Trusted Saskatoon IT Pro's at Burnt Orange Discuss the Purpose of a Cybersecurity Audit

21. Jul 2022 Admin Saskatoon Computers & Web design, Trusted Tips

Gareth McKee and his Trusted Saskatoon IT team at Burnt Orange Solutions promise to have a one-hour response time for all your IT support needs. Honesty and respect are important to them. They pride themselves on ensuring their clients understand IT concerns by providing a straightforward and reliable solution with exceptional service. Burnt Orange Solutions are your Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts. In their latest Saskatoon IT expert tip, Gareth shares the purpose of a cybersecurity audit.

WHAT IS A CYBERSECURITY AUDIT?

If you were hit by a cyber attack tomorrow, is your business ready? Ensuring the appropriate cybersecurity measures are in place is vital in protecting your business. A cybersecurity audit is a helpful tool in assessing the cyber security strength of your business and ensuring important information remains secure.

What Is A Cybersecurity Audit?

A cybersecurity audit is a comprehensive review of your business’s IT infrastructure. Cybersecurity audits are helpful as they detect vulnerabilities, recognize threats, and reveal high-risk practices in relation to IT security. Cybersecurity audits are all about data security and protecting information to ensure cybercriminals are unsuccessful in their hacking attempts.

What Does It Cover?

A cybersecurity audit involves a full audit of your business’s cybersecurity measures in order to assess risk, detect vulnerabilities, and recognize threats across all areas. These areas include but are not limited to:

Data Security – Involves a review of network access control, encryption use, data security at rest, and transmissions.
Network Security – Involves a review of network and security controls, antivirus, and security monitoring capabilities.
System Security – Involves a review of hardening processes, patching processes, privileged account management, and role-based access.

Physical Security – Involves a review of disk encryption, role-based access controls, biometric data, and multifactor authentication.

If it has been a while since you revisited your business’s cybersecurity measures, they are likely out of date and may no longer be effective. A cybersecurity audit will help ensure your business is prepared in the event of a cyber attack.

If you have any questions regarding cyber security and how we can help secure your data, contact the IT experts at Burnt Orange IT Solutions. We can help your business mitigate risk, and be prepared for any IT-related emergency.

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Burnt Orange Solutions are your Trusted Saskatoon IT Experts

Trusted Saskatoon Electricians Share 5 Electrical Projects DIYers Should Not Attempt

11. Jul 2022 Admin Saskatoon Electrician, Trusted Tips

Choose Saskatoon electricians who have many years of experience in the field.

5 Electrical Projects DIYers Should Not Attempt

We know people out there in Saskatoon love to DIY, but when it comes to electrical work there are some projects better left to the professionals at Anytime Electric.

1. Replacing Wiring

The main factor when deciding whether an electrical project can be tackled by a DIYer or whether it should be handled professionally is the complexity of the project. Replacing wire is one of the jobs that are simply too complicated for even experienced DIYers. There’s just too much that can go wrong to make DIY wire replacement worth the risk. Faulty wiring leads to electrical shorts that can single-handedly cause a disastrous house fire. According to statistics Canada in 2014, in Saskatchewan, 50% of house fires were caused by electrical appliances or electrical distribution equipment.

2. Repairing or Replacing a Circuit Breaker

Another sure-fire (no pun intended) way to cause serious electrical problems in a home is to mess with the circuit breaker. Circuit breakers might seem simple from the outside, but they’re basically the brains of your house’s entire electrical system and is there to keep you safe. Making a mistake when you’re working on a breaker can cause power surges and damaged wiring throughout the home. Familiarize yourself with your circuit breaker so that you know when it’s not functioning properly and needs repair, but when it comes time to do the actual electrical work, hire a pro.

3. Replacing Burnt Outlets

Replacing outlets on their own is actually fairly simple and should not present too much of a challenge for experienced DIYers. But if an outlet is blackened, burnt, or even hot to the touch, don’t work on it. The issue here is probably related to overheated wires or overloaded circuits. If you just replace the outlet without looking deeper, you’re basically just applying a bandaid to an electrical problem. A professional electrician will be able to accurately diagnose whatever more advanced problem is causing the issue and then repair it correctly.

4. Installing Dedicated Circuits

Some appliances, especially those on the more heavy-duty side, require their own dedicated circuit for power so that they don’t cause the wiring to overheat. If you’re trying to set up a high-wattage appliance in a room without a dedicated circuit to spare, you might be tempted to try and install another one on your own - don’t. Installing a dedicated circuit requires more advanced knowledge of wiring and outlet installation, and if you get any of it wrong you’re just going to end up wasting time and money and creating a potential fire hazard.

