The Electric Connection’s Blog

10 Tips to Save on Your Electric Bill by Electrician in Pasadena

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Even if your electric bill isn’t really a problem for you, just imagine what you could do if you shaved it down just a tad. A few more dollars in your pocket could be put towards your retirement nest egg, save up for that new big screen television you have been wanting or maybe just going out for a nice dinner. It is your money, do as you please. There are always ways to save here and there and your electrician in Pasadena has a few simple tips you can start doing today, to get you one step closer to that nest egg. The Electric Connection has been helping customers for years with energy savings.

1-Cook with small appliances when possible. Use a toaster oven, skillet or slow cooker.
2-Use cold water to run the garbage disposal.
3. Clean the filter on your refrigerator and freezer at least twice a year for maximum efficiency. Defrost the freezer at least once a year.
4. Only run full loads in the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer. Use warm or cold water to wash clothes with.
5. Use CFL bulbs in place of halogen light bulbs.
6. Rely on a ceiling fan to circulate air and adjust temperature in the home up or down by several degrees. This is a job for your electrician. Pasadena homeowners who rely on their ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner or furnace can save a great deal of money.
7. Turn off all lights when you don’t need them.
8. Unplug small appliances when not in use to prevent phantom energy from being stolen.
9. Install dimmer switches on your lights to reduce the amount of light created and reduce the amount of electricity used.
10. Use a timer to control outdoor lighting to only come on at dusk and turn off at dawn.

These are just a few tips. You can call The Electric Connection to begin saving money today by installing a ceiling fan and dimmer switch.

CFL Lights Save on Electric Bill Explains Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As you walk around your house trying to find ways to save a few dollars here and there on your electric bill, you may be overlooking the obvious. Your current light bulbs. You have probably seen the more expensive light bulbs in the spiral shape in the stores but may have passed over them in favor of the less expensive bulbs. Your electrician in Glendale is here to tell you, you may be costing yourself more money by choosing those cheaper bulbs.

The experienced professionals at The Electric Connection can answer any questions you have about energy savings. One of the easiest things you can do is to start changing out your current halogen bulbs for the more energy efficient Compact Florescent Bulbs or what are simply referred to as CFLs. A CFL uses 75 percent less energy than the old standard bulbs.

Your light usage in your home probably accounts for maybe $20 on an average $100 monthly electric bill. So, if you replace each of your current energy hogging bulbs with CFLs, you could potentially safe about $15 on your electric bill. While that is not a massive amount of savings, it will certainly add up. Don’t be fooled by the word florescent. There is no eerie yellow or green glow. They are available in a variety of colors depending on your preference. If you have more questions, you can ask your electrician. Glendale residents may also want to consider replacing outdated lighting fixtures with more modern energy efficient fixtures.

This is a job for a certified electrician. While there, the electrician can install dimmer switches on lights that do not need to be at full power all of the time. These dimmers give you the freedom to have just a little light or a lot, depending on what your needs are. Call The Electric Connection today to learn more about dimmer switches and how they can help you.

Chandeliers Improve Your Home Says Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

There are plenty of things you can do to breathe new life into your home. One of the things that can really change the way a room looks and feels is by changing up the lighting scheme. As technology advances, lighting options do as well. No longer are we forced to endure the boring lights of yesteryear. We have lots of options to use light to open up a space. Hallways, entranceways, and dining rooms can all benefit from the addition of a chandelier. This is a job for an electrician in Burbank to handle. You can rely on the friendly staff at The Electric Connection to help you infuse your living space with light.

A beautiful, glittering chandelier in your dining room can add a touch of elegance without redoing the entire space and buying a new dining set. Lighting is everything and a new chandelier handpicked by you can make a room feel warm and inviting. Shabby chic, vintage, modern and antique are just some of the options a homeowner has to choose from when it comes to picking the perfect light. There are numerous sizes of chandeliers as well. Do not assume the fixtures would be too big for a small space. Take your time to do some browsing and pick the chandelier that best fits with the theme of your particular room.

Because of the electrical work involved with installing a new chandelier, you will definitely need a licensed electrician. Burbank residents will want a dimmer switch installed with the chandelier as well. This is especially true for larger chandeliers with numerous light bulbs. While the additional light is great for some things, it can be a bit overpowering for an intimate meal. If you are ready to have your new chandelier installed, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Electric Outdoor Lights for Winter Months Explains Electrician in Los Angeles

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment on Electric Outdoor Lights for Winter Months Explains Electrician in Los Angeles

As summer comes to a close, it is time to get ready for the fall cleanup season. This is a great time to have your outdoor lighting inspected, revamped or replaced by your electrician in Los Angeles. Summer storms and typical wear and tear will often result in broken lights or bulbs that need replacing. Although you may not be planning on spending as much time outside during the cooler months, lighting provides safety as well as enhances the appearance of a home. At The Electric Connection, we know how important it is to maintain a gorgeous landscape no matter how cold it is outside.

