As a homeowner, you may have electrical equipment around the house. And why not? Maybe it comes in handy for the smaller jobs that are safe for you to handle.

**** DISCLAIMER: We do NOT recommend ANY electrical work as DIY. Please consult a licensed or certified electrician instead of doing it yourself to prevent possible injury or a fire in your home or building. ****

However, if you are handling electrical equipment at home, we want to make sure you know how to be safe.

Check out these great steps for how to safely handle electrical equipment around your home.

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When many people think of electrical equipment the thought ‘hazard’ is soon to follow, but electrical safety is still neglected and should be observed more often.  It is important that we all understand the dangers of electrical equipment and maintain proper caution when using electrical items to avoid accidents.

Here are some top tips to ensure you and your family remain safe around electrical items:

1.    Everyone should be in the habit of turning all electrical devices off when they are not in use, this includes, but not limited to kitchen appliances, gaming consoles, televisions and lighting. Before going to bed it is important to ensure that all electrical equipment is properly turned off at the power supply.
2.    People have a habit to overload sockets especially in homes where there are not enough sockets in place. When using adapters ensure that the total output does not exceed the specified rating. A power surge can occur causing power cuts and in some case fire.
3.    A residual current device will cut off power in the event of a power surge. This should be placed in sockets that are running a number of electrical items such as in the lounge where the television, DVD player etc. are in place.
4.    Pay attention to plugs, sockets and wires to ensure that they remain in good condition, if such problems occur then they will need to be replaced by an electrician qualified to do so.
5.    Never buy equipment that doesn’t not hold a CE Mark – this marking ensures that it has been tested and conforms to all safety recommendations.
   
6.    Never run cables through skirting, floorboards, carpet or door frames – this is for two reasons; a) you cannot assess the state of the wires b) if the wire needs to be removed this can result in unnecessary DIY jobs.
7.    Ensure that electrical wires are kept out of the way from heat. For example when using hair straighteners don’t let the wire overhang the appliance – this can melt the outer coating exposing dangerous wires.
8.    Be extremely careful with electrical equipment where it may become wet. Never leave an exposed light fitting in the bathroom. There are special light fittings made purposely for your bathroom to prevent moisture. Often we place the kettle right under the socket but the moisture from the steam can get into the socket. Place the kettle away from the socket or affix a socket protector.
9.    When using hot appliances such as irons or hair straighteners use a heat mat underneath, this will prevent the surface getting burned.
10.   Place socket protectors in all sockets around the home if you have or look after small children.

Read the original article here.

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If you need any electrical work, it’s best to call an electrician. Alpha & Omega Electric is available for all of your electrical needs, no job is too small. Call us today (505)554-3313.

Have questions? Get an answer from a licensed electrician. Ask below and we’ll answer as soon as possible.

We all want to save money… Am I right?

Whether you’re running a business, running your household, OR helping someone else do either of these…

Follow these tips on how you can reduce your energy bill without having to sacrifice your lifestyle to do it!

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Keep Your Vents Open and Clean

When an inspector came to my apartment to assess various things, I asked him to take a look at my air conditioning and tell me all the dumb mistakes I was making. I found out I’m pretty stupid, and many others are, too. Here’s what I learned.

If you have central air conditioning and/or heat, check the vents in your home. Some may be closed. It never occurred to me that any vent would be closed because I would never close them. I just assumed they were open. In reality, nearly every vent in my home was closed. After opening them all up, the air conditioner no longer struggled to keep the apartment cool or kept running after reaching its target temperature. Some believe that closing vents can reduce energy consumption by preventing the need to cool or heat a particular room. That’s actually a myth: closing vents will actually raise your energy costs.

Your vents also use air filters to keep dirt, dust, and other unwanted crap from blowing throughout your home. Those filters should be replaced monthly or they’ll prevent ideal airflow. You can pick up a bulk pack at your local hardware store for $1-2 per filter. Just be sure to measure the size of your vents before you go so you get the right ones.

If you know a thing or two about air conditioning and heating, these two tips probably seem a little obvious. For those of us who rarely think about it, they’re a vital bit of education we somehow missed during our transition into adulthood.

