate and install the new one included with your new alarm. Once you’ve replaced your new alarm, be sure to test out the unit by pushing the center button to make sure it’s working correctly.

If your alarm is hard-wired into the ceiling, but sure to take extreme caution to keep everyone safe. If you know how to work with electrical wiring, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Otherwise, contact a qualified electrician.

Next Gen offers FREE consultations for any electrical service and we are happy to replace your old smoke alarms including testing them. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.

For a more detailed and step by step demonstration of these steps, watch our how-to video “Don’t Wait, Check The Date”.

Stay Fire-Free With AFCI’s

July 23, 2018October 10, 2016 by Next Gen

Throughout the past 30 years, our homes have been largely transformed thanks to modern electrical devices. However, these helpful devices have also supported and contributed to the number of electrical fires throughout the U.S each year. Current homes are overwhelmed by today’s electrical demands, putting them at greater risk of arc faults and arc-induced fires.

What Is An Arc Fault?

An arc fault is a dangerous electrical problem caused by damaged, overheated, or stressed electrical wiring or devices. An arc fault occurs when older wires become frayed or cracked – possibly due to a nail or a screw behind a wall. It’s also common when outlets or circuits are overburdened carrying too large of a load. Think of a bolt of lightning, for example. Lightning is a very large and powerful arc that crosses from an electrically charged cloud to the ground, or another cloud. When an electric current in your home crosses to an energized component to a grounded component, a glowing discharged is formed called an arc. Just as lighting can cause severe damage, arcs produced in your home wiring are capable of producing high levels of heat that can ignite surroundings causing fires. In the U.S, arcing faults case more than 44,000 home fires each year. This results in hundreds of deaths, injuries, and millions in property damage.

What’s The Solution?

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) could help prevent more than 50% of the electrical fires that occur every year. AFCI’s are special electrical outlets and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs a home.

AFCI’s function by monitoring the electrical waves moving through your home and then interrupting the circuit they service if they detect changes in the wave pattern that may become a dangerous arc. They also are capable of distinguishing safe and normal arcs, like those that are created when a switch is turned on or a plug is pulled from an outlet. AFCI’s are extremely sensitive so that they can detect, recognize, and respond accordingly to extremely small changes in wave patterns.

Where Do Arcs Typically Form?

Arcs tend to form where wires are installed improperly or when insulation becomes damaged. In many older homes, wore insulation will eventually crystallize as it ages, becoming brittle and will crack and chip. Damaged insulation exposes wire to it’s surroundings, increasing the chances of arcing in your home.

Arcs May Occur In The Following Situations:

damaged electrical cords
damaged wire insulation due to nails and screws driven through walls
damaged appliance cords due to heat, aging, kinking, and over extension
liquid spills
loose connections in outlets, switches, and light fixtures

To Keep You And Your Home Safe From Fires, It’s Best To Have An AFCI In The Following Locations:

Kitchen
Family/Living Room
Dining room
Bedrooms
Den/Office
Hallways
Closets
Bonus/Play Rooms

Each state has it’s own provisions based on the National Electrical Code requirements for AFCI protection in new homes. It is up to the home owner to know and understand what is available to protect your home and our family from electrical fires.

Depending on the size of a given home, the cost impact for installing additional AFCI protection is about $75 per circuit. That’s a small price to pay when it comes to saving your loved ones and your home from damage, injury, or death. There’s no doubt that AFCI’s provide advanced protection against electrical fires, but only if they are working properly. REember to reach out to your trusted Master Electrician to inspect and service your elctrical to ensure a safe and fire-free home.

Call Next Gen Electric today to get a FREE consult. We’re happy to take a look around your home to troubleshoot or provide peace of mind for you and your family.

Are You Eligible?

July 23, 2018September 28, 2016 by Next Gen

Solar adoption is taking flight thanks to the price of solar panels plummeting. This enables homeowners and businesses to save more money by controlling their own electricity costs instead of being at the mercy of rising utility rates.

