There is so much buzz about DIY home projects in our society. Magazines, pinterest, blogs, reality television shows, and more all feature home renovation projects that are inspiring many homeowners around the nation. Many times You Tube videos or online tutorials will boast that they can help you learn how to complete just about any project, but is doing it yourself really the best choice? For some projects, the answer is a resounding yes! Other projects are dangerous to complete yourself and you should think about hiring a professional. Electrical projects are typically best when completed by a professional electrician.

Benefits of Hiring an Electrician

1. Electrical Safety: Whenever you are dealing with electricity it can be dangerous. Just one small mistake could cause you or someone else to be seriously injured. Electrical mistakes can also cause fires. Sometimes the fires from faulty electrical work occur hours or days after the work was done. Property damage in other forms can also be the product of electrical mistakes. Take the risk out of your project by hiring a certified electrician who is aware of the safety concerns and common mistakes to watch out for.
2. Accuracy on Electrical Jobs: In order to become a certified electrician you have to undergo extensive training. Electricians learn how electricity works and how to get the job done right the first time. In addition to understanding how electricity works, they also have experience on the job that comes in handy on a regular basis.
3. Electrical Wiring Cost: Listing cost as a benefit of hiring a professional electrician seems like an oxymoron. Many people believe that hiring a professional electrician will be super expensive. People are frequently surprised that since a certified electrician is able to complete the job quickly that the cost is not as high as they thought it might be. If you try to do your electrical project yourself you could do costly damage that may end up costing more to fix than it would have cost to just hire a professional in the first place.
4. Effective Electrical Troubleshooting: If you choose to do an electrical project on your own you may end up finding systems or circuits that you did not know existed before starting . The wiring in your home or office can quickly become more complicated than originally anticipated. A certified electrician will have more knowledge base to draw from to help navigate through unexpected problems.
5. Licensed Electricians are Trained: Certified electricians are required by law to be licensed before they can work in the field. Make sure that if you hire an electrician that you make sure that they are licensed. By hiring a licensed electrician you know that they are agreeing to uphold the safety standards that will help your project go smoothly.

Electrical Services & More in Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, Southbury, Stamford, CT & Fairfield County, Connecticut

As you begin the process of upgrading, remodeling, or adding to your home or office remember the importance of hiring a certified electrician. Give Sentry Electric a call today so that we can discuss your electrical project with you.

Storms have been known to unleash a fury and in so doing, cause severe damage to property and other elements. Lightning strikes are among the arsenal of Mother Nature and this weapon can leave lingering dangerous effects. To help avoid potential tragedy to your home, calling a professional for an electrical inspection is always recommended. Today, we at Sentry Electric would like to elaborate on the wisdom in contacting one of our professionals to inspect your Connecticut home after a lightning storm.

Power Surge Problems

Being directly hit by lightning largely relates to the prospect of tragedy as most will agree, however, individuals remain in danger around the electrical system and will be so until any issues have been addressed by a trained electrician. The problem of electrical surges that can often leave clear signs of their impact is one of the ways that such issues continue to exist and having an inspection after a surge has occurred is imperative to your safety.

Surge Protectors

Should a lightning strike happen, too many people are under the false impression that simply having a surge protector will keep them immune from any infliction of damage. Many strikes can actually render this piece of equipment useless in many instances, and in in the blink of an eye and cause confusion during a moment of crisis the effects can be devastating. Though these devices can be helpful, they are not always enough if your home is the target of a lightning strike.

Electrical Inspection After a Lightning Strike

Having a professional electrician for an inspection following a lightning storm can help you err on the side of caution and check for any signs of damage or potential danger. More homeowners are hesitant to invest in an inspection, especially if nothing seems wrong following a lightning strike or power surge, but electrical inspections, such as from Sentry Electric are actually very affordable and when compared to the cost of repairs that could have been prevented, it is well worth the investment. By conducting the sort of tests around a home that can immediately spot any problem areas, affordable electrical inspections can be a useful aid for you and your home. Considering the potential fires that can break out from damaged wiring, ignoring the issue is never the answer in these circumstances. Particularly vulnerable is the damage to the wiring within the walls of your home. Many homeowners find that they are blissfully unaware of the possible damage that’s been done that results in costly damages or frustrated because they cannot resolve the problems with their electricity. A licensed electrician from Sentry Electric can perform a comprehensive inspection after a lightning storm and are able to detect and repair any discovered issues quickly and efficiently.

