Tag: electrical wiring

Dangers of One Bad Wire Explains Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

We always like to minimize things in our lives to make them just a little easier to deal with. It is easy to think it is something minor and isn’t really a big deal. Out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, it isn’t such a good idea when you are dealing with something as serious as bad wiring. It doesn’t even have to be bad wiring, but a loose wire in a single outlet can cause a serious problem. If you have an outlet that isn’t working all the time, it is serious. You need to call an electrician in Pasadena, like those at The Electric Connection.

You probably can’t tell by looking at an outlet that something is wrong behind it. There are some clues that will help alert you to a potential problem. If the outlet doesn’t work all the time, it is a sign of trouble. If you feel the wall around the outlet and it is hot, unplug whatever is in the outlet. You have a major fire hazard. Another clue, says a Pasadena electrician, is sparking or a jolt when you plug things in or unplug. If this happens, don’t use the outlet. If you can, turn off the breaker to the outlet until you can get it looked at. Black marks around the holes or shooting up the wall are definite warning signs.

Outlets are at a high risk for having loose wiring just because of the usage. Every time you plug and unplug something, you are jarring the wires behind the outlet. Yanking plugs out is definitely not a good idea says an electrician. Pasadena homeowners who suspect there is any kind of problem need to act fast. Wires that are touching will eventually start a fire. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your wiring inspection to identify any serious problems.

Planning Your New Home with Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Whether you have purchased land and are looking forward to having your own home built or live in a home that you want to give a complete renovation, your project is going to be a big one. There are so many factors that go into the building of a home, it can be a bit overwhelming. The key to remember is that it should all be left to trained and certified contractors. There is a great deal of planning that is involved in the construction of a home, even if it is a fairly straightforward renovation or addition. It is important that an electrician in Glendale is included in the planning process from the very beginning. The team at The Electric Connection has a great deal of experience with new construction and can provide valuable input.

If the project you are working on is a bit more of a do-it-yourself job, it is absolutely crucial you do not attempt to do the electrical yourself. There are not only laws and regulations that must be adhered to, it just isn’t safe for you or the construction project. When you hire a Glendale electrician to complete the wiring and fixture installation, you can rest assured it is done right. You know you will pass the inspection that must be done to follow code and you will know it is safe.

Some people assume they can skip the hiring of certain contractors, including the electrician. Glendale property owners need to think long-term. The risk of an electrical hazard or a fire starting because of faulty wiring is far too great. Budget the expense of an experienced electrician into the construction cost and save yourself a lot of hassle and worry. The team at The Electric Connection is standing by to help you with your next big project.

Prevent Holiday Lighting Disasters by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
Overloaded electrical power strip with Christmas lights in background
Overloaded electrical power strip with Christmas lights in background

If you are a fan of a certain holiday movie that focuses on one man’s goal to have the brightest house in the neighborhood, you probably remember the web of electric wires and cords that posed a serious risk. In the movie, it was funny. In real life, it is no joke. It can be deadly or at the very least cause a home fire that could destroy everything and even spread to other homes in the neighborhood. Electricity should always be handled with the utmost care explains an electrician in Santa Monica. The team at The Electric Connection has a few tips to ensure your holiday lights do not cause a blackout or a fire.

1. Check the cords before you wrap them around a tree or put them outside. Make sure there are no broken areas that expose the wiring and could let moisture in.
2. Only use the proper extension cords designated for outdoors.
3. Do no overload an outlet by plugging in more than a few sets of lights. If you notice some of the lights are not working after you tested them, there is a good chance the outlet is overloaded explains an electrician. Santa Monica residents can call to have more outlets installed if their electric panel has the room to accommodate additional outlets.
4. Do your best to keep your cords out of the way. You don’t want them become tripping hazards or being wore done and posing an electric hazard.
5. Keep the number of strands you connect together to a minimum. Ideally, you should never connect more than three strands.

Your Santa Monica electrician suggests you invest in LEDs that are very bright, but use very little electricity. This is a way for you to get the full effect of a thousand lights, but only have to use a few hundred that use the energy of maybe 100. Your electric bill and your house’s power will thank you. You will also feel safer knowing you are not creating an electrical hazard. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need extra outlets installed or have other questions.

Commercial Renovation No Problem with Certified Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_10_7If you are interested in purchasing an old building for commercial use or maybe your business is in an old building that needs a serious upgrade, you will need a specialized crew of professionals to make it happen. Commercial projects require a different set of skills and talents than the standard residential projects. Everything is on a much bigger scale, including the wiring and electrical needs. For this reason, it is absolutely critical you hire an electrical team that has experience and training to work on commercial projects. A certified electrician on your job ensures everything will be done right and up to code, which means your renovation or upgrade will chug along according to your schedule. The team at The Electric Connection has the commercial experience you want and need.

