Tag: electrical safety

Electric Safety Tips for Children by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

bigstockphoto_Happy_Baby_Under_Clouds_153604Summer days are the time to be outside enjoying the sun and warmth. Kids love to play outside and take advantage of their days being free. However, in our very technological world, kids tend to be “plugged in” a lot. All those electronic toys can be great fun, but as adults know, electronics and water don’t mix. Water play is a big part of summer. It is important to teach kids some important lessons about enjoying summer days outside around electricity. A Los Angeles electrician has a few tips to help you keep your kids safe this summer. You can rely on The Electric Connection to provide you with more information should you need it.

*Trees that are near power lines should never be climbed. Parents should point out the power lines near trees and explain how a falling branch could catch a live line and cause serious injury.

*Avoid building tree houses or raised play houses around power lines.

*If you have a backyard pool, make sure the electrical outlets are far enough away from the pool that there is not an electrocution hazard. Educate the kids about bringing in the gadgets that may be plugged in. This applies to the hot tub as well.

*Ensure there are enough outlets outside for any appliances to avoid running extension cords across the patio or yard. If you need more outlets, contact an electrician. Los Angles homeowners can have additional outlets installed outside to accommodate your electrical needs.

*Discourage children from throwing anything at power lines or utility poles.

*Remind children kites should only be flown in areas that are free of power lines.

*Children should never attempt to climb utility poles.

These tips can help save lives. Always set a good example when working around electricity. If you have any questions or would like to have outdoor outlets installed, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Hardwired Smoke Detectors a Bonus says Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

If you are tired of replacing the batteries in your smoke detector every few months, you need to learn more about hard-wired smoke detectors installed by an electrician in Santa Monica. Although we are often reminded to change those batteries every six months, things happen, life gets busy, and we forget. We forget until about 2 in the morning when the device chirps to let you know it needs a new battery. Wouldn’t it be nice to avoid all of that and still keep your home and family protected? The Electric Connection can help you add a layer of safety to your home by installing new hard-wired smoke detectors.

Hard-wired smoke detectors are not just more convenient. They are actually a little more reliable than the kinds that are solely battery powered. It isn’t often you lose power, which means your smoke detectors will always be functioning. If you do lose power, the battery back up in each detector will keep your home protected. Another benefit to this particular kind of smoke detector is the fact all the detectors in the home are interconnected. When the first sign of smoke sets off an alarm anywhere in the house, all of the detectors will start beeping.

This is extremely beneficial to the residents in the home. It adds several, precious seconds to call the fire department or escape the house. Because the detectors are wired directly into a home’s Santa Monica electrical system, you will need a licensed electrician to complete the job. This ensures your smoke detectors are being installed correctly and are not creating a hazard caused by faulty wiring. Your homeowner’s insurance may offer a discount for homes, especially two-story homes that have hard-wired smoke detectors installed. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your installation.

Outdoor Security Enhanced with Spotlights with Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Outdoor lighting is often overlooked by homeowners who are more focused on their indoor lighting needs. A few lights set in the landscape are nice, but it doesn’t often do enough to properly light an area to provide adequate security. Many people will settle for a security light over the front door or the garage door and call it good. That does little good for the far corners of the yard or pathways around the garage or what not. An electrician in Glendale can help you enhance the security of your yard. You can count on The Electric Connection to make sure your yard is well lit.

Spotlights can be placed in the yard to shed light on a specific area like a fountain, a gorgeous rose bush or even a statue. The spotlights can be solar or electric-powered. The latter is preferable, especially for areas that are shady. The lights are brighter than a standard pathway light and light up a broader area. A row of spotlights along a pathway in the backyard is perfect for adding a layer of safety.

Patio areas will benefit from additional lighting. The standard porch light tends to only light up the area closest the door, while the rest of the patio is swathed in darkness. String lights are a popular choice and can enhance the overall look of the patio. You can add festive-colored light strings or romantic twinkle lights. In either situation, you will need to have your Glendale electrical system beefed up a bit to accommodate the light strings. Your electrician can install an extra outlet for you to plug the string lights into. This ensures you are not overloading an existing outlet and still have an outlet available to plug in a fan or other electrical device. Give The Electric Connection a call today and help make your outdoor area a little safer.

Little Electrical Problems a Concern Says Electrician in Beverly Hils

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

There are times when you plug in the toaster or try and run the vacuum cleaner and it won’t work right. You probably unplug it and try it again and it works fine. You think nothing of it and assume it was a fluke—until it happens again with another appliance with the same outlet. Now, you have to wonder, is it an electrical problem or is it really just a fluke? These situations may appear to be no big deal on the surface, but they really are and can indicate there is something going on behind the outlet cover. Something like frayed or loose wires that could create a spark and start a fire that burns slowly and becomes a serious problem before you know it. You need an electrician in Beverly Hills to investigate these little problems before they become big ones that threaten your home and your safety. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help.

