The Electric Connection’s Blog

Ease the Electricity Burden with Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Your electric bill may be completely manageable and affordable. However, wouldn’t you like to learn how to save a few extra dollars every month and do something good for the world at the same time? Just because you can afford your current electric bill, doesn’t mean you can’t make adjustments around your home that will reduce the amount of electricity you use. A Santa Monica electrician is here to tell you about a few things you can do around your house to reduce the amount of electricity you use. The folks at The Electric Connection would love to share their knowledge with you.

Of course you know about turning off the lights when you are not in the room and turning off appliances when you don’t need them, but there are even more things you can do that will certainly add up to big savings for you and less burden on the power grid. It is no secret, our booming population has put a serious burden on our current power grids and blackouts from time to time during peak usage times are not uncommon.

You can lessen your impact by changing out your old, energy hot incandescent light bulbs to the more energy-efficient CFLs or LEDs. The CFLs are the spiral shaped lights that can easily be exchanged in your existing light fixtures. If you have a light fixture that will not accommodate one of these environmentally friendly options, talk with your electrician. Santa Monica residents can update their home lighting by replacing old fixtures with new, more modern and energy efficient fixtures.

Placing LED lights under your kitchen counters gives you plenty of light to see what you are doing and is extremely inexpensive to use and the fixtures are relatively cheap as well. If you are interested in doing your part to make the world a better place, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your light fixture upgrade.

Picking the Perfect Light with Your Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Replacing an old light with something a little more modern sounds simple enough, but is takes a special skill set to pull it off safely. It is a much better idea to hire somebody who has the training to make lighting upgrades without endangering their own safety and the safety of your home. You need an electrician. Glendale homeowners can rely on The Electric Connection to provide high quality service.

Light fixtures are a common home improvement job and can really make a huge difference to the look and feel of a room. Taking a trip down the lighting aisle of the home improvement store is fun and will likely inspire you to change up your own home. You will get plenty of ideas for improvements to make to your own home. However, those improvements are not quite as easy as it may look. You will want to make sure any new light fixture is installed correctly with no fears the wiring will be compromised and risk starting a house fire.

A Glendale electrician can help you transform your house into an exciting and well-lit home you can be proud of. You can have the joy of picking out the perfect light fixture and let the electrician do all the heavy lifting so to speak. A qualified electrician will ensure the wiring is done correctly and will not pose a safety risk. Check out all the gorgeous fixtures that would help transform your dining room into an inviting space for family dinners. While the electrician is there, a dimmer switch is perfect for the dining room. Chandeliers can be extremely bright and can interfere with an intimate atmosphere. A dimmer switch gives you the luxury of controlling just how much light is emitted. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting upgrade.

Phantom Power Real or Science Fiction? Burbank Electrician Explains

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It may sound like science fiction, but phantom power is very real and it is costing you real money. It isn’t a lot of money, but when you add it up, it can be more than a hundred dollars a year. And let’s face it, every dollar in your pocket helps. Learning how to stop that phantom from stealing your power is easy and your Burbank electrician is here to give you the power you need. Okay, really it is just knowledge, but knowledge is power and The Electric Connection wants to help you keep your hard earned cash in your pocket.

Phantom power is the electricity that is being pulled from anything and everything you have plugged in, whether it is on or not. Just because you are not using your coffee maker does not mean it is not drawing a current. This goes for your cell phone charger as well. Even if you are not charging your phone or laptop, the charger is pulling electricity and running up your bill. One charger or small appliance isn’t going to cost you a lot of money, but take a walk around your house and look at everything that is currently plugged in.

Make a list of things that can be unplugged when not in use. You will see the savings on your electric bill almost immediately. Obviously, it doesn’t make sense to pull out furniture everyday to get to some items, but just focus on the cords that are easily unplugged. If you want more energy savings tips, contact your local electrician. Burbank homeowners may find it is easier to plug several items like your television, DVD player and stereo all into one powerstrip. This makes it easy to turn it off and on without unplugging numerous devices. Give The Electric Connection a call today to find out more.

Whole-Home Surge Protection Installed by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Although thunderstorms are a rarity during the cooler months and you don’t have to worry about lightning causing a power surge, there are other factors that can cause an electrical surge in your home. Power surges happen all the time and are not only the result of a lightning striking nearby. You may not realize this, but your home is constantly exposed to small surges every single day. Each time your heater kicks on or your refrigerator goes into defrost, it draws additional power. Once the additional power isn’t needed, there is a bit of a surge. Your probably don’t even notice it happening, but your sensitive electrical equipment like your computer or gaming console are certainly effected. The Electric Connection has the Beverly Hills electrician you need to protect your valuable equipment from small and large power surges.