It is always best to bring the electrician in at the very beginning of a restoration project. This allows the professional to provide valuable insight and input as to where the wiring needs to be as well as the best type of materials to use for a commercial project. Bringing in the certified professional early on also makes the scheduling of the project much easier. You won’t have to worry about down days or redoing certain areas because the wiring wasn’t put in first. The construction team needs to work together and that means everyone needs to be involved from the get go.

The planning phase is an excellent time to discuss all of the commercial lighting options and various upgrades that can be put in place throughout the building. It is important these are thought about beforehand to make sure the project runs smoothly. Projects that are delayed or run into various hiccups can cost more money and end up pushing back opening dates. Give The Electric Connection a call today and talk with one of our professionals about your commercial building renovation.

Home Additions with Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_10_5If you own your home, it is essentially yours to do as with you please. You are not restricted to what colors you paint the walls or how you decorate your home. For those who don’t live in neighborhoods with strict home covenant laws, you are also free to make your home a little bigger. Every square foot of livable space you have in your home adds value. The cost to add the space is far lower than what the additional square footage is actually worth. Home additions are an excellent way to make a home big enough to suit your family’s needs, while adding significant value. This is definitely a big project and will require the services of a trained, professional Pasadena electrician. The team at The Electric Connection is available and can help you iron out the details of your addition.

Additions can be anything from a single bedroom add on, adding on to an existing room in the house, transforming a basement or even something a little more elaborate like installing a second story. Adding mother-in-law apartment’s are also a common home addition that seem to be growing in popularity. These are all possible with the help of an electrician. Pasadena homeowners that are big on DIY can certainly do a lot of the construction of the addition, but the electrical wiring will need to be completed by a licensed professional in order to meet city code standards.

You will also feel better knowing the wiring has been completed by an electrician in Pasadena. If you have hired a contractor, you can request to use a particular electrician that you have researched and are comfortable using. This project is going to make your life a little easier and will increase your investment into your home. Don’t leave it to anybody you don’t trust. Give The Electric Connection a call today.

Adding Dimmer Switches by California Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_08_7Light switches are so common we rarely think twice about them. We walk into a room, flip the switch without looking and carry on. In the middle of the night or first thing in the morning, the light that comes on in an instant is a bit of a shock to eyes that have not quite adjusted. Lights are often a little too much for certain occasions and you are forced to choose between too much or too little. Or are you? Your California electrician has a better idea. The team at The Electric Connection can help you take control of the light in your life by installing a dimmer switch.

For a long time, dimmer switches were a common feature for chandeliers installed in the dining room area. This allows you to dictate just how much light you want to shed over the dinner table. Cheery breakfasts and lunches are best served with plenty of light. Evening meals that are meant to help you unwind or connect with your friends and loved ones over a delicious entree are best served with low light. It gives the space a more intimate feel.

You can have that same luxury of light control in every room in the house. There is some very minimal electrical wiring that will need to be done. It is a fairly easy switch to install a dimmer in place of your existing light switch. You can have one in the living room that allows you to turn down the lights while you are watching television. Another in the bathroom gives you the ability to have low light for those middle of the night visits instead of blinding light that wakes you up and interrupts a good night’s sleep. An electrician in southern California is ready to help. Just give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your dimmer switch installation.

Best Lighting for a Basement Remodel

Posted on | by K Hopkins

electriccon_july_4Transforming a basement into livable space is a big deal. It requires a lot of planning, work and execution. If you have a basement, you have a lot of space down there that you could be using to entertain, as bedrooms or simply to add value to your home. When done correctly and up to code, your basement can count towards the total square footage of your home. Every additional square foot adds anywhere from $50 to $200 to your total value depending on where you live. An electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you get that remodel underway and up to code in no time.

Basements are generally already wired with electricity, but the lack of walls, ceiling and more than a cement floor are an issue. Once you add flooring and put in a ceiling, the ceiling height tends to be a bit smaller than the average. However, it is still functional and as long as it meets the building code, you can make it work. Now, basements tend to be dark, but you can change that with the installation of recessed lights by an electrician. Glendale homeowners will not have to worry about losing any head room with these lights because they are flush with the ceiling.

