The Electric Connection’s Blog

3 Cost-Saving Tips for Staying Cool from Your Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Spring is always a good time to give your heating and air conditioning unit a break as well as your pocketbook. Summer is just around the corner and those electric bills will jump once you start using your air conditioner on a regular basis. The hot weather does not need to cost you a fortune to stay cool. There are a few things you can do to keep your home comfortable without setting the AC at 72.

Ceiling Fan

An electrician in Santa Monica can install a ceiling fan to help reduce your electric bill. The fan stirs the air, preventing it from getting hot and stagnant. The nice cool breeze will help cool you as long as you have the fan blades spinning in the right direction. It’s always best to hire a licensed electrician install your fans since they would have sufficient knowledge about electrical wiring. Typically, fans are sold with a kit with all the supplies needed to install it. The Electric Connection is reliable and can complete the job for you in a timely manner.

Kitchen Exhaust Fan

Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen to pull out the hot air. If you do not have one, these are available for purchase at most hardware stores. If the space is already available in the range hood, this is a quick replacement job. However, it’s always best to leave it up to a certified  electrician. Santa Monica residents know cooking in the summer heat is tough. When possible, use the microwave, stovetop or even better, barbecue!

Oscillating Fans

These are available at almost any store and use less electricity than an air conditioning unit. Simply moving the air around the home works to keep it cooler. Anything you can do to lessen the burden on your AC will save you money on your total electric bill.

Picking the Right Commercial Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Businesses cannot afford an interruption in their equipment use and faulty wiring or wiring that is not adequate could ultimately cost the business money. Lighting that does not work properly is also bad for business. It reflects negatively on the establishment and could very well turn customers away. If you want to avoid lost revenue, you will need to fix any electrical issues promptly. The Electric Connection is one business who understands your needs and has the experience necessary to do commercial work.

Picking the Right Electrician for Your Commercial Job

When looking for a commercial electrician, you want to ensure your business is represented by somebody who is professional and courteous. In many cases, the electrician will be in sight of customers and may need to interact with them from time to time. You will want to pick a company whose technicians are neat and tidy. The last thing you need is an individual who is disheveled and making a mess of your space. Another important tip when it comes to choosing an electrician in Glendale is to consider your budget. It is important to get quotes about a job before you hire anybody.
Time constraints seem to be more important when planning a commercial electrical job in comparison to a standard residential job. Although both are equally important, commercial jobs tend to require more strict time frames. This needs to be addressed when choosing an electrician. Glendale business managers and owners will also want a company who has a good rapport with contractors if the job is a renovation project or construction of a new building.
Contractors and electricians will have to work together and coordinate in order to get the job done according to schedule. Any electrician who will be performing work should be licensed, bonded and insured. It doesn’t hurt to check the company rating with the Better Business Bureau as well.

Remodeling Jobs Best Left to Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment on Remodeling Jobs Best Left to Electrician in Burbank

You have been tossing around the idea for years, and now the idea of remodeling your home is finally a reality. What an exciting time for you! Whether you are getting a brand new kitchen, complete with the latest and greatest appliances, or adding on that bedroom your expanding family so desperately needs, you will need an electrician. Burbank homeowners who are the DIY kind of person will need to think twice before trying to tackle such a big, technical job.

Why You Need a Professional

There are several reasons you may decide to do most of the remodeling work on your own, with cost typically being the biggest motivating factor. There is certainly nothing wrong with saving a few dollars on a remodeling job, but there are some things that need to be left to the professionals. Electrical wiring is one of those things.

Most building codes require a permit be obtained for any rewiring. Inspections will also be performed. A person who has no real knowledge of electrical wiring will likely be unable to perform the work up to code. You could end up costing yourself more money in the long run if an electrician in Burbank has to remove everything you did and start over. You are looking at money wasted in material that will need to be replaced.

There are certainly some minor jobs that you could do, as long as you have an idea of how to go about it safely. Replacing outlets or light fixtures is easy enough if you understand basic electricity work. However, adding outlets or the wires needed to put in light fixtures is best left to the trained professionals.

Although you may think you are saving yourself money, you are risking your safety and the safety of your family by trying to do a job that requires a professional. The Electric Connection has the experience to take care of these things for you.

Protect Your Family from Carbon Monoxide–Beverly Hills Electrician Explains How

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

You work hard to keep a roof or your family’s head and you want to protect them while they are at home. You probably lock your doors and windows at night and leave a light so nobody trips when making one of those late night bathroom runs. Is there more you could do?

Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

You can add an extra layer of protection to your home for your family by having smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home. An electrician in Beverly Hills can hard wire a smoke detector into each room of the home. This is an ideal option, because you do not have to worry about batteries going dead or being “borrowed” for some toy or remote. The detectors rely on your home’s electricity. Of course, you will still need to have a battery powered detector in the home. In most models, the electric powered detectors also have a battery backup option.

Hard wired smoke detectors should be placed in every room somebody sleeps in as well as the basement if you have one. The detectors can be interconnected, so if one goes off, they all go off, alerting occupants to a fire. This is an ideal option for those who like to sleep with their bedroom doors closed.

Carbon monoxide detectors should also be installed by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners should absolutely have one of these detectors in their home to protect themselves against the odorless gas, carbon monoxide. As with the smoke detectors, an electrician will hard wire a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home. These can be interconnected as well.

If you use a gas stove or have a garage connected to your home, you will definitely need to consider having a carbon monoxide detector. You can rely on The Electric Connection to get this extremely important job done for your family.

Save Money with Surge Protection Installed by Electrician in Los Angeles

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Spring is here and that means those wild and loud thunderstorms are here as well. Lightning can be nice to look at, but as we all know, it can be dangerous. While you are probably safe in your home during a lightning storm, your appliances and electronics are not. One lightning strike can wipe out anything that is currently plugged in, in your home.

If you are not interested in spending thousands of dollars replacing computers, televisions and any other appliance in your home, you will probably want to invest in a whole house surge protector. An electrician in Los Angeles is exactly what you need to save you a great deal of money in replacement costs.

Surge Protectors

You probably have your computer plugged into one of those strips that offers a layer of protection against an electrical surge. But what about your expensive gaming console, refrigerator and television. With just those three items, you are taking well over a $1000. It isn’t feasible or attractive to plug in every electronic device to a surge protector strip.

However, whole home surge protectors are available. And what is even better is the fact they are a fraction of the amount of the cost it would take you to replace your electronics. They are fairly simple to install by an electrician. Los Angeles residents who are interested in protecting their electronic investments can call the Electric Connection to discuss their surge protection options.

It is important to note that not all electrical surges come from lightning strikes. Large appliances like the refrigerator or air conditioning unit cycling off and on can also cause spikes in power, especially if they are not in good working condition. You never know when a surge will strike. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Fire Prevention Tips From Your Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

If you are living in an older house, you may notice some outlets do not work all the time. You may experience the problem of when you plug things in; the plug is loose and falls out easily. Another common occurrence is a black mark on one side of the outlet. All of these problems are indicators you need a Beverly Hill electrician to come out and take a look.

There are several reasons why an outlet may not be working properly. Typically, it can be attributed to loose wires disturbing the connection. It could also be due to rodents using the wires as chew toys. In any case, loose wires and a faulty electrical outlet are a serious safety hazard. Those wires are a fire waiting to happen.
In most cases, all that is needed to remedy the problem is a replacement of the outlet. This is a job you can do on your own if you have knowledge about working with electricity. You will need to make sure you cut the power to that outlet before even attempting any work.

If you are not sure how to check for loose wires, you are not alone. This is a job an electrician in Beverly Hills can certainly help you with. There is no need for you to mess around with electric wiring if you are uncomfortable and unfamiliar with the basics.
The electrician will check the outlet for power with a volt meter. From there, the electrician will pull outlet away from the wall and check the wiring. In some cases, especially with older homes, it is a good idea to have an electrical inspection completed to check for other wiring issues that could potentially be dangerous fire hazards.

If the electrician determines it is simply a case of loose wiring, it is an easy fix and you get peace of mind. Call The Electric Connection in Beverly Hills to arrange an appointment.

Electrical Safety Assessments from Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by K Hopkins | 2 Comments on Electrical Safety Assessments from Santa Monica Electrician

Electrical wiring is an important part of a home that we all depend on every day. If your home wiring is outdated, though, it can be an electrical safety hazard and result in shorting out or even electrical fires.

An electrical safety assessment can be done by a competent electrician in a fairly short amount of time and for a reasonable amount of money. A Santa Monica electrician will check for any safety hazards or needed electrical code corrections, and they will check all of the connections and wires to make sure that nothing is broken, deteriorated or frayed. An electrical safety inspection by Electric Connection, a licensed electrician Santa Monica trust most, will give you the peace of mind you need. Knowing that your home electrical is safe, you can feel rest assured that your family is protected.

