Month: February 2022

Electrical problems are annoying — and costly. Furthermore, they can be an indicator of a dangerous problem. Why are the lights flickering when a storm blows in? Why is your bill so much higher than last year at this time? Why is the microwave constantly blowing a circuit? Fortunately, we’re here for you and your family or business when you need electrical services in Calgary.

Here are three main electrical problems explained:

Flickering Lights

If flickering happens with a particular light or fixture, the light bulb may be loose/incompatible. One appliance may be overloading the circuit, so call us to add more circuits or outlets. However, if the lights seem to flicker when it’s windy, this flickering may be due to more serious problems like frayed wiring or loose connections.

Electrical Bills are Unusually High

Suddenly, your power bill states you’re using a lot more electricity. You can’t explain the jump due to using the furnace more with colder temperatures. You’ve been shutting off lights when you leave the room and unplugging appliances and chargers so they don’t pull electricity when they’re not in use. In fact, when you compare your bill at this same time last year, it was much smaller. What’s going on?

• The meter wasn’t read correctly by the power company.
• The electric meter is malfunctioning.
• A particular device is faulty and pulling a lot of electrical juice.

You can troubleshoot a meter issue by switching off the power. After 30 minutes, is your electric meter still ticking away? The meter is the culprit. If not, plug in appliances throughout the property one-by-one and check the meter. There may be a faulty appliance that makes the meter go haywire.

Microwave Trips a Circuit Breaker When Used

• Your microwave may be faulty.
• It may be plugged into an overloaded circuit (sharing the same circuit as other appliances).

To ensure the microwave is functioning properly, plug it in elsewhere. Does it keep tripping circuits? If so, the appliance is probably malfunctioning and needs repair/ replacement. If that’s not the case, the microwave is likely overloading the circuit. Using one dedicated circuit for the microwave should solve the problem.

When you’re in need of electrical services in Calgary, give us a call. If you’re tired of flickering lights, insanely high electric bills, and a microwave that’s constantly tripping a circuit breaker, let’s do some troubleshooting and fix these problems for good. Call Crowfoot Home Services today!

To go tankless or not: that is the question. Are tankless water heaters merely a fad, or are they truly a better alternative for your property? If the initial upfront cost makes you take a step back, take a deep breath. Depending on how much water you use and how large your property is, there may be many benefits from a tankless water heater installation in your home or rental property.

Energy Efficient

True or false: Tankless units use less energy than traditional water heaters. Yes, that’s true! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tankless water heaters can be between 8% and 50% more energy-efficient than tank-style water heaters. However, savings will depend on how much water you use. That’s because the water is only heated when an appliance is turned on or a hot water tap is opened.

Lower Utility Bills

Less energy use leads to lower energy costs. Unlike a traditional water heater, tankless units only heat up water when you need it. For example, they don’t need to fill and hold a massive tank of water, reheating it over and over again, therefore suffering standby heat loss like traditional models.

Also, traditional water heaters’ tanks can corrode over time — which leads to leaking. Fortunately, there’s little chance major leaking could happen with the design of a tankless unit.

Longer Lifespan

Traditional water heaters last 12 years on average before needing replacement. While tankless water heaters cost more upfront than the traditional style, a tankless model can:

• last over 20 years with proper maintenance
• have parts that can be easily replaced to extend the unit’s life
• don’t come with the risks of major leaking (or even explosions) like traditional units

Unlimited Hot Water

The huge advantage of a tankless water heater is that the sky really is the limit! The system is connected directly to your home’s plumbing, so hot water will always run freely as soon as you turn on an appliance or twist the handle on a hot water tap. (Another benefit is that the tankless unit is installed on the wall, saving you floor space, too.)

Yes, purchase and installation costs may be higher for a tankless model. However, depending on the amount of water used at your property, you could see energy savings and, therefore, lower utility costs. Let’s discuss tankless water heater installation options for your property. Give us a call today!

It’s important to know when your furnace isn’t functioning properly and what to do when it breaks down. Sometimes, that breakdown can be an emergency – particularly if it happens during the winter months here in Calgary. Knowing when to call an emergency furnace repair service is crucial, particularly if you’re experiencing any of the following.

Furnace is Making Strange Noises

If your furnace is making abnormal noises, such as loud pops or bangs when turned on, scraping noises, or loud squealing noises, then that’s a sign that you need to call an emergency furnace repair service. These sounds could be a sign of something potentially dangerously wrong with your furnace or a relatively easy fix, but that can be difficult to determine for the average homeowner. An emergency furnace repair service technician will be able to both diagnose and fix the problem with ease.

Gas Leaks

If you notice the smell of gas around or in your furnace room, you need to immediately call an emergency furnace repair service. The smell of natural gas can be described as sulphurous or like the smell of a rotten egg. If you notice this smell, you need to evacuate your home and call an emergency furnace repair service as it poses a severe fire hazard.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms Alerting

Many modern homes and furnaces come equipped with carbon monoxide detectors and alarms. Given that carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless, it poses a serious threat to the health and safety of you and your family. If your carbon monoxide detectors go off, you need to evacuate your home and immediately call an emergency furnace repair service.

Remember what to do when you experience any of the above: call an emergency furnace repair service. Crowfoot Home Services offers emergency furnace repair in Calgary. Call us if you need an emergency furnace repair today!