This is also a great time to review your current lighting scheme and make adjustments to areas you may have noticed were a little more shadowy than you would prefer. Take the time to note these areas and then call your electrician. Los Angeles homeowners have plenty of options when it comes to creating a beautiful, well-lit landscape.

Maybe you have taken advantage of some of the end of season sales and need some help hooking up that beautiful new water feature. Or maybe you have a new piece of yard art that deserves some special lighting to highlight it during the shortened days.

While you do have the option of using solar lights, winter months make it very difficult for the lights to charge. They will often go dark before the sun rises due to the limited amount of charging time allowed during the shorter days. For this reason, many people opt for outdoor lights that are electric. They tend to be more reliable and will stay illuminated throughout the entire night. If you would like to learn more about having electric lights installed in your landscaping give The Electric Connection a call today.

Power Outage Guidelines Provided by Electrician Santa Monica Relies On

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment on Power Outage Guidelines Provided by Electrician Santa Monica Relies On

Rolling power outages can be a royal pain. It seems like they strike just when you have put dinner in the oven or sat down to watch your favorite television show. Typically, the blackout is over within a few hours and life goes back to normal. However, those few hours without power will require you to do a few things in order to ensure everything powers back on normally when the electricity is back on provided by your electrician. Santa Monica residents should consider writing this list down and keeping it handy. You can always call The Electric Connection if you would like a more detailed explanation about anything on the list.

First and foremost, ensure your family is safe. If anybody is in darkened rooms, calmly guide everybody into one area to wait out the power outage. This will help keep you occupied and hey, it can actually make for some excellent family time. No lights, no electronics means no distractions!

1-Unplug all of your small appliances and electronics. This will prevent damage from happening when the power does come back on. When electricity is restored, power surges through the lines and can damage to things like computers, game consoles and even televisions.

2-Tell everybody to stay out of the refrigerator and freezer. Leaving the doors closed will preserve the cool temperatures inside the spaces and keep your food safe. You can expect your refrigerated foods to stay fresh for 4 hours without electricity and up to 24 hours in the freezer.

3-Open the doors and windows to allow airflow through the home says your electrician. Santa Monica residents will appreciate a cool breeze to help keep the air from becoming stagnant during a power outage.

If you would like more information about what you should do when the power goes out, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Safety inspections Offer Peace of Mind Says Electrician Pasadena Residents Know

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

If you have just recently purchased a home or have concerns about the home you currently live in, you can call to have an electrical safety inspection. These inspections are performed by a knowledgeable electrician who can identify any potential hazards you may have in your home. It is always a good idea to have an inspection upon moving into a new home. It essentially gives you a peek behind the walls so you know exactly what you are getting into.

These inspections will need to be performed by an electrician. Pasadena residents can call The Electric Connection to have one of these assessments performed. If your home is older or if you have noticed some issues like tripping breakers, flickering lights or dead outlets, it is crucial you have an electrician come out. The electrician will also be looking for outdated electrical work that should be replaced to meet today’s current standards. Over the years, technology has given us safer methods of bringing electricity into our homes. You will feel safer knowing your home is up to code and as safe as possible.

There are some serious hazards that can be lurking in the walls that could end up starting a fire if left unchecked. These hazards may go unnoticed until it is too late. In many cases, there are some warning signs like the ones mentioned above and in other situations the problem goes undetected until it is too late.

During an inspection, the electrician will evaluate the home’s wiring for fraying or breaking along the line. The entire process is relatively short and inexpensive. Once the inspection is complete, you will get a report from your electrician. Pasadena homeowners will rest easy once they know the condition of their home’s wiring. Any problems that have been identified should always be fixed immediately. This is something The Electric Connection can help you take care of. Just give us a call today.

New Home Construction with Electrician Glendale Residents Trust

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Having a home built from the ground up is an exciting adventure that many future homeowners dream about for years before it finally becomes a reality. In many cases, people choose to do a lot of the construction with their own two hands or with the help of some friends. This can be an extremely rewarding experience for the person who has construction know-how.

Once you get some of the basics established in your new home construction plan, you will need to call an electrician. Glendale residents can trust The Electric Connection to install new wiring, outlets, lights, and electrical panels needed in new home construction.

The electrical portion of home building should never be handled by somebody who is not a professional electrician. The potential for mistakes is too great when a non-certified person is wiring the home. This could lead to electrical fires or costly repairs in the future. Start your project the right way with a person who knows the proper way to complete the job and can adhere to strict building code guidelines.