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After a power surge from a lightning strike, there can be obvious damage where an appliance will no longer operate, or on the other hand the issue can be seemingly harmless as all of your appliances sufficiently hum along during operation with no issue. Someone with no experience with electricity will not be able find the problem let alone repair it. Call Sentry Electric after a lightning storm to ensure your home is safe from potential harm.

Whether you are buying a new home or remodeling your current home, you can spend hours looking at different options for each and every room in your home. There are so many decisions to be made as you make your home match your individual style. Completing your room with the correct light fixture can be a tricky task. There are tons of options out there for you.

Dining Room Chandeliers

If you have a room that needs a statement piece, a chandelier is an excellent option. The large size of a chandelier naturally draws your eye to the light fixture. Chandeliers come in many different styles. You can find chandeliers with beautiful crystals or sleek chrome arms.

Pendant Lights for Kitchen

Pendant lights are individual lights that hang down on a long pole or wire. They are the perfect option for smaller spaces or areas that need direct lighting. Pendant lights are the perfect option for your kitchen island. Attention is drawn to pendant lights partially because they hang closer to eye level.

Ceiling Mount Light Fixtures

While chandeliers and pendant lights are frequently selected to help make a design statement, ceiling-mount light fixtures are normally selected for their subtleness. Family rooms, hallways, and kitchens all need lighting in them. You can choose canned lights that do not make a statement for these areas, or you can choose a ceiling-mount light fixture that will still add a decorative touch to the room.

Wall Sconces

Overhead lighting is always an excellent way to add light to your home, but you can also choose to put your lights on your walls instead. Wall sconces can add the light desired in the room as well as some extra character to your room. If you have a wall in your home that you want to stand out, installing wall sconces is a perfect option. Wall sconces are a fantastic alternative to track and spot lights.

Bedroom Table & Floor Lamps

You may choose not to have all of your lighting come from permanent fixtures. Lamps provide lighting that is portable. For those of you who like to frequently change your home around, lamps can be a fun option. Lamps come in many unique shapes, sizes, and colors. You can combine tall, short, thin, or chunky lamps throughout your home to add some fun design elements and additional lighting all at the same time.

Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting provides the illumination desired in a room or hallway without making a design statement. Sometimes you just need the light with no frills. Canned lighting also has clean lines which can be the perfect choice for a contemporary room.

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What type of lighting you choose to put in your home is such a personal decision. Light fixtures can help add the character to your house that will help make your home fit your individual style and taste. Once you decide on the lighting fixtures that you prefer, contact Sentry Electric for your installation needs. We can send one of your electricians out to give you a quote for all of your electrical needs! Contact us today!

Every business can benefit from a back-up power source. Any business that has to deal with a blackout or brownout most definitely hurts customer flow and productivity. For some businesses, a power outage can have catastrophic consequences. Those who rely on computer systems or work with machinery as especially at risk during a power outage. Have you thought about your options to stop this from happening to your business? If you’re reading this blog today, then chances are you’re in the market and you’ve come to the right place. Sentry Electric will break down the pros and cons of each system, so you may better determine which would be a better choice for your business.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Pros –
Simply put, UPS systems are a sophisticated, innovative backup battery power supply, they are installed to collaborate with your existing power supply systems. While the power in your business is up and running, the UPS system is constantly charging and storing extra energy. If your business loses power, the UPS system kicks on instantly and uses the stored energy to keep electronic devices and servers running without a delay. This will allow you extra time to save the project you’re currently working on without interruption. So, if the power goes out, you won’t have to worry about losing precious data or special projects. These are perfect for companies who rely on computers for their day to day operations, or any other business that require absolute, consistent power at all times. UPS systems are quiet, eco-friendly, easy to move and require little to no maintenance. You can even purchase UPS systems that can power your entire business or warehouse.
Cons – For bigger models that can handle whole businesses, these can get pricey, the longer the battery life, the more money you can plan on spending. Because these are essentially big batteries, they only have a limited charge to offer and won’t stay on for prolonged periods of time.

