The Electric Connection’s Blog

Security Lights Brighten Long Winter Nights by Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As summer comes to an end, so do those long days and short nights. Now, when you head to work in the morning or the kids go off to school, there is a pretty good chance the sun is just barely breaking the horizon. Although we move are clocks back to make the best of the short winter days, it isn’t enough and we need extra security lighting to make sure we are coming and going with plenty of light brightening our paths. A Burbank electrician can help you enhance the safety of your family’s comings and goings by installing security lights. The Electric Connection has a team of qualified electricians to make this happen.

You have several choices when it comes to picking the right security lighting for your home. Solar lighting is really not an ideal option for the short winter days. While it works great for summer nights, you will want to have something a little more reliable. Electric pathway lights are perfect for illuminating the path between the door and driveway and can be set up on a timer to come on when you need them. Another option is the mounted security light. This can be put up to illuminate a driveway, the pathway to the door or a dark area in your landscaping. This particular type of light is much brighter and can spread light over a large area.

These will need to be installed by an electrician. Burbank homeowners can choose to have these lights on a timer, a manual switch or the common motion-detector system. The timers and motion-detection systems are a little more energy efficient and prevent the light remaining on when it isn’t needed. If you would like to learn more about your options for security lighting, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Power Outage Tips and Tricks by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It is better to be prepared for a power outage than to have to scramble when one actually happens. Having a drawer, a small space in a cupboard or even a rubber tote filled with the supplies you will need when the power goes out is a good idea. Your Beverly Hills electrician suggests you keep at least one flashlight and some backup batteries, a battery-powered radio, matches and some emergency candles along with sturdy candleholders in your kit. These are just a few things you will need to get you through an outage. You can call The Electric Connection to learn about some other things you may want to keep in your kit.

Once the power goes out, you will want to grab your kit, especially if darkness is falling or it is already dark. If it is daylight, you can take care of these things without needing any light. As soon as the power goes out, you want to go about protecting your sensitive electric equipment. Smart TVs, computers, laptops and so on are very sensitive to electric surges. They need to be unplugged from the wall until after the power comes on and seems to be staying on. Don’t rush right over and start plugging stuff in the second you see the lights come on. It is not uncommon to have the power hiccup a few times before there is a steady stream.

You will also want to turn off any appliances and lights that may have been at the time of the outage. This will help cut down on a surge coming into your home and potentially causing serious damage. If this does happen, you will need to call your electrician. Beverly Hills residents can call The Electric Connection if there have been any side effects from a power outage.

Business Owners Need Qualified Commercial Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Business owners have a responsibility to their customers and employees to keep them as safe as possible. This means it is imperative a business owner or manager chooses contractors with a good reputation. When you are hiring a person to come into your business to perform work, that person is a reflection of your business. You always want to put your best foot forward and make savvy, smart decisions when it comes to calling the right company to take care of any electrical needs you have. Business owners in need of a Los Angeles electrician can rely on The Electric Connection to fulfill their commercial business needs in a professional and timely manner.

It is always a good idea for any outside contractor to wear a uniform which identifies him or her as an employee of another company. This cuts down on customer confusion. A clean, attractive uniform is also important to the image of a business. Employees and customers will be able to easily identify the electrician. Los Angeles businesses need somebody who will not interfere with daily business operations whenever possible. Commercial electricians will also need to have a reputation of being prompt and have a flexible schedule that can accommodate a business’s needs.

There is also the matter of understanding how commercial equipment works. It is not the same as residential electrical work and requires additional training. You will want to choose an electrician that has knowledge and experience dealing with commercial electrical needs. Along with the know-how, you will also want to choose a company that can adhere to budgets and timelines for a project. Your business hinges on getting projects completed without any additional headaches. If you are in need of a commercial electrician, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your appointment.

Data and Phone Line Installation by Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

You may not know it, but an electrician can actually take care of more than just electrical problems. If you have moved into a new home or want to add an additional phone line or another line for your cable television, you can call an electrician to take care of it for you. You don’t have to rely on several different people to get the job done. An electrician in Santa Monica can take care of all your cable needs as well as any electrical you may have. The Electric Connection would love to get you up and running.

Many people are unaware an electrician can handle some of these jobs and are forced to rely on the cable or telephone company. Because there are fewer technicians that work for those companies, your wait times can be extensive and there is not much competition to drive down the prices. Calling an electrician can make your life easier and help you get what you need when you want it.

