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Where to go for the Best Austin Electrical Contractor

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Electrical Contractors in Austin

Finding a qualified Austin Electrical Contractor for your residential or commercial needs can be a confusing task.  Most Austin residents find that using the internet for this task is frustrating.  The first page of the search results for the Best Austin Electrical Contractor is filled with paid advertisements, a small list of local contractors that may or may not be close to your location and which you know nothing about, a listing for the Austin Electrical Contractors Association, a listing for the Austin Division of Consumer Affairs a few private companies and some sites that list row after row of paid listings.  You are left with the same problem you started with, “which one of these companies should I choose?”

ABC Home and Commercial Electrical Contractors

ABC Home and Commercial Services has what we think is a much better approach to finding an electrician to fit your individual needs.  We provide qualified licensed electricians for no worry solutions to all your remodeling and rewiring needs.  All our contractors have great references.  This means the time spent screening companies has already been done for you.  Let our experienced contractors review your plans.  We provide the best service at the best price.

Electrical Contractor’s License

You need a license to do electrical work in Austin. They are obtained from The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  This is information from their web site: http://www.license.state.tx.us/electricians/elec.htm

Electrical Contractor

  • You must be a licensed master electrician, or employ a licensed master electrician;
  • Maintain the required limits of business liability insurance:
  1. Minimum $300,000 per occurrence – combined for property damage and bodily injury
  2. Minimum $600,000 aggregate – total amount the policy will pay for property damage and bodily injury coverage
  3. Minimum $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations.
  4. Meet the statutory requirements for workers compensation coverage.

Master Electrician

  • Must have at least 12,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician
  • have held a journeyman electrician license for at least two years
  • pass a master electrician examination

Journeyman Electrician

  • Must have at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a master electrician
  • Pass a journeyman electrician examination

Contractors Can Help with Budget and Planning

Our electricians can help you with planning home additions or kitchen and bath remodeling projects.  Contact one of our service providers for help in planning your budget for electrical work and providing quotes. This is free service.  Give our Austin licensed electrical contractors a try.  Our commercial and residential electricians can do any size job. Our mission is to provide our clients the best service at the best price for all your residential and commercial electrical needs.

 

When you’re ready to get your project started, let us know! We’ll be there!
Visit ABC Home and Commercial Services for more information, or follow us on Facebook.

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San Antonio is Perfect Climate for Solar AC and Heating

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Diagram Courtesy www.bpsolar.us

Does converting to Solar AC and Heating Power sound scary and complicated? Although the process looks tough, the panels do all the work, and you benefit from energy-efficient solar powered AC and heating.

Flat solar panels are mounted on your roof to convert energy from sunlight into Direct Current (DC) energy. A device called an inverter then changes the DC energy into Alternating Current (AC) electricity. This can be used to power your household appliances, heating or cooling systems.

A Grid-Connected System can feed excess energy into the electricity network (grid), while a standalone system uses a battery to store excess energy.

Solar panels work best when pointed directly at the sun, at the correct angle and not blocked by trees or shading. The effectiveness of solar panels also depends on where you live and the weather. Since Central Texas, and particularly San Antonio, receives plentiful sun through out the year and very little cloudy rain days, it is the perfect place to benefit from solar energy.

 

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When you’re ready to get started, let us know! We’ll be there!
Visit ABC Home and Commercial Services for more information, or follow us on Facebook.

 

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Can I Afford Bathroom Remodeling for my Austin Home?

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It is possible to remodel your bathroom without spending a fortune. Studies show that bathroom remodeling is the second most desired Austin home improvement, and it can be much more affordable than a kitchen remodel – the most sought after home improvement project homeowners tell us they want.

Determine a Budget for your Austin Bathroom Remodeling Project and Stick With It.

The first step is to determine your budget. The more time spent doing research and developing detailed plans, the easier it will be to stay within that budget. Doing an inexpensive bathroom remodel doesn’t have to mean using cheap materials and cutting corners or giving up the upscale features you desire. Just be prepared to spend more time on planning and shopping than building.

Can I do some of the Work Myself?

Realistically determine how much of the work you want to do yourself. If you have some basic skills in construction you can save a lot of money. Normally more than half of the cost of a remodel is spent on labor. One thing many Austin homeowners, even those without a lot of construction experience, can do themselves is the demolition. Removing toilets, vanities, cabinets, tubs and shower stalls can save a considerable amount of money. Ask your contractor for a quote with and without demo.