Outlets that work intermittently are just one of the symptoms of a serious electrical problem. Lights that flicker or do not turn on even when a new bulb is installed are another sign of electrical trouble. The light fixture may have wiring that has deteriorated or the wiring in the ceiling could be bad. Because you can’t tell simply be looking at the light or the light switch, you need to call an electrician familiar with Beverly Hills electrical needs.

The electrician will do an inspection and thoroughly investigate the problem. If it is a wiring issue to a single outlet or light fixture, it is a fairly easy fix. If you have a breaker that trips frequently, let an electrician know. This is another sign of a problem. Never leave little electrical problems unchecked. They can quickly become serious concerns. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electric inspection.

Electrical Wiring Warning Signs by Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It can be tough to determine what is a problem in your home and what is something that can be put off and until you have the time, energy or the money to fix. However, it is important to educate yourself about certain problems that can become extremely serious if left unchecked. Electrical problems often give homeowners a few warning signs before they become serious and lead to electrical fires. A Glendale electrician can help you determine what constitutes a serious electrical problem and what situations can be left until you have the time. The Electric Connection has the electricians you need to help you make your home safe.

Flickering Lights

A flickering light is often chalked up to a bad bulb. If you replace the bulb and the light still flickers, you likely have a wiring issue. It is possible the fixture is bad and needs replacement. In either case, it isn’t an issue you want to ignore. Wires that are bared either due to breaking down over time or the victim of rodent chewing can spark a fire. It is important the light is inspected by an electrician. Glendale residents will appreciate knowing their lighting is not a safety hazard.

Popping Breakers

If you plug in an appliance or turn on an appliance and the breaker trips on a regular basis, it could indicate the breaker is weak or faulty. A single breaker trip is usually not cause for worry and suggest the breaker was overloaded. A breaker that trips for no apparent reason needs to be inspected by an electrician. It will likely need to be replaced.

Bad Outlets

Outlets that do not work or work sporadically are a sign of trouble and need to be inspected and replaced right away. There are likely exposed wires behind the walls that could cause a fire.

If you have any of these issues, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your appointment.

Remodeling is the Answer Says Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Your home is constantly evolving. The people who live in it grow up. You may expand the family at some point or your family may shrink as the kids move on. With your ever-changing family, your home will need to grow and evolve with your needs. Remodeling your family home makes a lot more sense than pulling up stakes and buying a new home that will fit your needs for a short time. You can make your home fit your family by remodeling with the help of an electrician in Santa Monica. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help you realize your dreams.

A remodeling job is an exciting adventure as you work with a contractor to transform your home into one that you are proud of and completely comfortable in. Unless you are a skilled tradesman, you won’t want to try and take on this big job yourself. Your fun adventure will quickly turn into a nightmare that could not only put your safety at risk, but the safety of your home. It is imperative you leave all of the Santa Monica electrical work to a professional.

Prior to starting the remodeling process, you will want to have a conversation with your electrician and other contractors about what your goals are. Some points to discuss with your electrician are as follows;

• Replacement of existing light fixtures
• Adding and/or updating existing outlets
• Installing data lines

While the electrician is in the house, it doesn’t hurt to have an electric safety inspection completed as well. This will help you identify any areas that should be upgraded or replaced during the remodel. This will make your home safer and give you peace of mind. If you are ready to take the first step in remodeling your home, give The Electric Connection a c all today.

3 Ways to Make Your Home Safer with an Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It is only natural you would want to make your home as safe as possible. You are protecting your investment as well as the people who dwell in your home. There are plenty of little, fairly inexpensive things you can do around your house that ensure there are safety measures in place. An electrician in Santa Monica can help you make your home safer. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help.

Safety Inspection

Your first layer of safety is to have an electrical safety inspection completed by an electrician. This will help identify any problems that are lurking behind the walls of your home. An electrician will go through your home’s electrical system checking for any warning signs. If the home has cloth wiring, it will be recommended the wiring is replaced and upgraded to today’s standards.

Hard-Wired Smoke Alarms

Hard-wired smoke alarms are an excellent addition to any home. The smoke detectors are wired directly into your Santa Monica electrical system. You won’t have to worry about your home being left vulnerable to fire because a battery was dead. If your home is multilevel or spread out, the hard-wired smoke detectors are especially ideal. When one detector is alerted, all of the smoke alarms will go off. This gives every person a few additional seconds to escape, which can mean the difference between life and death.