Promote Better Airflow in Your Home

Trapping the right temperature in your home often requires little more than good airflow. Unless you have a very small living space, even central air and heat can have a tough time keeping each room at the same, steady temperature. If you remember that heat rises, you already know how to fix this problem. When it’s hot, the heat will escape through the higher parts of your home (whether that means the ceiling or another floor). You want to help it out faster by pushing the air upwards. When it’s cold, you don’t want that heat to escape so you need to push it back down. Fans make both tasks easily achievable.

Chances are you have a few standing fans in your home that require far less power than your air conditioning or heating system. Fans don’t cool or heat the air, but they do move it around. When air in your home circulates properly, it’s easier to maintain an even temperature and that means less work for your heating/cooling system. Position the fans so they move the air in the direction you want it to go. Simply moving the air all around your home (circulating it) will do the trick, but if you want to trap hot air you should push it down and push it up if you want to remove it.

If you’re lucky enough to have a ceiling fan, running it in the correct direction makes this easy. When it’s hot, the fan should spin counter-clockwise to push the hot air up and out. When the weather turns cold, instead spin the fans clockwise to trap heat inside. You’ll often find a switch on your ceiling fan to choose a direction, so consult your fan’s manual to find out where it is.

Laundry Machines

Cutting costs on laundry takes very little effort. Simply stop using heat whenever possible, pack the right amount of clothing into the machines, and tackle the task at night.

Reduce Heat

According to LG Electronics, who makes washers and dryers (among other things), “heating the water in the wash drum accounts for about 90% of the energy your machine uses.” While most of us know that washing our clothing on the cold water setting will reduce energy costs, the amount was higher than I expected. I’ve always washed my clothing on cold out of pure laziness—because cold water won’t cause colors to run quite so easily and that means you don’t have to separate lights and darks. On top of saving energy, using a cold wash reduces the amount of work you have to do.

If you’re drying your clothes in a machine drier, you’re obviously using quite a bit of heat. Unfortunately, there is no way around this unless you want to air dry your clothing. That’s a bit of an inconvenience for some (and may not be possible for those of us in small spaces), making this method far from perfect.

Measure Your Laundry Loads

Ideally, a load of laundry should pack in as many articles of clothing as possible, but stuffing your washer until it’s full isn’t a good idea. While the washer can likely fit whatever you throw at it, if you’re using a machine drier afterwards you need to consider what it can handle as well. If there’s little room for movement in the drier, the hot air won’t be able to do its job and you may have to run the dryer twice. That’s really inefficient, so make sure your load of laundry doesn’t take up too much room in the drier before you wash it. A good rule of thumb is to leave about 25% of the drier unfilled so there’s room for movement, and even more if you’re drying large bed sheets or blankets. Many dryers are larger than washers, and your clothing takes up less space when wet, so your clothing will always fit. Measure for 25% before you wash to ensure you leave enough room for good airflow.

Do Your Laundry After 8:00 PM

According to Andrew Schrage (co-owner of Money Crashers Personal Finance), some power companies offer discounted rates during non-peak hours:

Many utility companies have plans set up that offer discounts for switching some of your power usage to off-peak times. The hours and times differ slightly depending upon what part of the country you’re in, and each plan is set up a little differently. If you’re willing to shift a significant portion of your energy usage to outside the peak times, you certainly can save money.

Call your power company and ask them if they offer non-peak discounts and when they begin and end. Commonly, the hours begin at 8:00 PM. I typically do my laundry and dishes in the evening, anyhow, so I see this as a great deal. Those who handle their chores during the day, however, may find this method inconvenient.

Dishwashers

Reducing energy consumption with your dishwasher utilizes the same tactics as your laundry machines. Primarily, that means you need to reduce the amount of heat you use and load the machine as efficiently as possible.

Reduce Heat

Dishwashers require some heat to do a good job. Part of the cleaning process requires quite a bit of hot water. That said, drying your dishes doesn’t. Most machines employ a heated dry method that you can disable. Heated drying helps prevent water spots on your dishes, but so do rinsing agents like Jet Dry. If you already use a rinsing agent, you can forego the heated dry method. This is because rinsing agents coat your dishes and make it difficult for water to stick to them for a limited time. Your dishwasher releases the agent later in the cycle so it can clean effectively first, too, so you don’t have to worry about water being repelled at the wrong time. If you’ve never used a rinsing agent before, it’s very easy. You simply look for a small, often circular cap on your dishwasher’s door, unscrew it, and load it up with your rinsing agent until full. Then just stop the dishwasher once it enters the heated dry stage and let everything dry on its own.