Develop Your Own Design

You can save the cost of hiring a designer by developing your own bathroom design and remodeling plans. Looking at design and builder magazines and going online for ideas can help you decide just what you want for your new bathroom.

If you desperately need more space, check your floor plan and determine if there are any closets or hallways that share a common wall that could be incorporated into the bathroom space. You will need the help of a qualified construction professional to determine if walls can be removed without adding additional support.

Also be aware that moving the electrical and plumbing in your bath will increase the cost substantially. You will need to hire a licensed electrician and plumber for this type of work. Austin building codes will require this.

Extra Time in Planning Translates Into Savings

Take the time to compare prices for your large purchases. There are many local Austin building supply houses that offer deep discounts on bathroom fixtures. Some companies have undamaged returned stock on items like spas and designer grade sinks and toilets that can be purchased at deep discounts.

Be creative in your planning. Check with tile and natural stone countertop installers for any excess materials that might have left over from a previous job. Check out antique and salvage shops for items that can be refurbished or refinished to provide a unique look in vanities, tubs and light fixtures for your new bath. If you have a lot of cabinets in your bathroom, consider replacing only the doors and repainting the existing frames.

Remodeling your bathroom on a budget requires trading your time and effort for the money you will save. Before you begin, make sure you are able to commit to the time it takes. If you do, you will be amazed at the money you can save.

 

When you’re ready to get started, let us know! We’ll be there!
Visit ABC Home and Commercial Services for more information, or follow us on Facebook.

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Simple Ways to Avoid Needing Appliance Repair in San Antonio?

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Appliance Repair 204x300 Simple Ways to Avoid Needing Appliance Repair in San Antonio? picWhen something’s not broke, why fix it – right? In the case of your appliance, repair can be avoided with just a little tender loving care. Simple maintenance can prolong the life of your dishwasher long after its sticker date.

According to DIYlife.com, here are a few easy tips for keeping your dishwasher in top shape:

Keep your hot water heater set to the recommended temperature
Your dishwasher’s manufacturer has determined the optimal degrees, which you can locate in your user manual. Forgotten where you stashed that old manual? Try searching Google for the model number of your appliance; many manufacturers post manuals online.

Run a monthly cleanse-cycle on your dishwasher
Simply empty a packet of sugar-free lemonade where you normally place detergent and run the dishwasher through a normal cycle.

Check the interior racks of your dishwasher
If the paint is wearing off, consider investing in a dishwasher repair kit to prevent scratches on your pots and pans.

Soak the spray arm with diluted vinegar monthly
This will help to eliminate any scum or food build-up.

Regularly check the food trap for residue
You would be amazed at how much food can build up in the trap in a matter of weeks.

Isn’t it time you showed your dishwasher a little love? After all, you would certainly miss it, if it were gone.

 

When you’re ready to get started, let us know! We’ll be there!
Visit ABC Home and Commercial Services for more information, or follow us on Facebook.

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How to Calculate SEER Ratings for Your Austin HVAC System

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HVAC System Diagram

If you are wondering about the energy efficiency of your Austin HVAC system, here are some things you need to know.

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) is a number that provides the energy-efficiency of an HVAC system. Contrary to an instantaneous energy-efficiency rating, a SEER rating provides the predicted energy efficiency of the HVAC system over an entire Austin cooling season.

The efficiency varies from day-to-day because the efficiency at any point in time depends on the temperature of the indoor and outdoor air. If you are considering HVAC repair, or if you’re upgrading to a unit with a higher SEER value, you can easily calculate your predicted energy savings from making the switch.

Step 1

Review your utility bills to see your current month by month electrical consumption. Air conditioners consume electricity, not gas, so the system will be responsible for part of your electrical bill in the summer months. You want to determine exactly how much. To do this, look at your winter electric bills to see what your typical electrical consumption is when not running the air conditioner. It is best to take the average of a few months, such as November through February. Then take that mean consumption and subtract it from your electrical bills in the summer months. This will give you a rough estimate of how much energy your air conditioner uses each month.

