LED Light Bulbs

Perhaps the easiest thing you can do is upgrading your light fixtures with LED light bulbs. Unlike incandescent light bulbs, LEDs are manufactured with energy-efficient diode lights that use 75 percent less energy than filament lights. That’s a really big difference — one you will see on your next monthly bill. 

Smart Thermostat

More and more homes have upgraded to smart thermostats not only for increased comfort but for increased savings as well.

Smart thermostats allow homeowners to program the HVAC system around their daily schedule and control the thermostat remotely, giving them more control over their heating and cooling. Additionally, they provide monthly energy reports that you can study to find areas of improvement. 

Smart Outlets

How many devices in your home are currently plugged in but not being used? On average, U.S. households waste about $165 every year on standby power. That may not seem like a significant amount, but why give it to your electricity provider when you could just as easily pocket it for yourself?

With smart outlets, you can eliminate unnecessary energy consumption and annoying outlet repairs!

Electrical Panel

High-Quality Surge Protectors

Unexpected blackouts can happen anywhere, even in our beautiful town of Little Rock, AR, or the surrounding areas. And, while waiting for the electricity to come back on is somewhat of a nuisance, the subsequent power surge is what’s really dangerous for your electrical appliances — and, therefore, your wallet. A high-quality surge protector can protect your major home appliances and favorite devices from getting fried. 

Trust us, it’s much better to splurge on a $50 surge protector than a $500 TV replacement.

Energy-Efficient HVAC System

This isn’t an electrical upgrade per se… until you realize that heating and cooling make up almost half of your electricity bill! 

Outdated or neglected HVAC systems utilize more energy to deliver the same amount of warm or cool air throughout the home. Therefore, you find yourself paying more and more for utilities while your comfort level remains stagnant. After a while, this can take quite a toll on your bank account. 

A new HVAC system, while an investment, can help homeowners save thousands a year on monthly electricity bills. The best system for your home — one that is sized correctly and has a high SEER rating — will actually pay for itself in no time at all.

Are you ready to start saving in the new year? We’re happy to help! Contact Staley Electric, the Best Electrician in Central Arkansas, for all your residential electrical service needs!

What Is “True” Home Automation? 

Although their capabilities can be mind-blowing and offer an excellent level of convenience to the user, these systems encompass a lot. Due to their complexity, it is not something that the average homeowner should be tampering with or attempting to DIY. In the Little Rock, Arkansas area, our team is one of the best, most trusted groups of electricians here to meet your needs.  

Picking The Right System 

There’s a handful of options on the market, but the whole point of having a smart home is to make your life easier. Therefore, be sure you pick out smart devices that best suit your needs and will work well for you and anyone else living in your home.  

Benefits of Hiring An Electrician

Changing or upgrading anything electrical is a job best left to the professionals. Not only can they work more efficiently than someone who is trying to research what each step entails and get the basics of electrical work understood, but they can do the job safely. 

While the professional is in your home, they can evaluate your current electrical system and see if it needs any repairs prior to installing the new system. Installation becomes a lot easier when you leave it to a skilled electrician who can recognize your home electrical wiring and the requirements of the total or true home automation system. Here in Little Rock, AR, Staley Electric has skilled electricians able to help with installation and more! Contact us today! 

With that said, there are several things you can do on your own to check for electrical safety. Here are some of our top suggestions to implement within your home.  

Inspect Your Cords & Plugs 

In order to prevent electrocution, electrical fires, and other safety hazards, it is best to check your cords and plugs regularly. This includes ensuring there are no frays or exposed wiring where there should not be. Any signs of damage are a red flag and should not go ignored. If damaged, it is best to replace them with new ones that work with your electrical wiring. 

Note: Ensure all cords do not pose a threat as a tripping hazard.  

Address The Clutter

Your extension cords and power strips should not be overworked. Try not plug too many items into one strip, but rather split up how many items are plugged into each extension cord within the room. That way, you can effectively reduce the chances of a fire hazard, and it does not compromise the integrity of your electrical wiring throughout the home.  

Tangled cords are another cause for safety concerns. When this happens, it can weaken the equipment, lead to damaged or frayed cords, and ultimately, a possible fire hazard. The best thing to do is to have cords neatly organized with appropriate clips or ties, so they are out of the way and can not intermingle with one another.  

