At Lon Lockwood Electric we take pride in our electrical services and know that you expect quality work from quality electricians. What we offer to our customers is the same quality you should expect from any electrician you hire to work in your home or business. Since our business isn’t able to provide services to every area in the country, we still want to help you find the right electrician for your needs; even if the services aren’t from us! We want you to be better prepared to hire a good electrician that can get the job done and get it done right, safely, and at the best price possible.
Some key issues you should consider before hiring an electrician is, of course, his reputation. Generally if the electrician was referred to you by a friend or family member, you can usually expect quality work. Your family or friend would not have referred you to this particular electrician if they did not receive quality work from the electrician.

You should also make sure that the electrician you hire has all the accreditation or licensing to be performing electrical work in your home. The electrician should know all electrical codes for your area so that when an electrical inspection is conducted you can rest assured knowing that you will pass code enforcement.

Electrical work should not be handled by just any handyman, if you are having electrical work done in your home, be sure to hire a qualified electrician. This electrician, if you follow the advice above, will be able to do the electrical work and make your home safer and pass inspection by your local code enforcement. A jack of all trades handyman may be able to do the work cheaper, but isn’t likely to do it safer. A botched electrical job can easily create a danger, the worst being fire. Hire a QUALIFIED electrician to do any type of electrical work in your home.

It is also imperative to hire an electrician that will complete all necessary work in a timely manner. Be sure to draw up a contract as to when the electrician should begin the work, when the work should be finished, that the electrician will leave the work area in a clean and safe manner and include that all necessary money exchanges are in writing! At Lon Lockwood Electric we provide a money back guarantee and you should expect the same type of guarantee with the electrician you hire.

Anytime you need electrical work done in your home, whether it is a small or large job, you should consider hiring outside help, such as a qualified and professional electrician. Electricity can be dangerous whether in the right or the wrong hands. A qualified electrician respects electricity, knows the dangers, and is knowledgeable of how to do most any electrical work. The electrician you hire should be able to follow all of your city’s codes, make your home safer, and be able to suggest ways you can save money by using the latest electrical upgrades. Most electricians will be able to help you save money on your energy bills as well as use products and services that are considered “green”, better for the environment.

Just remember that not every electrician is an honest or experienced one. Be sure to research the electrician or the company he works for prior to hiring him. Some have websites like we do and you can read about their company profile and the services they offer. All of our employees must pass drug screening prior to being hired, this is very important and something you should consider before hiring an electrician. Criminal background checks are also very important to helping you feel safer with the worker, who is a stranger to you, in your home. Our employees need to pass a background check, too.

We encourage you, of course, to use our services if possible, but if we aren’t in your area, please take the advice given above to help ensure you get the best electrical work at the best price! We strive for customer satisfaction and the electrician working in your home or business should be doing the same.

Energy prices continue to soar high as our natural resources diminish. If we take some responsibility to conserve energy, we not only help the environment, but we also can save money. I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of saving money while helping the environment! One simple way you can save during both hot and cold seasons and beautify your home is by installing a ceiling fan. A properly installed ceiling fan can save 15-40% on air conditioning in the summer months. Your fan can be reversed to spin clockwise during the cold months which can save you 10% on your heating bill.

When using your fan to cool your air conditioned environment, you simply raise the thermostat a few degrees than which you normally would set it at because the air movement from the fan evaporates moisture on your skin which makes you feel cooler. Therefore, you only need the fan to run while in the room. However, if you use a ceiling fan while keeping your thermostat at it’s regular setting, you will not see any savings so it is important to raise the thermostat higher than you normally would.

In the cold months it may sound strange to use your ceiling fan. Warm air is lighter than cool air, therefore, the warmest air is up at your ceiling. There is a switch at the top of your fan that simply changes the direction of the blades to spin clockwise. This will have an affect on how the air is circulated by pushing warm air up against the ceiling and then down the walls without causing a cool breeze. But don’t forget to turn the thermostat down! With the warm air now being pushed down you won’t need the temperature so high and you won’t see any savings if you don’t turn down the heat.

The other important part of this is to consider buying an Energy Star ceiling fan. These fans are just as attractive and stylish as the rest but they circulate an average of 15% more air than the regular ceiling fans and they are 60% more efficient than a 150 watt incandescent bulb.