Step 2

Compare the prospective SEER rating to you current SEER rating. Specifically, a SEER value represents the amount of energy (as heat) that the system is predicted to remove from a house divided by the amount of energy (as electricity) it is predicted to consume. Because air conditioners simply move heat from indoors to outdoors, this ratio can be much greater than 1. A more efficient unit will always have a higher SEER rating.

Step 3

Calculate how much electricity the prospective unit must consume to match the cooling effect of your current unit. You can perform this calculation with simple division. If your prospective SEER rating is 14 and your current SEER rating is 10, divide 14 by 10 to get 140 percent. This number tells you that the new unit would provide 140 percent as much cooling effect for an equal consumption of electricity. Simply divide the estimated electrical consumption of your current air conditioner by 140 percent, or 1.4, to arrive at the estimated electrical consumption of the prospective unit for each month.

Step 4

Calculate the actual cost savings. To do this, multiply the electrical consumption of your current unit during an entire cooling season by the mean cost of a kilowatt-hour. Divide this number by the ratio previously calculated to see the cooling cost of the new unit over the whole season. The difference in these two costs is your estimated savings from the new unit.

For more information on HVAC systems visit ABC Home and Commercial Services website.

Information Source:

http://www.ehow.com

 

 

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Rewiring Your Home Electrical System

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Is rewiring your home electrical system during a remodeling job necessary?  One of the first things you need to consider when planning a home renovation is the existing electrical system. Is the condition of the existing electrical wiring and the capacity (in amps) of the system up to code?

Along with plumbing and heating and cooling systems, updating the electrical system in a house will be one of the most expensive remodeling tasks. Major electrical rewiring will require you to use the services of a Licensed Electrician.


Electrical System Components

There are a few main components of a residential electrical system. The service entrance and the main circuit panel are the most important elements of the system. Depending on the complexity of the wiring circuits, additional auxiliary circuit panels may be required. The current National Electrical Code recommends a minimum 100 amp incoming electrical service. If your service panel provides less, it should be upgraded to the minimum or higher amperage to meet the needs of modern electrical loads.

Most new homes are wired with 200 amp service. In many cases the old service panels do not provide adequate grounding, so if you are keeping your existing panel it should be thoroughly checked by an electrician.


Aluminum vs. Copper Wiring

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Copper Vs. Aluminum Wiring

The actual electrical wire running through your home that makes up each circuit can be aluminum or copper. Older homes constructed during the 70′s and early 80′s use aluminum wiring. Modern building codes do not allow aluminum wiring to be used for a number of reasons. Aluminum and copper both expand and contract when heated. Aluminum, unlike copper, has a tendency to lose some tightness with each cycle. It can invite corrosion when contacting certain types of metal. Fire hazard is the main concern with aluminum.

Solid copper wiring is the material of choice for new homes or renovations. Although 14-gage wire is allowed for many circuits, it’s recommended you install 12-gage wiring, which costs a little more but can handle more electrical current, making it safer and more energy-efficient.

If you are renovating a very old home and the wiring has cloth insulation or if the insulation is brittle and cracked, you will need to completely replace it with new copper wiring. This requires removing wall-covering material down to the studs.

 

Replacing Components

If you are satisfied with the size of the system, the number of outlets, switches and circuits, (make sure you are happy with the 240 volt outlet number and locations, if any) then you won’t have to add any new circuits to the electrical system. You will just need to update and replace components of the system.

Turn off the main breaker switch before doing any inspections of your electrical system.

Pull the cover plates on your outlet boxes and switches and inspect the box itself. If it is intact and adequately secured to the wall and ceiling studs they will most likely not have to be replaced.

Note: if you plan on adding ceiling fans to rooms you will probably need to either add bracing to that outlet box or replace it with one that is designed to accept a fan.

There are a lot of things a homeowner can do to determine just how big a project the electrical rework will be. Determining the size of the system you have, the condition of your wiring components, and developing a plan for any new outlets and circuits you require will go a long way in planning your budget for a home electrical system update.

Beware of the unlicensed contractor: kxan.com

 

 

Call Us to Take a Look!
As always, it is best to consult a Licensed Electrician before completing any work. Remember, not all jobs are created equally!

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Where to Look for Austin House Painting Services

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Painting Where to Look for Austin House Painting Services pic
Painting your home is a big job – inside and out. Before you reject the idea of hiring an Austin house painting service, take a moment to think about all that goes into the job.

