The Electric Connection’s Blog

Home Security Enhanced with Security Lighting by Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As safe as we may feel in our own homes, it doesn’t hurt to add an extra layer of safety and security. Security lights can go a long way to making your home a little safer. Well-lit homes are deterrents against crime. Perpetrators are less likely to lurk in landscapes that are bright with no dark corners. Walking through your yard or from your car to the front door can also be dangerous if you can’t see well. An electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you make your home a little safer by adding security lighting.

You can opt to have the bright flood light variety or the kind that is a little dimmer, but just as effective. Security lights mounted above your driveway, your front door or your back door are all great places to place the lights. Motion detectors or timers are ideal and ensure you will never have to worry about stepping out of your car or your house into the darkness. An electrician will help you set the timer to meet your needs.

A Glendale electrician will need to wire the lights directly into your home’s main power. This is called hard-wiring and ensures the lights are always on. However, you can choose to have your security lights installed with a switch. This gives you the freedom to turn the light off and on whenever you need it. Part of your upgraded security lighting system can also include landscaping lighting. Lighting up darkened areas under bushes and in dark corners can help you keep other unwanted pests out of your yard. Nocturnal creatures will be less inclined to hide in an area bathed in light. If you would like to brighten up your outdoors, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Understanding Service Calls by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

When you need electric work done, you may be wondering what the first step is and what you can expect. There are plenty of businesses in the phonebook, but choosing the right one can be a bit of a guessing game. You can rest assured when you call The Electric Connection for service. You will want an electrician in Burbank that you can count on to show up on time. Knowledgeable and honest are also very important factors to consider. You have a busy schedule and will need a company with a record of showing up on time and getting the work done promptly.

When you call for a service call, you likely have a problem, but are not exactly sure what it is. You will be forced to rely on what an electrician tells you is the problem. In order to properly troubleshoot an electrical problem, various tools and equipment will be needed. Hiring an electrician that has a fully equipped work vehicle can help save a lot of time. At times, repairing electrical problems can be expensive. If you are on a budget, you will likely only want to pay for what you need to get your home up and running safely. You will need a Burbank electrician who will provide you with an honest quote about what is necessary and what is optional, but recommended.

An electrical safety inspection is always a good idea. If the electrician is at your home, it just makes sense to have the inspection done then. When it comes to your home’s electric safety, it is imperative you choose a company who only hires electricians who know what they are doing and can give you honest quotes about any work that needs to be done.

Outdoor Living Space with Help of Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you ever thought about maximizing your backyard? The outdoors are beautiful in the spring time and you will likely want to enjoy the fresh air after a long winter. It is exciting to be outside eating, socializing and relaxing. Maybe you have seen the surge in popularity for outdoor rooms. Everything from sitting spaces to kitchens are popping up in backyards across the country. It is an excellent way to take advantage of the additional space in your backyard while enjoying the great outdoors. An electrician in Los Angeles can help you with your goal of having an outdoor room. The team at The Electric Connection can help.

You will need to have electricity in your outdoor space for any kitchen equipment, lights and fans. Outlets for your electronics are also going to be necessary. This is something your electrician will need to handle. Because the electricity will be outdoors, it is imperative safety measures are taken to ensure there are no electrical hazards. Depending on the number of outlets you need in your new space and the type of lighting that will be used, you will likely need an additional breaker installed. This will need to be evaluated by your Los Angeles electrician. An inspection of your current electric panel will be necessary to see if there is room in the panel or if you will need a panel upgrade.

The construction of an outdoor room will typically require permits and inspections by a county official. For this reason, you will need to have a certified electrician doing the work to make sure you are meeting all codes. This is typically required by your homeowner’s insurance policy as well. You can count on the qualified professionals at The Electric Company to help you make your dream of an outdoor living space a reality.

Small Electrical Problems Can be Dangerous Explains Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Sometimes, it seems easier and faster to try and fix what you assume to be a small electrical problem yourself. Maybe you have a light that is flickering or an outlet that sporadically works. You may think that a few loose wires directly behind the outlet or light socket are causing the problem. What if you are wrong? What if the problem is much bigger and by trying to fix what you assume to be a few loose wires, you end up hurting yourself and making the problem worse? It is always best to leave these situations to a Santa Monica electrician. You can rely on The Electric Connection to provide you with prompt and experienced electricians who can take care of even the smallest problems the right way.