Misplaced Cords

Sometimes, the outlets may not be laid out in the most suitable places for your appliances. Certainly, extension cords provide a temporary alternative solution, but it is not recommended to use them long-term. If you have inconveniently located electrical outlets, having a licensed electrician come out is a great idea! An electrician can review your home’s electrical wiring and offer upgrade opportunities. For the Little Rock, Arkansas area, our team has you covered! 

Professional Assistance

Whether you begin experiencing issues with your electrical system as a whole or have a particular concern, Staley Electric is here to help. Not only do we offer our electrical repair and replacement services, but generator installation is available too in Little Rock, AR. For more information, contact us today!

Here, we’ll take a look at a few steps you can take to prepare for tornado season. 

Plan Accordingly 

Before a tornado is headed your way, develop a thorough plan to keep yourself and your family safe. You’ll also want to minimize the risk of injury should the tornado hit your home or the surrounding areas.

Power Up Electronics & Essentials

If the tornado has already hit, you’ll probably be without power and need alternative light sources. That’s when having access to functional flashlights is most important in order to lengthen the lifespan of your mobile devices; while they may be another means of illumination, it is best to save the battery power for necessary communication only when storms hit your area. 

A flashlight should be available to each person in the home, so when you know a storm is coming your way, stock up on batteries. Go the extra mile, and replace the batteries in the flashlights with the new ones if the old ones might be old and worn out. That way, you have maximum light in the case of an emergency, and you’re not caught fumbling around for the batteries while trying to fit them into each flashlight. 

Prep The Home

Besides preparing for the loss of light, you should consider the very surmountable threats that come with tornadoes: flying debris. The most important thing to remember is that any entry area, such as windows and doors, could be quite hazardous during a storm. 

Ensure all entryways are closed throughout the home to diminish the danger associated with these spots. If, for some reason, you cannot close windows, cover them with plywood. 

Install Backup Power

When you’re frequently concerned about power outages in your area, generator installation can make all the difference for you and your family. A generator can provide electricity to your home, so you can safely navigate throughout the space, stay connected in case of an emergency, and keep your family fueled with food and water. 
With that said, connecting with a trusted, reliable generator dealer like us will provide you with quality service and home protection. Contact Staley today to discuss generator installation or maintenance options!

Some Simple But Effective Tips for You and Your Family to Avoid Fire and Shock

• Routinely check and replace damaged cords and plugs.
• Don’t run electrical cords under carpets or rugs.
• Call an electrician for flickering, non-functional, and sparking lights and outlets.
• “Look up and live” to avoid contact with overhead power lines, including the one to your home.
• If you’re using extension cords and overloaded power strips long-term, get more outlets installed instead.

A Few Advanced Tips

1. Be careful with spills and broken devices. You can find a few sources of thousands or even tens of thousands of volts in a typical home.

Older televisions (as much as 20 to 50,000 Volts) and microwave ovens (about 2,000 Volts), for example. use higher voltages than you might expect to find around your home. Interlocks prevent exposure to high voltages under normal circumstances.

2. There’s a difference between electric shock from AC power, such as wall outlets, and DC, such as electric vehicle batteries or solar power installations.

DC voltage can cause muscle contraction, making it difficult to let go of the power source. AC voltage can cause the heart to fibrillate, requiring urgent medical attention. Let knowledgeable electricians with the right equipment handle your power.

3. Many homes require power outlet upgrades for safety reasons and electrical code compliance.

Six-foot spacing of outlets reduces the need for extension cords. New outlets also have a childproof design.

At Staley Electric, Our Work is Fairly Priced, and Our Safety Tips Are Free!

We are glad to help ensure that your home electrical service is safe and up-to-date. Many homes can benefit from an electrical panel upgrade, both to replace fuse boxes and to allow for expansion of your home’s circuits. Our expert electricians can perform many services that will make life more convenient for you, too, from adding new outlets and circuits to installing a whole home generator and transfer switch. Call us with your electrical questions and let experienced electricians take care of you.

The right lighting fixtures can do wonders and transform an ordinary home into a summertime oasis — all while increasing your security, home value, and, most importantly, peace of mind. 

But before you pull out blueprints or drive down to your local home improvement store, take a moment to consider the risks associate with a DIY job of this scale. Hanging string lights on the roof is one thing, but outfitting a large outdoor space with lighting for better surveillance and aesthetic value is a whole other thing. 