Whole-home surge protectors are an option you can choose to have installed now to prevent small or large power surges from damaging computers and other sensitive electrical equipment. An electrician will install the protector directly to the electric panel. This is an ideal option because your entire home will be protected instead of just the few items you have plugged into a power strip. It should be noted that power strips are not always enough to protect equipment from large power surges. However, when combined with a whole-home surge protector, you can rest assured your expensive computers, gaming consoles and screen TVs will all be protected.

The initial cost of the surge protector is minimal and is almost always much cheaper than the replacement cost of a single appliance. Because the surge protector will need to be installed directly in the electrical panel, you will need to call an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can rely on the friendly and knowledgeable staff at The Electric Connection to get the job done right.

Prevent Accidents with GFCI Outlets by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Homes that were built more than 10 to 20 years ago are likely not equipped with the much safer grounded-fault circuit interrupter outlets in the kitchen and bathroom areas. GFCI outlets are ideal for use in areas where there is potential for an appliance to be exposed to water. Everybody knows water and electricity don’t mix. But, we need our gadgets and just try to be extra careful. Unfortunately, accidents happen. A Los Angeles electrician, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you protect not only yourself, but your family members from suffering serious injury when one of those little accidents happen.

The difference between the standard outlet and the GFCI outlets is the safety feature that cuts power to the appliance the second there is an interruption in the flow of electricity from the outlet to the appliance. The breaker will be tripped if the circuit does not flow along the correct path and is interrupted by your body for example. This protects you from suffering an electric shock. If you accidentally drop the blow dryer into the sink while the water is running, it could be an extremely dicey situation if the dryer is plugged into one of the old-style outlets. Power will continue to run to the dryer until the water shorts it out. You would risk receiving an electric shock if you tried to grab the blow dryer out of the sink while the electricity is still flowing.

If you would like to protect your family from these kinds of accidents, call an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can have current outlets in the kitchen and bathrooms replaced with GFCI outlets without a lot of hassle. These outlets are great for anywhere in the house and can also prevent shock from wires that have been damaged by rodents chewing through or that have been ran over by the vacuum. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your outlet upgrade.

An Electrician in Pasadena Can Save You Money on Your Electric Bill

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As energy costs continue to rise, we all have to make some adjustments and figure out how to afford the higher electrical bill or how to reduce our electricity use in order to afford a roof over our heads. Obviously, the latter is probably the best and who knows, you just may be able to reduce your bill lower than you ever thought possible. You could actually put a few extra dollars in your pocket every month to put towards the rising cost of food. An electrician in Pasadena has a few tips you can start using today to save money tomorrow. If you would like to learn more, call The Electric Connection and talk with a member of the helpful staff.

1-The easiest thing for you to do is to turn off and unplug anything and everything when it is not in use. You can save a couple dollars every day by reducing your phantom energy draw.

2-Switch to CFLs and save about $20 a month on lighting costs. If you have a big house and typically use a lot of lights, you can save more by switching your incandescent light bulbs to CFLs.

3-Have somebody familiar with Pasadena electrical code install a ceiling fan to reduce your heating and cooling bill. Fans circulate the air in a room to help keep it cool in the summer and warm in the cooler months.

4-Hire an electrician to install dimmer switches on lights in the living room, dining room and even a bedroom. You don’t always need a well-lit room to watch television, enjoy an intimate meal or simply chat. Using a dimmer switch to turn down the lights can save you money on your electric bill.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to have a dimmer switch, ceiling fan or other energy-saving appliance installed, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Safety Addressed During Electrical Safety Inspection by Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment on Safety Addressed During Electrical Safety Inspection by Electrician in Glendale

It is difficult to obtain total peace of mind when you can’t really see what is going on behind the walls of your house. Because of this, you may want to look into having an electrical safety inspection completed by an electrician in Glendale. The electrician will go through and check some of the most common problems that lead to an electrical fire. The inspection will certainly make you feel better knowing your home is safe or identifying problems that could lead to a disaster if left unchecked. The Electric Connection has the staff available to complete one of these inspections in a professional and timely manner.

A quick inspection takes only a few minutes, but can quickly identify any potential problems. If you are not sure whether you need an inspection follow these guidelines.

*Lights that flicker, pop or don’t work at all could indicate a bigger problem.

*An outlet that doesn’t work or when it is in use, the breaker trips.

*You have exposed wiring anywhere in the house.

*A home that was built before 1950 and has had no electrical updates.

