Common Signs That Your Electrical System Needs Updating
November 18, 2021
Depending on where you live, the homes in your neighborhood could be less than ten years old or older than 100. This leads to a variety of factors to consider when it comes to updating your electrical system. Depending on the age of your home, you may want to consider taking this step sooner rather than later. A much older home will likely have a simplistic system. When you think about how drastically our electrical demands have increased in just the past ten years, it is easy to see why your system may need some sprucing up.
What Should I Look for?
When it comes to determining if your electrical system needs updating, there are a few key elements in your home to pay attention to. These include:
- Power strips, extension cords, and your outlets. If you look around your home or office and realize you have a jumble of power strips or extension cords, this is a good sign that your need outweighs what your current system can supply. It’s easy to overload these systems. It can also lead to potentially hazardous situations if you use power strips and electrical cords together. It’s essentially a messy solution to what really needs to be done.
- Lights dimming or flickering. While not as obvious as completely blowing a circuit, your lights or appliances dimming can be a sign of too much power being used. For example, if your kitchen lights dim when you turn on the microwave, this can be a sign that your kitchen circuit is no longer up to the task of powering so many different appliances at once. If you notice lights flickering, pay attention to if it is one light or multiple. You could simply have bad wiring in one spot, or it could be a sign of a larger electrical issue.
- Circuit Breakers. When a circuit breaker blows, it can be one of the most common and most obvious signs that your electrical system needs updating. For example, if you find yourself losing power to your bathroom every time you turn on your blow dryer, this is a clear indication that the individual circuit is no longer up to the task. That circuit could be replaced with one of a greater capacity, but only if the wiring can support that increase in power. If you are in an older home, this is an update that you will likely face to bring your system up to speed with the needs of the modern world. You’ll want an experienced professional to help determine what steps need to be taken.
Your Next Steps
If you are tired of dealing with power cords, flickering lights, or even the dreaded tripping of your circuit breaker, it may be time to call in backup. A qualified electrician or contractor will be able to come in and assess the real needs of your home. This could be a simple fix or a more detailed overhaul of your electrical system. They will also understand all the safety protocols that need to be in place. Faulty electrical work can lead to numerous dangers in your home. It is best to do it the right way first and trust a professional.
This May, Busby's Cares is partnering with WLJ Angel Gowns for a donation matching campaign centered on compassion, remembrance, and support for families experiencing the loss of an infant. WLJ Angel Gowns transforms donated wedding dresses into beautifully handcrafted gowns for babies. Each piece is created with intention and care, offering families a meaningful way to honor their child. These gowns provide not only a gentle sense of comfort, but also a lasting keepsake during an incredibly difficult time. Throughout the month, every donation made in support of WLJ Angel Gowns will be matched, allowing each gift to go twice as far in helping provide these special garments to families in need. It's a simple yet powerful way to extend kindness and support to others in our community. This campaign captures the heart of Busby's Cares by partnering with organizations that lead with compassion and creating opportunities for our community to get involved in meaningful ways. When we come together, we can help ensure that every family facing loss is met with care, support, and understanding. We invite you to join us in supporting WLJ Angel Gowns this month. Your generosity helps create something truly special for families when they need it most. To learn more about the campaign or to make a donation, please visit www.wljangelgowns.org
At Busby's, caring for our community is at the heart of everything we do. This April, through Busby's Cares, we're proud to partner with Hope House for a donation matching campaign focused on providing support, safety, and stability for individuals and families facing hard times. All month long, donations made to Hope House are being matched, doubling the impact and helping expand access to critical resources for those in need. Hope House serves our community by offering shelter and essential resources to individuals and families in crisis. Their work creates a safe place for people to rebuild, regain independence, and move forward with hope. Through Busby's Cares, our mission is to improve the quality of life for our team, our customers, and our community. Partnering with organizations like Hope House allows us to live out that purpose in a real and impactful way. We invite you to join us in supporting Hope House during this month's campaign. Every donation goes further, every dollar is matched, and every act of generosity helps strengthen our community. Together, we can give more, care more, and do more for those around us.
