Before the temperatures dip, you’ll want to make sure your electric system can handle everything you throw at it this winter, from your holiday decorations to heated waterers for your livestock.
Electrician Aaron Robarge with All Comfort Services says electricity usage surges in the winter for homes and farms. He says consider calling a professional to make sure your farm and home’s electric system is up-to-date and safe.
“Nine times out of 10, a homeowner is going to be able to tell that there’s an issue because you will have flickering lights or something like that with your home’s electrical system,” he says.
Robarge says when an electrician comes out, they’re looking at your ground fault protection around electricity that’s outside or near water. And they’re also checking the age of your system. For example, he says fuses are a sign of outdated electrical systems, sometimes not even covered by insurance.
As rodents look for a warm place to overwinter, they might be living rent-free in your home. Unfortunately, electrical wires make a good midnight snack for a mouse.
“We’ve done quite a few house rewires that unfortunately, some sort of animal got into the attack,” he says. “If you’re not watching for that thing, it’ll happen while you’re sleeping… and the next morning, your lights don’t work.”
Robarge recommends having an electrician come out and take a look at your home every other year. In the meantime, farms and homeowners welcome cost savings. He says an easy way to reduce the electric bill is to swap your lighting for an LED option.
Renewable energy is gaining popularity, as well. While expensive on the front end, producers can see a return on investment from solar and wind energy projects within a decade, Robarge says.
And finally, he says to pay attention to the heat sources you have plugged in to avoid using energy when you don’t need to. For example, unplug the heated water bucket in 50-degree weather.