Load Your Dishwasher Efficiently

While you can just stuff clothing in a laundry machine and call it a day, dishwashers require a little more care and effort to load efficiently. How you pre-wash your dishes matters, and the design of each rack offers specific advantages.

When pre-washing your dishes in the sink, your goal isn’t to remove all signs of food. If it were, you wouldn’t need a dishwasher in the first place. You need to worry about pieces of food, and simply leave any food residue for the machine. If you like to be extra clean and thorough, you may want to wash more. Remember that pre-washing dishes requires water, and if you’re constantly running water for a longer period you’re likely wasting it.

Where you places your dishes matters. The bottom rack works best for plates, and plates should face into the center of the dishwasher. Utensils obviously go in the dedicated carriage on the bottom rack, but how you place them might seem counterintuitive. Place all utensils with the handle at the bottom. This means the sharp end goes up, so be very careful that you don’t hurt yourself. The handle doesn’t get as dirty, so it doesn’t need as much attention as the other end of your utensils. Facing the sharp ends upwards allows more water to reach them.

Place your bowls and cups on the top row. Cups should face down and bowls at a slanted downward angle. If you don’t face rounded items downward, water will get caught inside them and may not reach the lower dishes as much as it needs to. A similar effect occurs when you place bowls and cups on the lower rack, as they’ll catch water when facing upwards and block water from the top rack when facing downwards. Always load them up top. Additionally, tupperware and other thin plastics belong up top as well, regardless of their shape. The heat from the washing machine can warp them, and that’s less likely to happen on the top rack.

When dealing with large and flat objects (e.g. a cutting board), do not place them close and parallel to the dishwasher door. When loaded up front like this, flat objects can prevent the detergent door from fully opening and the detergent from being used at all. This prevents the dishwasher from properly cleaning your dishes and you’ll have to run the load again. That’s twice the power consumption.

Finally, use a good detergent. You might not think this matters much, but some detergents actually do a better job of getting stubborn food off of your dishes. I’ve tested many and, in my personal experience, Quantum Finish and Miele are most effective (though Quantum Finish almost always costs less). Both clean aggressively without the harsh effects (and ultimately damage) caused by some soaps.

Other Appliances and Electronics

We recently learned that most appliances and electronics don’t have a very high energy cost—they only account for about 17% of energy use in the average American household. That said, some devices have a more significant impact than others. Here’s what you want to watch out for:

• Modern video game systems (e.g. Xbox 360, PS3)
• Electric kettles
• Always-on desktop computers
• Television sets (especially plasma-based displays)

With the exception of electric kettles, which are easily replaced by boiling water on the stove, reducing energy consumption with electronics requires actually turning them off. When you have tons of devices and appliances, shutting them off regularly gets annoying. The easiest solution? Stick everything you can on a power strip and turn off the power strip.

Chances are you have a few of those around the house already so you won’t need to buy them. In the case of computers, even letting them sleep can draw a decent amount of power, so you should shut them off completely. To avoid the nuisance of turning them on and off, simply schedule your startup and shutdown times so the computer handles the task automatically.

You can’t do much else to reduce the energy costs of your electronics without investing a little money, but since they only account for an average of 17% of your energy costs that’s not a big deal. If you want to spend a little money to lower your bill, however, we have a guide for that, too.

Read the original article here.

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If you’re going to go green with Green-Star energy-efficient appliances, call the professionals to help you install it. No job is to small for Alpha & Omega Electric, LLC. (505)554-3313

There’s so much “advice” out there about what to do with your home. Roofing advice, HVAC advice, maintenance tips, etc.

One of the most common questions that homeowner’s don’t get a clear answer on is about Dimmer Switches. Are they worth it? Should I get them installed? Will it actually help me save money on my electric bill? Is it convenient for me?

Finally, your questions are answered. Check out this great post about Dimmer Switches. When you’re done… Let us know what you think below.
Are Dimmer Switches Worth It?

Lighting is a constant struggle in a home setting, it can be difficult to get just the right amount of light in a room. Making sure each room has both low lighting and full lighting options available is a big project, and can add up in cost.

Dimmer switches restrict the current flowing to a light bulb through the use of CL or TRIAC technology, allowing for a low lighting range.

