The Electric Connection’s Blog

LEDs Are the Future says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It is no secret the cost to run anything electrical in your home is increasing. Coming out of winter often gives you a slight break on your electric bill, but is it enough? Could you be doing more to save yourself a little more money every month? The answer is yes. However, you may not want to change your habits or maybe you are already scaled way back on your energy usage and are not up for doing too much more. That’s okay. Your electrician in Los Angeles has another solution that requires nothing more from you than changing out a light bulb. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to save a little extra money on your electric bill and has some great news.

LED light bulbs are available in all shapes, sizes and even colors. Before, you had to have a specific kind of light fixture that would accommodate the bulbs, but that is no longer the case. Nowadays, they look very similar to the old school incandescent lights. They are not the same! A single LED bulb is going to cost you more. You can expect to pay $4 to $20 for a bulb, depending on the wattage, brand and type explains an electrician. Los Angeles residents who are not sure why LEDs are all the rage can head to a home improvement store and check out the displays set up that allow you to see the difference.

LED bulbs use a fraction of the electricity, but provide the same amount of light. For example; you can get the same amount of light as you would with a 100-watt bulb and only actually use about 12 watts (this will vary). The LEDs are very bright and you will discover you only need about a 60-watt bulb to provide plenty of light in an area. Your Los Angeles electrician explains the best part about these bulbs, besides their energy efficiency, they last for years! If you have any more questions about LEDs and how they can help you lower your electric bill, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Office Lighting Solutions by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
Interior of the empty modern business office

Employees that spend their time indoors for a large portion of the day, may get a little cabin fever. The walls can feel like they are closing in and it just feels stuffy. Humans that long for bright sunlight will suffer when they are cooped up all day. While it doesn’t make sense to have the workplace outside and a wall of windows isn’t always an option, you can give the appearance of a bright and cheery space with the installation of new lighting. If you are looking for an office lighting solution, give your Santa Monica electrician a call. The team at The Electric Connection can help you come up with a lighting scheme that can eliminate the employee doldrums.

The boring, yellow fluorescent tubes that are commonplace in office spaces are out. They are yesterday’s news. It is time to get with the times. There is a fine balance between being bright and airy and being overly bright to the point it causes glares on computer screens. Different areas in the office will have different lighting needs, which your electrician in Santa Monica can help you accommodate.

Not only do you need to consider the type of lighting you will use, but you also want to take a good look at the fixtures. Recessed lights are a great way to help keep halls and other small areas from appearing cramped. A fixture hanging into the space makes it look smaller. You are not limited to the standard light fixtures that have been installed in offices for decades. Change it up with the help of your electrician. Santa Monica business managers will appreciate how much change a lighting upgrade can bring to an office space. Give The Electric Connection a call today and see what they can do for you.

Fabulous Kitchen Lighting by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

A bright, well-lit kitchen is a must in every home. It is simply more inviting and more appealing in general. There is also a layer of safety added when you can see well when you are handling hot foods and sharp knives. A dim kitchen can make it difficult to properly judge seasoning or whether or not a particular dish is fully cooked. You don’t see dark kitchens in restaurants or gourmet setups. If you would like to bring your kitchen into the light, call your electrician. Pasadena homeowners can count on The Electric Connection to provide a qualified electrician to successfully complete the transformation.

Track lighting is certainly a better choice than a single fixture in the center of a room. The track can be in a variety of shapes and include as many or as few lights as you need. The lights can be directed into work areas to provide more focused light. The track lighting fixtures should be installed by an electrician in Pasadena to ensure it is done right. The fixtures are a favorite because they tend to make a kitchen look much bigger. You don’t have to worry about a fixture hanging in the space and giving it a cluttered look.

Another favorite in the world of bright kitchens is recessed lighting installed by a Pasadena electrician. Again, you can have as many or as little as you would like. Adding LEDs to the fixtures is a great choice. You will get a lot of light with very little wattage. A 100 watt LED bulb looks like several bulbs but only uses a fraction of the electricity. You can choose between a variety of styles to provide just the right light in your kitchen. Give The Electric Connection a call today to schedule your kitchen lighting upgrade.

Planning Your New Home with Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Whether you have purchased land and are looking forward to having your own home built or live in a home that you want to give a complete renovation, your project is going to be a big one. There are so many factors that go into the building of a home, it can be a bit overwhelming. The key to remember is that it should all be left to trained and certified contractors. There is a great deal of planning that is involved in the construction of a home, even if it is a fairly straightforward renovation or addition. It is important that an electrician in Glendale is included in the planning process from the very beginning. The team at The Electric Connection has a great deal of experience with new construction and can provide valuable input.

