outdoor solar lights

The Advantages of Installing Solar Lighting in Your Yard

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Is your yard dull and very dark at night? Whether you want to add some beautiful backyard lighting or light up a pathway at your home, solar lights are a great choice! Not only are they pretty lights that will make the ambiance of your home look spectacular but they are beneficial to the environment and much more! 

If you’re not familiar with solar lighting you might have a lot of questions related to the benefits of solar lights. Here are the benefits of installing solar lights in your backyard or pathways. 

Environmentally Friendly

Using solar lights instead of regular lights can save a lot of energy. Solar lights play a major role in reducing the carbon footprint that is created by producing energy from non-renewable energy sources. 

Cost-Effective

Solar energy is extremely cost-effective. While it may seem expensive at first to install, you will end up saving a lot of money in your electric bills that will make up for the cost of installation. Since solar lights run strictly from the sun’s energy, you won’t need to pay for them at all once they are installed. 

Solar Energy is Unlimited Source 

As long as you live somewhere where there is constant sunlight, your solar lights will stay working forever! The solar lights get their energy from the sun so they are able to charge up during the day, resulting in them staying on and working well at nighttime. 

Low Maintenance

As mentioned above, once solar lights are installed there is not much more you have to do. You’ll have to check up on them to make sure they are working properly as well as clean them once in a while, but other than that you won’t have to worry about them at all! 

Solar Lighting is Available in Many Styles

You can purchase and install solar lighting in many different types, shapes, sizes, styles, etc. You’ll be able to choose the perfect solar lights that look beautiful outside your home. Because there are so many options to choose from it is guaranteed you’ll find the perfect lights for you. 

Contact Brunelli Electrician

If you’re looking to install solar lights outside your home, contact Brunelli Electrician today! Our experienced and knowledgeable electricians will work with you to pick out the perfect solar lights for your home and install them quickly and efficiently. You won’t be disappointed with our work! Contact us today by calling 508-400-5571 or by filling out a contact form on our website.

power strip

Why Are My Electrical Outlets Warm?

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Electrical power is necessary for most of the tasks we do in our everyday life. Appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, televisions, etc. wouldn’t be able to run without electricity. Because power strips are convenient and easy to get, we often plug multiple appliances into the same outlet.

Because we use these appliances in our everyday lives and usually don’t think twice about it, we often forget that we need to do safety checks. It’s important to touch our outlets here and there to make sure they are not warming up. If they are warming up it doesn’t necessarily mean they are broken or need to be replaced but its a sign that something is overworking and needs to be adjusted in order for the outlet to cool down. Here are some reasons as to why your outlets may be warming up and how you should go about fixing the issue. 

Too Many Devices are Plugging In

If you have many different things plugged in at once, the outlet may be overwhelmed and can’t keep up with the electricity demand. It is recommended to unplug a few things for a few hours or even days. If the outlet cools down you can then plug them back in but it’s probably best to only plug certain appliances in when you need them. If they don’t need to be plugged in all the time, don’t leave them plugged in. Another solution is to move some appliances to other outlets in your home. Don’t plug all your appliances into just one outlet for your convenience. You have a number of other outlets in your home for a reason. 

If you go back to the outlet after letting it sit unplugged for a while and the outlet is still warm, it probably needs to be replaced. 

Your Outlet Is Broken

If your outlet continues to get warm even if a lot of things aren’t plugged in it is likely that your outlet is broken and you’ll need to replace it. It is very common for outlets to break or wear down over time. So if you haven’t replaced your home’s outlets in many years, its probably time to do so. 

Damaged Wiring

There is a chance that if your outlet is constantly overheating that the wiring behind the outlet is damaged or worn out. Since the wiring is trying its best to work it will overheat and become very warm. If you believe your wiring is damaged it’s recommended that you call the professionals to come and replace the wiring as soon as possible. 

Your Fuse or Breaker is Incorrectly Sized

Older homes tend to run into this issue more than newer homes. The older electrical systems were not designed to handle some of the appliances and electronics we have these days. They were also not designed to handle how many things we plug into one outlet. Power strips nowadays can hold up to 10 appliances. If your outlets were created many years ago, it is likely they cannot handle power strips without overheating. 

Contact Brunelli Electrician

If you are experiencing warm outlets in your home it may be best and safer to call a professional to come to evaluate and fix the issue. The professionals at Brunelli Electrician will take a look at your outlet and wiring systems to find what needs to be fixed or replaced so that your home can remain safe. Don’t hesitate to contact us today by calling or filling out a contact form on our website!

save energy costs

How Can I Conserve the Amount of Electricity My Home Uses? 

