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We've gotten very used to using the Internet. It's become a major part of our life. People are connected at work and at home. Most people can hardly picture what life was like before we had access to the information superhighway.

Of course, nearly everyone who uses the 'Net in their home is doing over the same system that we've used to receive our phone calls on or watch cable TV shows. But technology is finally catching up and it's becoming more and more affordable to have wiring installed in our homes that will allows to use the Internet at maximum capacity.

New homes are being built with this structure wiring, similar to our electrical wiring, that includes ethernet and high-quality coaxial cables. Old homes are being retrofitted, as well, so that everyone is able to have top performance options for their computers. A qualified low voltage electrician can install what you need, where you need it, and your home can be ready for the 21st century.

According to the Leviton Institute:

"How Structured Wiring Works

Structured wiring connects each room on a "direct run" of high capacity bundled cable to a central distribution box in the house, which manages and distributes voice, data, video and audio signals throughout the home. Homeowners have the flexibility to plug a computer, phone, fax machine, television or security camera into a wall jack in any room in the house without the messy tangle of wires running from room to room.

Networking Your Home

But that's just the beginning. With structured wiring, home networking becomes a breeze. Here are just some of the possibilities available to you:

• Link all computers in your home into one high-speed network, sharing files, printers, and scanners, and other hardware.


• Monitor the security system or check on the safety of family members in different parts of the house with remote cameras, accessible from any television or computer in the home.


• Have extra phone and data lines already built in, if future need arises.


• Play music in different rooms, controlled from a central location.


• Distribute video signals throughout the home.


• Store and distribute all the home's digital files (MP3, data, image and video files) on a home media server and view the output from the home's media player on any connected TV.
  

What's Next?

Before you decide to retrofit a structured wiring system for your house, consider these facts:

• Retrofitting structured wire into an existing home is not as easy as installing it in new one. Since retrofitting requires drilling holes and fishing wires behind walls, many homeowners only connect the rooms that benefit from it the most: the home office, home theatre or media room, and the kitchen.


• Surprisingly, retrofitting is often easier in homes 50-55 years or older because they generally have more space behind walls, ceilings, and floors than newer ones.
  

• More space makes routing easier.


• The bigger the remodeling job, the easier the retrofit. With other construction and wiring under way, adding structured wiring is both easier and less of a disruption.


• Structured wiring makes an effective "backbone" to combine with a wireless network.


• The value of the home will almost certainly increase."

If you need to find a quality low voltage electrician in your neighborhood, you can post your request with ConstructionDeal.com.

We'll help you find an expert to install structured wiring in your home. You'll receive calls from them, which saves you time. And you'll get multiple bids on your project, which saves you money. And you'll have the technology you want - which is everything that you want!

Labels: Electricians, Low Voltage Wiring, Technology Installations

If you've recently experienced any flooding conditions, you've probably already got a lot on your plate. But safety is always a major factor and water and electricity do not mix very well. If your home's electrical systems have gotten wet, due to a flood, it might be a good idea to find a local electrician to inspect your wiring and panel box.

Here's some information from the Toolbase Services:

"In the majority of cases, wiring will not need to be removed and replaced after a flood. However, before making that determination, a thorough inspection by a qualified electrician may be required. First, stand on a dry spot and use a dry wood stick to disconnect the main electrical switch and all circuits at the panel box. If there is no main switch, turn off all circuit breakers or remove all fuses.

Unplug all appliances that have been flooded. As soon as possible, remove all standing water from the structure, and dry out the interior as much as possible. Also, remove interior wallboard 12 inches above the maximum flood water height, remove any water-soaked insulation, and dry out wall cavities to preclude any water in the walls from continuing to soak into wiring and receptacles.

Then, have a qualified electrician do the following:

• Remove cover plates from all electrical outlets, receptacles, wall switches, and breaker or fuse boxes to inspect wiring and terminal connections.
  

• If the main box got wet, clean and check it.
  

• Check switches and outlets and their boxes for mud and dirt, which can cause a short or overheating.
  

