Luckily, this man saved his mother's life, but AFCIs could have prevented the fire completely! http://ping.fm/uCHDo

Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season!

Now Hiring!
Part-time Customer Contact Specialist/Administrative Assistant:
Hours: Afternoon/early evening hours with some scheduling flexibility available.
Apply Online: http://ping.fm/OXmGQ

Now Hiring!
Part-time Customer Contact Specialist/Administrative Assistant:
Hours: Afternoon/early evening hours with some scheduling flexibility available.

Find out more about AFCI circuit breakers and other electrical safety information: http://ping.fm/A7uoK

AFCI circuit breakers would probably have prevented this fire in Highland, Indiana. http://ping.fm/emAvp

AFCI circuit breakers probably would have prevented this fire in Highland, Indiana. http://ping.fm/upDPN

Happy Veteran's Day! We appreciate you! Did you know that we offer a 5% Military-Veteran discount off any completed work?

For the kids: Let them enjoy our online coloring activity with Willie the Wiring Wizard as often as you want. http://ping.fm/2XlbV

My vote counted! If you haven't already voted today, make sure you do! Every vote counts!

Make sure you know how to prevent electrical fires in your home. http://ping.fm/jX3hE

Do you have a friend or loved one who is hearing impaired or deaf. Indiana is giving away smoke alarms designed for the hearing impaired http://ping.fm/EwCh5

Home Improvement Books Recalled by Oxmoor House Due to Faulty Wiring Instructions; Shock and Fire Hazards to Consumers. http://ping.fm/4m4Wx

Now Hiring! Apply here: http://ping.fm/llOez

Now Hiring for Electrician/Apprentice. Apply here: http://ping.fm/CEB9b

Close call shows why a tripped breaker is more than just a nuisance! http://ping.fm/ZI3t6

It's Fire Prevention Week, so let's Prevent Fires! Here's how: http://ping.fm/MTQKf

Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With! Smoke alarm safety tips: http://ping.fm/zOJPS

IT’S A FACT:
If your smoke alarm was installed before
September 30, 2000, it needs to be replaced.
http://ping.fm/ow8s4

We're helping the Town of North Judson become more energyefficient. We can help you too. NWI

Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing, and fun filled Labor Day Weekend!

If you live/play near lakes/marinas/boats, then you need to educate yourself about this. It's happens too often. " - http://bit.ly/c9xB6o

Another example of the need for AFCI Breakers and Working Smoke Detectors. The home owner was luckier than 3 of his dogs http://ping.fm/cVzgg

Arc Fault Circuit Breakers (http://ping.fm/kqVeY) probably would have prevented this fire: http://ping.fm/Ni95q

Is your house wired for fire? Better read this Consumer Reports article http://ping.fm/HkPBO

Stay and Play: Save money by using your vacation to explore your hometown.

With spring comes vacation season for many families and over the last few years a new vacation phenomenon has come on the scene: The staycation. Largely motivated by the sluggish economy of recent years, the staycation cuts down on travel costs by spending vacation time at or near home. This may sound like a scary concept: There’s no chance the kids will go for it, or you’re sure to get bored sitting around the house. On the other hand, consider yourself lucky you don’t have to go miles and miles to enjoy everything our area and your very own home has to offer. Here are just a few activities you can plan to make your staycation a memorable one.

1. Camp in your backyard.
You’ll be surprised by the sense of escape you get just from spending a night in your backyard. I mean how many times have you slept in your
yard? Not many probably, it’s pretty different. There are tons of things you can do that you can’t in your house like having a bonfire, stargazing,and, quite simply, unplugging from the world. Not to mention, you’ll be amazed what you can cook on a stick or in a can.

2. Host a party.
When else will you have the time to plan and prepare for a bash that does yourself and your home justice? Take the time you have off to get all the bells, whistles, and ingredients for delicious food and drinks.

3. Take a day trip.
Visit that park, historical site, or downtown area that just can’t be squeezed in to a weekend. A lot of fun and relaxation can be achieved in a day. This is your chance to get out of your workand-errand bubble and see just what’s out there.

4. Enrich your whole year.
If you’ve saved up vacation money and then decided to stay home, you are sitting on a goldmine waiting to be spent on items that will better your life. You could buy a cappuccino machine, a foot massager, a monthly maid service, a gym membership, patio furniture, an outdoor grill, a mountain bike or a whirlpool tub. This way, instead of one week of relaxation and better living, you can make it last all year.

5. House swap.
Ask around and see if any of your friends would be willing to do a house-swap with you for aweek or two. You might be surprised at the new restaurants and activities you will discover with a little change of
scenery.

6. Give your home a checkup.
Typically you are rushed when deciding to make an improvement to your
home. During a staycation you’ll have the time to adequately understand your options, decide what’s right for you and enjoy the upgrade. Amps & Volts Electric wants to help you make the most of your staycation. This spring, we are offering you a FREE inspection of your electrical system. Most people don’t think much if a breaker trips or lights dim. But that could be the sign of a bigger problem. It’s recommended to have your entire system evaluated every year to reduce the chances of fire. Give us a call at 877-700-3873 and mention this newsletter. Staycation or not, we’ll come out and inspect your home for free (within our standard Northwest Indiana service area)!

May Electrical Safety Month!

May is National Electrical Safety Month! Get a free Electrical Home Safety Checklist so you can protect your home and family http://ping.fm/YYbyR

How to Check Your Circuit Breaker

Checking Your Circuit Breaker


What do you do when you've lost electricity to an area/room of your home?

Items you may need: flashlight
Go to your breaker box and open the door. Read through the labels to try to find one labeled for the area you have lost power. Once located, grip the breaker switch handle with your left hand and while looking away from the panel, flip it to the off position and then back on again. If it will not stay in the on position, do not attempt to reset it again--call a qualified electrician. Check to see if electricity has been restored to the area that was out. If not, call a qualified electrician to look at your problem.

NOTE: If your circuit breaker box is not labeled, you need to get it labeled. Not only will it be more difficult for you to find the correct breaker to check in this situation, but code requires that it be labeled for your safety and the safety of emergency personnel in a situation such as a fire, electrical shock/electrocution, or natural disaster.

If your circuit breaker panel is not labeled, then look at each breaker starting at the top and working your way down to see if one of them appears to be in a different position. Circuit breakers either have 2 positions (on and off/tripped) or 3 positions (on, off, and tripped--or center). If you find one that appears to be in a different position, then flip it to the off position and back to the on position as described above. Check to see if electricity has been restored to the area that was out. If it is restored, then write in the area of your home that this circuit breaker feeds. If this did not restore your electricity or if you cannot see any one circuit breaker that appears to be in a different position, then you can try to reset all of the breakers in your panel one at a time following the same procedure described in the paragraph above. Once you try to reset all of the breakers, check to see if electricity was restored. If not, call a qualified electrician to look at your problem.

If a circuit breaker continues to trip, you may be overloading the circuit with more appliances/electrical items than it can handle, or you may have a more serious electrical problem that could pose a fire, shock, or electrocution hazard in your home, so have a qualified electrician evaluate the situation.

Upcoming Topics to watch for:

• Have an old circuit breaker or fuse box? How can you tell that it's safe?
• Tips for choosing a qualified electrical repair company/electrician
• Knob & Tube Wiring: What you need to know.
• Aluminum Wiring: What you need to know.
• Tamper Resistant Receptacles: The newest devices to protect children from shock/electrocution.
• AFCI Breakers: What are they and why do I need them?

To learn more, you can also visit the Learning Center at www.AmpsElectric.com