So if your looking to reduce the cost of your energy bills and help conserve the planet’s most valuable resource, then a ceiling fan would be a great asset to you and the environment!

Few and far between have saw fit to recognize magnetic force as a means of generating electricity, although it’s been around for centuries. There have been some scientists that attempted the task however, as with many alternative sources, magnetic force went un- commercialized as a way of protecting the reign of the large power companies we use for power today. That having been stated, in current times many Americans are searching for alternative means of electrical power. With the current economic crisis and steadily rising cost of electrical power it’s time to look at all possible means of generating electricity, for free.
A magnetic generator can be built at home and will be powerful enough to supply your entire home with electrical power. The way the generator works is actually pretty simple. If a magnetic field is forced to pass through an electricity conductor, electricity will be generated. Of course you will need to create a constant flow of electricity and you accomplish this by moving a magnet at a set high speed through a coil of wire to get a continuous flow. A magnetic generator can supply power to large appliances such as your central heating and air systems, a refrigerator and washers and dryers. To get a general idea of how to build a magnetic generator, try this simple process at home:

To build a magnetic generator you will begin with a disposable pen, a light bulb, a magnet wire and a measuring tape. You’re going to take the pen apart by unscrewing the tip, dismantling the ink cartridge and the end cap. You can dispose of the ink cartridge only and keep all other components nearby. Next, use the measuring tape to measure the diameter of the inside of the pen’s tube. Once you have the measurement be sure to note it as you’ll need it when purchasing your magnet. You can purchase a magnet at your local hardware store. When you shop for your magnet, be sure to only refer to those with cylinder-like shape, a rod shape if you will. You’ll also need to be sure that the magnet is a bit slimmer than that if the inner diameter of the pen’s measurements. Once you have the correct size and shape of magnet, place it inside of the pen and press the ends closed with your fingers, or pliers if necessary and use glue to seal the ends closed. If you can hear the magnet slide inside of the pen when the pen is moved, you’ve got a winner.

Once you’ve completed these steps, wrap a tightly wound magnet wire around the pen ensuring to leave a few inches on each end exposed. To get to the wire, remove the coating and then connect each end to the light bulb. To make sure your generator is working shake the pen until the bulb lights up. If it does, you’ve got power. This exercise will not yield enough electricity to power your entire home, however, you will be able to create this on a larger scale using a motor, larger magnet and other necessary materials. It’s always wise to consult a professional before beginning any such tasks on your own.

Did you know that the average residential electricity bill is between $2700 and $3000/yr? This number is an astronomical increase from the statistics taken in the 2000 census. The average monthly usage for a home of approx 2000 square feet can be as high as $500 a month! Being that it is time to vote for a new governor and make the much needed changes to help repair and restore our country’s economy, you have to begin at home. We could all use an extra $100 a month to be put toward necessary household care, and what if you could get that extra spending money from your electric bill?
There are many simple yet verily effective ways to lower your electric costs without cutting your usage down so dramatically that it hinders you and your family’s normal activities. You may have heard about the raise is utility tax and may think that you don’t have any wiggle room with regards to conserving power to maintain your current usage comfortably but you can, and here a few ways you can accomplish this.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Although heating and air are deemed relevant and essential components of civilized living, we rarely realize how much heat and air we consume residentially, that is, until the electric bill arrives. The reality is that these necessities account for about half of all regular residential energy usage. The unfortunate truth is also that most of the heating and air provided through central systems is simply lost. You are only able to enjoy a fraction of the heat or air that is circulated due to insufficiently insulated homes. If your home is like most, there are a multitude of cracks and improperly sealed windows and doors that provide escape routes for heat and air. Thankfully, there are many practical and economic solutions available at your local hardware and department stores that will rectify this issue. Take the steps and save 45% on your heating and air costs on your next electric bill.
Lighting
Fluorescent lights are arguably the simplest and most raved means of cutting energy costs available, and for good reason. However, only a fraction of the U.S. population actually takes advantage of this money saving tool. Florescent bulbs cost more than traditional ones however, with the monthly savings you will acquire by transitioning all of your homes lighting fixtures, the new bulbs will pay for the cost of the switch 40 times over!
While these tips are nowhere near new news, they are highly underutilized and can truly save a ton of money. The actual average savings have been estimated at an average of $300 to $700 a year! The savings are enough of an incentive to get started evaluating your electric bill and potential household changes immediately!