Most homeowners are accustomed to paying high energy bills all year long. The electric bills are lower in the fall and winter, but gas bills predictably increase as we run our home heating. We don’t get to shop around for utility providers the way we can for other household expenses, and each time their costs increase, they pass them along to us in the form of higher energy bills. The only surefire way to lower your bills is to reduce consumption and eliminate waste.

If your home was built before the turn of the century, you probably identified numerous restoration projects before you made an offer. Older homes have a charm you’ll never find in a cookie-cutter subdivision, but safety standards were far less rigorous when those homes were built. Even a home constructed more recently typically needs some updating. When Underwriter’s Laboratories mandated three-prong plugs for all new electrical appliances, only about half of USA’s homes had three-prong electrical outlets.

Whether you’re flipping a bargain-priced “fixer-upper” or making improvements to your permanent home, a little advance planning and professional help is your best way to manage your costs. You should always know your own limitations when it comes to DIY projects, and shouldn’t be ashamed to call professionals to do the job right.

Keeping your family safe is always crucial, and homes are now safer than they’ve ever been. Modern circuit breakers are your best defense against electrical overloads and fires, and grounded outlets are standard in all homes built after 1969. But a lot of homeowners have potential electrical safety issues that they don’t know about, and it’s important to discover and repair those issues before it’s too late!

When it comes to making home improvements on a budget, a good lighting package will help you get the most “bang for your buck!” You need to consider both functionality and aesthetics when you’re designing your home lighting package, and you need to make a plan for every room. The good news is that home lighting design is easier than you think, and our team at Gary Houston Electric is ready to help you get started.

All families are forced to deal with rising energy costs, and the only way to fight back is to reduce your consumption. That’s easier said than done when you’re facing triple-digit temperatures and you live in a house full of electrical appliances, but it’s easier than you think to save money without sacrificing your family’s comfort.

Today’s real estate market is red hot, but it’s important to buy a house that you can afford. The good news is that a seasoned real estate agent can help you make a smart buy on numerous “fixer-uppers” in your price range. Even if the home is move-in ready, it might still need some work! Your home’s electrical wiring needs to be replaced every 25 years, and you might also need to replace a few older electrical outlets to keep your family safe.

Whether you’re interested in building a new home, remodeling, or making sure that your older home meets all of the current electrical safety standards, our team at Gary Houston Electric is here to help. We’ve been central Arkansas’ most trusted residential and commercial electrician since 1978, and we have hundreds of combined years of experience.

When you’re looking for inexpensive ways to upgrade your home, you can’t go wrong with new lighting! It’s very easy to install new light fixtures in your home, and you can use the house lamps that you have to create great task lighting in all the places where you live and gather. You don’t have to have a lot of design experience, and most of the best lighting solutions just take a little common sense.

Arkansas summers aren’t getting any cooler, and our utility rates continue to increase year in and year out. The only sure-fire way to save money is to find ways to reduce your usage. The good news is that there are plenty of great ways to save money on your utility bills this summer without sacrificing your family’s comfort!