The Electric Connection’s Blog

Commercial Lighting Jobs by Electrician in Beverly Hills

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

One of the many aspects of owning a business includes the overall look of the building, inside and out. While bottom line profit numbers are a priority, you also must do what you can to ensure your business looks great and has plenty of lighting. Lighting also plays a huge role in the overall safety of your building for your customers as well as your employees. When you think about lighting, think about your electrician in Beverly Hills. At The Electric Connection, we understand the needs of your business and will ensure you get the best, most professional service team.

Your lighting needs indoors may not seem all that important until you see the results of newer fixtures. Your business can also save money by using more energy-efficient lighting systems, which of course adds to that bottom line. Whether you are revamping the area your customers see or redoing the employee work area, you are sure to get some great tips from your Beverly Hills electrician. Adding directed light in customer areas or brighter lights in employee work spaces will help the business overall. Dark, dingy spaces are unattractive and can actually strain an employee’s eyes as well as negatively impact their mood. You want happy employees, which will ensure you have happy customers.

Another area you may not pay a great deal of attention to is the restrooms. Believe it or not, many customers will judge a business based on the cleanliness and overall attractiveness of their bathrooms. This is an easy fix with the help of an electrician. Beverly Hills business owners can give their public restrooms a face lift by simply changing up and the light fixtures and brightening up the space. A bright bathroom looks cleaner and bigger. Do your business a favor and give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting upgrade.

Christmas Tree Safety with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

capThe holidays are a time of celebrating and spending time with family. They also tend to be a time when fires in the home increase due to improper use of lights and holiday décor. It is important you keep your home safe this season and follow proper lighting safety, especially when lighting up your tree. There are many people who prefer the traditional live Christmas tree. If you are one of those people, you need to take a few steps to ensure your holiday decoration does not become a fire hazard. An electrician in Los Angeles has some important safety guidelines to keep in mind when decorating your real tree this year. If you have any more questions, you can always call the team at The Electric Connection.

1-Keep your tree hydrated by ensuring there is plenty of water in the bowl. You may need to add one to two gallons a day when you first get it home.

2-Check your tree daily to determine if it is dry. Your Los Angeles electrician advises against lighting up a tree that is excessively dry. Brown needles or needles that fall to the ground when they are gently touched are a big indicator the tree is dry as tinder and the smallest heat source could spark a fire.

3-Extension cords are pretty common during the holiday season. You need extra outlets to light up the tree and any other décor you have set out. However, extension cords can be dangerous if they are not used correctly. Never overload a cord. If you are in need of additional outlets, call your electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will love the freedom a few extra wall outlets adds all year round.

4-Keep your tree away from heat sources like a space heater, woodstove or even the heater vent. The heat will dry out your tree much faster and can ultimately spark a fire. Do what you can to block the vent if you have to put your tree next to a vent.

Stay safe this season and give The Electric Connection a call if you need any new outlets installed to ease your holiday lighting.

Energy Savings Tips by Your California Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_7You have probably turned on your furnace already this year or pulled out the space heaters to help warm up your room. It won’t be long before you start to see your electric bill rise with the cost of heating your home. There are some things you can do to help keep your electric bill down and more money in your pocket. Your neighborhood electrician has some best practices to help you reduce the amount of electricity you use on a daily basis. For more information, call The Electric Connection.

1-Turn the thermostat down a couple of degrees. You can wear a warm sweater or some thick socks while you are at home. At night, turn the thermostat down a couple more degrees since you will be sleeping with blankets.

2-Unplug your cell phone charger as well as tablet and laptop chargers when you are not using them. It may seem small, but every charger pulls a little electricity even when nothing is plugged in.

3-Switch out your old incandescent bulbs with CFL or LEDs. You may need to change out your light fixture, which your electrician can do for you. The investment in a new fixture will pay for itself when you save money on your monthly lighting bill.

4-Turn down the temperature on your water heater a few degrees. It is unlikely you would use water that is 125 to 140 degrees anyways. If you can’t use water that hot, it doesn’t make sense to waste the electricity heating it to that point.

5-Make it a rule you only wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher and only full loads in the washer. Try washing clothes with cold water when possible.

6-Invest in heavy curtains to block the chilly air coming in through the glass in the winter and block the heat of the sun in the summer. This will keep your home more comfortable and save you money on your electric bill.