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In order to find out how to prevent high electricity bills, its important to know how much electricity each appliance in your home uses. Here are some tips to help you keep your home as energy efficient as possible in order to lower your electricity costs. 

Air Conditioning & Heating 

Your HVAC system that cools and heats your home is what uses the most electricity. This makes sense as it needs much energy to either heat or cool each room in your home. Some things you can do to reduce using your HVAC system as often include: 

  • Using ceiling fans 
  • Make sure your HVAC is regularly inspected
  • Close your curtains during hot summer days or keep them open during the winter to get heat from the sun. 
  • Replace your air filters so that your HVAC works properly
  • Regularly dust and vacuum to prevent clogs
  • Dress appropriately by wearing extra layers in the winter and fewer layers in the summer
  • Use blankets for extra warmth in the winter.

Water Heating 

Water heaters are next on the list for things that use the most electricity. If you’re wondering how to use your water heater less, try these options:

  • Set the temperature to 120F or lower
  • Insulate the hot water pipes
  • Wrap a water heater with an insulation jacket
  • Turn down the water heater during the day when you are not home or when you go on a vacation
  • Invest in water-conserving showerheads and faucet aerators
  • Upgrade to a solar water heater

Appliances 

You may think that there’s no way of lowering the amount of electricity your day to day appliances use, yet, there is. 

Refridgerator 

While you can’t turn your refrigerator off, there are things you can do to reduce the electricity used. 

  • Don’t put too many things in your refrigerator
  • Keep the products you use the most in the easiest to reach place so your door is not open for too long
  • Make sure your refrigerator is set to a recommended temperature
  • Regularly clean underneath and behind the refrigerator to maintain airflow
  • Invest in a newer refrigerator that is more energy efficient

Washer & Dryer 

When it comes to using your washer and dryer there are a few ways to lower the amount of energy it uses. 

  • Do full loads at a time instead of half loads so that you are using the machine less frequently. However, do not overload as that will result in the washer needing more energy
  • Wash your clothes with cold water to avoid having the water heater turned up
  • Use drying racks as much as possible to avoid using the dryer
  • Clear the lint in your dryer after each use

Electric Stove & Oven

Use these tips to reduce the electricity load from your electric stove and oven with these tips:

  • Use a smaller appliance if possible such as a toaster oven or microwave
  • Try to use the oven and stove during cooler hours of the day
  • Only preheat the oven if it is necessary for the dish to cook the right way
  •  Turn off the burners a few minutes before the dish is done and let the remaining heat finish the job

Lighting

The lights throughout your home do not use as much electricity as one may think, however, if they are left on for no reason they can rack up the electricity bill. Here’s what you can do:

  • Make sure lights are off in rooms no one is in
  • Use LED bulbs that are energy efficient
  • During the day open the curtains so you can use the natural light instead of needing to turn on your lights
  • Use motion detectors on outdoor lights so that they only turn on when someone needs them

Contact Brunelli Electric 

If you’re looking for an electrician in Franklin, MA, or its surrounding towns, contact Brunelli Electric! We are happy to assist you with all your electric needs. Check out all the services we offer on our website. 

outdoor lighting

How Landscape Lighting Can Help Your Business 

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When most people think of landscape lighting they automatically think about a home’s exterior lighting. However, landscape lighting is just as important for businesses as well. You can never go wrong with extra lighting. Exterior lighting can help your business in more ways than you may think, and here’s why.

Use Accent Lighting to Make the Entrance the Focal Point

Lighting up the entrance to your business is important. When people approach your business while it is dark, it is important for them to not only be able to see but to feel welcomed and excited to enter your business. Exterior lighting will give people a better first impression than if the entrance was dark. There’s a chance exterior lighting will also give you more business. If it is dark outside and there are no lights highlighting the building, people may think you are closed.

Make Your Area Feel Safer At Night

Even if some people aren’t necessarily scared of the dark, nothing is less inviting and intimidating than a dark entrance to a building. People often feel safer at night going into a business because of the outside lights. For example, if you own a convenience store and are open late hours, it is important to light up the outside of your store. This will make people feel safe to approach your business, leading you to get more business. Safety is most people’s concern at night time so making your customers feel safe should be a top priority.