• If there is a lot of mud, dirt, or salt water corrosion in switches or outlets, replace them. Look for broken electrical fixtures or exposed wiring.
  

• Replace all dimmers and electronic implements such as ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI), and arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI). Smoke detectors and thermostats that were immersed should also be replaced.
  

• Check the condition of wires that go to each switch and outlet. Replace any fabric-covered wire. Any aluminum wiring that has been flooded by salt water should be replaced.
  

• Have a qualified service technician inspect water heaters, furnaces, heat pumps, air handlers, water softeners, and all appliances and HVAC equipment. In many cases all such items should be replaced.
  

• Flush out boxes with clean water or air pressure; dry out and spray with cleaner/lubricant.
  

• Check continuity and grounding of all circuits, and check for electrical shorts. Check to ensure that all terminal connections are tight.
  

• Turn on each circuit, replace each fuse one at a time, and test each circuit. Make sure all ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) are functioning.
  

• Test the operation of all smoke detectors and of the heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems."
  

If you've had a flood problem in your area, you can find an electrician to inspect your home with ConstructionDeal.com. We've got a complete network of master electricians to review and catch any problems your home might have.

It's the safest thing to do to protect yourself, your family, and your biggest investment. It's free to find a qualified pro on our site!

Labels: Electrical Inspection, Electricians

You're planning to remodel your kitchen. You've planned out everything - you've got the granite countertops picked out, the cherry cabinets are on order, and the latest stainless steel appliances have arrived. You've thought of everything...

Except one thing.

Your kitchen lighting plan. These days, the modern kitchen must have more that just utilitarian overhead lighting. Remember the bank of overhead fluorescent lights with the clear plastic diffusion tiles and they were just about the only light source in the kitchen?

Today, you need a lighting plan in your kitchen that will help with functionality as well as the beauty of the room. You need task lighting but you also need lights to add ambiance. Here are some ideas that you can discuss with your electrician to make sure that your new kitchen is perfect in every way and that all this perfection can be seen and enjoyed.

Start with Task Lighting
Make sure that the major work areas of your kitchen have plenty of available lighting. Most new kitchen schemes have lighting under the cabinets to highlight cutting surfaces, lights over the sink or range, and illumination over a kitchen island or stand-alone counter. Lights can be spaced under cabinets to light the work areas on the counters. Recessed or pendant lights can shine down on sinks and stovetops. For kitchen islands, recessed and pendant lighting is your best choice.

Next is Lighting Control
You need to make sure you and your electrician think about how you're going to turn your lighting scheme on and off. Consider placement at the entrance(s) to the kitchen. With modern technology, you have more than just the typical on-off switch. You can have a package of switch and light dimmers installed that will allow you to control the task, ambient, and accent lighting in the room. There can also be programmable settings that will give you pre-planned lighting looks, depending on your needs - full lighting for major food prep, an accent setting to highlight shadows and colors for a dinner party, and more. Not only can these lighting controls provide an aesthetic look, they can save money on energy and extend the life of the bulbs.

Add Accent Lighting
Accent lights can be overhead track lighting that spotlights the color of the kitchen cabinets, wall scones that can be dimmed down low, lighting within the kitchen cabinets that shines through a semi-transparent cabinet door, and recessed lights around the perimeter of the kitchen to show off the surface of the counters and the new floor.

For your lighting, you can go with the traditional incandescent bulbs or the stark fluorescent bulbs, but you might consider this an opportunity to add low voltage lighting or at least halogen bulbs to save even more energy in a room that is constantly being used and is the hub of most homes. By saving energy, you'll not only cut your electric bill but you'll also be helping to save the planet.

If you need to find an electrician or a low voltage lighting expert, you can post your job on ConstructionDeal.com - you'll have electrical pros calling you instead of having to call them at random. This will save you time. And do not get just one bid or talk to only one electrician - the more bids you have, the better your chances are of saving money and finding the right person for the job.

At ConstructionDeal.com, you get to choose how many electricians will call you so you'll know how many bids you'll be receiving. And it's fast, free, and easy to post your kitchen lighting project!

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Labels: Electircians, Electricians, Kitchen Lighting