Whether you are just moving out of your parent’s house or purchasing a home after years of renting, owning your own home brings with it a whole range of new responsibilities and concerns. Instead of having family, maintenance workers, or landlords to report to about electrical issues, you are now the person solely responsible for the health and safety of your electrical system. You are now also acutely aware of the costs associated with electricity usage and how fast they can rack up. In this blog, we will discuss some of the mistakes first-time home buyers make, as well as some tips to lower your monthly bills and increase the safety of your new house.
Tips For First-Time Home Buyers
Your first home is special, and many people’s goal after purchasing it is to turn it into their dream home as quickly as possible. If you intend to stay in this house for the foreseeable future, implementing minor changes to your electrical usage behavior and installing needed upgrades as soon as possible can compound over time and lead to significant savings and improved safety.
- Learn About Common Dangers: You don’t have to be overly worried about every aspect of your home electrical system at all times, but you should still be aware that serious disasters and injuries are always possible if warning signs are ignored. Common dangers to look out for include:
Outlets – Outlets that are warm to the touch indicate that wiring issues might lead to fires. Keep an eye out for warped plastic on outlet covers or burns on cords. Outlets can also pose a danger to young children if they play with them, and many parents opt for child-proof, tamper-resistant outlets that prevent objects from being inserted inside.
Extension Cords and Power Strips – Even if your outlets are safe, you may realize that your home is not equipped to handle the number of devices you use, forcing you to use extension cords and power strips. However, you still need to take into account the amount of power being drawn through these cords. Extension cords are generally unsafe to use 24/7 and will degrade faster than expected compared to a normal outlet. Power strips, as well, can help when you need extra plug space in a particular area of the home, but they can overload if you try to power many powerful devices at the same time. If additional outlets are needed for devices, you should opt for installing dedicated outlets in the room connected to the wiring. - Monitor Your Energy Usage: You may not have had the ability to make decisions about your electrical system in the past, or maybe you just weren’t responsible for the bill, but learning how to monitor, reduce, and change your habits can save you lots of money in the long term. Florida is hot, but blasting the A/C isn’t always the best or cheapest way to combat the heat. On a similar note, monitoring your usage lets you make determinations about whether or not upgrading to a new cooling unit with more efficiency can save you money by extrapolating monthly savings based on your current usage. To put it simply – you are now in charge, and you can’t rely on family or landlords to make decisions that will affect your monthly utility bill for the next two decades – or however long you decide to stay in your new home. (Read More Tips from FPL)
- Don’t DIY Electricity: You might be eager to take on new home improvement projects, but electricity is not something to mess with. If you are unsure about the specifics of a DIY electrical upgrade, contact a local electrician to do the job for you. Not only will you save yourself from potential harm, but you will also likely save money in the long run by having a professional with insurance make the upgrades and repairs.
Congratulations on your new purchase! For help turning your new home into a dream home, contact Promise Electric today. Our team of Master Electricians provides expert service to residential and commercial customers across the Sarasota region.
