Space Heater Safety

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Cold weather is here! Don’t take chances by using space heaters in an unsafe manner. Supplemental heat may be necessary this winter, so here are some tips to make sure you and your family stay warm (and safe).

Things to consider when choosing a space heater.

  • Purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features.
  • Use a thermostatically controlled heater to avoid wasting energy and overheating a room.
  • Choose the proper size for the room you wish to heat. Oversized heaters don’t mean better.
  • Put the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic. Preferably in the center of the room away from combustible items like curtains and furniture.
  • Try to avoid using an extension cord. If you have to, choose a short one at least 14 gauge.
  • Always unplug heaters when not in use.

A lot of space heaters draw a large amount of electrical current. It is preferable to plug the heater into a dedicated circuit to avoid electrical overload. Dowdy Electric can help with this. If you need an electrician to run a dedicated circuit contact Dowdy today.

Home Lighting Upgrade

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Have you ever consider lighting upgrades in your home? Dowdy Electric can install new recessed LED lights in your living room, bedrooms, closets, and even under cabinet lighting, couple this with new state of the art dimming capabilities and you will have breathtaking results.

Even with vaulted ceilings and/or open structures we are able to design a lighting system sure to impress. We are a phone call away from providing an onsite visit to discuss all of your lighting, electrical and generator needs. We will complete a walk thru and provide answers and solutions for lighting up that entry or living room, with modern lighting that meets all of the new standards for environmental issues.

Not only will you love the new lighting, you will love the energy savings. Call today for a $ 100.00 savings on any lighting project over $2,500.00.

Electrical Services

What electrical regulations should a homeowner know about?

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Whether you are hiring an Electrician to do work in your home or property, they by law must be licensed, bonded, insured and abide by electrical regulations. Indianapolis, Greenwood, Fishers, Carmel, Beech Grove, Lawrence, Avon, Plainfield, Danville, Broad Ripple and a long list of Indiana cities all require a license.

Always ask to see the actual License before hiring.  These laws are in place to protect you and your family. Electricity is the cause of most fires in the USA, due to improper installation, Code and safety violations. Don’t be a statistic, hire Dowdy Electric, Co. for your next project.

Check out the rest of our website for videos and coupons.

Call 317.24POWER NOW for service NOW!

It’s Time to Get Your Furnace Ready

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Winter is approaching fast. Don’t wait until it’s cold to make sure your furnace is ready for the cold weather ahead. Here are a few tips to keep you and your family warm this winter.

  1. Run your furnace before you need it. You want to make sure everything is working properly before it’s too late.
  2. Make sure your filters are clean. If you use replaceable filters, replace it. If you use electronic filters, clean it.
  3. Make sure your furnace area is free of any flammable items. Lawn equipment and other gas powered items can be hazardous.
  4. Make sure your access panels are securely in place.
  5. Check your thermostat is set properly for heating.

If you find anything wrong with your furnace or are unsure how to do any of these important steps. Contact Dowdy Electric and one of our Heating & Cooling specialist would be happy to help you out. No one likes surprises on that first cold day of the year.

Kohler Generators

Who needs a standby generator? Everyone!

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Every home owner knows the risk of a power failure. The most obvious being your perishables and sump pumps. The last thing you need during a power failure is spoiled food and a flooded basement or crawl space. The peace of mind of having those things covered, are well worth the investment of a home backup generator. Then there are the other perks, like being able to use your electronic devices and keeping your phone charged. We all rely on our phones and the internet for everything, why be without it during a power failure.

Dowdy Electric can provide you a no obligation estimate on a Kohler or Generac standby generator for your home or office. Contact us today!

Don’t Let Your Smoke Detector Fail You

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Did you know smoke detectors expire? Most people probably don’t even think about it. It’s just there, doing it’s job. But the fact is, batteries can die, or the smoke detector can reach it’s shelf life limit. All smoke detectors expire 10 years from the manufactured date, which is on each unit. Dowdy Electric can replace one smoke detector or all of them in one fair swoop. The minimal cost of replacing a smoke detector is much cheaper than the cost of your families safety. Contact us to see if it’s time to replace yours.