If you have hired builders, you will still have the chance to pick your electrician. Glendale homeowners will need to pick a company who has a skilled, knowledgeable staff with a good, solid reputation. Don’t leave an important decision like this up to any contractor to decide.

Part of building your own home is having it designed to meet your specific needs. You will have the chance to talk with your home designer about where you want electrical outlets and how many you want to have. If you will be installing a hot tub or electric car charger, this is the time to do it and your electrician can ensure your electrical panel is adequate to support these needs. If you would like to learn more about hiring The Electric Connection for your new home construction project, give us a call today.

Hot Tub Installation by Electrician Beverly Hills Homeowners Rely On

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you decided to take the plunge—pun intended, and buy a hot tub? Coming home after a long day and climbing into a hot tub can be extremely satisfying. The hot water bubbling and washing over sore muscles can soothe all those aches and pains that tend to build up over the day.

Your first step is to head to the specialty store that sells the hot tubs. Pick the tub that is the right size for your family’s needs. There are a lot of choices and this may be a process that takes you several weeks. Once you have chosen the perfect tub, you need to decide exactly where it is it will go in your yard. Remember to consider the power needed to operate the tub when you are thinking of placement. Then, you will need to call your electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can give The Electric Connection a call to discuss installation.

Because of the amount of electricity needed to power a hot tub, it requires a dedicated breaker. The luxury appliance will also need to be hard-wired into your home’s main power. This is a big job that requires the experience and knowledge of a certified electrician. In most cases, county and city codes require a licensed electrician completes the hook up.

If your home is older, you may need to have an electric panel upgrade to accommodate the new hot tub. If you are unsure of what you have, call your electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners will need to ensure their home has the additional power needed to power the hot tub. This is typically not something the average person would be able to tell by simply looking at the electric panel.

Give The Electric Connection a call and we will be happy to inspect your electrical panel and complete the hot tub installation for you.

Hard-Wired Smoke Detectors Installed by Electrician Los Angeles Residents Trust

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As you look around your home, you probably see a long list of little things you would like to do to make it better and safer. It is all a part of home ownership. It is exciting to take something that is very basic and mold it into something that is as much a part of your family as the dog or cat. It is only normal you would want to protect your home and the family that resides in it. The Electric Connection can help you do just that.

Homeowners can have hard-wired smoke detectors installed in their home by an electrician Los Angeles residents probably already know how important it is to have at least one smoke detector on every floor of the home, but there is a big difference between hard-wired and battery operated detectors.

The hard-wired varieties are interconnected. This means when the one in the kitchen goes off, the one in the master bedroom upstairs will also go off. Doesn’t that just make sense? It can be difficult to hear an alarm when doors are closed or the television is on. You need detectors that give you precious seconds to get your family out of the house quickly and safely.

Another benefit to this particular type of smoke-detector is the reliability. As long as the home is powered, the detectors will work. There are battery backups as well in case of a power outage. Because the devices are wired directly into your home’s main power, you will need somebody trained to work with electricity. Los Angeles electrical work can safely be performed by the experienced and professional staff at The Electric Connection.

If you would like to learn more about these devices or would like to schedule an appointment to have yours installed, give us a call today.

3 Cases When You Need an Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It can be fun to fix the little things around the house. It gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment. However, there are times when you need the services of a qualified professional. It should never be taken as an insult or make you feel silly that you need to call a professional, especially when you are dealing with something that is extremely dangerous or deadly in fact. Electricity is never something anybody should mess around with no matter how handy they may be. Only skilled, trained professionals like the ones at The Electric Connection should handle those jobs around the house that involve electricity.

Your electrician in Santa Monica has a few guidelines for you to follow when you are trying to determine whether or not you actually need to call a professional.

1-If you have an electrical outlet that is hot to the touch, is smoking, has black marks around the outlet or you can hear a crackling noise, you need the services of an electrician. Santa Monica residents should never let something like this go unchecked. It can be a serious problem and should be evaluated immediately. If you smell burning wires, which is rather distinctive, call an electrician immediately.

2-Wiring that is exposed is another serious problem that needs to be taken care of before a fire happens. This is something you probably know is a problem, but assume it will hold until you get an electrician out there. Please don’t put it off.

3-Breakers that regularly trip are an indicator of a bigger problem. If you cannot find an obvious reason for the tripping breaker, like too many appliances in use at the same time, then you need a professional to troubleshoot the problem. There could be a problem with the wiring and it needs to be taken care of quickly.

You can call The Electric Connection to handle any of these jobs for you.