Facebook Robbery
We really care about our friends and our customers. Many of you have probably seen stories in the news on the warnings of sharing too much information on social networking sites. It’s not just about protecting your children anymore – it’s about protecting yourself. Ask yourself, have you ever announced on your facebook status or tweeted that you’re excited for your vacation or that you’re on your way to go to a concert an hour away? Most of us have…And now these status updates are being seen by millions of people (often people you do not know). The information is being misused so please take some of these safety precautions before updating your facebook status.
1. Use privacy settings. This way you can choose who can see what.
2. Be careful what you post. Next time you go on vacation, post your pictures when you come back rather than while you’re still on vacation. Try to keep your travel plans a mystery so it’s unclear when you will be coming home.
3. Choose your friends wisely. Choose your facebook friends just as you would your real life friends.
4. Google yourself. You should know how much of your personal information is accessible to the public. Google your name and see for yourself how easy it is for someone to be able to find you.
5. Get a monitored alarm system. Having a home alarm system will help make you feel safer leaving your home during the day or while going on vacation. (We can help you set up your alarm and provide you with 24hr home monitoring as well as security cameras). Give us a call at 732-821-0200 to have our Security Alarm Specialist come to your home and discuss options that meet your needs. Feel free to visit our website for more information. http://www.friendlyelectric.com/Security.html
Check out this article for some more information about the dangers of giving out Too Much Info on social networking sites.
|
|
|
|
 |
Yellow Pages is going GREEN – Opt Out Now! (Join the movement!)
Yellow Pages is going green! Now you can easily opt out of getting the yellow & white pages! Let’s start a movement! http://bit.ly/bG2A.
Please go here and opt out! http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/stop-yellow-pages/.
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
…
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/)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 Questions you should ask a contractor before they begin to work on your home.
You should not just hire a contractor without asking them questions. Your home is one of, if not the, prized possessions in your life and you want to make sure the best possible job is done on your home, no matter what needs to be worked on. By asking the contractor you are looking to hire pertinent questions you can be more comfortable with them being able to do the job.
Here are 10 questions you should ask your perspective contractor before you decide the hire them. There are many contractors out there that can do the job to your specifications, so if you are not comfortable with any answer they give then you may want to look into another contractor.
1. How long have you been a contractor? You should look for a contractor that has experience. You should also check with your local Better Business Bureau and see I they have had complaints lodged against them. You have to be aware that just because the contractor does not have complaints on their record does not mean they have not had problems in the past, as many problems do not go reported.
2. Are you state and county licensed? Make sure that you see their contractor’s license and make sure it is for your state and that the license is current. You can find out the licensing requirements in your area by checking with your local building department.
3. Have you completed projects like mine? This will let you know if the contractor is familiar with the type of project that you are looking to have done.
4. Will I need a permit for my project? Many states and localities will require you to have a permit for building projects. Good contractors will get the necessary permits before they start work on the project and if they ask you to get the permits it should be a red flag and you should not use them.
5. Can I see some references? The contractor that you are looking to hire should have a few references of happy customers. Make sure the references have phone numbers so you can get in touch with the people.
6. Who will be the supervisor of my project? The contractor will already have a crew in mind if it is a project that takes more than one person. If the contractor is not going to be there for the project, or even if they are away a lot, make sure you know the supervisor so you can communicate with them.
7. Who will be working on the project? You need to be able to trust workers, as many times they will be inside your home. You may also have children around and you need to make sure they will be safe.
8. When can you start the job? Get a set date on when they can start the project.
9. When can you finish the job? You should be able to get a date that they should be finished by. There are complications that do come up in projects but the contractor should have an idea on when the project will be finished.
10. What kind of insurance do you have? Contractors are required to have worker’s compensation, liability, and property damage coverage. You should ask the contractor for a copy of their insurance certificate and make sure their insurance is current, and will be on the date that they give you for the completion of the project. It is vital that you do not do any business with a contractor that is unlicensed. If you do you can be liable for damages and/or injuries that happen at your project site.
Article originally featured on handyhouseholdhints.com
|
|
|
|
|
|