Category: Energy Efficiency

5 Summer Energy Saving Tips

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summer energy saving tips

During summer season, the hot temperatures can lead to an increase in electricity usage as you and your family try to stay cool. If you want to prevent a major spike in your energy bill, check out these summer energy saving tips by the pros at Roman Electric. This way, you can lower your electricity bill without sacrificing comfort!

1. Try This Trick with Your Thermostat

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on cooling per year by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees higher for 8 hours a day. Try this trick on your thermostat and see if you notice on a difference on next month’s energy bill! Keep in mind, that this technique is best tried out using programmable thermostats because they allow daily and weekly temperature scheduling.

2. Switch to LEDs

Another way to save up on your electricity bill during any time of the year is to switch your lights to LEDs. These light bulbs are the most energy-efficient on the market—they use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and can last 25 times longer. Plus, they don’t radiate heat, making them safer to use and touch.

3. Seal Up Your Home

Having proper insulation and air sealing in your home can save you 20% on your heating and cooling costs and 10% on overall energy costs. That’s why it’s important you inspect your home for any insulation gaps or air leaks. While insulation inspections should be handled by a professional, you can easily inspect for air leaks on your own. Make sure you look around your doors and windows as these are the most common air leak spots. If you notice the caulking or weatherstripping is wearing out, make sure to re-caulk any cracks and gaps and get new weatherstripping material from your nearest home improvement store.

4. Change Your Air Filter

Changing your air filter not only improves your air conditioner’s performance but also reduces its energy consumption by 5 to 15%. Changing your filter only takes a few minutes but can make a world of difference. Ideally, you should change it once every three months.

5. Unplug

Some appliances when left plugged in, even if they are not use, can use energy. This can unnecessarily add to your energy bill. So, make sure you unplug your coffee maker, hair dryer or laptop charger after you are done using them—this can save you up to $100 a year!

Want More Energy Saving Tips? Get in Touch with The Pros at Roman Electric!

Whether you want more energy saving tips for the summer, or need plumbing, electric or HVAC services, the pros at Roman Electric are here to help. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website! Our team of experts would be more than happy to assist you and provide the high-quality service that you need.

7 Ways to be Eco-Friendlier at Home

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If you’re trying to figure out ways to become eco-friendlier and energy-efficient at home, good for you! Becoming eco-friendly is not only good for you and your energy bill but for the world that we live in. Here are some tips from the pros at Roman Electric to help you start your journey to being more environmentally friendly!

1. Check for Leaks

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household water leaks can lead to 10,000 gallons of water lost per year—that’s a lot of water going to waste. Most of the time these leaks are easy to point out and fix. So if you want to start being more environmentally friendly, start of by dusting off your toolbox and get to work troubleshooting these leaks. They are most commonly found in your toilet, faucet, showerhead and dishwasher.

2. Change Your Air Filter

If you want to save up on your heating and cooling bills while performing maintenance on your HVAC unit then you should change your air filter! Doing this once or twice a month can improve your indoor air quality, prevent your AC from working overtime and reduce your unit’s energy consumption by 5 to 15%!

3. Use LED Bulbs

If you want to save up on your electricity bill, start off by replacing your incandescent bulbs with LEDs! These lights last 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They are also incredibly versatile, don’t radiate heat and can be compatible with dimmer switches.

4. Switch Outdoor Lights to Solar

Going solar has a lot of benefits, but the greatest one is the burden it takes off your energy bills! Start replacing your outdoor lights with solar lights. They are generally easy to install and can simply be staked into the ground.

5. Ensure You Have Insulation

Insulating your home, specifically in places like your attic, crawlspaces, walls and ceilings can reduce your heating and cooling bills by 20% and overall energy costs by 10%. Sealing up your home can prevent significant energy loss and prevents your HVAC unit from working overtime to provide the cooling or heating that you need.

6. Fix Air Leaks

Air leaks are most commonly found around doors and underneath windows and are usually caused by worn out weatherstripping. If you notice your doors and windows are not properly sealed, be sure to replace old weatherstripping materials with new ones from your nearest home improvement store!