Backup Standby or Portable Generator

Pros
Backup generators provide hours of backup power with ease. They come in a range of sizes from small and portable, able to generate power to one or two things at once, or you can buy larger ones that can provide power to an entire building. These larger generators can be special ordered and require a professional installation by a certified electrician. Sentry Electric has experience in all things electrical and can install your generator and power inlet with interlock mechanical transfer switch for you. Smaller generators can be purchased at any home improvement store or even online. They are very simple to use.
Cons
Generators will have some lag time between a power outage and when they turn on, anywhere from 10 seconds to a few minutes depending on the model you purchase. This can be detrimental to businesses who rely on technology for their day to day operations. They also run on fuel and produce fumes, so they need to be installed in open aired areas and they aren’t as friendly for the environment. They are a bit noisier than UPS systems and require maintenance from time to time.

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Both of these systems serve the same purpose, but there are pros and cons to both. If you want help deciding which would be the better choice for your business, call the pros today so we can aid you in the decision-making process. Don’t get left in the dark, call Sentry Electric today!

Does your yard need some improvements to its lighting? Landscape lighting adds to curbside appeal, wards of potential burglars, and increases safety while walking around at night. There are a number of reasons why you may want to improve or add landscape lighting. If you want to add or improve your landscape lighting then Sentry Electric would like to make a few suggestions on improving your property’s landscape lighting.

Landscape Lighting Design Ideas

Before you run out to buy landscape lighting there are a number of things you should consider or you may be shopping blindly. Start by walking around your yard. You may even want to make a crude sketch of the yard to help determine your lighting system needs. Make a note of where you want to place lights and their purpose. There are motion sensors that can help improve security while providing light when someone approaches. You may want a constant spotlight for security. Then there is accent lighting that can light up certain features of your yard to add to night time curbside appeal. Layout your lighting needs to help make an accurate and efficient shopping list. When shopping for lighting, it is recommended you buy yellow colored lights. Insects are often attracted to light. However, they are less attracted to yellow colored lights. Therefore, it helps reduce insects around your home if you use yellow light bulbs.

Solar Powder Lights for DIY Landscape Lighting

For those who plan to do their own landscape light installation, most electricians will recommend solar lights. They are energy efficient. Additionally, they don’t require the installation of electrical cords and wiring which can be hazardous if done incorrectly. If you want electrical wired lighting it is recommended that you use a professional electrician. Solar lights need to be placed in sunny area so the sun can power the batteries during the day and efficiently light up the yard at night. Solar lights are easy and make great lighting for walkways, or flowerbed accent lighting.

Outdoor Walkway & Pathway Lights

Walkway lighting is strongly encouraged as it helps provide enough light to navigate during night time hours. Not only do walkway lights make it safer at night, but they also look great and inviting while enhancing curbside appeal. You can also add lights around patios, decks, and around pools; again making it safer to navigate around. Pathways are also a great place to add landscape lights and help improve safety.

Up Lighting & Exterior Accent Lights

Landscape lighting is also a great way to enhance certain features such as water fountains, pools, hot tubs, decks, swings or gazebos. For those hang out areas, exterior light makes those areas more inviting. For those who want a place to relax and hang out with friends and family, landscape lighting becomes essential.

Curbside Appeal

When you have a beautiful yard with amazing landscaping, why no show it off even at night? The right landscape lighting can help enhance certain features at night and even increase the value of your home. If you want to boost the look of your yard, make sure to use lights to help accent landscaping features.

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Landscape lighting can do so much in improving safety, security and enhancing the beauty of your yard. If you need help adding landscape lighting on your property, contact Sentry Electric. We provide landscape lighting services and can help design the prefect landscape lighting system for your yard. Contact Sentry Electric for all of your electrical needs today.