Are Dimmer Switches Worth It?
Lighting is a constant struggle in a home setting, it can be difficult to get just the right amount of light in a room. Making sure each room has both low lighting and full lighting options available is a big project, and can add up in cost. Dimmer switches restrict the current flowing to a light bulb through the use of CL or TRIAC technology, allowing for a low lighting range.

Benefits of Dimmer Switches
Dimmer switches are a viable option for some rooms that need a diverse range of lighting. Kitchens, bedrooms, studies, dining rooms, rec rooms, and living rooms are all areas in your home that need accommodations for both full lighting and low lighting. If you’ve been considering whether or not dimmer switches would be right for your home, read more about their benefits below.

Energy Savings
This is perhaps one of the biggest advantages that dimmers provide, but dimmer switches were not always construed to save you money on electricity. Older dimmer switches used TRIAC technology which rapidly switches between on and off to adjust the electricity flowing to a bulb, and newer technologies outright restrict and lower the flow of electricity. Both dimming approaches can notably reduce your energy consumption and subsequent costs because you have greater control over how much electricity you use. With a traditional light switch, the only settings are on and off, meaning you are either using 0% electricity or 100%.

Being able to decrease the amount of light you use inevitably results in lower energy bills. Install dimmers in the rooms you use the most like the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and bedrooms; this will allow you to take advantage of the greatest savings possible.

Using energy efficient light bulbs will even further increase your energy conservation. In addition to saving energy in your own home, you are also contributing to the world’s energy savings and providing some relief to the environment.

Greater Lifespan of Light Bulbs
Using dimmers adds longevity to your light bulbs by lowering the time your light bulbs are at the highest point of energy exertion. Dimmers provide some flexibility to the amount of electricity you use in your lamps and light fixtures. You can get an extra 3 or 4 years of usage out of your light bulbs by using a dimmer on a softer lighting setting. Even dimming the lights by 25% can result in substantial savings and even make your light bulb last 4 times longer!

Adjustable Ambience
Lighting sets the ambiance of the room, and that is why it is important for every room to have multiple lighting levels. Dimmer switches are a quick and cost-effective way of offering multiple lighting levels in rooms that have a limited amount of lighting arrangements. Installing adjustable dimmer switches lets the homeowner more accurately set the tone of a room. It also can improve the room’s functionality. For instance, you may prefer darker lighting for watching a movie but still want the option of full brightness in that room if you’re reading later.

Being able to set the ambiance of a room through your lightswitch is much more convenient than having to buy many different lamps to have the same versatility. Dimmer switches are a great addition for every room because they automatically unlock multiple levels of lighting.

Dimmer Switch Installation
Light control dimmer switches are a valuable asset to your home and are relatively easy to install. They are typically small enough to fit into a regulation wall box designed for a normal light switch, and a qualified electrician should have no problem doing this work for you.

Read the original article here.

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As always, we urge you to have a licensed electrician make any electrical upgrades to your home. Many don’t realize the working with electricity is not a DIY kind of job and can result in serious injury OR an electrical house fire.

Alpha & Omega Electric is more than happy to help you out when you’re ready to make upgrades to your home. Give us a call at (505)554-3313 to have a licensed electrician come out and help you. No job is too small!

Like this article? Hate it? Let us know what you think below!

You’ll notice that we’ve recently been dishing out tips that help you save money on your electricity bill without spending money.

Most “tips” that you get on how to save money on your electric bill include having to upgrade appliances, outlets, OR invest in “energy-saving” bulbs, etc.

We know not everyone has the money or the time to spend on “lowering” their bill. In fact, for anyone who really needs to lower their bill, they couldn’t possibly spend money on what’s being recommended.
So check out these 10 tips instead and put them to good use!
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10 Free Ways to Save Money on Winter Heating Bills:

1. Use a lower thermostat setting.

You will save up to 3 percent on your heating bill per degree lowered over a 24 hour period (or about 1 percent per 8 hours). During the winter months, we keep our thermostat set at 68 during the day and 55 at night. Lowering the thermostat to 55 degrees while we sleep saves us about 13% on our heating bill. During the rest of the day, we wear warm clothing such as a sweater, long pants, and thick socks or slippers to keep warm.

