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By the way - did you know we’re available 24/7 rain or shine, snow or ice… We have EMERGENCY TECH’S on stand-by for you!
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Consumer Product Safety Commission: Extension Cords Fact Sheet
THE STATISTICS
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSO) estimates that each year, about 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms. About half the injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains from people tripping over extension cords. Thirteen percent of the injuries involve children under-five years of age; electrical burns to the mouth accounted for half the injuries to young children.
CPSC also estimates that about 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others. The most frequent causes of such fires are short circuits, overloading, damage, and/or misuse of extension cords.
THE PROBLEM
Following are CPSC investigations of injuries that illustrate the major accident patterns associated with extension cords, namely children putting extension cords in their mouths, overloaded cords, worn or damaged cords, and tripping over cords:
A 15-month-old girl put an extension cord In her mouth and suffered an electrical burn. She required surgery.
Two young children were injured In a fire caused by an overloaded extension cord in their family’s home. A lamp, TV set, and electric heater had been plugged Into a single, light-duty extension cord.
A 65-year old woman was treated for a fractured ankle after tripping over an extension cord.
THE STANDARDS
The National Electrical Code says that many cord-connected appliances should be equipped with polarized grounding type plugs. Polarized plugs have one blade slightly wider than the other and can only be inserted one way into the outlet. Polarization and grounding ensure that certain parts of appliances that could have a higher risk of electric shock when they become live are instead connected to the neutral, or grounded, side of the circuit. Such electrical products should only be used with polarized or grounding type extension cords.
Voluntary industry safety standards, including those of Underwriters Laboratories Inc.(UL), now require that general use extension cords have safety closures, warning labels, rating information about the electrical current, and other added features for the protection of children and other consumers.
In addition, UL-listed extension cords now must be constructed with #16 gauge or larger wire, or be equipped with integral fuses. The #16 gauge wire is rated to carry 13 amperes (up to 1560 watts), as compared to the formerly-used # 18 gauge cords that were rated for 10 amperes (up to 1200 watts).
SAFETY SUGGESTIONS
| CPSC has the following recommendations for the purchase and safe use of extension cords:
* Use extension cords only when necessary and only on a temporary basis. * Use polarized extension cords with polarized appliances. * Make sure cords do not dangle from the counter or table tops where they can be pulled down or tripped over. * Replace cracked or worn extension cords with new. #16 gauge cords that have the listing, of a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, safety closures, and other safety features. * With cords lacking safety closures, cover any unused outlets with electrical tape or with plastic caps to prevent the chance of a child making contact with the live circuit. * Insert plugs fully so that no part of the prongs are exposed when the extension cord is in use. * When disconnecting cords, pull the plug rather than the cord itself. * Teach children not to play with plugs and outlets. * Use only three-wire extension cords for appliances with three-prong plugs. Never remove the third (round or U-shaped) prong, which is a safety feature designed to reduce the risk of shock and electrocution. |
* Check the plug and the body of the extension cord while the cord is in use. Noticeable warming of these plastic parts is expected when cords are being used at their maximum rating, however, if the cord feels hot or if there is a softening of the plastic, this is a warning that the plug wires or connections are failing and that the extension cord should be discarded and replaced.
* Never use an extension cord while it is coiled or looped. Never cover any part of an extension cord with newspapers, clothing, rugs, or any objects while the cord is in use. Never place an extension cord where it is likely to be damaged by heavy furniture or foot traffic. * Don’t use staples or nails to attach extension cords to a baseboard or to another surface. This could damage the cord and present a shock or fire hazard. * Don’t overload extension cords by plugging in appliances that draw a total of more watts than the rating of the cord. * Use special, heavy duty extension cords for high wattage appliances such as air conditioners, portable electric heaters, and freezers. * When using outdoor tools and appliances, use only extension cords labeled for outdoor use. |
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Save money this heating season
Don’t be fooled today - the cold air is coming and this weekend we’re expecting snow again!
Here’s a great article we found that we thought we’d relay over to our customers. It’s a rough time out there and we try to do everything we can to help our customers save their hard earned money. Follow these tips in the article and you’re sure to see results!
10 tricks for reducing your heating bill
Here’s how to keep your house warm without draining your wallet
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1. Learn to love socks. If your feet are cold, your whole body will feel cold, so make a point of wearing socks around the house in the winter. The next step if you’re still feeling cold: Bundle up in a sweater or a blanket rather than cranking up the heat.
2. Tap heat that’s there anyway. There are plenty of activities you do around the house that generate warmth, such as cooking a meal or taking a shower. When you shower, keep the bathroom door open so steam spreads to other rooms, and don’t turn a ventilation fan on; it will rapidly remove the warm air you’re hoping to keep around.
3. Lower your thermostat. You likely won’t notice a huge difference if you turn it down just a few degrees, a move that can shave 5 percent to 10 percent off your heating bill. It’s especially wise to turn down the heat whenever you leave your home for several hours.
4. Watch that water heater. It’s also not likely to be noticeable if you turn down the thermostat on your water heater to, say, 120 degrees from about 140 degrees.
5. Consider a programmable thermostat. They cost between $30 and $100, but that’s money you’re sure to make back over the course of a year because your heating bills will drop. A programmable thermostat allows you to adjust the heat on a predetermined schedule, so you can lower the heat when you’re not home or when you’re sleeping.
6. Don’t let heat escape unnecessarily. Keep your doors and windows shut when the heat is on. If your home has a fireplace that you aren’t using, be sure the flue is closed and glass doors are in place to minimize heat loss. In addition to those bathroom ventilation fans, turn kitchen ventilation fans off when they aren’t needed.