7. Take Shorter Showers

Cutting your showers short can reduce water and time wastage. In addition to taking shorter showers, consider replacing your showerhead with a WaterSense labelled one. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, by simply replacing one showerhead the average family can save 2,900 gallons of water every year.

Want more tips on how you can eco-friendly at home? Get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service online!

3 Spring Efficiency Tips for First-Time Homeowners

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spring efficiency for first-time homeowners

If you recently became a homeowner or are going to become one for the first time, congratulations! Owning a home gives you a great deal of independence and autonomy, but it is also a great deal of responsibility. There are many ways you can keep your home in good condition, but one of the most important ways we’re going to talk about today is energy-efficiency. An energy-efficient home costs less to run and maintain, is more comfortable to live in, is better for the environment AND has a higher resale value! If you don’t know what you can do to up the energy savings in your home, don’t worry. The pros at Roman Electric are here to help you out with some great spring efficiency tips for first-time homeowners.

1. Save Up on Heating and Cooling

Your heating and cooling system is one of the heaviest consumers of energy in your home. So, if you want to save up on your energy bill, start with your HVAC unit! There are multiple ways you can save up on cooling this spring:

  • Set Your Thermostat a Few Degrees Higher

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on heating and cooling bills by setting your thermostat 7-10 degrees higher for 8 hours a day. Try out this energy-saving method and see if you notice a change in your energy bill. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, this might be fairly easy to try out.

  • Use Fans

Instead of relying entirely on your HVAC unit to provide cooling, set your thermostat at a bit of a higher temperature and use fans instead. Fans create a wind-chill effect, cooling the person instead of the room.

  • Change Your Air Filter

One of the easiest ways to maintain your HVAC unit is by changing the air filter. Not only will it improve your AC’s efficiency as well as your home’s indoor air quality, it will also reduce your unit’s consumption by 5 to 15%!

2. Use Low-Flow Fixtures

Water conservation comes under the umbrella of energy-efficiency and spring efficiency. So, if you want to save up a little bit on your water bill, try installing low-flow fixtures. A lot of toilets, showerheads and faucets are on the more wasteful side and low-flow fixtures get the same job done without wasting too much water. According to the DOE, low-flow faucets and showerheads can cost up to $20 a piece while saving water by up to 60%.

3. Choose LED Lights

Consider switching to LED lights in your new home. These lights last 25 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs and use at least 75% less energy. By simply replacing 5 of your home’s most frequently used lights with LEDs, you could save $75 a year in energy costs.

Want more energy-efficiency tips for your new home? Get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website!

4 Ways to Save Energy While Away on Spring Break

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Your Spring Break plans might have been delayed because of the spread of COVID-19 globally. However, once the curve flattens and social distancing orders relax a little, we know you’ll be itching to take a vacation. That’s why the pros at Roman Electric have prepared a helpful list of ways to save energy while away on Spring Break or any vacation. This way, you’ll maintain energy-efficiency even when you’re not at home.

1. Turn Up Your Thermostat

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning back your thermostat 7-10 degrees from your normal setting for 8 hours a day. That sounds a little more complicated than it needs to, but it’s easy to put into effect. You can easily do this if you happen to have a programmable thermostat, as these types of thermostats have excellent scheduling features. You can also try out this energy-saving method with a smart thermostat, which not only allows scheduling temperature settings, but also wi-fi connectivity and remote temperature control.

In short, if you simply turn up your thermostat a few degrees while you’re away on vacation, you can save a significant amount on your energy bill.

2. Inspect Leaks

You can’t be energy-efficient if you don’t attempt to conserve water as well. You can save water by looking for and fixing leaks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. This number adds up, so make sure that you fix your house leaks before you go on vacation. The most common locations for leaks are toilets, faucets, dishwashers and showerheads—generally, leaks in these areas are a nuisance but also easily fixable.

