When a storm comes rolling in, and the risk of thunder and lightning becomes apparent, it’s no surprise that many Destin homeowners feel wary. Even while the rain hits your windows and your home shelters you from the forces of nature, there’s always the risk of a power surge.

Every time it rains, there’s a slight chance that lightning could strike near your house, triggering a power outage. These are certainly annoying, but they can also mean bad news for anything electrical in your home. Gulf Coast Electric has all the answers for electric safety for Destin residents about how to stay safe during a lightning storm.

What Happens During A Power Surge?

A power surge refers to a sudden and brief increase in electrical voltage flowing through an electrical circuit or power line. This increase in voltage is usually for a short period, typically lasting only a fraction of a second, but it can be significantly higher than the normal voltage level that the circuit or device is designed to handle.

These surges can overload the power system in your home and trigger an outage. There is also the chance that anything electrical plugged in can be overloaded too and become fried in the process. Leaving them unable to turn out or properly function ever again.

How Can I Protect My Appliances?

There are a multitude of ways that homeowners can protect their appliances in the case of a storm. Here are three ways to keep your belongings safe during inclement weather

• • Unplug devices — The most effective and straightforward method is to unplug your appliances and devices from electrical outlets. This prevents them from being exposed to power surges caused by lightning strikes or other electrical disturbances.

• • Use surge protectors — Install surge protectors or surge suppressors on important appliances and electronic devices. These devices can divert excess electrical voltage away from your equipment, safeguarding them from damage during power surges.

• • Whole-house surge protection — Consider investing in whole-house surge protection systems. These are installed at your electrical panel and offer comprehensive protection for all appliances and devices connected to your home’s electrical system, including those that are hardwired.

By following these guidelines, you are keeping your items out of harm’s way in case of a surge. These measures help ensure the safety and longevity of your valuable electrical equipment during storms and power fluctuations.

Comprehensive Surge Protection Services

To protect your devices and appliances while they remain plugged in, homeowners can always opt for purchasing and hooking up their devices to a power strip with a surge protector inside it. These can allow for multiple devices to be plugged in and protected from a power surge. While they will still go out during the power outage, the device will remain protected and not at any risk of being fried.

If you’re interested in investing in whole-home surge protection, turn to the team more Destin residents trust. Reach out to Gulf Coast Electric.

Gulf Coast Electric Is Here To Help Destin Residents

Storms can be a stressful and fear-inducing time for any homeowner. But there isn’t a thing to fear with Gulf Coast Electric here to help Destin residents with all their electrical repair needs.

Have you experienced an electrical outage or need electrical repairs in the area? Call us today and schedule services that get your home back to being brightly lit and operational.

Let’s be honest — cables and wires in our homes aren’t a good look. You can have a beautifully decorated living room, but cluttered cables stick out like a sore thumb. Gulf Coast Electric is here to help your home with these eyesores — read on to learn more.

Wire Safety Comes With Tidy Cables

A bunch of tangled wires and cables are not only hard to look at, but they can also be a hazard. This electrical clutter increases your risk of an electrical fire, electric shock and trip-and-falls.

Not only that, but if you have pets or small children, loose cords can be very dangerous to them if they put them in their mouths. To avoid any unsafe situations, follow along with our tips below.

Use Hooks To Hide And Organize Wires

Using hooks can help you not only hide wires, but also to keep them from tangling with each other. Again, tidiness and electrical safety often go hand in hand.

By placing hooks on the walls behind your furniture, you can redirect your cords cleanly along the walls and out of sight. You can also put hooks behind your TV, on the side of your end table or even under your desk.

Keeping your wires against the wall and cleanly hidden behind furniture prevents drawing attention to a big, cluttered mess. Not only does this make your space neater, it’s much safer, too.

Box Up Those Cords

If you don’t have enough space for hooks to carry the length of a wire, consider getting a decorative box. By storing your cords inside, they won’t be accessible to pets or children, keeping everybody safe. Not only that, but guests will never guess that a decorative box is hiding electronics!

Keep Your Chargers In A Drawer

If you dedicate a drawer solely to chargers, you will not only limit your mess, but you will never lose a charger again. This is an excellent way to stay organized, keep your household safe and keep the clutter to a minimum.

Hiding TV Cables

This step may require a bit more effort, and it works especially well with mounted TVs. Cord covers are your best friend when it comes to mounted screens. What you can do is measure from the base of the screen to the top of the baseboard, and find a cord cover for that length.

Once your cord is inside and the cover is mounted, you can even paint it the same color as your wall. While still visible, this will prevent visible clutter and cord exposure, creating a safer and more organized environment for you.