2. Seal your chimney flue when not in use.

Leaving your chimney flue open when not in use is the same thing as opening your window several inches. You will allow a large quantity of warm air out of your house, and a large quantity of cold air in. You should also make sure your dryer vent closes properly as well.

3. Use fans to circulate air.

Set your fan on low to circulate air upward toward the ceiling. This will force the warmer air that rises and gets trapped at the ceiling downward, leaving your house feeling warmer.

4. Keep vents and radiators clear.

Ensure your vents are not blocked by rugs or furniture, or that you don’t have any large objects in front of your radiator. This allows the air to circulate freely and you to get the full benefit of the warm air and put less strain on your furnace. This is also safer!

5. Clean vents, radiators, etc.

Not only is dust an allergen, it is a wonderful insulator. Clean the built up dust from your radiators and baseboard heat vents often. This allows the air to flow freely into your rooms and promotes equal heat radiation. It is healthier too!

6. Pay attention to your windows.

Approximately 10-25% of your house’s heat loss can be attributed to windows. To reduce this, open curtains and shades on south facing windows during daylight hours to allow the sun’s heat to enter your house and warm it. Keep curtains and blinds closed at night and when the sun is not shining on them to insulate your house and keep the heat inside. Another tip – place blankets over uncovered windows and drapes , especially at night when the windows are not being used and the temperature is at its coldest.

7. Shut the doors.

If the room is not used, why heat it? Shut the doors and close the vent when you are not in the room. When you are in the room, shutting the door can increase the room’s temperature by keeping in your body heat and the heat produced by lights or other electronics such as a computer.

10 Inexpensive Ways to Save on Heating Bills

The following are inexpensive ways you can shave your heating expenses this winter.

1. Use a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat can help you save 10-20% on your energy bill year round. Program your heater to come on right before you wake up, cool down when you leave for work, warm up when you return from work, and go down again right before you go to bed. How much will it save you? You can save 1% off your heating bill for every degree you lower your thermostat over an 8 hour period. Many people can save enough money with their first month’s use to pay for the thermostat. Cost: $20 and up. Savings: 10-20% of your monthly energy bill.

2. Change air filters.

Clean air filters permit a better flow of air through your heating system, allowing hot air to more easily flow through the vents and into your rooms. You also reduce the strain on your furnace, which can extend its life. Change your air filter monthly, or whenever it is dirty. Bonus benefit – cleaner, healthier air! Cost: $2-10.

3. Seal the leaks in your house.

Your house leaks hot air! But if you seal most of these leaks, you can save between 10-20% on your heating bill this winter. To detect leaks, wait until it is cold outside; you will probably need at least a 30 degree difference in the indoor/outdoor temperatures to notice the difference. Common areas to find leaks include around doors, windows, near the attic, where wires and cables enter your house, and around electrical outlets. Seal gaps around any pipes, wires, vents or other openings with caulk or weather stripping. Cost: $5 and up. Savings: 10-20% of your heating bill.

4. Add insulation to your house.

Insulation helps keep the hot air in and the cold air out. This can not only save you money, but it can also be a tax deductible home improvement which will give you an even better return for your investment! Basement insulation is often overlooked and will help keep your house warmer during winter months. Cost: Depends on how much and which type of insulation. Savings:Depends on how much and which type of insulation and whether or not it is tax deductible.

5. Seal heating ducts.

Most ducts have small leaks that allow your heated air to slowly escape. You can prevent this with a roll of metallic tape for about $10 (don’t use duct tape – it degrades over time!). You can also use a liquid or aerosol based sealant, which sometimes works better than tape, but is messier. Pay special attention to sections of ducting with kinks, bends, breaks, and disconnections. Cost:$10 and up.

6. Insulate heating ducts.

You can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the outlet if you have non-insulated ducts that travel through unheated spaces such as the attic or basement. Special duct insulation can help you retain heat and energy and save a lot of money over the long term. This is a great idea if you will be living in your house for a few years. Cost: $10 and up. Savings: 10% of your energy bill or more.

7. Use space heaters.

At night we turn the heat down to 55 in the house and use a space heater in our bedroom. This allows us to only heat the space we need. Be careful when using space heaters – keep them clear of walls and flammable objects. You should also exercise caution when using them around children. Cost: $15-$35

8. Humidifiers.

Using a humidifier can reduce your heating costs because moist air retains heat better than dry air. There are other benefits to using a humidifier as well: they reduce static electricity (and annoying winter time shocks!), dry skin, and make it easier to breathe. Cost: $30 and up.