3. Unplug Before You Go

Make sure you unplug all your devices and appliances before you leave, as you don’t want “energy vampires” sucking away the savings on your energy bill. “Energy vampires” is an interesting term coined for appliances and devices that continue to drain away energy while they are plugged in, even when they are not being used. Make sure to vanquish these energy vampires before you go on to enjoy your vacation.

4. Seal Up Your Home

Air leaks can lead to significant energy losses and other issues such as your AC short cycling and bad indoor air quality. Luckily, fixing and preventing these air leaks is easy. First, make sure the weatherstripping in your windows and doors is up to date. If the stripping is old and worn out, you might need to replace it. You can find various weatherstripping materials like vinyl, foam and even metal at your nearest home improvement store. Next, make sure there are no air leaks in other, smaller areas such as electrical outlets. This might be surprising, but air leaks can be found behind electrical outlets and might be causing energy loss. To fix this issue, you can try adding foam gaskets or aerosol foam behind these outlets.

Want more tips on saving energy while you’re away on vacation? Contact the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us online!

Start the New Year Off with Some Energy-Saving Tips!

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new year energy saving tips

The new year is a great time to start making changes to your routine. One way you can make changes to your lifestyle is by finding ways to save energy around your home. By adding energy saving habits to your day-to-day you can decrease your utility bill and become an energy-conscious homeowner. To help you out, the pros at Roman Electric have come up with some effective energy-saving tips.

1. Change Bulbs to LEDs

One of ways you can start saving energy is by changing all your light bulbs from incandescent bulbs to LEDs. LED bulbs can last up to 25 times longer and use up to 75 % less energy. These bulbs are incredibly versatile and are also safe to use since they don’t radiate heat.

2. Change Your Filter

By changing your HVAC unit’s air filter consistently, you can reduce energy consumption between 5 and 15 %. It is ideal to change your air filter once every three months. Replacing your dirty filter with a new one will not only save you money and energy – but it is good for your unit. It prevents issues such as frozen evaporator coils, unhealthy indoor air quality and inconsistent air flow. If you haven’t changed your air filter recently, there is not time like the new year!

3. Seal Up Your Home

If you have any gaps in your insulation or any cracks around your ducts, windows or exterior doors, it’s time to tackle them in 2020. To prevent gaps in your windows and doors, use weatherstripping and caulking. To prevent duct leaks, have your ductwork inspected by professional HVAC technicians. In addition, have your home’s insulation inspected (especially your attic) to ensure you have enough insulation. Air leaks can force your unit to work overtime, ultimately wasting energy.

4. Use Fans in Warmer Months

This energy-saving tip is specific to warmer months. To save up on your HVAC unit’s energy use, increase the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees and use your fans. While fans don’t exactly cool rooms, they create a wind-chill effect, keeping you or any of the occupants in the room cool and comfortable. Plus, making this change in your thermostat can save energy.

5. Consider Outdoor Solar Lights

If you use outdoor lights, consider going solar with them. Solar pathway lights are very common and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They require no wires or cables and are very easy to install. Going solar is also an excellent way to save money on your utility bill.

Save Energy in 2020 with Roman Electric!

We hope this list of new year energy-saving tips has been helpful. If you want to learn more about how you can reduce your energy consumption and save up a little on your utility bill, get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website!

Save Time and Money with a Protection Plan

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save time and money with a protection plan

So, you just installed an HVAC, electrical, or plumbing system. It’s fresh, new, and running perfectly. But you have questions: for how long will it be in tip-top shape? How often does the system need to be professionally serviced? What if it needs an emergency repair? How much will that cost? How will you afford it?

The answers to your questions lie in a protection plan. These are package deals of maintenance, discounts, and special benefits that save you time and money. The team at Roman Electric is here to break down our own whole-home protection plan to show you how valuable they can be. Read on to see how you can save time and money with a protection plan!

Exclusive Discounts

The first way protection plans save you money is with exclusive discounts on service and repair. If you must call your service provider, you can rest easy that the appointment won’t break the bank. Furthermore, in the case of an emergency system failure, you won’t have to worry about a hefty, and unexpected, bill. Roman Electric’s protection plan includes discounts on emergency service fees, so you don’t have to hesitate before picking up the phone.