A professional electrician has the tools and experience to ensure your outdoor lighting is upgraded to your liking, in minimum time with maximum efficiency, and safely. Let’s take a look at how the pros do it best. 

Style and Technique for Outdoor Lighting

An outdoor lighting company provides more than electrical skill; there’s also the artistic aspect, somewhat like stage lighting. When the sun goes, down and the outdoor lights come on, you don’t want awkward crisscrossing long shadows from floodlights and path lighting that’s hard to follow. We can create lighting that provides full coverage and elegant effects, highlighting your home and outdoor features. 

Technical Design and Installation

Even an experienced homeowner who’s read the electrical code and has experience with wiring will likely miss some of the unique aspects of outdoor wiring that experience and training have taught us. Chances are you understand why you need GFCI outlets like those in your kitchen when you’re wiring outside, but how do you prepare for lightning strikes? Flooding? Vermin and insect damage? Unexpected digging? We have the knowledge and experience to design your system to last and be safe.

Long-Lasting Professional-Grade Fixtures and Wiring

We have access to equipment from our wholesalers that isn’t typically what home stores offer. This gives us the opportunity to do a better job for you — one that lasts longer and offers better security and aesthetic appeal.

Plan for Project Success by Hiring Staley Electric

Our insight and experience are something that isn’t available at the DIY store, and it’s a big part of the successful electrical projects we complete. We’ve been doing home and commercial wiring since 1951 and completing projects ranging from outdoor lighting and power to power panel upgrades and whole-home generator installation. Give us a call and find out how we can make your project a win for you and your family.

When it comes to determining which light bulb to use, most modern needs come down to weighing the pros and cons of LED lighting vs. fluorescent lighting. You’re most likely familiar with fluorescent lighting, which has been around for a while and was widely used in the past. But recent advances have made LED technology more affordable than ever, prompting homeowners to consider upgrading. 

The reduced cost of LED lights has been very advantageous for the industry since LED light bulbs come with many benefits that make them the go-to choice for AR electric contractors.

Here are a few of the characteristics that give LED lights an edge in the great debate between LED lighting vs. fluorescent lighting:

They’re More Energy Efficient

LED lighting was designed to use less power without sacrificing light output. In some cases, they can be as much as thirty percent more efficient in reviews between LED lighting vs. fluorescent lighting because each bulb requires less wattage to run. Part of this comes from how LED lighting is designed since it emits light directly from the power draws rather than converting it first into heat that emits the light after.

They Don’t Impact Air Conditioning

LED lights can be especially beneficial during the summertime when you’re running the air conditioner since they don’t emit heat the same way that incandescent bulbs might. Due to the efficient use of energy of LED lighting vs. fluorescent lighting, your air conditioning unit won’t have to compensate for the added heat from the light bulb to keep your home cool. 

Between the reduced wattage of the light bulb itself and the decreased work required by the air conditioner, you’ll end up saving significantly on your utility bills over the summer months.

It’s Greener

LED lighting saves energy compared to traditional tub lighting, which alone makes it a greener technology that can reduce your carbon footprint. However, LED light bulbs also have the benefit of being produced without mercury, making them significantly easier to recycle. This means it has a more negligible impact on the environment, given that it lacks the same degree of toxicity that older light bulbs have.

To find out more about the benefits of  LED lighting, or schedule a consultation for landscape lighting services in Little Rock, call the Staley Electric team today!

However, it’s essential to keep safety in mind when preparing to string up holiday lights. If you’re wondering if Christmas lights are a fire hazard, the answer is yes. While these beautiful indoor and outdoor lights can add a bit of much-needed cheer to the holiday season, they can also cause home fires, electric shocks, and nasty cuts.

Follow these five holiday light safety tips to keep you and your family merry—and safe—this season.

Give Your Lights a Thorough Check

If you’ve been waiting all year for the holidays, you’re probably eager to unpack those lights and get to stringing. Before you go wild decking the halls, don’t forget to test and check your lights. During your inspection, keep a lookout for loose or frayed wires, cracked sockets, wires jabbing through the insulation, or missing insulation altogether.

When you see lights that are damaged or need replacing, the best thing to do is purchase new sets. Seeing as damaged Christmas lights are a fire hazard, you can easily find reliable lights at a home improvement store. The investment could save you from experiencing electric shock or a fire that causes severe property damage.