9. Air Vent Booster.

An air-vent booster is a fan you install over your vent that works by drawing additional air into a room that is always way too hot or cold. I recently installed one in our “problem room,” and the results have been quite good. It helps lower our utility bills and saves a large amount of energy. The model I have is the AirFlow Breeze, which costs about $50. Cost: $40 and up.

10. Install plastic window treatments.

Installing heavy duty clear plastic window treatments can reduce the amount of heat loss through your windows. This is a great idea if your windows are single pane windows. You can save up to 10% of your heating costs by installing these. Cost: $5 and up.

Of course, if you do all of these, you won’t be able to reduce your heating bill to nothing! There is a law of diminishing returns that must come into play somewhere. But, most of these are inexpensive and easy enough for just about anyone to do.

Not only do they save a lot of money, but they reduce your energy usage which is great for the environment.

All facts were taken from the US Department of Energy Website.

You can read the original post here.

During this time of year, a lot of people are prone to the idea of “Spring Cleaning”. There are so many things that we’re diligent about doing.

Like landscaping, pressure washing the house, cleaning windows, window sills, doing a very thorough cleaning of the inside of the house… Even the couches and chairs!

Take a moment to reflect on the things you did or will do for “Spring Cleaning”… Maybe you wiped all of your appliances down inside and out. Maybe you cleaning the inside of EVERY cabinet, drawer, and small space you have whether it’s been used or not.

Have you thought about giving your home an electrical checkup? Making sure outlets are working properly and there’s no visible or hidden damage? Taking a tour around the house to make sure that nothing looks out of place or worn out?

Most homeowners don’t understand what to look for when checking out their electrical components – that’s okay! We’re here to help by giving you an extensive guide on what to look for and how to identify any problems…

Follow along, some of these you know but I’m willing to bet that you’d be shocked by some of the things you should look out for.

Switches & Outlets:

• Are all switches and outlets working properly? Improperly operating switches or outlets may indicate an unsafe wiring condition, which could be a fire hazard for you and your family.
• Are any switches or outlets warm to the touch? Unusually warm switches or outlets can indicate an unsafe wiring condition.
• Are any outlets or switches discolored? Discoloration signifies a dangerous heat buildup in these connections.
• Do any switches or outlets make crackling, buzzing, or sizzling sounds? Unusual noises from a switch or outlet may indicate an unsafe wiring condition, such as a loose electrical connection that can cause a fire in your home.
• Do plugs fit snugly into all outlets? Loose-fitting plugs can overheat and catch fire, putting you and your family in immediate danger.

Cords:

• Are any cords cracked, frayed, or otherwise damaged? Damaged cords may have exposed wires that can be a fire and/or shock hazard.
• Are any cords pinched by furniture or in doors/windows? Pinching cords can cause damage to the insulation or break wire strands, creating a fire or a shock hazard.
• Are cords attached to anything with nails or staples? Nails and staples can cut or pinch insulation or break wire strands making them a fire and/or shock hazard.
• Are cords placed under carpets? Cords can overheat if air cannot flow around them, creating a fire hazard.
• Do you use extension cords on a permanent basis?! Extension cords are designed to be used ONLY temporarily. Extended use may damage the cord, putting you and your family in danger of a fire and/or electrical shock.
• Are any cords kept wrapped up while being used? Wrapped cords trap heat which can lead to melting or weakening of the insulation.

If you have ugly, unsightly cords that you wish looked better OR were hidden from plain site… Look no further! Call Alpha & Omega Electric today @ 505-554-3313. We will come out and perform a cord conceal, making you feel better about your electronics.

Lamps & Appliances:

• Are you using the appropriate wattage light bulb in all lamps and light fixtures? A bulb with a wattage higher than recommended can overheat the light fixture, wiring, or nearby combustible material, causing a fire.
• Are all appliance cords placed so they will not come in contact with hot surfaces? Cords can melt or burn from excess heat. This can expose wires and lead to a fire or electric shock.

If you plan on upgrading your appliances, especially in the kitchen or your washer/dryer units, then let us come out and upgrade your outlets and upgrade your panels. You can submit a request for a free consultation by clicking here or by filling out the form for an estimate request to the right of this post. One of our Electrical Specialists will give you a call within 48 business hours.