If the project you are working on is a bit more of a do-it-yourself job, it is absolutely crucial you do not attempt to do the electrical yourself. There are not only laws and regulations that must be adhered to, it just isn’t safe for you or the construction project. When you hire a Glendale electrician to complete the wiring and fixture installation, you can rest assured it is done right. You know you will pass the inspection that must be done to follow code and you will know it is safe.

Some people assume they can skip the hiring of certain contractors, including the electrician. Glendale property owners need to think long-term. The risk of an electrical hazard or a fire starting because of faulty wiring is far too great. Budget the expense of an experienced electrician into the construction cost and save yourself a lot of hassle and worry. The team at The Electric Connection is standing by to help you with your next big project.

New Bathroom Vanity Lights Installed by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Bathrooms tend to be one of those places you don’t really want to hang out it with your friends. You don’t often think too hard on what the bathroom looks like. The main goal is that it is clean and functional. An added perk is making it look nice. There are plenty of extra perks you can add to a bathroom to make it more inviting and even more functional. An electrician in Burbank can help you with the installation of those extras. All you need to do is give The Electric Connection a call to transform your boring bathroom into a luxurious spa.

Some ideas that you may want consider include the lighting scheme. The light in the room can be a standard fixture or a combination of lights. Recessed lighting is a nice choice. A bath fan with a heated light is a nice luxury and can help take the chill off the room when you are stepping out of the shower. This is something your Burbank electrician will need to install for you. A heated towel bar is another sweet luxury you can enjoy. The warming racks are typically hard-wired, which means they are wired into the home’s electricity and not plugged in.

The vanity lights that are over the mirror are a must. There are plenty of styles to choose from. The latest models on the market are designed to be used with LED bulbs. You can choose bulbs that give you a bright, white light that is similar to the natural light outdoors. This is an ideal choice and gives you plenty of light to see exactly what is in the mirror. Vanity lights can be fun and whimsical or traditional. Do some shopping, then call your electrician. Burbank homeowners will love how a few minor changes can make a huge difference.

Colorful Lighting Installed by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It is amazing to see the difference a light fixture can make to the overall look and feel of a room or living space. In the past, you were stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach to home lighting. Today, that is no longer the case. You have the freedom to choose just how you want a room to feel when you step in. You get to choose what kind of light you want shed, whether it is clean and bright or subtle with a nice glow. An electrician in Los Angeles can take care of the installation of the light fixtures once you have come up with a decision. The team at The Electric Connection is always ready to help.

With the numerous options in styles of fixtures and an equally wide selection of light bulbs, you can really create a dramatic room. Right now, LEDs are growing in popularity. They are going to cost you more money to buy than CFLs or incandescent lights, but think of it like this; you won’t be changing that bulb for years if you don’t want to. Your Los Angeles electrician encourages you to browse the lighting aisle at your favorite home improvement store. You will find some very unique fixtures that really help create a statement or you can stick with the tried and true classical fixtures.

Rooms that don’t really need a lot of light can benefit from fixtures that use the smaller bulbs. Try having some fun with the space by going with a colored bulb. Blues, pinks and greens can create a fun space while providing plenty of light. What if you could paint a room without ever applying a drop of paint? You can with a colored bulb. All you need to do is have your new fixture installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can change the colors of bulbs with their mood, the season or to support a cause. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your new light fixture installation.

Brighter Bathrooms with Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
Corporate restroom. Shot with Canon 30D and Canon 24-105L lens.

If you own a business or are the manager of a business that has customers that come through the door, you know the importance of lighting. Lighting is something that can be easily overlooked, but it plays a crucial role in the overall impression of an establishment. Poor lighting or lighting that washes out the features in the room are going to leave a negative impression. An electrician in Beverly Hills, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you revamp the way customers and clients see your business.

One of the most frequently overlooked areas in an establishment is the bathroom. It may not be pretty, but they are a necessity. Many people will judge an entire business by the look of a bathroom alone. It sounds harsh, but a client has some reasonable expectations and a clean, well-lit bathroom is one of them. Your Beverly Hills electrician can quickly and effectively change out those old, dreary features and replace them with new ones that provide plenty of light. Lighting can make a small room look bigger, cleaner and more inviting explains an electrician. Beverly Hills business owners can make some dramatic improvements without spending much money at all.

When a person visits the bathroom, they want to check their appearance in the mirror. The last thing they want to do is have to strain their eyes or wonder if they have a yellow pallor or if it is just the poor lighting. Along with brightening up the bathrooms, think about the reception area and other places your clients and customers are likely to see. Really look at the area and try talking with your customers to get their honest opinions. You may be surprised at what you hear. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting makeover.

Power Saving Tips by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

This winter is shaping up to be a cold one, even in areas you wouldn’t expect it. It can throw a wrench in your budget when you get an electric bill that is significantly higher than you are accustomed to. Running the heater all day and night is going to cost you. There are some things you can do to reduce your power usage throughout the winter to help offset the usage of the furnace. Your electrician in Burbank can help you do just that with these power saving tips. The team at The Electric Connection can provide you with more details about energy saving tactics.

1. Hold a family meeting. Make it clear that everyone needs to be a little more energy conscientious and make the effort to conserve.
2. If you are decorating for the holidays, consider investing in LED lights. They use far less electricity and are much brighter. More bang for your buck!
3. Give the lights inside the home an upgrade to LEDs as well. A Burbank electrician can change out old light fixtures to the newer ones that use the LED bulbs.
4. Encourage your family members to shorten their showers by at least 3 minutes. This will save you some cash by reducing how often your hot water heater needs to fire up explains an electrician. Burbank homeowners can invest in a number of different energy efficient water heaters.
5. When you turn on the heater, be frugal. You can set it at 72 and still be comfortable. If you are chilly, put on a sweater and some warm socks. Take the opportunity to enjoy some hot chocolate under a warm blanket.

Saving money doesn’t mean you have to dramatically change your lifestyle. A few simple tricks and you can balance the budget. Turn on the heat and rest easy. If you need any future tips or need those new LED fixtures, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Hiring an Electrician in Glendale for the Little Jobs

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
Photo of a Wire Stripper and Electrical Related Items

There are going to be things that need done around the house. Those things may vary from little jobs like taking out the trash, oiling a squeaky hinge or fixing a sink that has incessant leak. That is all a part of home ownership. However, along with the little things that need taking care of, there are some other jobs that seem little, but are actually dangerous. Anything that involves electricity is always a bad idea. If you are not a trained electrician, it can get very ugly. No matter how small you think a job is, if it has anything to do with electricity, call a Glendale electrician. You can count on the team at The Electric Connection to send out a certified electrician to take care of your big or small job.

Even something that seems relatively easy to fix, like a faulty outlet or a switch, can be risky. All it takes is one small touch of a wire to send an electric shock through you. Even if the electric shock isn’t enough to cause serious injury, you have to consider the potential of a spark that starts a house fire. All it takes is one loose wire to cause serious damage explains an electrician. Glendale homeowners do not want to risk the safety of their home by making an innocent mistake.

Any job you have around the house that requires the involvement of any electricity should always be left to an electrician in Glendale. While safety is obviously a major concern, it isn’t the only one. You also have to worry about your homeowner’s insurance being negated if your mistake was the cause of damage to the house. Sure you may be able to save some money by trying to take on the job yourself, but it isn’t worth it. Give The Electric Connection a call and make an appointment to have your electrical jobs taken care of by a trained professional.

Hidden Dangers in Your Home by California Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As you lay in bed at night, with the doors locked, the alarm set and your security lights on, you probably feel relatively safe. You should. These are all things we do to give us a little extra protection when we are at home. Even with all of these safeguards, there are other dangers lurking. These dangers are not so obvious and are very well hidden behind the walls of the home. These electrical hazards sneak up with little warning. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to be safe at home and can help you identify the hazards before they become serious problems. All it takes is about an hour long electrical safety inspection and your due diligence.

An electrical outlet is used and abused pretty often. Every time you plug something in, you are applying pressure to the outlet and the box behind it. When you unplug something, you often have to wiggle it. Although you should never yank a plug out, it does happen. Each of these actions can cause the wires that are bringing electricity to the outlet to loosen. Your California electrician explains that over time, the loose wires can arc and cause sparks. The insulation surrounding the electrical boxes can ignite, causing a home fire.

Fortunately, there are often some signs to look for to let you know that something isn’t quite right with your outlets. Pay attention and at the first sign of trouble, call your electrician in southern California. A quick inspection and a tightening of wires or a replacement of the outlet can fix the problem. An electrical inspection can help you identify other potential hazards and give you the chance to fix them before they become a serious issue. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your inspection so you can sleep even better at night knowing your family is that much safer.