Electricians are familiar with running electrical wire, which is essentially the same as data and phone cable lines. Skilled professionals will know just how to handle your installation and can make sure there is no interference with your home or business’s current Santa Monica electrical system. You can count on the electrician to run the phone, cable or data lines neatly and most importantly, the right way! An electrician will have the skill and knowledge needed to run the lines in the most efficient way possible. The last thing you want is cable running all over the walls and floors.

There are a few things you should look for when hiring an electrician to complete a job for you. When they show up to your home or business, they should be wearing a clean uniform, be friendly and maintain a neat work area. Give The Electric Connection a call today and we can get your data lines installed.

Specialty Lighting Possible with Electrician in Pasadena

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Your home is probably adequately lighted for the most basic needs, but could it be better? We all have certain rooms that we would like to highlight by shining more light or maybe a special piece of artwork deserves some specialty lighting. You may have stopped and wondered how you could go about illuminating that one wall without going through some serious trouble. Don’t worry about it anymore! An electrician in Pasadena can help you make your home into a space that accents your art or whatever piece you want to show off a bit. The Electric Connection has skilled electricians who can help you achieve the perfect lighting scheme.

There are numerous lighting fixtures you can use to create the perfect lighting scheme for a room. If the room should be flooded in light, you can consider a brilliant chandelier that casts off plenty of light. Recessed lighting can be mounted directly into the ceiling to avoid obstructing the view of any wall décor. Low-wattage bulbs can be put into the recessed light fixtures to create a soft glow that will add subtle light without being too bright or too dark.

Another option that is ideal for spotlighting certain areas in a room is track lighting. There are several options you have to choose from. A U-shaped track can easily light up an entire room with different wattage lights being directed at various walls or directly down into the sitting area of a room. There are numerous styles to choose from. Light up a mantle with a low-wattage bulb and spotlight artwork on an adjacent wall with a colored bulb or a specialty bulb specifically aimed at bringing out the colors and details of a piece of artwork. Anything is possible. All you need to do to handle your Pasadena electrical needs is give The Electric Connection a call today.

Upgrade Your Electrical with Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

There is no time like the present to take care of some of the little things around the house. While you can certainly grease a squeaky door hinge or take care of that leaking faucet, there are some upgrades that are best left to the professionals. Things like electrical work should only be dealt with by a certified electrician. The Electric Connection has a team of certified electricians who can take care of any Burbank electrical needs you may have.

Some things you can do to make you home safer as well as increase the appearance and overall value are rather simple and inexpensive. One item that should be on your electrical upgrade list is to replace outlets in the kitchen and bathroom with GCFI outlets. These outlets prevent against electric shock. Because bathroom and kitchen areas are prone to water accidents, new codes require they be used in these areas.

Another option you may want to consider is the upgrading of certain light fixtures. New light fixtures not only look better, but in many cases they are more energy efficient. Think of it as giving your home a facelift. You will have the freedom to choose which light fixture you want to have installed in a room in order to compliment the space and décor.

An electrician in Burbank can also take care of the installation of a ceiling fan. These are extremely handy to have and can also help reduce your electrical bill. They are aesthetically pleasing and can help keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter by circulating the warm air around.

If you have any other items on your electrical wish list, give The Electric Connection a call. We can certainly help you with all your electrical needs.

Kitchen Upgrades Require Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

There has probably been a time or ten that you have walked into your kitchen and thought how nice it would be to have it a little brighter. Or maybe you have lamented the lack of adequate outlets. In this day and age, we rely a great deal on our gadgets and appliances. It can be a real drag to have to unplug the coffeemaker you have set up on a timer to plug in your mixer. It is time to take the first step in getting a kitchen that is designed to suit your needs. You need an electrician in Beverly Hills. The Electric Connection can help you brighten up your kitchen without a lot of work.

You will get the freedom to choose what upgrades you would like to implement. Things like new lighting fixtures can go a long way to making a dark kitchen brighter. And a brighter kitchen just feels bigger and more inviting. You won’t have to worry about hiring contractors to complete an expensive remodel. Take a trip to the home improvement store and check out all the lighting aisles. Then call your electrician to complete the installation process.