While a loose wire behind an outlet or a light fixture can cause some things like flickering lights or intermittently working outlets, the problem may extend to the wiring hidden in the walls. It may even be the breaker that is causing the problem. You wouldn’t be able to tell by simply looking. You will need the expertise of an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners obviously want to make sure their home is safe and not at risk of an electrical fire.

When you hire an electrician to check out what you perceive to be a tiny problem, you are getting peace of mind that any larger problems will also be identified and addressed. It is crucial that a problem be taken care of the right way. If you fix those loose wires you thought were the problem, you could end up exacerbating the situation and cause an electric fire or even electrocute yourself in the process. The process of finding the problem can be a little time consuming, but it is always better to be sure and safe than to guess and put your home at risk.

House Checkups by Burbank Electrician Can Prevent Fires

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you considered the thought your house may be in need of a checkup? We visit doctors to make sure we are in good health even if we don’t have any major symptoms. Your house should be afforded the same privilege to make sure it is in good health and does not pose any safety hazards to you and your family. There are things that could be lurking behind the walls that we would never suspect. Electrical problems are often a hidden danger that many homeowners are not aware of until it is too late. A Burbank electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can give your home a checkup and look for any underlying problems. Taking care of problems before they become serious is always the best prevention of home fires.

An electric safety inspection is one way for an electrician to check out the wiring in the home. If the home is older, the wiring will be evaluated to determine whether or not it is safe or if it needs an upgrade. This is typically only something that is needed if the home is more than 50 years old. Along with the condition of the wiring, the electric panel will also be inspected by the electrician. Burbank homeowners may need to have a breaker replaced or added depending on the needs of people living in the home.

Another facet of an electric safety inspection is to check out the outlets in the home. Any outlets that are not working or have black streaks around the outer casing typically need to be replaced. Loose wires to the outlet can cause an electrical fire and should be taken care of as soon as possible. If you would like to give your home a checkup, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your appointment.

Electric Safety a Priority Says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

You probably never really think twice about using your toaster or running the vacuum. That is because we are so used to electricity we rarely give it a thought when we use our favorite gadgets and gizmos. However, electricity can still be dangerous. We need to take precautions and teach our children about how to be safe in a world surrounded by electricity. A Los Angeles electrician has some tips for staying safe. You can call The Electric Connection to find out more about staying safe in this electrical world.

One thing you can do to keep your children safe as well as your home is to keep cords out of travel paths. Cords that are stepped on repeatedly will break down over time. This can result in bare wires, which can lead to an electrical spark and even a fire. Not to mention, cords that are strung about also create tripping hazards.

Any cord that looks like it has suffered some abuse or been chewed by animals should never be plugged in. Have the item repaired with a new cord by a certified electrician, or throw the appliance out. It is too risky to try and use.

We all know the dangers of using electricity around water. However, places like the kitchen and bathroom need electricity and water. Accidents happen, but you can add a layer of protection against electrocution by having GFI outlets installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will feel safer knowing a GFI outlet automatically cuts power to an appliance as soon as the electric current is interrupted. This keeps the electricity from flowing into your body.

These are just a few things you can do with the help of your electrician to keep yourself and your family a little safer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your appointment to have GFI outlets installed in your home.

Smoke Detectors Hard-Wired into Your Santa Monica Electrical

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you thought about what more you could do to keep your family safe at home? Maybe you already have a security system and you lock your doors and windows every night, but what about dangers within the home? Sometimes, accidents just happen and there is really nothing you can do to prevent them. Home fires can happen in new homes or old homes. While wiring inspections can typically identify some problems and prevent an electrical fire, there are plenty of other things that can go wrong that can cause a fire. Your best way to keep your family safe against these kinds of accidents is by being prepared with working smoke detectors. Your electrician in Santa Monica can help you add a layer of protection in your home. You can talk with one of the team at The Electric Connection to learn more or read on.

There are two different types of smoke detectors. You are probably most familiar with the cheap battery-powered detectors that can be placed anywhere you like in the house. The other option is detectors that are hard-wired into your home’s main Santa Monica electrical. These detectors do have battery backups in case of a power outage. The biggest, and probably the best difference between the two is the reliability of the hard-wired detectors. That and the hard-wired detectors are all interconnected. Meaning, when one alarm is sounded, each detector in the house will go off alerting the occupants to the fire.

