SHOULD I CONSIDER STRUCTURED WIRING? MY NEW HOME IS ONLY A SMALL BUNGALOW.

If you frequently use telephones, computers, and television or plan to have a family who might, the answer is yes. Also if you decide to sell your house eventually not having structured wiring could mean a lower price or lost sale.

WHAT DOES CAT5e WIRE MEAN?

It is a specially constructed type of low voltage wire, which can carry large amount of data very quickly and with minimum interference. It can have multiple uses at one location because it has 4 pairs of wires. For example, at a desk you can operate a fax, modem, and telephone from one wire.

WHAT IS RG6 CABLE?

It is a coaxial cable primarily used to carry video signals. However RG6 has extra insulation and shielding between the wires to help eliminate distortion of your signals.

DOES RG6 CABLE IMPROVE PICTURE QUALITY?

It improves quality greatly. High definition television is not possible on normal coaxial cable but on RG6 the picture is crystal clear.

I CAN'T AFFORD A SYSTEM NOW BUT WHAT CAN I DO TO BE READY FOR THE FUTURE?

It is important to get the wire behind the drywall. It is very costly to run wire after your house is built. You should run cables from a centralized location at every point in your house where you may eventually install some equipment. A conduit can also be installed between locations to allow wire to be pulled through later on.

IS IT EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL A MULTI-ROOM AUDIO SYSTEM IN MY HOUSE?

Considering the cost of buying electronic equipment for every room in your house, no. It's much less expensive to install a distribution system while your house is under construction.

WHAT DO MULTI-ZONE AND MULTI-ROOM MEAN?

This is a system that allows each room in the home that is wired to have different music playing at the same time. A basic system can only have one source of music playing at a time so the same music is heard in every room. With a multi-zone system you relax to some classical music while your son listens to a dance beat and your spouse listens to the news or the big game.

DO THE ELECTRICIANS INSTALL THE STRUCTURED CABLING?

No, specialists in the field install it. The installation method is much different than for electricity and improper installation can greatly affect the systems performance.

I REALLY LIKE POTLIGHTS BUT HAVE HEARD THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. IS THIS TRUE?

Not really. While there are some specialized pot lights on the market, you can install recessed lighting without hampering your budget. In fact, most fixtures are more expensive to buy than a basic pot light.

DO UNDERCABINET LIGHTS HELP WHEN I'M COOKING OR ARE THEY JUST FOR SHOW?

Lighting under your cabinets is both functional and attractive. While providing excellent back lighting it also allows food to be seen more clearly and potentially hazardous dirt to be visible when it might not have been otherwise.

WHAT IS A GFCI?

It is a special type of curcuitor device that detects misdirected electrical current and turns off the power. Its purpose is to save your life. It is typically on your bathroom and outside plugs as well as on jetted tub motors. The reset button for these are either on the device itself or located adjacent to your main electrical panel.

IS IT IMPORTANT TO TEST MY SMOKE DETECTORS?

Yes. You should test these devices weekly by following the instructions. Each one of them should be test individually. Vacuuming it gently should also clean your smoke alarm monthly.