If you have any more questions for your electrician about energy savings, give The Electric Connection a call today to see what else you can do to save some cash.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

When you hear something a lot, you tend to brush it off. Warnings about changing the batteries in your smoke detector are heard so often, it is easy to push the advice to the bottom of your to do list. When the smoke detector beeps incessantly, it is easier to pull the battery out with the idea you will put a new one in tomorrow. All of these seemingly innocent plans can actually be extremely dangerous. You never know when a fire will break out in your home and often times, it happens when the batteries are out of the smoke detectors. A good option for every home is to have hard-wired smoke detectors installed by a Los Angeles electrician like those at The Electric Connection.

Hard-wired smoke detectors remove the risk of a fire going undetected by a smoke detector without batteries. The smoke detectors are wired directly into the home’s main power by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will take comfort in knowing that as long as the power is on, the smoke detectors are functioning. There is a place to batteries in the detectors to act as a backup system should there be a power outage. This ensures the home is always protected, even if somebody borrowed the battery out of the smoke alarm.

You should invest in at least one hard-wired smoke detector on each floor and in the garage of your home. Another benefit to having these devices installed by a Los Angeles electrician is the fact they are all interconnected. When one alarm is sounded, all of the detectors will go off. This means if there is smoke detected in the garage, you will know about it if you are upstairs in your room. These tools can save lives. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your smoke detector installation.

Holiday Lighting Safety Tips by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
Overloaded electrical power strip with Christmas lights in background
Overloaded electrical power strip with Christmas lights in background

It is almost time to head to the garage or attic or wherever you have stored your lights and other decorations all year. It is exciting to pull out the holiday decorations that signal a time of giving and family. The family loves the work you put into decking the halls and making your home bright and beautiful. However, it is important you are practicing safe decorating tips provided by your electrician in Santa Monica. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to enjoy this holiday season without putting yourself or your home at risk.

Limit the Strands

Don’t get carried away connecting light strands together. You should not connect more than three strands together to plug into a single socket. If you don’t have enough outlets to run all of your decorations, call an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners will love the freedom and flexibility additional outlets give them, especially outside.

Proper Usage

While most lights and decorations are designed to be used inside and out, there are some that specifically note indoors only. Don’t risk putting these outside as they could short out and cause a fire. You can read the box or the tag near the plug to determine whether it is indoor only.

Appropriate Extension Cords

You will likely need to use a couple of extension cords, but you need to make sure they are appropriate for use outdoors. You also want to make sure you are not connecting several cords together. A Santa Monica electrician explains this could be hazardous if water or snow managed to get between the two connections. Buy cords that are long enough to suit your needs so you don’t have to connect them together.

Decorating should be a fun job—not dangerous. If you need outlets or have any additional questions about electric safety when decorating, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Light Fixture Installation by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

ElectricianWhen you are shopping at the home improvement store, many of the projects look so easy. It seems fairly simple to change out that tired old light fixture in your bedroom with a more modern one that matches your particular style. The box comes with everything you need, so how hard could it be? It can actually be very hard and extremely dangerous for the novice who has no idea how to connect wires safely. It is always best to be safe and hire an electrician in Burbank, like those at The Electric Connection, to complete any project that involves electricity.

Although those new light fixtures appear complete, there are still some serious safety precautions that need to be taken to ensure you don’t get electrocuted. There is also the concern of wiring the fixture incorrectly, which could be a serious safety hazard explains a Burbank electrician. When you hire a professional to take care of the installation, you get the peace of mind knowing it is going to be done right and it is going to look great once its complete. Light fixtures can be heavy and if you do not get them positioned just right, you risk them falling down or becoming loose.

Upgrading your light fixtures is something many homeowners do for aesthetic reasons, but there is also some cost savings involved in many cases. New fixtures are often designed to accommodate CFL bulbs or the much more energy efficient LEDs. You will save money on your electric bill by updating your light fixtures with the help of an electrician. Burbank homeowners that have found the perfect light fixture and want it installed can call The Electric Connection. Never risk your safety or the safety of your home by taking on an electrical job is you don’t have the knowledge or experience.

Safe Extension Cord Usage Tips by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_2With winter here, you will probably be decking your halls. That requires electricity in places you don’t normally need it. You will also want to add more light strands than you have outlets for. What do you do? You pull out the extension cords and get busy. However, extension cords are not always safe. There are rules you should follow when it comes to using extension cords to power your decorations or that space heater by the couch. Your electrician in Beverly Hills has some helpful safety tips for you. You can call the crew at The Electric Connection to learn more.

The most important rule is to only use extension cords designed for the outdoors outside. These cords are insulated and can withstand the rain and cold. Indoor extension cords do not have the same insulation and can short out if it rains explains your Beverly Hills electrician. You can identify the cords by looking at the information printed on the cord or simply by checking to see if it is round or flat. Round cords are generally outdoor and flat are indoors.