Electrical Safety With Gulf Coast Electric

Whether it’s your computer wires, your TV cords or just a big messy pile of chargers, Gulf Coast Electric is here to help you stay safe and organized. By reducing your electrical clutter, you are reducing a number of safety risks. If you have any questions or concerns about wire safety in your home, feel free to call us at Gulf Coast Electric — we’re happy to help!

With the rise of work-from-home opportunities, many people are spending more time in their houses. However, that means more people are experiencing a drastic increase in their monthly electricity bills. These expenses add up fast and can be a hassle to combat. Thankfully, there are a few simple methods you can pick up to lower these costs!

As a local business, Gulf Coast Electric prioritizes the needs of our fellow Destin homeowners. Our team of electricians is committed to excellence and strives to provide stellar service. Read ahead to learn how you can lower your monthly electric bill and save on future utility costs.

Unplug “Vampire” Appliances

Vampire appliances don’t have fangs or a garlic intolerance. Instead, these devices suck energy even when they’re not in use. Vampire energy can account for 5-10% of your total electrical use. A few vampire appliances you can unplug are: 

• – Phone chargers
• – Televisions
• – Coffee makers
• – Electric toothbrushes
• – Video game consoles
• – Cable boxes
• – Printers and fax machines

Individually unplugging these devices can be a hassle. Fortunately, a power strip can make the task much easier for you. You can plug nearby appliances into the strip to prevent a power drain. This method is an easy way of reducing your utility bills.

Replace Your Air Filters

Your air conditioner uses filters to capture airborne pollutants. The device keeps your unit operating effectively and should be replaced every three months.

Air filters can become clogged with dust and other debris over time. The buildup can prevent your system from running effectively, using more electricity to keep your space at a constant temperature.

Install A Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is an efficient way of controlling your residential energy use. With this technology, you can schedule when your air conditioner operates using your phone or tablet. These thermostats are effective at conserving electricity and can change the temperature even when you aren’t home.

Seal Air Leaks

Sealing your windows and doors will prevent air from escaping your home through gaps in the frames. Your ductwork also requires routine inspections to check for leaking ducts.

Air leaks can make your home feel warmer, causing your air conditioner to overwork itself. When your cooling system works for a longer timeframe, your electricity costs will rise significantly.

Wash Your Clothes With Cold Water

Laundry day is a prime opportunity for electricity conservation! Unless a specific fabric requires warm water, you can wash your clothes in cold water.

Your washing machine won’t need high amounts of electricity to heat up, reducing electricity costs. Cool water is equally effective at removing stains and dirt from your clothing when compared to warm or hot water.

Only Run Appliances When They’re Full

It can be tempting to knock out a small load of laundry or run a half-full dishwasher. Most appliances use the same amount of energy, regardless of how full they are. You can prevent high electricity use by only operating these devices when filled.

Contact Us For High-Quality Destin Electrical Services

When you’re in need of a 24/7 electrician, look no further than Gulf Coast Electric! Our team prioritizes your safety and satisfaction. With our reliable services, you can trust your Destin electrical system is in good hands. Contact us today to schedule your next service!

Becoming a parent is life-changing. Although being a parent is very exciting, it’s normal to feel a little nervous as well. After all, curious children can get themselves into some tricky and even dangerous situations.

One of the top concerns for child safety is home electric outlets that release strong electrical currents. Baby-proofing may seem impossible as your child becomes more curious and adventurous. However, at Gulf Coast Electric, we’re here to help you put your fears to rest by providing practical baby-proofing methods to keep your child safe.

Plug-In Electrical Outlet Covers

The most affordable and common electrical outlet cover is a small, plastic plug inserted directly into the outlet. While effective, it can be slightly inconvenient to constantly remove and insert the cover between each use. These plugs are great for outlets that don’t get much use.

Slide Outlet Covers

Another way to baby proof outlets is to install slide outlet covers. These covers look just like regular outlet cases, but the opening for the plug can slide to cover up the open holes and prongs. Compared to removable plug-in outlet covers, this option is more convenient to use since it doesn’t use any loose parts.

In-Use Outlet Covers

Even when an outlet is in use, your child may still want to mess with it. After all, cords and plugs spark a lot of curiosity in little minds. Even though baby proofing in-use outlets may seem impossible, there are outlet covers that do just that.

In-use outlet covers act as a cage around the outlet to cover up the plug and outlet. There are small openings for the cords on the side of the cover. Although this is an effective way to baby proof in-use outlets, you can also move furniture to block the outlet when possible.

Baby Proofing Electrical Cords

When you baby proof house appliances, you should address loose cords in addition to the outlets. Cords can be fun for children to play with and chew on, even though they are dangerous. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to baby proof your cords.