Kohler Zero Emissions enCUBE Generator

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Without question, we live in a plugged-in society, so the demand for sustainable and reliable portable power is only going to grow. The enCube Generator is an ideal alternative to popular 2000 watt engine-driven generators. It has a comparable price, but no noise, gasoline, emissions, or maintenance. The enCUBE provides 1400 watts of continuous power and can surge up to 3600 watts for 3 milliseconds or 1800 watts for 10 minutes. It has multiple outlets and a pair of USB ports for smaller electronics. The enCUBE can be charged with a standard 120V AC wall outlet or any solar panel.

Contact Dowdy Electric today for more information.

Generator Maintenance

It’s storming. Are you prepared?

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The risk of losing power in a summer storm is high. So, why take the chance? Dowdy Electric offer both Generac and Kohler generator and we can help you choose the standby generator that’s right for you.

Contact us today to discuss how to keep your family safe and with power during the next big storm.

 

The Benefits of a Residential Surge Protector

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Today everyone has expensive electronics and they are always on, plugged in, or charging. No one wants to pay the cost to replace an appliance, home computer, tablet, TV, or mobile phone. So don’t risk losing them to a power surge. With a residential surge protection device from Dowdy Electric you can have the peace of mind your valuable electronics are safe and sound during the next power surge or power outage caused by a storm.

Electrical Services

The Dangers of Hiring a Discount Electrician

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Having electrical problems is never going to a good experience. We all rely on electricity for everything, and so it is understandable that you’re looking for service in a hurry. But before you go and make a huge mistake, the experts at Dowdy Electric have something to say. Hiring a cost-effective Electrician is great, but there is a definite line between cost-effective and CHEAP!

THE DANGERS OF AN UNLICENSED OR “BUDGET” ELECTRICIAN

Discount pricing is all the rage these days. Well, all right, they have always been the rage. But particularly for Major contracting services like Electrical Work and HVAC, we’re seeing a huge surge of “budget” offerings. Big box stores do it, as do normal unlicensed folks with a bit of know-how.

On the surface it all sounds fine: the stuff gets fixed and you get to pay less. That is a win-win, right ?  Well no, unfortunately. There are risks that could threaten your biggest investment, your HOME. Today we would like to clue you in on those risks.

  • Making the problem worse.
    • The biggest danger, of course, is a botched job. Even the smallest electrical problems require years of training and know how to correct. A discount electrician usually is not licensed, bonded and insured, check for credentials. That means a simple breaker replacement becomes a panel replacement, or an appliance wiring becomes replacing your wiring. By saving a buck you end up spending more.
  • Getting a quick fix.
    • To all budget electricians time is money. And unfortunately this typically means that they care a lot more about getting paid than how the work turns out. As a result you often get a MacGyver-style fix. And once the paperclips and tape come off, the problem is back. Then you have to pay again to repair the same issue.
  • Unlicensed work.
    • Many budget electricians are actually not even licensed. This, of course, means that they are not insured either. So when the jobs results in damage, they get away scot-free and you’re stuck with all of the nightmare, added costs. Not a fun  place to be!

Why is Budget so risky?

What makes this choice sub-par?  Well it isn’t (usually) a malicious situation, really. More often it is  a failure to maintain or lack of training and the proper credentials. Electrical equipment, methods and Codes change very rapidly, meaning that a Professional Electrician has considerable routine training. Budget electricians won’t or cannot do this, so simply they are not Qualified.

So to re-cap, there is in a small way some ill intent in here too. Words like “discount” are very powerful in today’s market, and you do not have to be scrupulous to be savvy to the fact. Therefor words like discount should approached with real serious caution and lots of questions. Better words are UP Front or Flat Rate pricing. Knowing what you are getting with a Professional Service tends to work out a hundred times better than trusting just anyone to mess with your Indiana home’s electrical.

WHY CHOOSE DOWDY ELECTRIC FOR YOUR CENTRAL INDIANA ELECTRICAL SERVICE ?

Dowdy is a family, Veteran owned and operated business serving the Central Indiana community since 1980. Our fast, friendly, knowledgeable staff of electricians install, repair, and perform regular maintenance check-ups. When you need an electrician in your home, let our family help yours! We provide a variety of in-home electrical services, including installations, repair, and routine maintenance. Not only do we offer high quality installs, we’ll also make sure your electrical system(s) continues to work efficiently and safely.