Highlight Signage for Specials and Deals

Lighting is what often catches people’s eyes during the night time. If your business is promoting something or having a special of the day, it is important to highlight the sign outside that promotes this. The bright sign will not only allow people to read it easier but may catch someone’s attention who wasn’t even looking. This would then again lead to more customers for your business.

Increase Your Visibility From the Road at Night

When people are driving at night and looking at their surroundings, everyone knows that the lit-up buildings are open and the dark buildings are most likely closed. Your business will easily catch someone’s eye while they’re driving if there is bright exterior lighting. Don’t miss out on the opportunity of potential customers just because your business’s building was not highlighted during the dark hours.

Contact Brunelli Electrician 

Brunelli Electrician will assist you with all your outdoor lighting projects. We have a team of experienced and skilled electricians that will help you create a beautiful lighting set up for the outside of your business. Contact Phil Brunelli today for more information or to schedule an appointment! 

changing a light bulb

Why Do My Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out?

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We all expect the lights to go on at the flip of a switch every time we enter a room. It can get frustrating, or even scary, when you flip a light switch and the light does not go on. You realize the bulb has burned out, and you are forced to postpone whatever you intended to do and get an alternative source of light. These bulb burn-outs can get costly in the long run, and you will need to understand the major causes of this problem, and what you can do in case a bulb burns out on you.

What Causes Bulb Burn-Outs?

Most cases of burnt-out bulbs are as a result of the following:

Excess Power Supply Voltage

The standard voltage for lighting in North America is 120V. Outlets that supply too much voltage will cause the bulb to burn out sooner, for example, those light bulbs connected to non-standard lighting outlets meant for high voltage appliances.

Poor Connections

When connecting the light bulb to the power outlet, you will need to ensure that the bulb is connected as it should. If the bulb is connected loosely, there might be intermittent voltage, and that will cause the bulb to bun out. Other faults include bulbs that are screwed too tight, damaging the contacts or misaligning with the contacts. These bulbs will not receive consistent power, and this may lead to burning out. It is also important to check that the bulb has enough solder at the contact base.

Wrong Bulb Type

One of the most common causes of burnt out light bulbs is the use of wrong types. Using a 120 watt light bulb in a 60-watt lamp will create excess heat and could even cause a fire. It is imperative that you use the correct bulb for your lamp’s wattage. Other bulbs are burnt out by constant switching on and off. To prevent this, use LED lights for applications like motion sensor lights, rather than compact fluorescent lights whose electrodes diminish due to the constant on/off switch.

Contact Brunelli Electrician

Whatever the cause may be for your burnt out light bulb, one fact remains. Electric faults are dangerous to the unskilled person, and you do not want to be that person. It doesn’t help if you go poking around with a screwdriver and trying to find out what caused the burnout.  You are safer, and better placed to receive a lasting solution if you reach out to experts such as Brunelli Electrician. Armed with many years of experience and the best equipment, we will offer you the best solutions for your light bulb problems. Contact us today! 

3 Reasons to Install a Home Security System

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Installing a home security system is something that many homeowners consider but remain hesitant of. Home security systems don’t come cheap and you’re probably questioning rather or not it’s really worth it. If so, you aren’t alone! Check out these 3 reasons why a home security system is worth every penny. 

Keeping Your Family Safe

The safety of your loved ones truly is priceless. A home security system is the best way to ensure your family is safe at any time of the day or night. In many cases, just the presence of a security system is enough to deter intruders from entering the home. If they enter the home anyways, the security system is able to warn your family inside that someone has entered the home. Then, your family can hide in a safe location while the system alerts the police of the situation. 

Peace of Mind 

Feeling secure in your own home should come easily, but in today’s world, that isn’t always the case. Home security systems help provide that peace of mind that no matter what the situation is, you’ll be aware and able to stay as safe as possible. From intruders to carbon monoxide and fires, a home security system is able to keep you in the know about anything potentially dangerous happening in your home. This is especially helpful when a family member is disabled, left home alone for extended periods, or suffers from anxiety about potential disasters within the home. 

Protecting Your Possessions 

Getting your valuable possessions stolen or broken during a burglary is a devastating experience. You’ve worked hard to get all of the nice things that you have and a stranger shouldn’t be able to come into your home to take that away. In addition to the deterrence of intruders, home security system cameras serve an important role in the event of possessions being lost or damaged. The cameras in the security system will be able to capture proof of everything that was taken or damaged, making it much easier to get those items replaced through insurance.