Buy A Cord Box

If you have an appliance with a cord that is way too long, you can buy a cord box to house the excess cord. This keeps it away from little hands that want to play and prevents it from getting tangled. 

Use A Cord Cover

To keep your child from chewing on electrical cords, you can use a cloth or plastic cord cover. Some covers are coated with a bitter flavoring to ward off curious mouths.

Secure Cords To The Wall Or Ground

A great way to stay organized and prevent children from messing with cords is to secure your cords to the wall or ground. You can use electrical tape or a duct cord cover to keep your cords in place.

Dealing With Power Strips

Power strips can be especially dangerous for children due to the high concentration of outlets and the mobility of the strip. A great way to baby proof your power strips is to purchase a power strip cover that keeps the outlets in a hard case, away from your child’s hands.

Baby Proof Your Home Today

Baby proofing a home is no small feat, but with a variety of products and resources, it doesn’t have to be stressful. As your child grows, explores and discovers the world, there should be no worry about a mishap in the home. Using the products listed above will prevent electrical injury and restore your peace of mind.

If you notice an electrical cause for concern while baby proofing your home, contact Gulf Coast Electric for a Destin professional electrician. We’re happy to help you with all your electrical needs!

With home improvement, there’s always more to be done! From adjusting lighting fixtures to rewiring and rerouting, you can find plenty of electrical do-it-yourself improvements for your home. However, if you’re going to step into the electrical improvement realm, safety and knowledge are key!

Luckily, Gulf Coast Electric is here to help guide you on your electrical journey! With our electrical safety and wire guide, you’ll be able to upgrade your home with ease. 

Electrical Safety

First up, it’s important to be safe when working with wires. If possible, we recommend getting a professional electrician to perform work around your home because DIY electrical tips aren’t a substitution for professional training. However, if you’re a handyman ready to learn about wiring, there’s a few things you can do to prepare!

1. Purchase sturdy safety goggles, a fire-resistant face shield and thick rubber electrical gloves, and wear them before starting your project.
2. Always turn off the circuit breaker on your main panel to cut the power to the circuit you plan to work on.
3. Unplug the appliance before working on it.
4. Test the wires with a multimeter to make sure that they aren’t live. 
5. Do not touch gas or plumbing pipes when working with electrical lines. 

With these bases covered, you’re all set to start on your project!

Electrical Wiring Color Guide

Wires come in a full rainbow of colors, and they all carry electricity. However, that’s really the only similarity they have! The color of a wire shows its purpose and helps to keep your electrical space organized. 

The National Electrical Code (NEC) has a guide for some colors, but not others. Thankfully, electricians have their own language with wires, and we’re going to break it down for you!

Black Wires

These wires are “hot” or live wires. Live wires carry the electrical current from your home’s electrical panel to your appliance or fixture. While the NEC doesn’t require hot wires to be black wires, it’s the most common choice for residential wiring. 

You may see a black wire carrying the current from a light switch to its respective light, and that circuit section is called a switch leg. Traveler wires, although it’s less common, can also be black in color.

Red Wires

Red is another common color for hot wires! Larger appliances, ones that need 240 volts, need two hot wires to receive enough electricity. Typically, they’ll use one black hot wire and one red. 

Just like black wires, red wires can be switch legs. You’re likely to see them in devices that need two switch legs, like a ceiling fan with one switch for the fan and another for the light. 

Green, Bare, or Green and Yellow Striped Wires

Green, bare, or green and yellow striped wires, which are wires without a coating, act as ground wires. They work like a failsafe for the circuit. If the circuit isn’t working properly, these wires channel any unintentional current down into the earth to avoid people being shocked. 

Ideally, these wires should not be carrying electricity. However, they can, so always test them before making any cuts or disconnections.

Gray & White Wires

Gray and white colored wires are grounded conductors, or neutral wires. Where a black wire would carry electricity to the appliance, the neutral wire returns it to the panel. It essentially completes an infinite loop.

The NEC says neutral wires can be white or gray, or have three stripes of white or gray on any color background, minus green. Red, black or any other color tape at the end of a gray or white wire shows that the wire is actually a hot wire. 

Remember: these wires carry a current, so they should always be treated as live wires.

Blue & Yellow Wires

Yellow and blue wires are pretty versatile. They can be used as switch legs in wall pipes, or they can be used as a traveler wire in multi-way switches. Although black or red wires are the more common choice for this, especially in residential electrical circuits.

In industrial or commercial buildings with three-phase power, blue and yellow wires are a common choice. Even though you probably won’t see them often, remember to treat them as if they are a live wire!