Busby's Heating & Air Conditioning is proud to announce a new partnership between Busby’s Cares and Golden Harvest Food Bank to help fight food insecurity across the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). As part of the initiative, Busby's Cares will donate 25 meals for every HVAC checkup completed in 2026. Through this effort, routine heating and cooling maintenance will directly translate into meals for families, seniors, and children facing hunger in our community. “Busby’s Cares is rooted in our purpose of improving the quality of life for our team, our community, and our customers,” said Kristen Munn, President of Busby’s Heating & Air Conditioning. "By tying every HVAC checkup to 25 meals, our customers become part of something bigger – helping us bring comfort not just into homes, but onto tables across our community." Golden Harvest Food Bank serves communities throughout Georgia and South Carolina by distributing food throughout a network of partner agencies and hunger-relief programs. This partnership allows Busby’s customers to make a measurable impact simply by maintaining their home comfort systems. In addition to the meal donation initiative, the Busby's team plans to support Golden Harvest through volunteer efforts and ongoing community awareness campaigns throughout the year. This partnership reflects Busby’s long-standing commitment to community involvement. Through Busby’s Cares, the company continues to extend its mission beyond heating and cooling – striving to improve the quality of life throughout the CSRA. Community members interested in scheduling an HVAC checkup or learning more about Busby’s Cares initiatives can visit https://www.busbys.com/busby-s-cares or follow along on Busby’s Cares social media for updates.
March in Motion: Supporting The RECing Crew through Busby's Cares At Busby's, each month our Busby's Cares initiative is an opportunity to highlight organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. In March, we were proud to partner with The RECing Crew, a local nonprofit bringing joy, connection, and opportunity to individuals with disabilities across the CSRA. Founded by families and friends of individuals with disabilities, The RECing Crew was built on a simple but powerful idea: everyone deserves access to fun, enriching recreational experiences. With over 200 participants ranging in age from 6 to 88, their programs create opportunities for people of all abilities to stay active, build friendships, and explore new interests. Their wide range of offerings includes: Art programs, ballet, jazz, and tap dance, chorus and music, MMA, boxing, Karate, jazzercise, recreational sports, baseball leagues, social clubs and group activities. One of the most impactful aspects of The RECing Crew's mission is their commitment to affordability. By keeping program costs low, they ensure that more families can participate without financial barriers. That's where community support plays an important role. Through our March donation matching campaign, Busby's Cares helped amplify every dollar given up to an additional $2,000. Those donations directly support operational costs, equipment, and resources that keep these programs running strong. If you'd like to explore their programs, volunteer opportunities, or ways to give, visit: www.therecingcrew.com
February marked a milestone moment for our Busby's Cares initiative, one that showcased the power of community, collaboration, and shared purpose. We had the honor of spotlighting Mad Hatter Farm, an incredible local organization dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with special needs. Mad Hatter Farm is more than just a farm… inspired by and in memory of their daughter Cassie, it's a place where people of all abilities are empowered to grow, learn, and thrive. Their work fills a vital gap in the community as the only handicap-accessible farm and animal sanctuary in the CSRA. What made February especially memorable was how quickly this campaign grew beyond what we imagined. As part of our commitment, Busby’s Cares pledged to match donations up to $2,000. But the momentum didn’t stop there. Inspired by the cause, Maxwell's Plumbing and Drain stepped forward with an incredible offer to match our match - contributing an additional $2,000 once our original match was met. With the support of our community, $4,000 was raised for Mad Hatter Farm. Thanks to the combined matching efforts, that amount was doubled, resulting in an incredible $8,000 total impact. February’s campaign was a perfect example of what we envisioned when we launched Busby's Cares. It's not just about giving; it's about creating a ripple effect of generosity that spreads throughout our community. We're incredibly thankful to everyone who contributed, shared, and supported this effort. And a special thank you to Maxwell's Plumbing and Drain for stepping up and helping take this campaign to the next level. To learn more about Mad Hatter Farm and the difference they are making in our community, visit https://www.madhatterfarm.org