GFCI Outlets

GFCI outlets are an additional safety measure you can add to your kitchen and bathroom areas. The outlets prevent against electric shock if water happens to somehow come in contact with an appliance that is in use. The second the circuit is interrupted, the outlet will trip the breaker and cut off the electricity flow and prevent electric shock.
If you would like to make your home a little safer this spring, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Taking Care of Faulty Outlets with Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Without electricity, we would have an extremely difficult time getting through our day. We rely on it for everything from making our first cup of coffee in the morning to charging our cell phones as we sleep at night. All of the appliances we use on a daily basis must be plugged into an outlet. When those outlets are not working properly or pose a threat to the safety of your home, you need to call an electrician in Burbank. You can count on the team at The Electric Connection to send out a knowledgeable electrician to take care of the problem.

There are a number of different reasons why an outlet may be giving you problems. You may not even realize an outlet is faulty and assume an appliance is on the fritz or an incident was just a fluke. The following signs indicate there is a problem that needs attention.

• Sporadically working
• Black streaks shooting up the wall above the outlet
• You feel a shock when plugging things in
• The breaker that runs the outlet trips frequently
• A crackling noise or smell of burning wires

Any of these symptoms can suggest a serious problem is lurking behind the walls that you cannot see. Electrical fires are one of the leading causes of home fires. It is imperative you hire somebody who has the proper training take care of your Burbank electrical needs.

While the electrician is investigating the problem, the wiring will be inspected to determine if it is outdated or unsafe. If the outlet that is causing the problem is in the kitchen or a bathroom, it would be a good time to have the outlets in those areas upgraded to GFCI outlets. If you would like to make your appointment to have your outlets inspected, replaced or upgraded, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Spring Home Electric Safety Inspections by Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

We often use the time change as a way to remind ourselves to change the batteries in our smoke detectors. We do this because it is important our homes are protected as well as the people in our homes. In fact, there are plenty of things we do on a daily basis to ensure the safety of our home. One of the things that are often overlooked is the safety of the actual home. What is going on behind the walls? Is the electrical wiring safe? One way you can determine the electrical safety of your home is by calling an electrician in Santa Monica and scheduling an electric safety inspection. The team at The Electric Connection can take care of this for you and help set your mind at ease.

A home electric safety inspection can help identify potential problems before they become serious fire risks. The inspection will give you a better idea of what kinds of dangers are lurking behind the walls. If you live in a home that is more than 50 years old, you could be dealing with some outdated wiring issues. An electrician will be able to tell you if you are due for an upgrade or if your wiring is up to today’s codes.

The electrician will investigate your Santa Monica electrical system and notate any items that could use repair or replacement. You will always have the option of taking care of the repairs immediately or waiting until there is a better time. Some things that are often found on these inspections are the old style outlets in the kitchen and bathroom areas. Nowadays, the standard calls for GFCI outlets to be used in areas that are around water. If you would like to learn more about your home’s electrical system, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your home electrical safety inspection.

Why Do Breakers Trip? Electrician in Pasadena Explains

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Why do breakers trip? Have you ever turned on the vacuum or started the microwave while the toaster was in operation and experienced a tripped breaker? If you have ever dealt with a breaker that trips, you are probably wondering why it happened and want to know what that means for the safety of your home. An electrician in Pasadena is here to explain. You can learn more by calling The Electric Connection.

First of all, it is important to explain what a tripped breaker really is. Your breaker panel is probably located outside or in a hallway or basement area. When a breaker trips, it cuts off all flow of electricity to the outlets and light fixtures that the particular breaker supplies electricity to. When looking at the breaker panel, the tripped breaker will be slightly in the middle instead of all the way left or right. An orange bar is usually used to indicate which breaker has tripped.

As far as why the breaker trips, there are 3 main reasons
• Ground Fault
• Overloaded Circuit
• Short Circuit

An overloaded circuit is probably one of the most common reasons. If your breaker isn’t powerful enough to run several appliances at once, like the microwave, vacuum and toaster, it becomes overloaded and shuts down. You can address this by distributing your electrical draw to different outlets that are run by different breakers or by having your Pasadena electrical system investigated. You may be in need of additional breakers.
A ground fault or short circuit are much more dangerous than an overloaded circuit. Breakers that have bare wires or a bad connection can cause fires. If you don’t see anything out of the ordinary, but are still having trouble with a tripping breaker, give the folks at The Electric Connection a call.