Invest in High-Quality Lights

Don’t settle for the cheapest lights you can find—even if they happen to be especially pretty. When purchasing new lights, look for:

• LED lights with epoxy lenses
• No loose connectors
• Built-in timers
• Fuses at the plugs
• Sets with 22-gauge wiring (minimum)

If you’re eager to up your safety this holiday, consider LED lights. LED lights are cool to the touch compared to incandescent lights and can even help you waste less energy.

UL Safety Certification

Look for holiday lighting that boasts a UL Safety Certification. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent product safety certification organization recognized globally for setting safety standards. When you see the UL certification, you know that these types of lights meet certain specifications for safety.

Follow the Labels on Your Lights

Ensure that the lights you’re using are designed for their location. Whether you’re stringing lights outdoors or indoors as tree lights—or both—remember not to mix them up. This is an essential holiday light safety tip since indoor lights can never be outdoors!

Indoor lights aren’t insulted like their outdoor counterparts, which means they can quickly become a hazard when coming in contact with snow, rain, or any moisture.

Don’t Overload Your Extension Cords & Circuits

Many manufacturers highly advise plugging only up to three sets of holiday lights into one extension cord. Otherwise, you can risk overheating and causing a fire. Additionally, manufacturers recommend stringing no more than three strands of incandescent lights together to avoid overheating.

Your home’s holiday lighting and electrical system go hand in hand, so it’s crucial to keep holiday light safety tips such as these in mind.

Connect Outdoor Lights to GFCI Outlets

Another holiday light safety tip is to use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupting (GFCI) outlets when stringing up the outdoor lights to make your home’s exterior shine. These outlets are specific for outdoor lights, and if your lights happen to overload, the outlet will cut the power before your home’s breaker trips.

Since Christmas lights are a fire hazard, you want to take extra precautions wherever you can. When you use GFCI outlets, you can further safeguard yourself against electric shock and other dangers.

The Season For Safety & Joy

When the holidays come along, it can be easy to focus only on the merry and bright offerings of the season. Nonetheless, it’s vital to keep these holiday light safety tips in mind and keep you and your family safe throughout the holidays. Christmas lights are a fire hazard, so it’s never a bad idea to be overly cautious about fire and electrical safety.

If you have any electrical issues in your home that need fixing, Staley Electric services all residential electrical needs in North Little Rock, AR. From replacing a bad outlet to replacing electrical panels, we can help ensure your home is up and running to ensure a safe and joyful holiday. Call us today to see what our electricians can do to help boost your holiday light safety!

Portable and standby generators are the most common types of generators for homeowners. However, what are the benefits of standby vs. portable generators?

Let’s review the pros and cons of both. After that, we’ll help you understand which generator is best for you.

Installation

When deciding on the best standby generator for home use, it’s essential to consider the installation process. Licensed electricians permanently install a home standby generator outdoors. Standby generators are also built with insulated weatherproof housing, which reduces noise.

Staley Electric has installed many backup generators in Little Rock, AR, and the immediate area. Give us a call for generator options and installation today.

On the other hand, portable generators require no installation. Since portables aren’t stationary, you’ll have to ensure you have a place to store the generator properly.

User-Friendliness

Standby vs. portable generators: which models are more user-friendly? For the most part, standby generators are stress-free to use. Standby models always turn on automatically, so you don’t have to worry about powering your home when the power goes out.

Portable generators aren’t as simple. To start a portable generator, you’ll need to fire it up with a pull cord every time. These models also need to be wheeled out of storage, then connected to an automatic transfer switch in order to be used during a power outage. 

Note: Portable generators cannot be connected directly to your home’s power supply!

Fuel Type

Standby and portable models vary significantly in the fuel they use. Standby generators run on liquid propane or natural gas. With a whole-house propane tank, a standby model can typically operate for days or weeks on end without needing to be refueled.

On the other hand, a portable generator runs on gasoline and needs to be refueled often. It’s also worth noting that these types of generators require large amounts of fuel mixed with fuel stabilizer during an extended power outage.

Size

So, which is the best standby generator for home use? When deciding which size generator is best for you, it’s vital to consider the size of your home and the appliances you’d like to power.

Standby generators are often sized to provide backup power to an entire house. They can power lights, refrigerators, and even water heaters. Standbys can also power wattage appliances such as your AC unit and electric stove.