These are just some of the most common and obvious signs of trouble. If you have recently moved into a house, but are not sure about the condition of the Glendale electrical system, it is always a good idea to get a complete safety inspection. Older homes may have been constructed with aluminum or cloth insulated wiring. Today, we know this is not an ideal situation and should be upgraded. This isn’t something the average person would be able to see just by looking at it. This is why you need an experienced professional to take a look and determine just how safe your home’s electrical system is. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electrical safety inspection before it is too late.

Hard-Wired Smoke Detectors Save Lives Explains Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

We all know smoke detectors save lives, but did you know you can make them even more effective by having an electrician install hard-wired smoke detectors? This particular kind of smoke detector works the same as the traditional battery-powered detectors that you typically find in homes. However, the major difference is the fact they are connected to a home’s main power supply. An electrician in Beverly Hills will need to take care of the installation process. At The Electric Connection, the staff is familiar with these kinds of jobs and can get them completed in a timely manner.

One of the key benefits is the fact the hard-wired detectors are all interconnected. When one detector is activated, the rest of the smoke detectors in the house will sound the alarm. This means no matter where you are in the house, as long as you have a hard-wired smoke detector on each floor, you will hear it. Fires that start in the attic, basement or garage can go undetected for minutes or longer because the smoke detector isn’t heard in other parts of the house. With detectors that are all linked together, you don’t have to worry about this. Even if you are downstairs watching television, you will still know when the smoke detector in the attic is going off.

This can save lives and potentially prevent excessive damage to the house by giving you a precious extra few minutes to call for help. Beverly Hills electrical systems like this require certified electricians to install. This ensures the smoke detectors are wired correctly and are not creating another fire risk. In some cases, homeowners insurance will require a certified electrician completes the install. If you would like to learn more about hard-wired smoke detectors and what they can do for you, give The Electric Connection a call today.

4 Reasons to Call Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment on 4 Reasons to Call Pasadena Electrician

Sometimes that light that seems to be acting strange lately is more than just a fluke. It is a precursor to a bigger problem and it should be looked at by a professional right away. Little things like a popping breaker or a funky electrical smell are all signs you need a Pasadena electrician to come out and do some investigating. Not every problem is something small and meaningless. Those little electrical warning signs are often indicators there is something happening behind the walls of your home that you cannot see. It is imperative you get an electrician out as soon as possible to determine what the underlying cause is. The Electric Connection has a team of qualified electricians who are here to help.

If you are not sure what actually qualifies as an electrical emergency, this should help.

1-Anytime there is any smoking, crackling or visible signs like black streaks around an outlet, you need to call an electrician. Pasadena homeowners should consider this an emergency and call immediately. While you are waiting for service, do not use the outlet.

2-A breaker that seems to trip frequently is not an emergency, but it does warrant a look from a certified electrician. It may be weak or overloaded. If it is weak, it will need to be replaced.

3-Light fixtures that seem to work sporadically should always be checked out by an electrician. A loose wire could be causing a faulty connection. This can lead to an electrical fire. If you notice bulbs are constantly blowing in a fixture, it should be investigated as well.

4-An outlet that isn’t working properly may be improperly wired. This is something your electrician can take care of for you before it becomes a serious problem.

If you have experienced any of these issues or would just like an electrical safety inspection, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Home Lighting Makeover with Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Homeowners have a powerful tool at their disposal that they may not even be aware of. Lighting can make or break a room. Having new, updated light fixtures in a room can completely change the way the home looks and feels. And although the actual work is not all that labor intensive, it is crucial you have a Glendale electrician perform the work. Working with electricity is something that should be left to the professionals like those at The Electric Connection.

It is amazing to see the difference a single light fixture can make in a room. Changing lights throughout a home is like giving your house a major facelift without any serious expense. There is so much you can do to change the look and feel of a room simply by visiting your local lighting store or your favorite home improvement store. Hanging chandeliers, recesses lights, track lighting and so much more is all available for you to use to your advantage.

You can easily turn a dark kitchen into a brilliant space with plenty of lighting right where you need it. Turn your dining room into a romantic area with lights that are controlled with a dimmer switch installed by an electrician. Glendale homeowners will have the freedom to control how much light you have. That one particular picture in the living room hanging over the mantle deserves some special recognition. Use recess or track lighting to direct light onto a family picture or a prized piece of artwork to really make it pop and become a focal point in the room.

The possibilities are endless. Take a walk around your home and look at your current lighting scheme. Could you do something different? Then head to the lighting store and pick up the fixtures that will compliment your home and décor. When you are ready, give The Electric Connection a call and schedule your appointment for your new lighting fixtures to be installed. It is that simple!