The following are the discounts included in Roman Electric’s protection plan.

  • 10% discount on HVAC, plumbing and electrical service and repair
  • Discounted service fee
  • Discounted emergency fees

Maintenance Included

It is impossible to overstate the value of professional maintenance on your HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems. Regular maintenance performs two very important functions. First, maintenance reduces the likelihood of a large system breakdown. Tune-ups keep your systems in tip-top shape, so small issues don’t accumulate into expensive repairs. Second, regular maintenance ensures that your HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems are as efficient as possible.

Regular maintenance extends the life of these systems and gives you peace of mind that your utility bills are as low as can be. By preventing total-system breakdown and keeping your utility bills low, protection plans practically pay for themselves.

Check out what Roman Electric offers in included maintenance:

  • 2 annual heating or air conditioning tune ups
  • Annual plumbing inspection
  • Annual electrical safety inspection
  • Enhanced system warranties

Time Saving

There is no doubt that a protection plan can save you money. However, it can also save you time, which is just as valuable. With a protection plan, you’ll spend less time waiting for your service provider: Roman Electric gives priority appointments to clients.

Save Time and Money with a Protection Plan! Call Roman Electric Today!

Roman Electric’s protection plan is the key to saving money, extending the life of your appliances, and reducing your stress. Roman Electric’s team of highly skilled experts have served the Milwaukee area for three decades. We are proud to provide our community with high quality repair, service, and installation for all their electric, plumbing, and HVAC needs.  Call us at 414-369-3798 or schedule an appointment on our website.

How to Read Your Electric Bill

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Every month, we receive that piece of paper in the mail that none of us ever like to see. When the energy bill arrives, we hold our breath while we open it. Is it going to be ridiculously high, or is it more manageable this month? We’re not going to get into the most effective strategies for lowering your energy usage, at least not in this blog.

For this one, we’re going to take a step back and approach it from a more general angle. Before you figure out how to lower your energy bill, it’s important that you learn to better understand it in the first place! Here’s how to do just that, from the energy pros at Roman Electric!

The Important Parts

When you glance at your energy bill, there are a handful of numbers or items that should be the most important. These are the ones you’ll obviously want to look at every month – and unless you just pay the bill without looking, you already take a glance at these numbers anyway.

  • Amount Due: Of course! This is the number most everyone cares about more than anything. How much you’re paying is a good thing to know. It’ll usually be easily discernible and printed clearly.
  • Account Number: Assuming your energy provider does business like the majority of the other ones in America do, you’ll see your account number printed somewhere on the bill. This gives you a handy reference point when you’ve got a complaint or question you need to bring up with your provider.
  • kWh Used: This number is how the utility company determines how much to charge you. The electricity meter shows a certain number indicating how many kilowatt-hours you used, and they multiply that number by your rate to determine the bill.

Other Items on the Bill

That just scratches the surface. There are plenty of other numbers and labels on the bill, but they aren’t as important in terms of figuring out how much energy you’re using and how much you’re paying.

  • Charge Breakdown: The bill will probably itemize the different components of your total amount due. This will be made up of things like a generation charge (which will be the bulk of your bill), distribution charge and a transmission charge. Although most of your energy is spent generating the electricity, it costs money to get it to travel down the wires and to your home.
  • Graph showing your energy profile: It helps to know how much energy you’ve been using compared to recent months. Most energy providers will include a bar graph, or something similar, displaying your usage from month-to-month to help you keep your consumption in check.

 

The energy bill is never any fun, but it’s smart to be an educated consumer so you know what you’re getting each month. Of course, it’s always probably smartest to call your energy provider if you’ve got specific questions.

Here at Roman Electric, though, we pride ourselves on helping our Milwaukee neighbors create the most energy-efficient homes around. Get in touch with us, and we’ll work with you to implement solutions that are tailored specifically for you and your family.

Call us at 414-369-3798 for more information!