However, portable generators can only power select items. These items need to be plugged into extension cords, which will also have to be plugged into the generator.

You might think that having a large generator is the best way to go, but you should consider which generator will meet your needs while also cutting down on the amount of fuel you would need to keep stored.

Price Ranges

When considering the benefits of standby vs. portable generators, your thoughts probably wander to your wallet. How much do generators even cost?

It’s important to note that standby generators tend to be pricier than portables. The cost of a standby generator can range from $8,000 to $12,000. Don’t forget that you have to factor in the installation costs on top of that.

When deciding which model is the best standby generator for home use, it’s worth considering these costs, as well as the overall expense of fuel.

On average, portable generators cost between $400 and $1,500. Since portables don’t require installation, there’s no need to worry about expenses for installation fees.

Standby vs. Portable Generators

Certain generators have safety features that can reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Some new models include a built-in sensor that triggers the generator to immediately shut off if carbon monoxide is detected at dangerous levels.

Additionally, professional consultation is crucial in determining which size generator is best suited for your home. If you’re still trying to decide on the best standby generator for home use, electricians can size a generator to make sure it properly fits your home and needs.

The electricians at Staley Electric can help. Staley Electric is an authorized Kohler dealer servicing Little Rock, AR, and the surrounding areas. Contact us with any questions!

Many electrical systems experience the same three problems that can cause a tripped circuit breaker. In this blog, we’ll discuss these three common causes to help you finally answer why the circuit breaker keeps tripping.

Why Do Circuit Breakers Trip?

Before diving into what causes circuit breakers to trip, it’s essential to understand why. Your home’s circuit breaker is a safety mechanism that shuts off the flow of electricity at individual circuits whenever it detects a fault. When your circuit breaker trips, you’ll need to locate your electrical panel or fuse box to reset the breaker.

While a tripped breaker can feel inconvenient, it’s worth noting that your circuit breaker protects your electrical circuits—and, essentially, your home. Without circuit breakers or fuses, our homes would be more susceptible to electrical fires and other potentially harmful accidents.

Let’s dive into common reasons that could explain why your circuit breaker is tripping frequently.

1. Circuit Overload

The most common reason for a frequently-tripping circuit breaker is a circuit overload. An overloaded circuit occurs when an electrical wire or circuit receives more electrical current (or amperage) than it can withstand. A circuit overload can also happen due to loose connections or corroded wires.

Testing For Circuit Overload

It can take trial and error to know if you have an overloaded circuit. When your circuit trips, unplug and turn off the switches to all appliances or devices in the area where the circuit tripped. After resetting the breaker, plug the devices back in one at a time and turn on the switches. An overloaded circuit is likely to blame if the breaker trips before you plug in all your devices. You may want to try replugging your devices in a different order to know what caused the overload.

2. Short Circuit

If you checked for an overloaded circuit, you might still be asking in frustration why the circuit breaker keeps tripping. If so, a short circuit could be to blame.

Short circuits occur when active electrical wires touch neutral wires. When an electrical short happens, a large amount of electricity surges through the wires, causing your circuit breaker to trip. Active and neutral wires can touch if the wires are damaged or loose.

How do you test for a short circuit? Unplug all of the appliances and devices in the affected area. If your circuit trips after plugging in a certain appliance, there may be a short in its wiring. Steer clear from that specific appliance until it has been repaired or replaced, as short circuits can lead to electrical shock.

3. Ground Fault

If you’re still wondering why your circuit breaker is tripping frequently, the problem may be a ground fault. A ground fault can occur when active or hot wires touch ground wires, a rounded portion of the junction box, or a grounded part of a specific appliance. Ground faults can also occur if water from a leak or pipe winds up in a switch box or one of your outlets. When a ground fault happens, there is a surge in electricity—and, of course, your circuit breaker will trip.

Ground faults used to be a significant cause of electrocution. However, ground fault circuit interrupters (or GFCIs) have fortunately helped prevent this problem from occurring. In the event of a ground fault, a GFCI will immediately shut off your electrical power.

Call in Professional Assistance

After troubleshooting, you may still be asking, “Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping?” If this is the case, it’s time to give the experts at Staley Electric a call. Whether you have a broken circuit breaker or are experiencing a short circuit, overloaded circuit, or ground fault, we’re here to help. We’ll get your frequently-tripping circuit breaker back to normal operation in no time.