5. Installing New Light Switches

Replacing switches that have gone bad or upgrading to a different kind of switch is not all that complicated. Installing an entirely new switch is. Avoid installing a new switch as a DIY project. A professional electrician will be able to do the job much safer and much more efficiently.

Trusted Saskatoon Furnace & Duct Cleaners at Bridge City Explain Air Duct Cleaning

20. Jun 2022 Admin Saskatoon Furnace & Duct Cleaning, Trusted Tips

Trusted Saskatoon Furnace & Duct Cleaners Bridge City Duct Cleaning provides both residential duct cleaning and commercial duct cleaning and furnace maintenance services. Their team is professionally trained, qualified, bonded, and factory furnace and duct cleaning technicians. In their latest article, they discuss how air duct cleaning is done.

HOW AIR DUCT CLEANING IS DONE

You’ve seen the signs that your Air Ducts need cleaning, but now are you wondering how air duct cleaning is done? What do you need to be prepared for?

The Steps To How Air Duct Cleaning is Done

Step 1: Inspect The Air Ducts

A simple, visual inspection of the ducts leading to the return and supply registers is important for two reasons. First, it’s a step that you can take yourself to assess the level of buildup in the ducts beforehand and confirm the difference after they’ve been cleaned.

Second, a professional duct cleaning is an opportunity for Bridge City Duct Cleaning to check the ductwork for leaks or, in the case of flexible ducts, kinks. It is also a good time to repair and replace damaged ductwork.

Step 2: Create Negative Pressure

Bridge City Duct Cleaning uses large, portable or truck-mounted vacuum collection devices to suck dust and debris out of your ductwork. However, before turning on the suction and scrubbing the ducts, the technicians must perform preliminary steps.

First, they hook the vacuum collection device’s large hose to a duct close to the air handler—the heart of your HVAC system. The technician cuts an access hole in the duct, inserts the vacuum hose, and seals where they join as tightly as possible.

(Note that your HVAC system has a supply and a return side—ducts that send treated air into the rooms of the house, and ducts that return air to the air handler. The supply and return sides are separate, and the duct cleaning process is performed on each.)

Next, the technician will seal each register with an adhesive cover. This is an important step because even an extremely powerful vacuum collection device will not work if the registers in each room of the house are uncovered.
Once the technician finishes these steps, they turn on the vacuum unit. This step creates negative pressure, and particles inside the ductwork will be sucked into the collection device as they are brushed or blown loose.

Step 3: Agitate The Dust

Once the system is under negative pressure, the technician uncovers each register and cleans each duct. Technicians use rotating brushes, compressed air tools, and simple vacuum cleaners to ensure dust is dislodged and sucked into the vacuum collection device.

Step 4: Clean The Rest Of The System

It is recommended to clean the other components of the HVAC system as well, including the air handler’s blower motor, evaporator coil, and drain pan.

Cleaning these components, along with cleaning or changing the filter, will improve the air quality in your home as well as extend the life and increase the efficiency of your HVAC system.

A Bridge City Duct Cleaning technician will perform the job thoroughly and carefully, ensuring that your ductwork winds up clean and undamaged. A thorough cleaning should take three to five hours and this is how your air ducts are cleaned.

Call today to book your appointment with Bridge City Duct Cleaning.

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Bridge City Furnace and Duct Cleaning Is A Trusted Saskatoon Furnace and Duct Cleaning Company

Trusted Saskatoon Air Conditioning & Furnace Pros at JOB Heating & Air Conditioning Explain How to Save on Your Gas Bill!

20. Jun 2022 Admin Saskatoon Air Conditioning & Furnace, Trusted Tips

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning Saskatoon is eager to provide the best possible customer experience. Their aim is to be a professional resource for our clients before, during, and after the sale! Their team takes pride in service knowledge of modern equipment and training. They are recognized by peers and offer sales, service, training & installations for residential, and commercial Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing systems in Saskatoon and area. JOB Heating & Air are Trusted Saska toon Plumbers. In their latest tip, they share how you can save on your gas bill!

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR NATURAL GAS BILL

Natural gas is an important part of Canada’s energy resources. More than six million Canadians use natural gas to light, heat and cool homes and businesses, to heat water, and for cooking. Many Canadians have higher natural gas bills than they would like.

Check for Aging Equipment

If you are running an old, inefficient boiler or heating system, it may be wasting much of the energy it produces. It may never have had top-notch efficiency, to begin with, or it may have lost some capability with time and wear.

Blocked Vents and Impeded Airflow

The arrangement of the furniture and appliances in your home may block vents and restrict airflow. In this case, your natural gas heating system is likely working overtime because it’s much more difficult to heat your home to a comfortable temperature.