Call Philip M. Brunelli Jr. – your local full-service electrician to set up a time for a home security system installation. It’s very important to make sure that all aspects of the home security system are properly installed so that you’re able to see all of these benefits in action if the time ever comes. Don’t spend any more time feeling vulnerable in your own home, contact online or call us today! 

Steps to Take During an Electrical Emergency

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Although no homeowner wants to deal with an electrical emergency, these situations are sometimes inevitable. When you find yourself dealing with a major residential electrical problem, the last thing you want is to be unprepared. As you read this helpful guide, you will learn more about the steps you should take during several common sorts of electrical emergencies.

 

Dealing with an electrical fire:

 

Electrical fires typically happen because faulty wiring short circuits or frayed cords are left too close to soft furnishings, such as draperies. If you experience an electrical fire, the first thing you should do after notifying your local fire department is flip the appropriate switch on the breaker box to cut the power to the appliance that is causing the blaze. 

 

If you are unable to safely get to your breaker box, use a fire extinguisher or attempt to smother the flames with a fire blanket or buckets of water until the authorities arrive. The most important thing to keep in mind during a fire is that your family’s safety must come first! If at any point the fire begins to grow or you feel unsafe, evacuate your residence immediately. 

 

Dealing with electrical shock: 

 

Experiencing electrical shock is generally extremely scary for not only the victim but for any bystanders. If someone in your home gets shocked by an electrical cord or appliance, there are several things you need to know about handling the situation effectively. First, you should not touch the affected individual directly; you too are likely to get electrocuted if power is still surging through the victim’s body. 

 

In the case of electrocution, the best course of action is for you to cut the power at the breaker box if possible. If you are unable to get to the box for any reason, attempt to cut the victim’s connection to the power source instead. This can be done by placing an insulated item, such as a piece of PVC piping, between the electrocuted person and the current. Remember, though, the most crucial thing is to get your local emergency responders to the site of the electrical shock as quickly as possible. They will be able to help the victim. 

 

Dealing with downed power lines:

 

On occasion, storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes cause power lines to fall while they are still live. Coming into contact with one of these lines can be extremely dangerous. If you notice downed power lines on your property, the first thing you should do is contact the authorities in your city or town. They will be able to notify the proper municipal department to remove the lines. It is also wise to keep you and your family members at least 40 feet away from the fallen lines at all times, even if you don’t think they are still live. 

 

Depending upon the type of electrical emergency you find yourself experiencing, you may want to contact an emergency electrician instead of, or even in addition to, traditional first responders. Our professionals at Brunelli offer 24/7 services and are available to assist clients like you whenever you happen to have an urgent electrical problem that requires immediate attention.

4 Common Electrical Problems

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If you’re a homeowner, there are certain issues you expect to face from time to time. For instance, plumbing problems, roofing issues, and electrical repairs are to be anticipated. It can, however, be difficult to know how to deal with residential repairs, particularly if you don’t have any prior experience with homeownership. In this guide, Massachusetts homeowners will discover some of the most common electrical problems they are likely to face and how to handle them. 

Regular electrical surges 

Occasional power surges are normal and are often caused by lightning strikes and other natural occurrences. If, however, you and your family frequently experience power surges in your home, you should definitely have a professional check out the issue. Because many Massachusetts houses are historic, old, faulty wiring is a common cause of electrical surges. You could also have a problematic appliance connected to your home’s grid. 

Faulty light switches 

If you have light switches that aren’t working correctly in your house, there are a couple of probable causes. If your home was recently built, the issue may simply be a product of poor construction and low-end materials; a reputable electrician should be able to easily perform the necessary upgrades. If, on the other hand, your house is older and certain switches have never worked properly, they likely went with fixtures that were removed before you moved in. 

Costly electrical bills

If you’ve noticed that your family’s monthly electric bill has been higher than usual recently, you should take some time to consider why this is. Power surges are one cause of overly costly electrical bills; as stated previously, this issue should be dealt with by a professional. Furthermore, evaluate whether or not the members of your household are unplugging appliances when not in use and, if you have an electric furnace, consider the temperature you are keeping it at during cold Massachusetts winters. 

Recessed lights flicker frequently 

Recessed lighting has become extremely common in today’s houses. If your recessed lights often flicker, you should have a professional electrician assess the situation. In all likelihood, the light fixtures are equipped with a safety mechanism that causes them to shut off when they overheat. You probably need to use lower wattage bulbs or have the insulation in your ceiling moved away from the lights. 

