Fire Prevention Week 2022 – The Importance of Having a Fire Safety Plan 

National Fire Prevention Week 2022 is the week of October 9-15! Since 1922, the National Fire Prevention Agency has celebrated this special week.  For the one-hundredth anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week, the 2022 NFPA slogan is, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape,” to remind you about the simple but important things you can do to keep yourself and those around you safe in the event of a home fire.  A home escape plan is perhaps the best fire safety...

How to Know If I Need an Electrical Panel Replacement

Knowing if it is time for an electrical panel replacement is not as easy as it seems, but there can be a few indicators that it might be time to check it out. But first, let's cover the basics of electrical panels. An electrical panel, also known as a circuit breaker box or an electrical box, is a metal box that contains your home's circuit breaker switches. The switches can turn off or "trip" when a power surge is detected,...

Why is my GFCI outlet not working?

Ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, can cut power to the entire outlet in certain circumstances. They are most often in locations like hallways, bedrooms, and kitchens. GFCIs monitor the level of electricity traveling through a circuit. If too much power comes through, the GFCI shuts the circuit off. They are designed to respond to quick, high-voltage surges. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters, inversely, respond to sustained, low-voltage surges.  GFCIs are often placed in kitchens and bathrooms. These are places with...

All About Your Home’s Circuit Breaker Panel

A circuit breaker box panel is a box that holds all of your home's electrical breaker switches.  You know, that magical plot device that heroes in movies need to get to escape trouble or break into an impenetrable fortress?  From Samuel L. Jackson's famous "Hold onto your Butts" line in Jurassic Park to cutting power in Vegas in Ocean's Eleven, it seems the circuit breaker panel is an all-powerful tool to fix whatever problem you have. In terms of everyday...

Outdoor House Lights Guide: 6 Points to Consider

Outdoor house lights are a great way to make your home more aesthetically pleasing. You can use outdoor house lights to illuminate walkways. You could also use them in your backyard for events or make them motion-detectable for safety purposes. Outdoor house lights come in many unique styles. From string lights to motion detection to wide-range lamps and ground-level path lights, you can find a set of outdoor house lights for any situation. But is it good to leave outdoor...

Electrical Safety for Kids: National Electrical Safety Month

How to Teach Your Kids About Electrical Safety It's May. The weather is warming up. The school year is ending. And kids are going to be home much longer than usual. For a parent, it's great to have your kids back for the summer. But this time can present some hazards for your little ones, and that is why electrical safety for kids is so important. May is also National Electrical Safety Month in Houston and the US. Here at...

9 Tips to Save Money on Your Electric Bill in Houston

If you are looking for ways to save money on your electric bill, we got you covered. Nothing eats into your budget quite like a hefty electric bill. However, your electric bill is the easiest utility to save on! Here at Mister Sparky Houston, we’ve identified some key methods you can use to save money on your electric bill in Houston, TX, this year. Contents 9 Ceiling Fans 8 Electrical Wiring 7 Whole-House Surge Protector 6 LED Lightbulbs 5 Insulation...

Whole-Home Surge Protection – National Electrical Code 2022 (Houston)

Almost everyone has faced the problem of electrical shocks through home appliances at one time or another. New electronic devices are hitting the market every passing day, which means that standard circuits may not handle all this electricity. For example, suppose there were five computers and six lamps in a room. In that case, it might overload the circuit breaker due to too much electricity consumption. You can prevent this by installing whole house surge protection - national electrical code....

What to Know About Lighting Installations

Whether it's natural or accent, good Lighting Installations can completely change the feeling of your home. Today, we're sharing some of our favorite tips for lighting in your home to create an ambiance day and night. Contents Home Lighting Installations Hire a Professional to do Your Installations How Much Does Lighting Installation Cost? Types of Lighting Installations   Home Lighting Installations Installing light fixtures is a daunting task that might be disastrous for the home if not done correctly. After...

Mister Sparky Wins Pinnacle Award from Houston Better Business Bureau

We are proud to announce that Mister Sparky has received the Pinnacle Award from the Houston Better Business Bureau for 2021. The Pinnacle Award is the BBB's highest honor awarded to one company from each category. Receiving this award from our 2020 application is especially meaningful, as this was one of the most challenging years for businesses.  Every business faced new decisions and weighed the trade-offs of health and economic security. At Mister Sparky, we tried many new things to operate more...