Pink, Orange, Brown & Violet Wires

And here we have the rest of the wire rainbow! The main purpose of these extra colors are to provide color options to help keep circuits safe and organized.

Orange wires are the most common out of the bunch because we can use them like a live red wire. You’ll probably see them in a higher voltage circuit or in a fire alarm circuit. Violet and pink wires aren’t as common, but they’re sometimes used as switch legs or travelers. Brown wires are more common in industrial buildings where they’re used as live wires. 

Professional Electrical Wiring Services

Learning the wire rainbow is essential to stay safe when working with electrical circuits, but it’s overwhelming! If you’re looking for premium electrical services for your home, look no further! 

At Gulf Coast Electric, we pride ourselves on our knowledge and skill set. When you’re looking to upgrade your home with new lighting, whole home surge protection or a new outlet, you can trust our trained electricians!

Call today and speak with our friendly staff!

Some homeowners jump at the chance to renovate and replace items; others are filled with dread at the thought. Many people will take their needs and turn them into a DIY project no matter which side they land on. Painting a room or replacing shower tiles yourself can be a great personal project. However, some things just can’t be DIY’d. The Gulf Coast Electrical team is here to tell you that installing new light fixtures in your Florida home is one of those things.

It is our job to make replacing electrical items in your home, like light fixtures, look effortless, but the reality is that electrical needs in your home will always range in complexity. Without an expert eye, it is easy for things to go south very quickly. Electrical malfunctions can be the leading cause of electrical fires. And electrical fires will turn what could have been an otherwise affordable job into an expensive disaster.

That’s why you should hire an expert electrician to get the job done. Read below to find out why hiring an expert is worth it.

Your Safety Matters

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical malfunctions account for almost 7% of electrical fires. Homeowners can do many things to avoid this, like replacing aged appliances, but taking on a professional electrician to take care of all your wiring needs is a preventive measure.

It’s Not As Simple As It Looks

Wiring in your home is already a complex matter. Installing new light fixtures can become even more complicated when you find yourself needing to add new wires to your already existing connections. Many people don’t expect to deal with different types of cables, switch boxes or rewiring. So, it is always better when left in the hands of a pro.

You May Run Into More Issues

You could start out thinking you are only changing a light fixture and quickly realize more work needs to be done. Navigating damaged wires or even getting to the end of your project and realizing the lights still flicker may leave you frustrated. Experts have an easier time identifying what issues are present and have the equipment to deliver a solution. Save yourself time by finding a professional that is equipped with all you need to get the job done.

Light fixtures may not be the only thing you need an electrician for. Here are some common needs that an electrician can help you with:

• Replacing wiring
• Repairing circuit breakers
• Installing outdoor lighting
• Installing new outlets

Find An Expert

Unless you have extensive electrical experience, you should always hire a professional to meet your needs. It doesn’t matter whether your fixtures are being reinstalled in the same spot or you want them rewired to somewhere new. This job is better off in the hands of an expert.

Gulf Coast Electric is here to serve all of your electrical needs. Contact us to see what we can do for your Destin home!

Sick of your hallway light never turning on? Miss the days when your doorbell actually worked? Fear not, we have a few DIY hacks you can use to fix your simple electrical problems.

Disclaimer: Electricity is dangerous. Any major electric issues you have should be handled by a licensed professional.

Checking Your Breakers

The easiest thing to do when one of your lights or outlets isn’t working is to check your breaker. If one of your breakers is tripped, it will be in a half-position instead of all the way up. Simply move the switch all the way down, and then all the way back up to fix it.

String Lights

Don’t throw away your favorite holiday lights just yet! The great part about string lights is that they normally come with an extra fuse. If you kept the box they came in, it’s more than likely hiding in there. The tiny, cylindrical fuses can be found underneath a sliding plastic covering at the plug part of the lights. Replace any blown-out fuse with the new one. If you can’t find your extra fuse, you can purchase them here.

Dead Doorbells

Doorbells are a pretty simple electrical fix. Most likely the button is broken. To test this, unscrew your doorbell from the wall, and disconnect the wires (there should be two). Touch the wires together, and if they make your doorbell ringing sound, you know it’s the button and not the wiring that’s bad. You can buy new a new doorbell button here. Connect the wires to the new button, just as they were connected to the old one, and screw it back onto the wall. There you go! Working doorbell in no time.
Electrical work should be done with caution. Use protective gloves when working with wiring, and if you’re not sure what to do, it’s always better to call on an electrician than risk shocking yourself. For any more questions you have, or to schedule a repair, contact us today at Gulf Coast Electric.