We’ve shared before about the top motivators to switch to solar but for most, the federal incentive is where it’s at! Thanks to the Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, homeowners can help themselves to a 30% incentive.

The Best Part?

This incentive is now good through December 31, 2019!

A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of taxes owed. For example, a typical solar array with Next Gen will cost around $13,000 for a 4 kilowatt installation. In this example, the homeowner would benefit from the federal tax credit and reduce their taxes by $3,900. Yes, please!

This incentive is super easy to take advantage of. Like with any good deal, you much do your research to ensure that you’re eligible and how to claim your credit.

REMEMBER:

We know solar, not taxes! The information provided below may not be appropriate for your situation. Be sure to consult a tax professional before filling your tax credit to ensure you meet the requirements.

Eligibility

To qualify for the 30% Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, you must meet the following requirements:

Have A System Installation Date On Or Before December 31, 2019
Panels Are On A Residential Location In The U.S.
The Solar Panel System Is New Or Being Used For The First Time
You Own The Panels (Not Leased)

Your Next Gen team is happy to help with any questions you may have. We know that going solar is a big decision and a large financial decision. That’s why we want to make sure that you are fully educated on how much your specific situation will cost and how much money you can expect to stay in your pocket. For a free Solar Site Evaluation, visit our website or call our office to get scheduled today: 208.765.WIRE.

For current information on incentives, including incentive-specific contact information, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website at www.dsireusa.org.

Keeping Organized On The Go

July 23, 2018August 11, 2016 by Next Gen

Between the office, paperwork, and appointments, there are a lot of things to juggle while on the job. One of the most important aspects of Next Gen’s organization starts with our work vehicles.

You may think of a commercial vehicle as transportation from place to place, but it’s actually a key element of success. Electrical contractors are constantly on the go and many of us work right out of our vehicles. A work van is one of the biggest financial investments and ensuring that it is well organized has massive benefits.

An organized work van is the foundation on which a successful business is built. It’s essential to transport the people and tools you need to get the job done. If your vehicle is in disarray, you run the risk of money and equipment loss and you may unintentionally endanger your technicians.

How can an organized van benefit your business?

Safety

A clean organized van keeps everything and everyone safe. Loose tools in the back of your van are dangerous to both you and your equipment. In the event of a sudden stop, unrestrained tools can become dangerous causing damage and possible injury.

Try organizing your equipment with partitions, storage modules, and drawers to keep your van cargo areas neat and safe. I found great deals and smart options at American Van.

Inventory

Organization also helps you manage your supply inventory. When your tools and equipment stay in the same place, it’s easy to know when something should be restocked or replaced. Keep track of everything up-front to avoid the need to re-purchase expensive tools.

In addition to proper organization, it is a good idea to map the contents within your van and clearly label each drawer, shelf, and cabinet to improve inventory management. There are systems out there that are super cool and user friendly. I’ve really enjoyed using Platt In Motion from Platt Tools. Their system allows me to print off bar code labels from their app online. I can track any items purchased from their store and see what inventory is lacking in my supply. However, if you’re looking to keep it simple, just stick a piece of masking tape on each storage unit and record the name. Not only will this aid in organization and inventory, but with labeled equipment, you can save a lot of time in your search for the tools you need and get the job done quicker.

Branding

When a customer sees your work van pull up in front of their home, they instantly form a first impression of your company. Keep your vehicle organized and clean (inside and out) to ensure your first impression is a good one. An organized van signals professionalism and demonstrates that customers can rely on you to get the work done quickly and efficiently.

Ultimately, a well-organized van will save you both time and money. The less time you have to spend on the hunt for the necessary tools for a job will increase the productivity and efficiency of your company. Take time out of your busy schedule to clean and organize your work vehicle. Just 10 minutes a day will help to increase your productivity and security. Don’t be surprised if you also get more work! Word of mouth is the most common and effortless marketing tool you can use. With a clean and organized work vehicle enabling you and your company to be better focused at the great work you do, take notice of more and more customers coming your way.