Simple Ways to Reduce HVAC Costs

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ways to reduce hvac costs

What’s the one thing that drives most of our decisions at home? It’s saving money, right? Any time or place we can come up with a way to cut costs without sacrificing too much of our livelihood, we usually take it. But it’s hard to do that with certain things like our home appliances, especially our HVAC unit.

Fear not! It is possible to save a significant amount of money on your heating and cooling costs. The ways to do that don’t require a full-scale overhaul – in fact, they’re pretty simple. Read on, and let the HVAC experts at Roman Electric help you figure out a couple of handy ways to reduce HVAC costs at home!

Make Use of Your Ceiling Fans

The fans that are installed in our rooms do quite a bit to help regulate temperature. In the summer, they help keep us cool, and they cost far less to operate than your AC does. But did you know that they can be just as effective in the winter?

If you reverse the direction that ceiling fans rotate when the weather gets colder, the fans will blow warm air down instead of cold air. But since ceiling fans don’t *actually* affect the temperature of the air – they just blow the existing air over your skin – you only need to run them when you’re in the room.

Seal Leaks Throughout the Home

Over time, your home may spring leaks through certain areas where air flows regularly. Places like your ducts and in the cracks of your doors and windows (which can eventually widen), can help you lose valuable cold (or warm) air.

Make sure to seal these up to prevent any airflow loss. If left unattended, the leaks will force your HVAC system to work significantly harder to achieve your desired temperature, spiking heating and cooling costs.

Use a Smart/Programmable Thermostat

Depending on the season, our thermostats can account for a massive portion of our energy bill. If you like to leave these on for a big part of the day, then you will pay the price. But with a programmable (or smart) thermostat, you can save a ton.

They allow you to adjust the temperature based on when you’ll be using it the most. Meaning, if you’re not home for the majority of the day, then you can set the thermostat to shut off until you usually return home. You’ll avoid running up the cost of heating or cooling a home you aren’t there to enjoy, and that saves you quite a bit as it adds up.

Account for Extra Heat Sources

If your home is situated in such a place where it absorbs natural sunlight more than usual, then you probably overcompensate with your HVAC unit to combat the excess heat. But this isn’t efficient. It means you pay more in the long run to fight the heat, costs that pile up quicker than you realize.

To naturally avoid this problem, invest in some blackout curtains for rooms that endure direct sunlight, and be sure to always close your blinds/curtains when you can. Also, avoid doing or using anything that will add more heat to the interior of your home throughout the day.

 

Saving money on heating and cooling costs doesn’t need to be difficult! With these tips, you’ll be on the path to enjoying a lower energy bill without sacrificing your comfort level at home. And for more comprehensive strategies, just ask Roman Electric!

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to speak to a heating and cooling expert today, and we’ll work with you to ensure you’re staying comfortable year-round.

4 Alternatives to Using Air Conditioning

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alternatives to using air conditioning

While air conditioners may be the most effective way to beat the heat during the Milwaukee summer, they do drive up the energy bill a considerable amount, especially considering they account for almost half of your home’s energy consumption. Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to cool down during the hot season, most of which don’t use nearly as much energy as the AC. And if you’re looking to reduce your energy usage without losing the comfort, we recommend you utilize these alternatives to air conditioning.

Roman Electric has detailed 4 alternatives to using air conditioning that you can have in your Milwaukee home.

Utilize Ceiling Fans

With their energy consumption being only a fraction of what an AC uses, ceiling fans are a great way to cut down energy usage without losing the cooling. This is because ceiling fans don’t produce cooling, they simply distribute it more effectively. The circulating blades also lower your body temperature, making you feel cooler.

We recommend running the ceiling fan on high speed and turning down your AC a few degrees from what it normally is. This provides an alternative to solely using the AC without losing any of the comfort.

If you would like to install a new ceiling fan in your home, contact Roman Electric for our ceiling fan services.