 

Remember, it is important for all homeowners to have periodic residential electrical inspections. Many experts recommend having an electrician check your home for any electrical issues on an annual basis. If an emergency arises, contact Philip M Brunelli Jr. Electrician and his team! 

 

5 Things to Know About Home Rewiring

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Rewiring a home, particularly if it is an older structure, can be quite a challenge. If you’ve never dealt with electrical wiring before, you probably have a lot of questions about whether or not you can handle a rewiring project on your own or not. After all, wiring can be dangerous and you certainly want to make sure you and your family are safe; safety concerns might have even been the catalyst for your upcoming project in the first place! As you read this guide, you’ll find five key things you need to know regarding home rewiring. 

Local Regulations

Many homeowners don’t realize that municipal building codes often extend to wiring. Your city or town probably has regulations regarding the number of outlets any given room should have based on its size, what sorts of wiring materials are acceptable, and even whether or not rooms are required to have a certain number of lighting fixtures. Professional electricians should know this information for the areas in which they operate, but it can be significantly more challenging for homeowners to make sure they are meeting all necessary codes on their own. 

A Solid Plan 

There’s a lot of mapping and preparation that goes into successfully rewiring any home. For starters, you will need to “chalk” the positions of any new outlets onto your walls. Then, you will have to determine how the current wiring system needs to be altered to account for these new plug-ins. This entire process typically requires expertise and can be difficult if you’ve never dealt with residential electrical planning in the past. 

Being Aware of Existing Systems

Remember, your home’s walls already have electrical and plumbing infrastructure inside of them. If you don’t know where these various lines are located, there is a risk of damaging them when you start making changes to your wiring. Being careful is absolutely key for both do-it-yourselfers and professionals when it comes to rewiring a house of any age!

A Single Appliance on Each Breaker 

It is wise to only have one appliance per breaker when you rewire your home. Otherwise, the risk of blown breakers is greatly increased. Furthermore, you will need to account for situations in which multiple outlets can control the same light fixtures or appliances; this can complicate rewiring. 

Considering Your New Hardware 

When a home is rewired, new outlets, outlet covers, and switch plate covers are typically also installed. Selecting this hardware can be tougher than homeowners are expecting due to all of the options on the market today! In addition to choosing styles that work with your home’s decor, you will have to, for instance, decide if you want your new outlets to be equipped with standard plugs only or USB ports as well. 

 

When all is said and done, the best choice is to work with Brunelli Electrician & the team to rewire your house. You will be able to rest assured that your project is in good hands and that your family’s safety is not at risk of being compromised. We offer exceptional customer service and take great pride in our work. Contact Brunelli online to discuss your residential wiring job!

How Often Do I Need an Electrical Inspection?

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As a homeowner, there are a lot of intangibles that often get overlooked. More so than not, utility maintenance tasks are a number of the issues that pop up with the day to day upkeep of a home. No more than electrical issues, seeing as so many do not understand the workings and layout of electrical systems. For that reason, it is one major aspect of home maintenance you’ll want to do regularly. How often? That requires a bit of knowledge about electrical inspection and repair. For starters, there are a few things to note about electrical safety.

Electrical Safety

There’s a reason specific schools and programs solely focus on electrical work. For one, it is incredibly intricate, with numerous scientific and engineering elements to it. To lay an electrical network in a home, it takes quite a bit of time because each every small part is connected to one another. When one thing goes wrong, everything could come grinding to a halt. Likewise, if one thing is outdated or worn, its danger is spread to all of its connected parts. For that reason, electrical safety is of the utmost importance. Many home fires that occur are electrical related. This makes staying on top of electrical maintenance incredibly important.

On this note, there are a number of homeowners that will argue that you can check things out yourself. Sure, switching a pilot’s light is relatively easy and quick, but major electrical problems are best left up to the professionals. There are a ton of issues that come from mismanagement of the electrical circuit of your home, and even if you follow along with a YouTube video or online tutorial, there are too many intangibles that amateurs do not know about. For that reason, regular maintenance is crucial.

How Often Should I Inspect My Electrical System?

As listed above, doing any sort of your electrical inspection is going to be flawed from the get-go. In order to properly, safely inspect your electrical system, it should be done often and by a professional. On average, homeowners are nearly always behind on regular electrical inspection. For that reason, professionals recommend a checkup at the beginning of the summer and winter. These seasons are both times of extreme weather and conditions, as well as different electrical needs. Checking with Phillip M Brunelli Jr. Mater Electrician and his team twice a year on the condition of your electrical system ensure your home’s safety, as well as everyone living in it.