I Can Do My Own Painting

Painting is one of the tasks that many home owners decide do themselves, thinking that it will be an easy and simple process. This is rarely the case. There are a large number of factors involved in getting a painting job done correctly.

The proper paint selection is much more than just deciding what color to use. Factors such as the type of surface to be painted, the environment where you live and selecting the proper primer (an important step many DIY’ers skip) are just a few of the many considerations necessary.

Properly preparing the surface is critically important and can be labor intensive when done correctly. Doing your own painting and having to redo a few years later is not the best way to save money. With a two-story house there are safety concerns to consider as well.

 

Austin Painting Contractors

Not all Austin painting contractors are alike. If you are in search of a qualified painting company for your home or commercial property, ABC Home and Commercial Painting Services can provide an affordable solution. All our painting specialists are insured and licensed. Before you hire an independent painting contractor we suggest you do the following.

  • Ask for copies of their license
  • Ask for bonding information
  • Check out documentation safety training and state and local compliance
  • Get references and take time to check them out
  • Read your contract carefully and make sure the work is spelled out in detail as well as schedules and method of payment

 

Let ABC Home and Commercial Painting Services Bid on Your Job

You can trust ABC to get your painting project done right, on time and within budget. We are a local company and we pride ourselves on the quality of our work and our personal testimonials and referrals from many satisfied Austin homeowners.

Our ABC Painting Specialists average over 25 years of experience with interior and exterior residential painting. Since ABC Home and Commercial has every type of home repair and improvement specialists on staff, we can take care of any exterior house repairs that you may need without the hassle of hiring additional contractors.

We use only the best products tested for the Central Texas climate to insure your job will look great year after year. Call or contact us for a no obligation quote for your all your home and commercial painting needs.

 

When you’re ready to get started, let us know! We’ll be there!
Visit ABC Home and Commercial Services for more information, or follow us on Facebook.

This is a service provided in the Greater Austin area. For a complete list of services in your area, please visit our website and choose your location.
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Finding an Austin Kitchen Remodeling Contractor you can Trust

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Finding an Austin kitchen remodeling contractor you can depend on to do a good job at a competitive price can be a difficult task.  Finding the right Austin remodeling company is the most important step you can take to insure your kitchen project is completed they way you envisioned it and within your budget.

You need someone who can be trusted to provide a quality job at a very competitive price.  That’s what ABC Home and Commercial is all about. remodeling 3 300x113 Finding an Austin Kitchen Remodeling Contractor you can Trust pic

Our remodeling contractors are licensed, insured and come with a list of satisfied customers.  Austin homeowners can rest assured that the kitchen remodelers in our network are the best in the area.  They are skilled craftsmen that take pride in doing an excellent job on time and within budget.  We take all the hard work out of finding a Austin kitchen remodeling company because ABC Home and Commercial is a licensed contractor for plumbing, HVAC, electrical and all phases of remodeling.

Determine a Budget for Your Kitchen Remodeling Project and Stick With It.

The more time spent doing research and developing detailed kitchen plans, the easier it will be to determine your budget and to stay within that budget.  Saving money on your kitchen remodel doesn’t have to mean giving up on the things you want for your new kitchen.  Just be prepared to spend more time on planning and shopping for the materials and higher end fixtures and cabinetry you would like.  During initial consultation with your remodeling contractor, ask about ways to cut costs.  A good contractor can provide you ideas to reduce your costs and still get the kitchen of your dreams.

Are You a Do- It -Yourselfer?

Try to be realistic about how much of the remodeling work you can do yourself.  One thing many Austin homeowners elect to do themselves is some of the demolition or “demo” work.  If this is something you think you could do, ask your contractor to consider this in his quote.  Just remember that if the demo involves moving wiring or plumbing, you should get the assistance of a professional.

Get the Process Started

Contact us with all your kitchen remodeling needs and we will get the bidding process started.  You will be speaking with licensed specialists experienced in all phases of construction.  Whether you are in the ’just thinking about it’ phase, or already have plans developed, just contact us and we will get you the information you need to make your new kitchen a reality.

 

When you’re ready to get to work, let us know! We’ll be there!
Visit ABC Home and Commercial Services for more information, or follow us on Facebook.

This is a service provided in the Greater Austin area. For a complete list of services in your area, please visit our website and choose your location.
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