Block Sunlight in Your Home

If your AC is being constantly used to reduce heat, why let sunlight bring in more heat to your home? One alternative to using your cooling is by simply protecting your home from the heat build-up created by sunlight. Here’s a few steps on how to do this:

  • Cover your windows with lightly-colored draperies such as white or baby blue. These shades better reflect light than other colors.
  • Place weatherstripping along your doors and windows to prevent sunlight seeping through cracks.
  • Consider planting a tree in your yard to act as natural shade.

Make Yourself Feel Colder

While it may not be the most effective solution, simply making yourself feel cooler can sometimes stop you from turning up the AC. Performing steps such as hitting the pool, keeping hydrated, taking cool showers, and wearing summer clothing can help. Although most of these solutions are short-term and temporary, we do recommend incorporating them with other steps on this list.

Purchase Oscillating Fans

Aside from ceiling fans, there’s another type of fan you have in multiple areas of your home: oscillating fans. These plugged-in fans swing from side to side and provide cooling in the same vein as ceiling fans. The great thing about oscillating fans is their low energy usage and cheap cost, as well as their varied sizes and designs.

Help reduce energy usage in your Milwaukee home during the summer by using these 4 alternatives to using the air conditioner. And contact Roman Electric if you require ceiling fan services. Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to schedule an appointment and get started.

Swimming Pool Electrical Safety

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If your Milwaukee home has a swimming pool, it’s probably been your go-to solution for beating the summer heat. But with this added time spent at the pool comes a higher need for swimming pool electrical safety. After all, electricity and water can be a dangerous mixture. And with your swimming pool equipped with lights, pumps, and other electrical equipment, electrical accidents can happen if you don’t take the necessary precautions.

The experts at Roman Electric are here to inform Milwaukee homeowners on how to practice swimming pool electrical safety.

Be Sure GFCIs are in Place in Your Swimming Pool

A swimming pool relies on electricity for pumps and lighting. And this brings water and electricity very close together. Therefore, you’ll want to ensure you have GFCI protection in place with your pool.

GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protection is a safety mechanism designed to help protect against shock. When electrical currents are deemed unstable, which can happen from water interference, the GFCI immediately shuts off the circuit to lessen the severity of the ensuing shock.

According to the NEC, GFCI protection is required for any electrical equipment used by a pool, as well as any outdoor outlets. If you’re unsure if your pool has GFCI protection, or need to upgrade your outdoor outlets, contact Roman Electric for further consultation.

Know All Circuit Breakers Connected to the Pool’s Wiring

If an electrical accident occurs in your swimming pool, you’ll want to be able to shut off the circuit as soon as possible. And this can be done by using the circuit breakers on your electrical panel. Examine your circuit breakers and find the one that corresponds to your pool’s circuit. If you’re having trouble finding the circuit, use a circuit breaker finder. More info about that can be found here.

Once found, label the circuit breaker and be ready to shut it off in case an electrical accident occurs.

Avoid Having Appliances/Cords Next to the Pool

While having a radio or speaker next to your pool might be a luxurious addition to swimming, it’s important the appliance and cords are as far away from the water as possible. If water mixes in with an appliance’s circuitry or wiring, it can severely be damaged and may even lead to shock.

Keep all appliances and cords at least 20-feet away from your swimming pool. Additionally, check your appliances and cords for any damages before usage. Even if they’re a considerable distance away from the pool, the tiniest droplet of water from a splash can still damage the appliance.

Have Your Swimming Pool Wiring Inspected Annually

When maintaining proper swimming pool electrical safety, it’s important to have it professionally inspected at least once a year. Doing so allows an electrical professional to thoroughly examine the inner workings of your swimming pool. This helps determine if it’s suitable for use, GFCI protected, compliant to code, and energy efficient. When you’re ready to have your swimming pool’s electrical equipment inspected, contact Roman Electric for our safety and code correction services.

Have a safe summer by practicing swimming pool electrical safety! And contact Roman Electric if you would like to be serviced by Milwaukee’s leading electrical experts. Give us a call at 414-369-3798 for our outlet, wiring, and safety inspection services.

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Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, and Electrical Safety

Don’t Swim with Shocks: Electrical Safety in and Around Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs