The Electric Connection’s Blog

Electrical Safety this Holiday Season by Santa Monica Electrician

electriccon_10_6Decorating your home and the outdoors is an extremely popular activity starting in about October. October and fall weather tends to be very wet. Putting electric-powered decorations outside can get tricky. Every year, it seems like we try to go a little bigger with our holiday displays. Every year, manufacturers are putting out bigger, cooler and more elaborate decorations for us to add to our collections. If you are one of those people who likes to have the coolest holiday display on the block, you probably rely on electricity to run lights and some of the moving figures placed outside or around the house. That means you need to brush up on your electric safety knowledge and an electrician in Santa Monica is here to help you do just that. You can always count on The Electric Connection to give you accurate information.

One of the most important safety rules to keep in mind is to pay attention to what the decorations and lights are designed for. If they are designated “indoor use only” don’t attempt to put them outside. It could result in the item shorting out and possibly sparking a fire. This applies to extension cords as well explains an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners need to follow the guidelines on the cords. Outdoor extension cords will generally be round and brightly colored.

Do not connect more than three strands of lights together. Read the manufacturer guidelines on each of the boxes to determine if you can put several decorations on the same cord or if they will need separate ones. Avoid connecting more than 2 extension cords together. If you need additional outlets outside, hire a Santa Monica electrician to do so for you. This can make decorating a breeze. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need additional outlets or have questions about electric safety.

Home Additions with Pasadena Electrician

electriccon_10_5If you own your home, it is essentially yours to do as with you please. You are not restricted to what colors you paint the walls or how you decorate your home. For those who don’t live in neighborhoods with strict home covenant laws, you are also free to make your home a little bigger. Every square foot of livable space you have in your home adds value. The cost to add the space is far lower than what the additional square footage is actually worth. Home additions are an excellent way to make a home big enough to suit your family’s needs, while adding significant value. This is definitely a big project and will require the services of a trained, professional Pasadena electrician. The team at The Electric Connection is available and can help you iron out the details of your addition.

Additions can be anything from a single bedroom add on, adding on to an existing room in the house, transforming a basement or even something a little more elaborate like installing a second story. Adding mother-in-law apartment’s are also a common home addition that seem to be growing in popularity. These are all possible with the help of an electrician. Pasadena homeowners that are big on DIY can certainly do a lot of the construction of the addition, but the electrical wiring will need to be completed by a licensed professional in order to meet city code standards.

You will also feel better knowing the wiring has been completed by an electrician in Pasadena. If you have hired a contractor, you can request to use a particular electrician that you have researched and are comfortable using. This project is going to make your life a little easier and will increase your investment into your home. Don’t leave it to anybody you don’t trust. Give The Electric Connection a call today.

What You Shouldn’t Do with Electricity by Glendale Electrician

electriccon_10_4Electricity is such a common part of our world, we rarely think twice when we use it or are around it. Technology and a lot of trial and error has made electricity extremely safe with safeguards built in place on almost everything that uses electricity to run. We feel safe around it and tend to get complacent. Complacency can be extremely dangerous and cost us a home or result in a serious injury. Your electrician in Glendale wants you to keep some things in mind when you are using electricity in and around the home. If you have questions, give The Electric Connection a call.

What NOT to Do

*Never yank a cord out. Always use your thumb and finger placed on the designated area and gently pull.

*Don’t use a cord that has any holes in the protective coating says an electrician. Glendale homeowners can use electrical tape or have the cord properly repaired by a professional.

*Don’t connect several extension cords together. This can damage the appliance as well as cause the breaker to trip.

*Don’t staple or nail a cord to the floor or wall to keep it out of the way. You could damage the protective coating and cause a short.

*Don’t try and fix or work on any appliance while it is plugged into the wall.

*Don’t run a cord under a rug or in a high traffic area. If you need a better placed outlet, have one installed by a Glendale electrician.

*Don’t plug in an appliance if your hands are wet or you are standing in water.

Electric safety is fairly simple, but it is important you are always thinking about what you are doing to avoid silly mistakes that can end up being extremely hazardous. Give The Electric Connection a call if you would like to learn more about how you can make your home’s electrical a little safer.

Energy Action Month Explained by Burbank Electrician

electriccon_10_3This is the second year the United States is focusing its efforts to really bring energy conservation to the forefront of conversation. We have all heard about fossil fuels being depleted and the demand each house puts on the power grid. We are constantly told we have to be more frugal with electricity. It is for the benefit of the world as well as our bank accounts. Saving energy will ultimately save money on the electric bill and make each one of our carbon footprints just a little bit smaller. Your Burbank electrician and the team at The Electric Connection wants you to know about Energy Action Month, which is this October.

Right now, the government in the United States is taking action to reduce their own energy consumption. It starts at the top and by their good influence, hopefully citizens will follow suit. An electrician in Burbank has some ways that will help you take action this October and develop new habits that will ultimately lead to less energy usage, lower electric bills and a smaller demand on today’s power sources.

Things to do right now include;

*Turn up the AC a couple degrees or turn up the heater a couple of degrees
*Switch out those old bulbs with LEDs (this may require a different light fixture)

Things to Schedule

*Get a ceiling fan installed by an electrician, Burbank homeowners can really save money on their heating and cooling costs with this one device

*Schedule an energy audit to get an idea where you use the most electricity and how you can cut back

These are 4 easy, actionable steps that will help you save money and do something great for the environment. Give The Electric Connection a call if you need a new light fixture or ceiling fan installed.

Electrician in Los Angeles Explains Light Control

electriccon_10_1Lighting has come a long way in the last several decades. We are no longer forced to endure the same, boring light fixtures and bulbs. There are plenty of new designs that provide more light while using energy efficient bulbs. In fact, the lights are so much brighter than the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, it can be a little too much for some situations. Bright light is great at times, but other times you don’t need to see every inch in the room and just need a soft light to allow you to watch television, eat a meal or relax while surfing the net on your laptop. This is a downside to the CFLs and LEDs that are trending in the lighting world. An electrician in Los Angeles has a solution for your lighting needs. The team at The Electric Connection can help explain it a little better.

Now, you probably remember the dimmer switches that were very standard in construction throughout the 70s and into the early 2000s. Those switches lost some popularity as the CFL bulbs gained in popularity. CFLs are not meant to be used with a dimmer switch in most cases. Keep in mind, there are some that are specifically labeled as dimmer switch capable. This meant people were stuck with the bright light or no light at all, explains an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can upgrade their old lighting fixtures to those that use LEDs and take advantage of the cost savings and flexibility of dimmer switches once again.

Dimmer switches are an excellent way to save money on your lighting bill says a Los Angeles electrician. Combined with energy efficient LEDs or CFLs and you can make a dramatic difference on your electric bill each month. It is important you only buy bulbs that are specified for use with a dimmer. Your electrician can explain more about the risks of using non-approved lights in the fixtures attached to a dimmer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your dimmer switch installation and take back control of your lighting.

Hiring an Electrician in California that Can Do It All

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When you find an excellent place to shop or a reliable business, you tend to stick with them. You become a loyal customer. It is nice when you finally find a company you can count on to take care of your needs in a way that satisfies you. You are left feeling good about spending the money to buy something or have something repaired. It gives you a feeling of confidence knowing you don’t have to worry about substandard quality. When you think about electrical work, you may assume that the team you use to take care of problems and jobs around your house is specifically reserved for residential use. If you are a business owner, you will be pleased to know that The Electric Connection offers a variety of services that are not limited to your residential needs.

If you have come to depend on the professional and timely service of the team, you will love knowing you can call them out to take care of much bigger jobs. A commercial electrician has the knowledge and experience needed to work with larger electric panels and some of the issues that accompany industrial and commercial businesses.

Maybe you work in an office and have seen a particular company taking care of the electrical repairs around the business. You realize that your place of employment trusts the team and you notice they seem to be very professional. Wouldn’t it be great to know you can call an electrician in California that not only works in the commercial industry, but can also work on problems you may have in your home? The next time you are in need of an electrician, whether it be at home or work, you can call The Electric Connection to take care of any job, big or small.

Hiring a Santa Monica Electrician: 3 Tips

electriccon_09_6If you have any kind of remodeling project, home improvement or need some electrical maintenance around the house, you will need to hire an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners have a big decision to make. It can be a little stressful and you may feel like you are rolling the dice. Will you get a great, solid electrician or will you get someone who is a fly-by-night untrained person who will leave you in worse shape than you started? It can be difficult to call and make an appointment if you don’t know where to start. Well, your first call should be to The Electric Connection. You can rest assured you are getting a professional service.

How do you know? The following 3 tips will help you pick the right electrician in Santa Monica.

1. Always check to make sure anybody who is going to perform work in your house is licensed and bonded. A license means they have met certain requirements by the state. Bonded means they have insurance should there be an accident where they are injured or your house suffers damage.
2. A professional appearance may not seem like a big deal, but it gives you an idea of the work ethic of the person working in your home. You want to make sure your house is left neat and tidy. A big mess isn’t going to make you happy.
3. Your Santa Monica electrician should be known for their timeliness as well. You have a busy life and cannot afford to wait for someone to show up or wait for them to finish a job. You need the work to be completed as close to the schedule as possible with the understanding little hiccups do happen.

If you need a quality electrician, you can rest assured each member of the team at The Electric Connection will meet each of these requirements.

Total Landscape Lighting with Pasadena Electrician

electriccon_09_5Dark spaces can be trouble for many different reasons. If you are trying to navigate a dark space, like your back yard or the outer areas of your landscaping, you risk suffering an injury because you can’t see. Dark spaces also tend to invite unwanted critters. Animals big and small will appreciate the darkness so they can skulk around without being detected. You also have to worry about people who may vandalize or burglarize your home, outdoor furniture and décor or even your cars under the cloak of darkness. It is a good idea to invest in landscape lighting that completely lights up the entire area. An electrician in Pasadena can make that happen for you. The team at The Electric Connection knows how important it is to keep your home secure and can get you set up with the right lighting.

When you have a Pasadena electrician install landscape lighting, you are not limited by an extension cord. You also don’t have to worry about whether or not a solar light is going to get enough sunlight in particularly shaded areas of the landscaping. With the proper lighting scheme, you can light up every corner of the yard, including under bushy shrubs and full shade trees. You don’t have to leave any area in the dark.

In fact, you can create a lighting scheme that enhances the property and doesn’t give it that sterile look. Add soft lighting or pretty colors to act as an effective security measure, while making the landscaping look gorgeous, even in the dead of night. This kind of job needs to be handled by an electrician. Pasadena residents will love the freedom of putting lights anywhere and the ability to control when they come off and on. Give The Electric Connection a call today and get your landscape lighting installed.

Creative Basement Remodels with Glendale Electrician

electriccon_09_4You can look at your house and think of it as a piece of clay to be molded into image and design you want. Owning a home gives you the luxury of creating the perfect living space for your family by remodeling, upgrading or even adding on as allowed by your city building codes. Many older homes are equipped with basements. Those basements are often ignored and overlooked as viable living spaces. Instead, they are filled with the overflow and not given any kind of attention. You can change that with the help of an electrician. Glendale homeowners who want to add living space without knocking out walls can use their basements. The Electric Connection has a team ready to help you light up your basement and make it warm and inviting.

You will want to hire a general contractor to help you come up with building plans that will transform the basement into living space. There are plenty of options depending on how big the basement is. You may be able to create a hobby room, den, office or just a nice space to relax and watch the game. One of the most important elements of a basement is the lighting explains a Glendale electrician. The windows tend to be a bit smaller and don’t always get a great deal of natural light. You need to compensate by having plenty of lighting installed.

Basements are notoriously dark and dingy. The ceilings tend to be lower in a basement than in the upper levels of the home. You need to get creative with your lighting. One way to get maximum light without losing any head space is to have an electrician in Glendale install can lights or what is known as recessed lighting. You will love the brightness and the overall transformation of your new space. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your basement lighting transformation.

Electric Outlet Warning Signs by Burbank Electrician

electriccon_09_3Outlets are seemingly innocuous parts of any home. They blend right into the walls and we hardly even know they are there. We often hide them with furniture or décor and never give them a second thought until we need to plug something in or unplug a device. It isn’t like we give them daily inspections or even monthly evaluations. Why would we? They do nothing. Or do they? Those outlets are not always as innocent as they may look. Sometimes, they are extremely dangerous and when you hide them, they can get away with a lot and you won’t know until it is too late. An electrician in Burbank wants you to be wary of those outlets and pay attention to any warn signs that indicate something may not be right. The team at The Electric Connection can give you more detailed information if you need it.

Burning wires have a very distinct, acrid smell. If you ever smell something a little off in the home and it seems like it is coming from a wall, you probably have a serious fire hazard explains a Burbank electrician. Plugging in and unplugging cords over and over puts stress on the tiny wires that give the outlet electricity. They can become loose. They touch each other or the insulation and slowly burn. This is how home fires are started. Other obvious signs of trouble are;
*Black streaks up the wall or around the outlet
*Blackness around where things are plugged in
*Outlet doesn’t work or only works at times
*Sizzling or crackling noise coming from the outlet
*An electrical shock when things are plugged in
*The outlet feels hot or the wall around the outlet feels hot

Don’t ignore your outlets says an electrician. Burbank homeowners need to call The Electric Connection right away if they suspect there is any trouble.