Safety

Fuse Box & Circuit Breaker Safety Tips

Posted February 20, 2019 by Vernon Trollinger

Getting to Know Your Fuse Box and Safety Tips | Direct Energy Blog

Most homeowners don’t think too much about their fuse boxes until they want to install an outlet, ceiling fan, or light fixture, or one of the fuses blows. While it’s good to have your fuse box checked out by a licensed electrician once in a while, it’s also good to have a working knowledge of just how the thing does its job. You don’t need to know how to wire a fuse box to understand the basics of how it works. Besides, getting to know your fuse box might save you some money down the road. And it’s always smart to sort your circuits so you’ll know what breaker switch controls what. READ MORE

How to Prevent Overloading Your Circuits with Holiday Decorations

Posted December 4, 2018 by Aaron Kase

Nothing invokes cheery holiday spirit better than a brilliant light display, inside and out. On the other hand, nothing brings winter revelry to an abrupt halt like the power suddenly going off in a room, causing the lights, music and other electric-powered accessories to unexpectedly wink out. READ MORE

Safety Tips for Installing Your Indoor & Outdoor Christmas Lights

Posted December 2, 2018 by Aaron Kase

Safety Tips for Installing Your Christmas Lights | Direct Energy Blog

Holiday lighting arrangements are great when setting the mood for the Christmas season, but they can also put your home at risk if you aren’t cautious about how you lay out your illuminating displays. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments responded to an average of 170 home fires per year caused by Christmas trees between 2012 and 2016, 43 percent of which were started by electrical distribution or lighting equipment. These tree fires resulted in an annual average of 4 deaths, 15 injuries and $12 million in property damage. And while outdoor lights are generally not strung along anything quite as combustible as a Christmas tree, they can still pose a risk if you use damaged equipment or overload your circuits, so outdoor holiday light safety is another factor to take into account when planning your seasonal decorations. READ MORE

How to Organize and Protect Your Cords and Cables

Posted September 6, 2018 by Josh Crank

Welcome to the Take Charge of Your Home series from Direct Energy! Hiring a professional to perform household maintenance may offer convenience and peace of mind. You can do many of these jobs yourself with no experience or special tools. In the process, you’ll save money, learn about how your home works and gain a sense of accomplishment. A DIY task done well! READ MORE

Winter Heating & Electrical Safety Checklist

Posted February 2, 2018 by Vernon Trollinger

While holiday lights might be now be safely packed away, wintertime cold remains. With many homeowners relying on space heaters and other kinds of electric heating devices to make their homes comfortable, it’s important to state alert to problems with these that can result in injury or even tragic house fires. To help you safely enjoy being comfortable this winter, we’ve put together our Electrical Safety Checklist For Winter. READ MORE

How to Prevent & Thaw Frozen Water Pipes

Posted January 30, 2018 by Josh Crank

How to Prevent and Thaw Frozen Pipes | Direct Energy Blog

The first weeks of 2018 brought winter storms and freezing temperatures to parts of the Southern U.S. that rarely see ice, forcing the closure of schools and highways across the region. But the deep freeze also wreaked havoc inside people’s homes by freezing the water inside plumbing pipes, causing them to burst. READ MORE