Electric Archives -

August 6, 2019August 6, 2019

Tips for Electric Safety in Pools, Spas, and Marinas

Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) – each year people are injured or lose their lives because they are not aware of electric safety in the water and the dangers that exist.

A great number of people are unaware of electrical dangers that exist in their water surroundings.

ESD can occur when onboard or marina electrical systems release electric current into the water. The current travels through the body and causes paralysis. When this transpires, the person can no longer swim and this leads to drowning.

NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy, Lorraine Carlie, recommends, “Before participating in water activities, have swimming pool equipment, hot tubs and spas, or your boat inspected by a qualified electrician; have them regularly maintained to ensure life-saving measures and protection systems are functioning properly during the summer and throughout the year.”

NFPA has several resources for swimmers, boat and pool owners; which include checklists, tip sheets, and more that can be downloaded. Find them here.

Tips for Boat Owners

Educate yourself and others about electric safety when near water

Avoid entering the water when launching or loading a boat. Docks or boats can leak electricity into the water causing water electrification, so do your best to avoid entering the water when loading a boat or launching.
Have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed on the boat. Test GFCIs monthly.
Have your boat’s electrical system inspected by a qualified marine electrician to ensure it meets the required codes for your area and that of the American Boat & Yacht Council.

Tips for Swimmers

Electric safety for swimmers and pool owners

Do you best to avoid swimming near a dock or marina or near a boat while it is running.
Be aware of flickering or intermittent flashing of underwater lights in your pool, spa, or hot tub.
Immediately stop swimming in your current directions if you feel a tingling sensation in the pool. Exit the water as quickly as possible, but avoid using metal ladders or rails – touching any metal increases your risk of shock.

Tips for Pool, Sauna, and Hot Tub Owners

Have a qualified electrician inspect and replace/upgrade the electrical devices or equipment that keep your pool, spa or hot tub electrically safe. Be sure you know how to turn off all power in case of an emergency.
Hire an experienced electrician in the special safety requirements for these types of installations to perform all wiring and inspections.
Make sure overhead lines are a significant distance over a pool and other structures, such as a diving board. If you have any doubts, contact a qualified electrician or your local utility company to inspect.

O’Grady Companies cares about our customers and their safety. Remembering these electrical tips when it comes to summertime fun can prevent injury and even save a life. Knowledge and awareness are key and sharing these tips with your family members and others will benefit them as well.

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019

Electrical Safety and Childproofing Measures for Your Home

Hidden and Not-So-Hidden Dangers of Electricity in the Home

Awareness is Key!

The natural curiosity of children can lead to harm if you do not childproof your home for electrical safety and teach them the basics about the power of electricity and the potential dangers it holds.

As many as 2.5 million children are injured or hurt by hazards within their own home each year.

The O’Grady Companies, your Frederick County, MD electrical contractor company, cares about you and your family; sharing helpful electrical safety tips to keep you and your family safe.

Keep in Mind

Electricity flows through water easily. Since our bodies are 70 percent water, electricity can travel through your bodies.
Power cords and appliances can be as dangerous as electrical power lines if proper safety precautions are not followed.
Electricity has the power to cause shocks, burns, and be deadly.

Outlets

Be sure to block unused outlets by using childproof caps and changing to solid cover plates.
Do not place any object other than the appropriate size plug into an outlet.
Never overload outlets with multiple adaptors or power strips. Simply relocate cords instead.
Never pull an electric plug out of the wall outlet by yanking on the electric cord.
Never stick fingers or any other objects into an electrical outlet or light bulb socket.
Worn, frayed or damaged electrical cord should be unplugged, discarded, and removed from reach.

Appliances

Unplug kitchen and other appliances and stow cords safely away from reach of pets and young children.
Never place any electrical appliance near water such as sinks, bathtubs, pools, or jacuzzis.
Electrical appliances should never be operated with hands that are wet or while standing in water.
Unplug an electrical appliance prior to cleaning it.
Be sure to keep any flammable or potentially combustible materials (clothes, curtains, toys, etc.) at bay from radiators, space heaters, heating vents, and other heat sources.

Safety Outdoors

Do not try and get an item that is stuck or tangled in a power line – call the power company.
Never climb utility poles.
If there is a fallen electrical wire, stay away from it. Call the power company to report the downed wire or call 911.
Call 911 immediately when an object or person is in contact or touching a wire that is down.
Take extra care when carrying a ladder or pool skimmer to avoid touching overhead electrical wires.
Never climb trees that are near power lines or have power lines running through them.
Steer clear of any power lines when flying a kite or carrying Mylar or helium-filled balloons on strings.
Never throw objects at or onto electric power lines.
If a friend, family member or pet is in contact with a downed electrical line or any type of electrical equipment, call 911 immediately.
Never go swimming during an electrical storm.
Do not fly model airplanes or any remote-controlled toys near overhead power lines. Play with these in open fields or park areas.
If you are operating an electrical tool, using an electrical appliance or playing with an electrical toy outside, stay at least 10 feet away from any wet surface or pool area.