Lower the Thermostat

Especially in the winter, when gas bills soar, lowering the thermostat by even a couple of degrees can make a difference in your bill, helping you save as much as 5 to 10%. If lowering the heat would make your home uncomfortable in the evenings, try reducing the temperature only at night, or during the day if family members are at work.

Invest in a Smart Thermostat

JOB Heating & air Conditioning recommend a smart thermostat for your home. A smart thermostat can adjust the heat to your particular schedule, so you won’t have to heat or cool your house even when no one’s home or everyone’s snuggled in bed.

Turn Down the Water Heater

Some homes’ water heaters are set as high as 140 degrees, but most people don’t need their water that hot. To help save money on your gas bill, check your water heater and see if you can turn the temperature down while still allowing for comfortable showers and warm water for dishes.

Keep Doors and Windows Closed During the Winter and Open During the Cool Summer Nights

Along the same lines, keep doors and windows closed when your natural gas heating system runs. Opening windows and doors is great for cooling off a hot house on summer evenings, but it will let valuable heat escape in the colder seasons.

Bundle Up

Especially in the winter, wearing extra layers helps keep your thermostat settings low and your gas bills reasonable. If you’re wearing a sweater or some cozy flannel pants, you may not even notice that you’ve turned the thermostat down a few degrees. And using extra blankets or down comforters can help keep you warm at night when your thermostat is in its energy-saving mode.

Natural Gas Check-Up

Do a check-up on your plumbing, air conditioning and furnace. The check-up may show you how to save money on your Natural Gas Bill.

JOB Heating & Air Conditioning offers 24/7 emergency service. Known for prompt and courteous service, they are ready to assist if your Saskatoon plumbing heating or cooling system needs repair or if you want to upgrade or update it. Their professional local team is happy to provide free estimates for any home comfort or plumbing improvements you have in mind.

JOB Heating and Air Conditioning is a Trusted Saskatoon Plumber

Signs Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning From Trusted Saskatoon Furnace & Duct Cleaners at Bridge City Duct Cleaning

9. Jun 2022 Admin Saskatoon Furnace & Duct Cleaning, Trusted Tips

Trusted Saskatoon Furnace & Duct Cleaners Bridge City Duct Cleaning provides both residential duct cleaning and commercial duct cleaning and furnace maintenance services. Their team is professionally trained, qualified, bonded, and factory furnace and duct cleaning technicians. In their latest article, they discuss the signs your air ducts need cleaning.

5 SIGNS YOUR AIR DUCTS NEED CLEANING

It is normal for the return registers to get dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned; however, there are signs your air ducts need cleaning:

Dust and Debris Are Blown During Start-Up

One of the best ways to tell if your ducts need cleaning is to check how much dust and debris are blown out when starting your heating unit. In normal situations, air ducts do not release visible dust or debris when the heating and cooling system is switched on, and the air starts flowing through the ducts. Sometimes an accumulation of dust will make it seem like your ducts need to be cleaned, so be sure to perform this check only after a fresh filter has been installed. It’s important that your ducts be free of these substances as they can cause issues with energy efficiency and air quality throughout your home.

Mould Growth

The appearance of mould is never a good sign. It could mean a number of issues with your ducts (including a moisture problem). It’s important to check for mould for a variety of reasons, most prominently, to protect your health. Mould can cause breathing and other health-related problems. If you notice any mould in your ducts, call our duct cleaning service in Saskatoon immediately.

You Notice Rodents or Insects

Wildlife in your ducts is a big problem. If you notice any signs that there might be an infestation in your ducts, it’s definitely time to have your air ducts cleaned by a professional. Look out for small scratches, insect husks and shells along with rodent droppings. All could be signs that you have a couple of unwanted house guests living in your vents.

The Presence of Carbon Monoxide

This is only applicable if you use a gas stove, furnace or fireplace. Because your ducts are connected to each and every room in the house, it’s important to ensure that there’s no gas trapped inside them. This could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. For this reason, it’s recommended that you have your heating system inspected at the beginning of every season.

Unpleasant Odour from Ducts

Another telltale sign of the presence of debris in the system and that you should conduct serious ventilation system cleaning is odour. If you experience an unpleasant smell in your home and can’t find the source, it could be emanating from the air duct system. You should get up close to all the air registers for a good sniff to verify these suspicions. You can also have a technician inspect the air ducts for anything that could be emitting a bad smell.

Take a look at these 5 signs that your air ducts need cleaning, and if you find the signs, then let our professional team of experts at Bridge City Duct Cleaning take care of your dryer vent cleaning to prevent damage to your air and your home.

Let the professional team of experts at Bridge City Duct Cleaning take care of your spring duct cleaning to help optimize the air quality in your home!

Bridge City Duct Cleaning Services Include: