October 2013 – Home Stuff 101

Electricians are individuals who are trained to install, repair and maintain electrical systems. If you are looking for a high-paying career that does not require a college degree, then you may want to consider becoming an electrician. This field is expected to increase by 23 percent within the next 10 years, which is faster than the national average.

Color vision, troubleshooting skills, critical thinking skills and managerial skills are necessary for being a successful electrician. Below is the step by step process that you will have to take if you want to become an electrician:

Enroll In An Electrician Program

In most cases, electricians get the training that they need by completing a formal apprenticeship. Even though college is not necessary to become an electrician, you may find it helpful to take some mathematics and science courses at a technical college.

The requirements needed to start an apprenticeship program can vary. However, almost all programs require that interested students be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED and earn a high score on the aptitude test. You may also be required to undergo a drug test before you enter an electrician program. If you are currently in the military, then you may still be able to get training in the electrical field. There are Navy and Army programs that help prepare people to become electricians.

It is very important for you to make sure that you choose an accredited program. The National Electrical Contractors’ Association and The National Joint Apprenticeship Program are two of the organizations that sponsor electrician programs.

It takes most students four or five years to complete an apprenticeship. You will be required to complete at least 144 hours of classroom training and an additional 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. You will most likely be paid for your on-the-job training.

While you are in classroom, you will learn about electrical code requirements, blueprint reading, mathematics, first aid and safety practices. Some programs also offer additional training related to elevators, fire alarm systems, soldering and communications. Many people who graduate from an electrician program are also qualified to do maintenance and construction work.

Licensure

After you complete an electrician program, you must earn your license. Keep in mind that the licensing requirements can vary from state to state. However, all states require that you take an examination before you earn your license. Most states require that earn a score of at least 75 percent on the examination. The exam will test your knowledge on the national electrical code, electrical theory, building codes and local electrical codes.

Where Can Electricians Work?

Sixty-two percent of electricians work in the electrical contractors’ industry. Ten percent on electricians are self-employed. An electrician can work inside, outside, in businesses, factors, construction sites and people’s homes. Some electricians are required to travel long distances.

The vast majority of electricians are employed full-time. They may also be required to work during the evenings and on weekends. Additionally, electricians often have to work overtime in order to meet their deadlines. Electricians who are self-employed may be able to set their own schedule.

Continuing Education

You may be required to take continuing education courses throughout your career. These courses are typically related to changes to the electrical code and safety practices.

This post is a guest contribution from a DIU fanatic who used to work in IT and live AV wiring.

Perhaps many mummies would agree with me when I say that the laundry room is, by far, the messiest room in the house. In one corner, you would see piles of unfolded laundry (fresh and clean, of course). In another, the hamper for dirty clothes is almost overflowing. There are clothes ready for ironing even while the washer is busy with newly loaded heaps of clothing. Then, there are a few odds and ends littered across the room – packs of laundry detergent, bottles of fabric softener and conditioner, clothes hangers, and many more.

After all is said and done, one hard truth surfaces – conquering a mountain of laundry load isn’t so much of a routine as it is the art of organization. So how can you start organizing your laundry room to make it more efficient?

First, find the best place for your washer and dryer. Many families prefer to put these two in the basement, saying that the location is perfect for keeping away the noise from the rest of the house. Others, though, assign locations near the kitchen or bedrooms because of the close proximity to where dirty clothes are shed most often. Whatever you choose, make sure there are enough electrical outlets, plumbing is exceptional, and space requirements (for any and/or all of the appliances you need for washing clothes) are met.

Since organizing is the crux of the matter, the second thing you need to do is to add storage bins, pullout cabinets, baskets, or hampers in the laundry room. Remember, de-cluttering is what you’re aiming for. Hence, it’s a good idea to keep laundry necessities out of sight. A canvas or solid metal storage bin may be used to keep small items corralled and organized inside big cabinets or shelves. That way, you know where to find the things you’ll need to do your laundry. Hampers and baskets, on the other hand, will help you sort soiled laundry from clean ones.

After organizing the “small” clutter in your laundry room, the third step to keeping it organized is to add some cabinets. There should be a variety of cabinets within the laundry room – small ones to keep laundry stuff away from kids, medium ones to keep hangers and other thingamajigs, and big ones where you can hang clothes you’ve just taken out of the dryer to drip dry. However, if you have a small laundry room and the number of cabinets is limited, buy collapsible hanging units or retractable clotheslines that you can use for the same purpose.

Fourth, it would be a good idea to include easy-access surfaces in your laundry room. For instance, open shelves will provide you the perfect place to put often-used supplies. Detergents, bleach, and fabric conditioner are supplies most often used when washing clothes. Open shelves will let you access these supplies quickly. Just make sure the shelves are out of children’s reach. You can also install countertops on base cabinets or above a front-loading washer and dryer, in case you have those, since you can use it for sorting clean laundry and folding clothes.

There you have it. Four simple steps to keep your laundry room organized. What’s great about these four easy steps is you can apply all these regardless of the type of room organization you want to practice in your laundry room. Believe it or not, you would find doing your laundry more enjoyable if your laundry room is organized.

Month: October 2013

Four Simple Steps to Make Your Laundry Room Organized