If you have any additional questions or concerns about the electrical safety of your home, give the best electricians near you a call. We’ll be happy to answer or come out for a home inspection to ensure all your electric and wiring is up to code and there are no hidden dangers.

You can never be too cautious when it comes to electrical safety and awareness. Just reviewing these points can potentially stop an accident or save a life.

June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

Energy Saving Tips for Maryland Residents

Implementing some of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and other expert’s energy saving tips below, Maryland residents can save big over time. With the money saved, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do some of these sooner

An Easy Path

Brrr. Use cold water in top loading washing machines and you can save money (up to $63+ a year) and save energy. Cold water formulated detergents like Tide, Gain, and 7^th Generation get your clothes just as clean in cold water.

Who knew? A plasma TV left plugged in can cost big in a year – $159.76 big! Wow! So, it’s a money-saver to unplug your TV when not in use.

Cut it short. Low-flow showerheads can achieve substantial savings -between 25% – 60%! Taking short showers and bank the extra savings!

Little Changes Can Mean Big Savings

Bright Idea! CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent and use 75% less electricity! This can save up to $65 over the lifetime of the light bulb.

Turn it down. Turning your water heater temperature to the warm setter of 120 degrees saves energy and is also safer for the family, reducing the risk of scalding.

Do the math. For 8 hours and turning your thermostat back 10% – 15% – you can save as much as 10% on your energy bill AND that’s can add up to a substantial annual savings.

Fawn over your fan. Ceiling and window fans provide not only added cooling and better circulation, but it allows you to raise the thermostat so you can cut down on air conditioning costs and save energy.

Lights out. With the average household dedicating 11% of its energy budget to lighting; turning off lights when not in use is definitely a bright idea! Wasted energy = wasted money.

Get the Whole Family on Board

Pump it up. Pump up your tires and pump up the gas mileage savings by 3% with properly inflated tires. Who knew?!

Fun and savings. Spend your savings on a different type of fun when you to unplug your gaming system when not in use. A game console left plugged in can cost roughly $25.73 a year.

Don’t forget about the laptop! Laptops cost too, when left plugged in – an estimated $15.90 annually.

Pass Along the Tips and the Savings

Dracula’s Summer. Since windows account for 10%-25% of your energy bill and during the summer your AC has to work hard to cool the hot air from those sunny windows – shut the curtains and the shades. Give your AC and your energy bill a place to rest. 😉

Keep it full. Not only will your family love you, but you will also save when you keep your fridge temperature between 37 and 40 degrees (F). AND … keep your refrigerator full because it allows less cold air to escape when the door is open.

By following just a few of these practical and simple energy saving tips, you can make your home run more efficiently and save money. Be sure to also schedule a yearly maintenance check on your heating and air so you keep your systems in tip-top, energy-efficient shape!

Consider as well, the O’Grady Companies now offers certified thermography services for both homes and businesses. This is a preventative maintenance procedure on your electrical panel that can detect problems and save you money!

April 14, 2019April 14, 2019

Infrared Thermography Service for Residential and Commercial Business

Infrared thermography can save a homeowner or business money by giving valuable insight to a home or building’s efficiency and energy use.

Save Money Now and Later With an Infrared Thermographic Inspection

Infrared thermography qualifies as on the most significant and cost-saving factors to an electrical maintenance program. The return on investment is exponential both short and long term.

Electrical failures can be detected by a certified thermographer long before any other testing method; thereby reducing downtime significantly – saving costs on equipment and property – and even save lives.

How It Works

Increase in Heat

Mounting resistance in electrical components can be caused by age, loose connections, exposure to the elements and more. This mounting resistance also results in increased heat.

residential-thermography-services — Thermal Image of Heat Leak thru Windows

Heat Detection through an Infrared Camera

With infrared thermography, you can see this heat through an infrared camera prior to any damage being visible to unaware eyes. This allows the homeowner or business the advantage of correcting the problem in its early stages – before damaging effects take place on property, equipment, or people. With an infrared thermographic inspection, exact points of where danger exists, or where you need to make improvements are shown; which also reveals where you are potentially losing money – helping keep overhead cost down.

An Infrare Thermographic Inspection Can:

Detect a power plant boiler flue gas leak
Check your generator
Detect thermal heat loss for buildings and residence
Evaluate the integrity of concrete
Find flat roof leaks
Evaluate cold storage cooling loss
Detect moisture contamination in buildings, condos, and plants
Perform HVAC equipment evaluation
More ...

thermography-site-inspection — Commercial infrared thermographic inspection

Certified Thermography Experts Only

Infrared thermographic inspections should be conducted by certified experts only and O’Grady Companies are the certified experts to trust. Our inspections comply with the safety standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Contact O’Grady Companies skilled residential and commercial electricians about our infrared thermography services for your home or business in Frederick, Maryland, Virginia, and DC Metro area today at 301-882-1925.