You can add several lights that will really brighten up the space. Whether you are transforming your basement into a den or the ultimate game room, you want to preserve as much ceiling space as possible while providing plenty of light. If you are dividing the area into separate rooms, your Glendale electrician can add the wiring needed for the outlets as well as the light switches needed to operate the lights in each space. A basement remodel is a fun project that is rewarding and will provide an excellent return on your investment. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting installation.

Electrical Safety Tips by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by K Hopkins

electriccon_july_2This world is full of danger. Every where we turn there is another risk, but as long as we follow the rules and respect the safety guidelines, things are generally okay. One of the things we know is dangerous, but never really think about how dangerous it can is electricity. Electricity is a part of our of our life in every little thing we do. We tend to take electrical safety for granted. An electrician in Beverly Hills is here to tell you that while technology and various codes and guidelines have made it relatively safe, it is important to follow the guidelines that have been established regarding electrical safety. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to be safe as well.

Here are some electrical safety tips your Beverly Hills electrician wants you to know and follow.

1-Never overload an outlet. Outlet additions that allow you to plug three items into one outlet instead of just one are risky. Don’t use an extension cord to plug in several items on one outlet for an extended period of time. If you need more outlets, consider have more installed by an electrician.

2-Do not use indoor extension cords outside. They are not insulated well enough to withstand the elements. An electric short can happen resulting in fire or electrocution.

3-Extension cords should not be placed in pathways. Stepping on a cord will break it down and possibly cause the wiring to short out or a person could be electrocuted. Extension cords should be laid against a wall or use a cord protector to keep the cord from being damaged.

4-Water and electricity do not mix! If you do not have GFCI outlets in the kitchen and bath areas, consider having them updated by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners will be adding a layer of safety in an area where electricity and water are at an increased risk of coming into contact with each other.

Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your new outlet installation or outlet upgrade.

Adding a Bathroom with California Electrician

Posted on | by K Hopkins

electriccon_july_7One of the biggest complaints homeowners have is the lack of bathrooms in the house. Older homes are often only built with one bathroom. In fact, there are plenty of newer homes that are only built with one bathroom as well, but at least three bedrooms. That seems to be an industry standard—three bedrooms and one bathroom. It isn’t enough for most families. Our lives are busy and we simply don’t have the time to wait our turn in the bathroom. Adding a bathroom is one of the best solutions and it will add significant value to your home, while making your life easier. An electrician in California can help you with the electrical portion, while you or your contractor completes the actual construction. The team at The Electric Connection has a professional staff that will help you fulfill your home renovation project in a timely manner.

When you choose to invest in a bathroom addition, you are getting the luxury of designing the room to your needs. You have plenty of choices to make about the size and whether or not you want it to be a full bath or simply a toilet and sink. Once you have made that decision, it will be time to start thinking about the fixtures. You will need a California electrician to take care of wiring the space with outlets and lighting.

If there is one place that needs extra outlets, it is the bathroom. Your electrician will install as many as you need and because it is the bathroom, GFCI outlets will be your best choice. This can protect against electric shock. No matter if you decide to do the construction yourself or hire a contractor, you will need a certified electrician to complete the electrical work. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your bathroom remodel.

Home Safety by Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electricon_06_4It is important you not only feel safe in your home, but are actually relatively safe from most things. We know there are always hidden dangers around us. We can be ready to deal with these things and there are a few little things we can do around the house to help alert us to those safety issues. An electrician in Glendale has some safety tips that will make your home safer and make you feel a little more comfortable and safe when you and your family are home or away. The team at The Electric Connection can help you get these safety measures taken care of.

GFCI Outlets

These outlets can prevent electric shock. They are designed to shut off the instant the circuit is interrupted. These outlets are generally placed in bathrooms and kitchen areas. If an appliance comes into contact with water while plugged in, the outlet trips, cutting the current and preventing shock.

Electric Panel Inspection

It doesn’t hurt to have a Glendale electrician take a look at your electric panel. It may not look like much to you, but to the trained eye of an electrician, it can say a lot. You will learn about the condition of your breakers, the panel itself and the wiring that powers your home. If you have been having trouble with tripping breakers, this inspection will help you learn why.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

All homes should have at least one carbon monoxide detector installed explains an electrician. Glendale homeowners can install the detectors themselves. They are usually battery-powered and can be placed in the home to alert you to carbon monoxide levels that are too high.

Smoke Detectors

You probably already have a couple of these in your home, but it doesn’t hurt to have a couple hard-wired smoke detectors installed as well. You can never be too safe.

Give The Electric connection a call today and schedule your safety upgrades.