Electrical Panel:

• Do you have recurring tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses? Fuses and circuit breakers are safety devices that help prevent overloading of your home electrical system and prevent fires. They stop the electrical current if it exceeds the safe level for some portion of your home’s electrical setup.
• Are fuses or circuit breakers the correct size for the circuit? The wrong size fuse or circuit breaker can cause the wiring to overheat and could be a fire hazard.
• Do you have arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)? AFCIs are advanced circuit breakers that provide GREATER fire protection for your family and your home.
• If AFCIs are installed, do you test them on a monthly basis? AFCIs can stop working without showing signs or symptoms of failure, so regular testing is necessary to ensure they are working properly.

If it’s time for a panel upgrade OR you want us to install AFCIs for your breakers, give us a call at 505-554-3313 or fill out the form to the right of this post to request a free estimate. For a complete list of services we provide to all Albuquerque residents, click here.

We hope that you go down this checklist, and you find that you have one or more of these in your household, you should call a licensed Albuquerque electrician right away to inspect your home and make sure your family is safe! If you want to make an appointment for Alpha & Omega Electric to come out and inspect your home, give us a call @ 505-554-3313 Monday-Friday, 8AM – 5PM.

If you want to learn more about upgrading your electrical panel and the dangerous electrical phenomena called “cold creep”, click here!

What I love about this beautiful city that we live in are the celebrations that take place! It seems like we’re always celebrating something from hot-air balloons to luminarias, and now to American Indian Week April 23, 2018 – April 27, 2018!

For those of you who haven’t participated yet, it’s great! It’s held at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center every year at 2401 12th St. N.W., Albuquerque, NM 87104. From traditional Native dances like Pojoaque, Nambe, Acoma, etc., workshops from Native art experts on things like rugs and jewelry, and artists selling their own artwork – there’s a lot to see.

If you’re there for the day, the cafe on site serves food and drink and usually, there’s a concession stand the has traditional Native items, they’re delicious! When we take our kids, they look for that stand first!

If you love art, then you’ll want to go the weekend of April 29th & 30th for the Spring Art Market! There’s plenty of traditional American Indian art forms like drawings, paintings, jewelry, rugs, and much more!

It doesn’t matter what time you choose to go, because they’ll have things to do every day. Not to mention it’s a museum, so feel free to look around and see what they like. To get the best bang for your buck (the event is free, but you have to pay admission to the museum), I suggest going on a Saturday! You’ll see more dances, more workshops, and I’m willing to bet that there are more art vendors on the weekend then there are during the week.

If you want more information just check out their website by clicking here!

We are not affiliated in any way with the American Indian Week or with the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. We do not sell admission, receive a commission on admission, or in any way elude to be representing either the American Indian Week OR the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

We do, however, like going on the weekend and enjoying the culturally stimulating experience with our children and exposing them to different lifestyles. We hope to see you out there, enjoying it with your family!

We wanted to take a moment to write to you and talk about one of the most common questions we’ve been getting from Homeowners in Albuquerque… How can I save money this year on electricity? Well, you asked and we’re delivering!

Lighting. This time of year is all about out with the old and in with the new. That old adage isn’t just for clothing, shoes, and your kids’ toys… It also applies to your light bulbs and fixtures. Your old lighting fixtures use way more energy expelling light than the new models do.

If you’re not ready to make the investment for new lighting fixtures just yet, don’t worry! Start by replacing all of your old bulbs with new LED bulbs. LED bulbs provide light, but are way more energy efficient and save you money on your electric bill – and they last longer than traditional bulbs! You’re saving 2 ways there!

Also, if you change your outside lighting fixtures (porch lights) to be censor lights you will also save a ton because they will only shine when there is movement, instead of being on the whole night through. This will not only save you money monthly on your electric bill, but it will also increase the life of your bulb so you’re spending less per year.

Your Electrical Panel. You’d be surprised to know that upgrading your electrical panel not only will keep your family safe from the phenomenon known as “cold creep” (read more about this dangerous phenomenon and how your family could be in danger here), but with updated technology and wiring could also help the electricity flow more efficiently, saving you money on your electric bill.

Go Green. If you were really interested in saving money AND reducing your carbon footprint, Go Green! There are all sorts of incentives for going green from a deduction on your taxes for any and all Green Star appliances you install to going solar and completely eliminating your monthly electric bill.

Electric Cars. Finally, if you have an electric car instead of using the extension-like chargers, have a trusted electrician install a super efficient wall charger. This will charge your car in less time than the average extension-like cable, using less electricity and give you freedom of knowing that you’re really investing your efforts wisely in reducing your carbon footprint.

If you’d like to save money this coming year on your electric bill by updating your lighting fixtures, going solar, or updating your electrical panel don’t hesitate to call us anytime @ 505-554-3313. We’re glad to help and look forward to servicing your home.

Being in Albuquerque, we all have our own family traditions. There are some that we share, like making Bizcochitos with the family and the BEST one is the tradition of the Luminarias Festival. For those of you who DON’T know, a luminaria is a brown paper bag with a votive candle for light and sand weighing it down. Every Christmas Eve, thousands of them line the streets of Albuquerque with their beautiful light.

If you want to display your own Luminarias on Christmas Eve in downtown Albuquerque during the festival, follow these simple steps:
View the original article here.

What You’ll Need:

• Paper lunch bags (decorate them if you’d like)
• Votive candles – 1 per bag
• Sand
• Long utility lighter or fireplace match

What To Do:

1. Create a lip with the paper bag by folding down about an inch
2. Add plenty of sand to weigh down the bag
3. Place the votive candle in the center of the sand
4. Use a fireplace match or utility lighter to light it

Use these simple steps to create your own Albuquerque Luminarias to display during the Luminarias Festival.
If you’d like more information on the Albuquerque Luminaria Tour, click here.

If you need any electrical help whether it’s for hanging Christmas lights, replacing circuits and breakers, or troubleshooting electrical issues, call us anytime @ 505-554-3313 and don’t forget to ask us about our extended Work Warranty.

Whether you live in the Albuquerque community OR you’ve passed through during the holidays, chances are you’ve been offered  a Bizcochito. For those of you who don’t know, a Bizcochito is a crisp cookie, flavored with cinnamon and anise. Traditionally, the cookies are cut into the shape of stars and crescent moons, but you can cut them however you’d like (our kids like ours in the shape of a Christmas tree!).

In honor of this Albuquerque tradition, we are posting the recipe for Bizcochitos that we borrowed from NewMexico.org (you can find the original recipe here.)

Recipe:

Makes about 6 dozen medium-size cookies

Dough:

• 5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 pound lard (or butter), softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1½ tablespoons ground anise seeds
• ½ cup orange juice, preferably fresh
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) whiskey (optional)

Coating:

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the cookies:

Preheat oven to 425° F.

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in large bowl.

Beat lard or butter in electric mixer, gradually adding sugar until extremely light
and fluffy; about 8 minutes. Stop mixer every couple minutes to scrape down
sides of mixing bowl.

Add eggs singularly, incorporating each one in completely before adding
the next.

Mix the dry ingredients into the batter, beating only until mixed.

Add anise seeds, whiskey, and orange juice. A stiff dough, almost like a pie-crust is
what you’re after.

Add some or all of remaining flour, as needed, to get
proper consistency.

Spoon dough into cookie press, if you wish. Push out dough into shaped
cookies on ungreased cookie sheets. If you don’t have a cookie press or
prefer to make them with cookie cutters, the dough can be rolled out ¼
inch thick on floured work surface and cut into favorite shapes, then
arranged on cookie sheets. In either case, avoid handling the dough more 
than necessary.

Bake cookies 12 to 15 minutes.

For the coating:

Toss together the granulated sugar and cinnamon until well blended.

Assembly:

Place cookies on baking rack to cool.

Once cooled enough to touch, roll cookies in the coating mixture and enjoy!

Storage:

Cookies can be stored for up to a week… IF they last that long!

We hope this recipe helps you enjoy your holiday season that much more! Make sure you check out our next post on hot to make a Luminarias for New Mexico’s oldest Christmas tradition: The Luminarias Festival!

If you need any electrical help whether it’s for hanging Christmas lights, replacing circuits and breakers, or troubleshooting electrical issues, call us anytime @ 505-554-3313 and don’t forget to ask us about our extended Work Warranty.