This past January, through our Busby’s Cares initiative, we were proud to spotlight an organization making a difference in our community: Child Enrichment. For decades, Child Enrichment has served as a lifeline for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or trafficking. Their mission to provide intervention, advocacy, and prevention services has helped protect children and guide them toward healing and hope. Through programs like their Child Advocacy Center and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), they have ensured that every child had a voice and access to the care, support, and resources they needed. These essential services have been provided free of charge, made possible by the generosity of donors and community partners. Through our donation matching campaign, every dollar given to Child Enrichment went twice as far. Busby’s proudly matched donations up to a total of $2,000, amplifying the generosity of everyone who participated. Child Enrichment has served thousands of children across the CSRA, helping them navigate difficult circumstances and find hope again. The support shown in January helped continue that mission by providing safe spaces, advocacy, and resources for children who needed it most. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who gave during this campaign. While January’s campaign has ended, the need for support continues. If you’d still like to make a difference, you can learn more or contribute by visiting their website: https://www.childenrichment.org/donate
Originally published in the 1962 Coleman Bonded Line Bulletin, this article explores how J.C. Busby pioneered trade-in promotions and advertising strategies in the heating industry.
Winter is coming! Participate in the Annual Busby's Coats for Kids through October 30th, 2025
On March 18, 2025, Busby's Heating and Air Conditioning held its 33rd Annual Employee Appreciation and Awards Banquet. Owner, Rick Busby and other managers recognized top performers in each department. Awards were also given for safety, years of service, attendance and sales excellence. Each employee who attended (and their "plus-one") enjoyed a fabulous buffet and dessert from Moe's Southwestern Grill and each received a logo'd duffel bag and numerous door prizes. 2025 represents Busby's 80th year of serving the community. Kristen Munn, Rick's youngest daughter, recently became the company's President. Kristen helped celebrate 2024 wins and accomplishments and spoke about her high hopes for the company and its employees in the years to come.
Busby's Heating & Air Conditioning proudly marks its 80th anniversary in 2025, and with it, a momentous milestone in the company's history—Kristen Munn, Rick Busby’s daughter, has been named the new President, and is the third generation of leadership. JC Busby, Rick's father founded Busby's shortly after World War II in Millen, Georgia. The company has since grown into a trusted name in the heating and air conditioning industry. Over the past eight decades, Busby's has continually expanded its services, introduced new products, and built a reputation for exceptional customer service. The company has also become a pillar of the Augusta community, supporting various local charities and service organizations. Kristen Munn began her career at Busby's over 15 years ago, starting from the ground up as a summer intern. After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Business Management from Georgia College & State University, Kristen took on various roles at Busby's, as well as, making key contributions to upgrade the company’s technology. Kristen later accepted an opportunity to work as an implementation coach with Nexstar, where she assisted HVAC and plumbing companies across the United States, Australia, and Canada. While at Nexstar, Kristen earned a promotion to Business Coach where she worked directly with owners and General Managers helping them reach their business goals. Kristen recently decided to return to her roots and step into the role of President and future owner of Busby's Heating & AC. Her return to Augusta, alongside her husband Shane and their dogs Boone and Daisy, is a moment of great excitement for Rick, and his wife Tammy, her sister, Lauren and the entire Busby's team. Welcome Home, Kristen and Shane. "I'm so excited and privileged to be on the path to third-generation ownership of Busby's. It's not just about keeping the business in the family, but also about building on what was started and making it my own for the future." Kristen Busby Munn commented on her new position. "It is comforting to know that our company will remain a family-owned business for the third generation and for many years to come. I am so excited to have Kristen take over the realm as President" stated Rick Busby. While much has changed since 1945, the core values that Busby's was built upon—quality, integrity, honesty, and customer satisfaction—remain unchanged. CEO Rick Busby reflects, “These four pillars were the foundation of my father's success, and they will continue to guide our company for many years to come. We remain dedicated to providing the same quality workmanship, reliable service, and customer care that have set us apart since day one."