Extension cords should not be run along high traffic areas. You don’t want them being walked on, which could damage the cord and result in a short. Do not overload the extension cords either. If you are running something big, like an inflatable, it should be the only thing plugged into the cord. Always keep in mind, extension cords are not a permanent solution. If you need more outlets, call an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can rely on The Electric Connection to listen to their needs and find a solution.

Don’t DIY, Call an Electrician for Your Home’s Electrical Work

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_7Doing it yourself can be a fun, satisfying experience, but if you don’t know what you are doing and you are dealing with potentially dangerous things, like electricity, it is best to leave it to the professionals. There are far too many things that can go wrong when you try and fix something that has anything to do with your home’s electrical. It is best to call an experienced electrician like those at The Electric Connection.

Taking care of odd jobs around the house is normal. It is a part of home ownership. However, what many people fail to realize is that some jobs are way more complicated than they believed in the beginning. In fact, those jobs are not only more complicated, they may actually be hazardous to anybody who isn’t trained.

The following reasons are why you should always leave any electrical repair work to a certified electrician.

*You could be putting yourself at risk of electric shock that can be fatal. Fooling around with the wiring in your home is dangerous. One wrong move can have serious consequences.
*Fire is another real possibility whether it happens immediately or down the road. Electrical wiring is a leading cause of home fires. This could devastate your home and puts the lives of your loved ones at risk.
*You risk your homeowner’s insurance coverage. If something were to happen, there is a strong possibility your insurance would not cover the damage if you chose to do the electrical work yourself without the necessary training and certifications.
*Property damage in general is another very real possibility. You may not burn your house down, but you could cause damage that has to be repaired by a professional.

The next time you need a little work done around the house, think twice about grabbing your toolbox. If you need any kind of electrical repair work done, give The Electric Connection a call and leave it in their very capable hands.

Understanding High Electric Bills by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_6Did you just get the electric bill in the mail and now you are suffering from a minor panic attack? You are not the first person to be surprised by a higher than average electric bill. Along with adjusting the budget to pay for the unexpected expense, you are probably making a commitment to go dark until you can get the high electric usage under control. Where do you start? An electrician in Santa Monica has a few suggestions that may help explain the high bill and how you can avoid repeating the same issue with another high bill next month. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help.

*Using a single light in a room to try and provide enough light probably isn’t working. You may have a couple of other lights on in the room to try and supplement the light, which is running up your electric bill. With shorter days, you will be using more light. Having a better, more energy efficient light fixture installed by a Santa Monica electrician can alleviate that issue.

*A water heater in a cold basement is going to run up your electric bill. Do what you can to insulate the water heater to help the water stay warm without the heater having to constantly kick on. You can upgrade to a better water heater that is insulated.

*Another big mistake people make without thinking about it is running half loads of laundry or the dishwasher. Always wait until the washer is full.

*You probably have several chargers plugged in with many of them interchangeable. If you can charge all the cell phones in the house with the same charger, unplug all but one and take turns charging your phones when possible.

Save yourself the shock of a high electric bill by following the advice from an electrician. Santa Monica residents can save hundreds of dollars every year by taking care of all the little things that add up. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting fixture replacement.

Storm Safety Revisited by Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_4Fortunately, stormy weather days are behind us, but it is always a good idea to revisit storm safety. While you probably don’t have to worry about a thunder storm creeping up on you in the fall and winter, knowledge is power and keeping storm safety fresh in your mind will ensure you don’t forget it. These are a few tips from your Glendale electrician to keep in mind the next time you see thunder clouds building up. If you have any questions about these tips, give The Electric Connection a call.

*When a storm is building or you hear thunder in the distance, get out of the pool. Avoid being in the bathtub or shower as well. It can all wait.

*Unplug appliances, computers and chargers. This will ensure your expensive electronics are not damaged should lighting strike and come through the electrical wiring to your home.

*During a storm, avoid using any of your electronics. Do not touch outlets that may conduct electricity and shock you.

*Stay away from windows during a storm and don’t stand in an open doorway. Lighting can easily travel through the space.

*Consider having a whole house surge protector installed by an electrician in Glendale. The surge protectors will prevent the surge in electricity from damaging your appliances that may be plugged in, including your refrigerator.

*Don’t use a corded phone connected to a landline. Electricity can travel through the cord and shock you.

If you suspect your electric panel has been damaged by a storm, call an electrician. Glendale homeowners will need an experienced professional to deal with any damage that may have been caused by the storm. Replacing burnt wires or breakers that were damaged in the storm are a necessity. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your whole home surge protector installation to keep you and your home safe during the next lightning storm.