Track lighting is very popular in kitchens and allows you to cover a lot of space with just one switch. The lights can be aimed at specific areas. Another option is recessed lights. These take up no space and are mounted directly into the ceiling. There are so many options to choose from. You will wonder why you didn’t take the plunge earlier.

As far as the lack of electrical outlets, this is an easy fix. If you are in need of some Beverly Hills electrical work like adding outlets, give The Electric Connection a call. An electrician can add outlets your current electrical panel allows. Your electrician will let you know how many outlets you can safely add.

What to Look for in a Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 3 Comments on What to Look for in a Los Angeles Electrician

If you are in need of an electrician in the Los Angeles area, you have probably picked up the yellow pages or headed to your favorite search engine to wade through the listings. It is hard to pick the right one. How do you know which Los Angeles electrician to choose? At The Electric Connection, you won’t have to worry about what you are going to get when you make that first phone call. Here are some things every homeowner or business owner should look for when they are trying to hire the right electrician.

Reputation

A solid reputation is important. Past customers will be able to tell the real story about a company. Look for reviews online and verify the business with the Better Business Bureau. Angie’s List is another great place to check out an electrician’s reputation.

Clean

You take pride in your home and are likely a little picky about who you let in. You want a company who employs people who will respect your home and clean up after themselves. Presentation of an employee is also important and says a lot about the company’s image. Clean, nice-looking uniforms are always a plus. This is especially important if the work is going to be in a business where customers will see the electrician.

Honest

When dealing with any Los Angeles electrical work you want to ensure you are dealing with somebody who is being honest and up front with you. You don’t want to be paying for work that is not completely necessary. An honest electrician will tell you what needs to be fixed and what is optional but recommended. This gives you the option to decide what is best for you or your business.

At The Electric Connection, we pride ourselves on all of the above qualities and would love to help you with your electrical needs.

Property Management Handled by Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Property owners have a responsibility to their tenants to keep a house or apartment in good working order. This includes the electrical portion of the home. Property owners or property management companies have to be on call 24 hours a day to handle any emergency. And because of that, you need an electrician in Glendale who is also ready to take your call anytime, day or night. At The Electric Connection, we understand that need and make sure there is always somebody to take your call. During business hours, a live person will answer the phone and after hours, there is an on call service number available.

It is crucial to any property owner they have a company they can rely on to take care of every electrical problem, whether it is big or small. It is also very important a person can rely on an electrician to make the best call to fix a problem. In most cases, the property owner will not be on the premises when the electrician goes out to investigate a Glendale electrical situation. Because the property owner, not the tenant, will have the final say in what repairs are made, it is very important there be an open line of communication between the electrician and the management company or the owner. If an electrician realizes a diagnosis of a problem may take several hours, it should be communicated up front before any work commences.

There is also the sensitive nature of telling a tenant too much about the situation. Of course some information is necessary, but ultimately, it is up to the owner or manager to choose how much a renter knows. You will want to make sure you hire a company who employs electricians that are friendly to tenants, without divulging too much information. If you are in need of a company to service your rental properties, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Electrical Estimates Save You Money Says Electrician Glendale Residents Know

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

If you have been thinking about getting a specific job done around your house, but have always hesitated because you don’t know how much it costs, we can help. As with any job you need to hire somebody else to complete, you want to have an idea of what it is going to cost. So how do you get an electrical estimate from an electrician? Glendale homeowners can call The Electric Connection and talk with a member of our team. Although it is virtually impossible to give an exact quote, especially over the phone, it is possible to give a pretty good estimate if you know exactly what it is you need like a fixture installed or an outlet replaced.

If you need an estimate about a problem you are having in the house, but are not entirely sure what that particular problem is, things change a bit. An electrician will need to do some testing and diagnosing before an estimate can be given. The time it takes to do this can vary depending on the situation. However, the electrician should give you the fee for hourly rates and explain material costs. Although it is impossible to give exact estimates, an electrician can certainly give you an idea of the problem once found and the cost to fix it.

If you know you need a bigger job, like an electrical panel upgrade, this is something you will want to get an estimate for beforehand. This protects you from getting an astronomical bill after a job is completed that catches you off guard. Always talk with the electrician. Glendale residents will want to make sure they are only hiring a certified, competent electrician to complete any electrical jobs. The Electric Connection has licensed and bonded electricians and would love to help you get your next electrical job completed. Give us a call today.