Info for Sump Pumps & Generators
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Storm Watch…Middlesex County, NJ
This weekend has been a busy and stressful time for many of our customers We have received several emergency calls from our existing customers who were in need of sump pump battery back-ups, generators, and panel repairs. Our service technicians have been working extra hard to take care of you and we want to do everything we can to help. Saturday night we were out there cutting trees & clearing roads. Remember, if you have power outages, report them to the utility company and not the townships.
For all of our friends and customers… If you’re using portable generators, PLEASE make sure that you’ve placed the generator OUTSIDE! If it is in the garage, the carbon monoxide will travel into the home – even if the garage door is open. Don’t worry about the generator getting wet – it will be okay.
If you are using a standby generator and may not have gotten regular maintenance, please make sure that your exhaust is unobstructed.
Also – remember, that if you are in Middlesex County, the water contamination is still in effect. Flooding may have caused contamination at a local plant so stock up on bottled water and remember to boil your water for at least 1 minute before consuming it, using it to cook or bake with, or giving it your pets.
Keep your eyes out for an email we will be sending to our loyal customers with some money saving coupons for sump pumps and generators. If you haven’t signed up for our newsletter, do so now! http://www.friendlyelectric.com/electric-news.html
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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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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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Green Tips that Save Energy
Friendly Electric Heating & Air provides tips to Conserve Energy
- Use fluorescent bulbs: Changing just one traditional incandescent light bulb to a compact fluorescent bulb results in savings of over $45 during its lifetime. Each bulb uses one-fourth of the energy of an incandescent bulb, lasts up to 10 times longer and the energy saved keeps CO2 out of the atmosphere.
- Lights out: It’s obvious, but turning off lights at night can save you, and the environment, big. A computer left on to run 24 hours a day can increase the electricity bill by $75 to $120 yearly. By putting the computer into standby mode, this amount is reduced to only $15 per year.
- Wash clothes in cold water: Over 90 per cent of energy used by a washing machine comes from water heating. Save on your bill by washing clothes in cold water, with special cold-water detergent.
- Lower the thermostats: Lower the thermostat by three degrees in winter and you can save up to 10 per cent on your heating bill. Wearing that sweater never felt so smart!
- Choose energy efficient appliances: Dishwashers today are nearly 95 per cent more energy-efficient than those bought in 1972. Visit the Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s directory of the most energy efficient products on the market at www.allthingsefficient.ca.
- Have an energy audit done on your home and retrofit your home to make it energy efficient. Many grants are available to finance this type of project. For more information, visit New Brunswick’s funding program, Efficiency NB and the federal funding program, EcoAction.
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Earth Hour – Saturday March 28th
Earth Hour is this Saturday, March 28th, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm your local time (wherever you are in the world). Please consider turning your lights off during this hour as a statement that you care about global warming. This is a great opportunity to teach your children about global warming and how something so simple as turning out a light can save so much energy and have such an impact.
For more information on this event, please go to http://www.earthhour.org.
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Save money this summer!
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- In warm climates, where summertime heat gain is the main concern, look for windows with double glazing and spectrally selective coatings that reduce heat gain.
- If your air conditioner is old, consider purchasing a new, energy-efficient model. You could save up to 50% on your utility bill for cooling. Look for the ENERGY STAR® and EnergyGuide labels.
- Keep in mind that insulation and sealing air leaks will help your energy performance in the summertime by keeping the cool air inside.
- Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units but not to block the airflow. Place your room air conditioner on the north side of the house. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.
- Don’t place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.
- Consider using an an interior ceiling fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use.
- Don’t set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.
- Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
- Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. They are effective when operated at night and when the outside air is cooler than the inside.
- For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners.
- During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
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Save Money this Winter!
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- During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
- Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable when home.
- By resetting your programmable thermostat from 72 degrees to 65 degrees for eight hours a day (for instance, while no one is home or while everyone is tucked in bed) you can cut your heating bill by up to 10 percent.
- Weatherize your home—caulk and weatherstrip any doors and windows that leak air.
- Properly maintain and clean heating equipment.
- Replace furnace filters regularly.
- Check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area.
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Phantom loads are raising your electrical costs!
Did you know that many appliances continue to draw a small amount of power when they are switched off. These “phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. This can be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and using the switch on the power strip to cut all power to the appliance.
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