Electric Connection is licensed, bonded and insured and fully qualified to do electrical safety inspections. If you’d like to find out more, please visit our website at
https://www.theelectricconnection.com/electrician-santa-monica-ca/. We’re ready to help you out with your next home electrical safety assessment.

Electrical Estimates By Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by K Hopkins

As with any type of home repair service, the cost of a project or repair will vary depending on what type of work you need to have done. If you have an electrical repair, for example, the electrician will need to take out his tools and do some electrical troubleshooting in order to determine exactly what and where the problem is. If this is the case, it’s not possible to give an exact electrical estimate before starting, and the job will need to be done on a time an material basis. The electrician should give you an accurate quote of their hourly rates, and the cost of materials that they charge you for should be realistic. If the electrician is knowledgeable and competent and the repair is straight forward, they can usually fix the issue within a fairly short amount of time and at a reasonable cost.

If you need a panel upgrade, new lighting, smoke detectors or any other type of electrical installation, you’ll want to make sure that you know the exact price before the job is started. For your own protection, this is very important.

Electric Connection, a licensed Pasadena electrician, can give you a ballpark price over the phone for most types of electrical installations, and then schedule an appointment to go out to your house or business property to give you a detailed price in writing. Getting a price in writing for the work you need done means no surprises for you at the end of the job and less stress for you while the job is in progress, too.

If you need an electrical update or installation, you can call our office and let us know exactly what you’re looking for, and we’ll be able to give a ballpark figure and some free electrical advice. If you like the ballpark price, we can schedule an appointment to go out to your property and give you an exact electrical estimate in writing. We’re a licensed and bonded electrician Pasadena area residents can depend on. You can also visit our website at www.theelectricconnection.com/electrician-pasadena-ca to find out more.

Interior Lighting Know-How From a Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by K Hopkins

Interior lighting consists of the lights on the ceilings and walls in all of the rooms in a house, as well as the lamps and other lighting fixtures that you may have in your home. There are many different styles of interior lights to choose from such as track lighting, chandeliers, pendant lighting, recessed lighting, wall sconces and more. Choosing the type and style of lighting that you like best can be difficult, but fun at the same time. As far as the proper placement of your lighting fixtures goes, an Burbank electrician can help you decide what works best.

Chandeliers can be used in any home, but the bigger styles tend to work well in larger homes or rooms with high ceilings. There are many chandelier options that you can choose from in all different shapes, sizes and finishes. Electric Connection is the electrician Burbank homeowners rely on for professional lighting and chandelier installations.

Another style of lighting that’s very common is a ceiling fan with built-in lights.  A support box is required to support the weight of the fan, so if there’s no existing junction box these may require a little more work to install than a chandelier.  With a ceiling fan you have the added benefit, though, of having both the lighting and a fan in one unit.

As we know, most lamps need to be turned on and off at the lamp switch, but a certified electrician from Electric Connection can easily wire your outlets so that you can use your wall switches to turn your lamps on and off instead. This type of set up makes your table lamps even more convenient and easy to use.

Of course, there are even more options for lighting in your house, but you’ll definitely want to consider choosing one or more of the options we’ve mentioned since they’re the most popular. When you’re ready to install or update your home lighting, you can give us a call at Electric Connection.

Electrician Santa Monica – LED Signs and You

Posted on | by K Hopkins

As a small business owner, you are always looking for new ways to advertise and share information with your customers and potential customers. One of the ways that is really catching on is the use of an on-premises LED sign. This is not something you want to jump into lightly and in fact is something you may need to enlist the help of an electrician in Santa Monica. The team at Electric Connection is here to help you when it comes time to install or maintain your LED sign, as well as assist you with your other electrical-related tasks.

An LED sign is a great advertising solution. Unlike a traditional sign, you can change the message from inside, using a computer program or maintenance panel. This is much safer than climbing onto a ladder and changing the lettering like on a normal sign! Additionally, since it is so easy to change the message, you will be more likely to keep your message up to date.

The reason many people resist changing to an LED sign is the cost. There is an upfront fee because you are purchasing the equipment. However, if you choose Electric Connection for your electrician Santa Monica, you will be assured you are getting a great deal on the installation costs! Additionally, maintenance is often quite simple. If you do have problems, Electric Connection can come out and get you back up and running quickly and easily.

The payoff of an LED sign can be hard to measure. These are eye-catching and will bring in customers as they drive or walk by your place of business. Investing in one of these signs will give you payoff both now and well into the future. Look into the options available to you and consider utilizing this easy and cost-efficient method of advertising your business today.