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Happy Father’s Day to all of the incredible Dads who follow us and support our company. We couldn’t do it without you!

We hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day with family and friends. Never forget the reason for the holiday – freedom isn’t free.

With all the rain and flooding going on, we wanted to remind you of some Spring electrical safety tips. (Even though St. Louis weather sure feels like Summer when it isn’t raining!)

Check out our tips here: https://grasserelectric.com/spring-electrical-safety-tips/

Happy Easter to our cherished customers and friends. We hope you enjoyed the day with those you love.

Keep us in mind as we experience a wind advisory until midnight and possible severe storms pass through. More on possible storms here:

https://goo.gl/u8LRRU

Spring is here at that means the start of spring cleaning and getting your home and property back into shape. But before you do, there are several spring electrical safety tips you need to remember for the safety of you, your property, and others around you.

Keep Cords & Electrics Away From Water

It sounds like a tip that you would think everyone would follow, but you’d be surprised at how much damage just a little bit of electricity can do. According to OSHA, 5 workers are electrocuted each week while on the job. So when working outside and even your home, make sure that all electrics are dry and away from water. If a cord is in water, do not touch or attempt to move it until the power has been turned off.

This also means no electric mowers on wet grass!

Stay Away From Power Lines.

Power lines are extremely dangerous. That means keeping you, your family, tools, and toys like kites away from them whether they be up or downed because of a storm. If a power line has been downed, call the appropriate electric company immediately and keep everyone away. Do not even drive over it.

Inspect Electrics For Damage

Before you use electrical tools, use outlets you haven’t used all winter, or getting out cords, check them for damage before you use them. If they are broken, are discolored, or have frayed wires, pitch them at get new ones. This includes checking your fuse box to make sure the fuses haven’t become discolored or melted and replacing those fuses.

Know How To Handle An Emergency

Electrical emergencies like a days-long outage, electric shock, and electrical fires are something no one wants to deal with, but should be prepared for regardless. For example, if someone experiences electric shock, you should immediately call 911 and turn off the power, if possible. Knowing what to do could save a life while protecting yourself.

If you are remodeling or building a new commercial property, it is essential that you pick a commercial electrical contractor that can get the job done right. Here’s what you should always look for when determining which commercial electrical contractor is right for you:

Good Client Relationships

Does the commercial electrical contractor have good, respectful client relationships? You should be given references of past clients without hesitation so you can call and ask questions about the contractor’s reputation, quality of work, and professionalism.

If a contractor doesn’t want to provide you with references, steer clear of them. There is usually a reason why they won’t provide references, like disrespectful workers or a poor job.

Fully Licensed & Insured

Is that commercial electrical contractor licensed and insured? If not, find someone else. While commercial electrical contractors don’t require statewide licensing in Missouri, local governments will often require them.

Contractors also must be insured in order to protect everyone should an accident occurs. This shows that they are not only responsible, but maintaining their certifications and knowledge of safety codes. It will also protect you from being liable for workers compensation if someone is injured on the job.

Experienced Contractors

Experience matters. While you can find a good, reputable commercial electrical contractor that has only been in business for a few years, contractors that have been in the field for a long time tend to have more experience. Which means less mistakes and better customer service.

Detailed Quotes

Don’t take that quoted number at face value. What does that estimated amount cover? A reputable commercial electrical contractor will detail what each number on the estimate means and not leave you wondering or confused. If you have a question, ask the contractor and they should be more than happy to explain the quote to you.

While we all hope it never happens, electrical emergencies are can happen at any time, and people need to be prepared to handle them. Here are some common electrical emergencies and what you can do in case they occur.

Electrical Fires

One of the first rules of electrical fires is to never attempt to put them out with water, which conducts electricity and it can put you at risk for being shocked. Instead, use a Class C fire extinguisher, which is designed to put out electrical fires.

If the fire starts getting out of control, immediately call 911 and evacuate the home.

Wire Damage

Frayed wires, excessive heat around outlets or appliances, constantly resetting your circuit breakers or hearing noises coming from outlets are all signs that your home may have dangerous wire damage. Getting wire damage repaired as soon as possible will keep your home safer by preventing electrical fires and protecting your appliances.

Electricity Outage

Electrical outages can be an annoyance, and on an average day, many people don’t necessarily consider it an “emergency.” But when there are dangerous temperatures, extreme weather or important medical equipment in the home, electrical outages can quickly become dangerous.

The first thing you should do is report the outage to your power company and turn off all major appliances and lights. This will help the power company restore power faster and protect your home from power fluctuations.

Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed to hold in the cold air longer. Depending on how long the power is out, your food may need to be replaced.

When power has been restored to your home, slowly turn on your lights and appliances one at a time to prevent surges. Purchasing surge protectors can help protect your appliancesfrom overloads, and a standby generator can protect you during long outages.

Know What To Do In Cases Of Electric Shock

If someone touches a live wire and suffers from electric shock, the first thing to remember is not to touch them if they are still in contact with an active current. Doing so could result in you getting shocked as well.

If possible, turn off the power and avoid water. Move the person away from the current with a non-conductor, like a piece of wood or a rope. Check their breathing and heart rate, and call emergency medical services and the power company immediately.

Call A Professional Electrician

Your safety is our top priority. Experienced electricians here at Grasser Electric can be reached 24/7 to help you with a variety of electrical emergencies. We will also educate you about the electrical systems in your home and how to perform basic tasks, such as resetting your circuit breaker and shutting off the power in your home if needed.

Is the lighting at your business old and costing you money? Is dim lighting negatively affecting the moods and productivity of your employees? Then it may be time to consider retrofitting your business with energy efficient lighting to help save your business money and boost production in the workplace.

MAKE THE GREENER CHOICE & SAVE MONEY BY MAKING THE SWITCH

Making the switch to newer lighting by retrofitting your building is a smart decision for not only your employees and wallet, but the environment. When you make the switch to more sustainable lighting, your building will be consuming less energy and producing fewer emissions. There are even tax incentives and rebates available specifically designed to encourage businesses to retrofit their lighting that help offset some of the costs.

WELL-LIT BUILDINGS BOOST PRODUCTIVITY

When your business is well-lit, your employees will not only feel better and less fatigued at work, but they will also be more productive. To start, dim lights can cause headaches and eye strain, as well as make employees feel fatigued.

In addition, poor lighting can make the workplace unsafe since employees cannot properly see what they are doing, be it identifying who is coming into the building or watching for hazardous conditions, like a spill.

By retrofitting your lighting and even adding natural light, employees will see their work environment as a more positive place, boosting mood and productivity. It will also be safer since employees can more easily spot hazards.

LIGHTING RETROFITS AT GRASSER ELECTRIC

At Grasser Electric, we are proud to offer lighting retrofits and electrical additions for your business. We will not only retrofit your building, but also install new electrical additions and custom design your energy efficient lighting system.

We will always perform a complete inspection of your building and make recommendations based on our findings in order to bring you the most cost-efficient and reliable service possible.