7. Call for a checkup. Proper maintenance will help your heating unit run more efficiently. Electric and oil heaters should get professional attention at least once a year and gas heaters every other year. Also, here’s a step you can take all on your own: Remember to check the filters in your heating system and make sure they’re clean and clear. Dirty filters lead to higher heating costs.
(By Laura T. Coffey - msnbc.com contributor - Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/16176373/ns/today_technology_and_money-10_tips/)
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Angie’s List
We would like to ask our friends and customers a favor! If you use the service Angie’s List, have used our services and were happy with them, would you please leave a review of our company on Angie’s List?
Here is a link: http://www.angieslist.com/companylist/?cid=badge
We really appreciate your testimonials. Referring our company and posting a review regarding our for services is the best compliment you could give us and we want you to know that we are so very thankful!
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Things are moving fast!
We’ve got so much in the works now! Last month we missed our monthly newsletter and we’re so sorry! Several of our customers were concerned that they did not get it and we just wanted to let you know that from now on we plan on having a newsletter out on the 1st of every month! We will be announcing some really existing news soon so please keep up with the blog and expect the newsletter Feb. 1st!
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Friendly Bowling Night!
We’re a bit slow with this post. With the holidays it’s been very busy and now things are back to normal. Our holiday outing this season was bowling night. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get too many pictures but we wanted to show one from that night. It was a lot of fun and it was great to be able to spend some time together outside of our Friendly Electric uniforms.
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Starting The Year off with a Great Start!
We would like to congratulate our Friendly Technician, Matthew Pressey. He is now an official Nexstar Certified Service Technician! Matt has now entered into the elite group of service technicians with just only 480 of others in the country.
Certified Trustworthy by Homeowners
Consider Nexstar Select Service as the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” for service providers in the electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning trades. Nexstar Select Service professionals earned the right to be recommended as a trusted source. Count on them to deliver quality results, fair pricing and superior treatment.
Nexstar certifies members who qualify for this distinction. They meet tough standards to earn Select Service status.
• Rank in the top 50% of all Nexstar members in annual surveys assessing customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction and financial health.
• Live by the Nexstar Code of Ethics that promises fair treatment, quality work, respect for others, regard for employees and community and social responsibility.
• Maintain outstanding business practices and deliver exceptional customer service.
• Provide firm, up-front pricing before work begins.
• Implement best practices and document all customer communications.
No other service provider can display this seal of approval. It tells you that the person in the truck - and the entire company - puts a priority on delivering a superior customer experience. A Nexstar Select Service pro puts you first - and has proven it through the recommendations of customers.
You can stop worrying about or being frustrated by the trade person coming to your door to maintain, repair or upgrade your electrical, heating or air conditioning. A Nexstar Select Service certified company is your assurance that the technician serving you is competent, trustworthy and has your best interests at heart. revealed
What a way to start the new year! Alright - go Matt! We’re proud of you!
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Don’t burn down your home!
Listen - there are so many stories of house fires occurring all over the country. Never use a grill, space heater or portable generator intended for outside use inside your home. Similarly, never attempt to heat your home with a gas range. All can emit deadly carbon monoxide. If you’re cold in your home, call us and we can help you warm up this season! It’s very cold and windy today but please be safe! If you’re not sure if something is safe, give us a call and talk to us. 732-821-0200.
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The Amish Fireplace
The Amish Fireplace has been the craze lately in home decorating. The heater itself is actually marketed by Heat Surge, a company based in Ohio – the Amish make the mantels – they are known for their incredible wood craftsmanship. It’s been on the news, in the newspapers, and in magazines. We have received several calls from customers that purchased these fireplaces and we wanted to address one concern that has come to our attention due to the popularity of these in our area. They are NOT as easy as plug and go. These units are rated for 1500-watts, which means that it requires a dedicated 20AMP circuit. Most living rooms are only 15AMP rated – So add a TV, a lamp, and you have a major problem on your hands… If you have purchased The Amish Fireplace, check with us first before plugging it in to make sure that your electrical system can handle it.
By the way, any 1500-watt heater will provide the same amount of heat energy – so there isn’t really anything so amazing about this product. Heat Surge claims that the heater can drastically lower your heating bills – but according to the U.S. Department of Energy, space heaters only cut your bills if you heat one room and them move the heater to another room – heating just one room at a time. Also, the amount of money you can potentially save depends a lot on how well your home is insulated, the rates from your electric company, and where you live. And here we go back to our initial concern… If you plan on moving your heater from room to room – give us a call first so that we can make sure your electrical system can handle it.
As a final thought about this Amish fireplace… Before you purchase this, just know that you are basically buying a space heater with a nice wooden mantel. If all you’re looking for is heat, you’re better off going to Target and purchasing a 1500-watt space heater for $69.99. (Aloha 1,500-Watt). If you like the look and want the fake fire with the wooden mantle – just understand you’re paying almost $300.00 for the look – not the heat. OR - even better - call us and get your $79.99 heating tune-up!
(Some of our information about this product was taken from the consumer affairs website.)
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No Heat?
HEATING TIP: Due to the exceptionally cold weather, if your furnace is to go off, do not try to heat your home with your oven. The carbon monoxide release from the oven door being open is harmful! Give us a call right away instead at 732-821-0200! We have 24/7 Emergency Service…www.friendlyelectric.com…
You may want to check out our pre-season $79 heating tune-up. We’ve extended it due to the warm winter we’ve been having - up until now, that is!
By the way, 1.5 hour lines today at Target…Due to the recession??? You tell me…
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