This can add minutes to a family’s escape time, which is extremely valuable in a home fire. The extra minutes can also mean the difference between saving the home or losing it to the fire. The additional minutes will give the homeowner the chance to call emergency services before the fire is out of control and if it is small enough, be able to use an extinguisher to put it out before it spreads. Call The Electric Connection today and schedule your hard-wired smoke detector installation.

Beneficial Electric Panel Upgrade by Electrician in Pasadena

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Whether your home is old or new, there are probably some things you would like to change about it. While the layout and existing construction is often the first thing you think of, wouldn’t it be nice to make your work for you a bit more? If you have been dealing with a breaker that trips frequently or have to turn off everything in order to use a certain tool or appliance that is a bit of an energy hog, you could probably benefit from an electric panel upgrade. An electrician in Pasadena, like those at The Electric Connection, can help bring your home up to your electrical standards.

If your home is older (more than 50 years) it wouldn’t hurt to have an electrical inspection. During the inspection, the condition of your wiring will be evaluated to determine if your electrical problems may be due to faulty or deteriorating wires. You have to imagine 50 years ago, the average home had a handful of items that needed electricity. Today, almost every outlet in the house is in use with various computer cords, cell phone chargers and a long list of gadgets that make our lives easier.

Because of this, your Pasadena electrical needs are a little different and an electric panel upgrade will support all the gadgets you need and want without having to share outlets or unplug everything so you can use one appliance. In some cases, the panel itself may be just fine and you will just need an additional breaker installed. All of this can be determined after the electrician does the inspection and talks with you about what your needs are. From there, you can make a decision about what will work best for you. When you are ready or if you would like to learn more about an electric panel upgrade, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Choosing a Commercial Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

If you own or manage a business, you have probably noticed the equipment in the business is a little different than you would find in an average home. There is probably a lot more as well and things are much more sensitive. Because of this, you need an electrician in Glendale who can deal with commercial electrical problems. At The Electric Connection, you will find the right electrician for your business needs. Wiring schematics tend to be different for larger pieces of equipment and there is a learning curve involved. You don’t want to hire somebody who is still learning. You need somebody who can get your electrical problem taken care of right, the first time.

Along with hiring an electrician who is capable of working on more sophisticated equipment, businesses need a company that is reliable and will keep in line with a certain image. Often times, the electrician will be seen by customers. It wouldn’t do to have customers unsure of who the individual was or mistaking the electrician for an employee and causing a moment of awkwardness. You need a person who looks professional and is in a uniform that clearly identifies his or her position.

A few other important traits when it comes to hiring somebody to complete your commercial Glendale electrical work is the ability to be on time, reliable and to maintain a professional air while they are inside the business. They should be courteous to the customers as well as the employees. Because time really is money, it is imperative the electrician you hire shows up when scheduled and complete the work within a certain timeframe. If circumstances change and the electrician needs more time, communication is key to keeping the business running smoothly. If you need a commercial electrician who meets these criteria, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Plan Your New Home Construction with Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Building a home from the ground up is an exciting adventure that you will hopefully cherish in the years to come as you live in your new house. Although you may assume the only input you have is in the actual design, the color of the carpet and the kind of cupboards and countertops that will be installed, you actually a little more say in the process. You will need an electrician in Burbank. You have the option of hiring an electrician you are comfortable with. Part of your new home construction includes having an input in the placement of outlets and data lines. At The Electric Connection, you will find a team willing to work with your wants and needs.

Only you know what kind of appliances you have and regularly use in the kitchen. If you have are a regular in the kitchen and you have a lot of appliances that you use on a regular basis, it is nice to have them ready to go when you need them. Talk with your electrician about your Burbank electrical needs. It is possible to install additional outlets during the construction process.

If one of the rooms will be a den or home office, you will need additional outlets and data lines. It is a lot easier to do it during the construction process rather than trying to drill holes and run cable after the house is complete. After you have the plans for your home, take some time to envision the setup for each room. Will you have a large entertainment system along one wall that will require several outlets to run? What kind of computer equipment will you be using? Knowing all of this ahead of time will help your electrician determine the size of electrical panel you will need which can save you money down the road when it turns out you need more than originally planned. Give The Electric Connection a call today to discuss your new home construction project.