Fall is just around the corner! Mister Sparky® of Birmingham knows that colder weather will create different demands for energy usage around the house, and it’s important to ensure your electrical system is up to the challenge. Here are some tips to help you conserve energy as the fall season takes full effect.

Preset Your Lights – Install a programmable light timer for outdoor lighting. This way, you won’t have to worry about wasting any light during hours when the sun is still out. You can also use a light sensor device that will automatically turn your lights on when it gets dark.

Check Your Fans – Now’s the time to reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. Make sure fans are spinning clockwise as the weather gets colder – look for a small switch at the base of the fan. A clockwise spinning fan will draw cool air up and force warm air down and out.

Check Your Smoke Alarm – As the weather gets colder, people use their central heaters, space heaters and fireplaces. Now is a good time to test your smoke alarms so in the event of a fire emergency, you and your family are alerted and can make it out of your home safely!