Electrical Troubleshooting by a Burbank Electrician

Posted on May 25, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

Techician looking over a gas furnace with a flashlight before cleaning it.

For many people, electrical work in the home is a bit of mystery. If you are not an electrician and have no desire to learn about all things electrical, there is really no need to worry too much about how the lights in your home work or what it takes to make the refrigerator run. Unfortunately, electrical work in the house isn’t full proof. It can fail and if you have no idea why, you will need the services of an electrician. Burbank homeowners can count on the team at The Electric Connection to take care of any electrical repairs.

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding electrical problems is determining exactly what the problem is. A light doesn’t work or an outlet sparks can mean many different things. It takes a trained professional electrician in Burbank to properly diagnose the problem. Faulty electrical work is not something you want to simply but a band-aid on so to speak and ignore. It is imperative there is troubleshooting completed to correctly diagnose the problem. You need to get to the root cause of the electrical issues to ensure it is taken care of the first time.

Faulty wiring or deteriorating wiring may cause one problem today and three months down the road you are dealing with another safety issue. What if you don’t catch it in time? It is crucial you have any electrical issues promptly diagnosed by a Burbank electrician. It is better to be safe than sorry. Don’t take chances with your family’s safety by having them sleep in a home that could be a dangerous electrical hazard. If you are unsure, you can have an electrical inspection completed to give you a god idea of what is going on as well as diagnose any problems that could be quietly lurking behind the walls. Give The Electric Connection a call today to troubleshoot any electrical issues you are having in your home.

5 Reasons to Upgrade an Electric Panel by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on May 24, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

That dull gray box that sits outside your home isn’t something you pay a lot of attention to. In the house, there is a gray panel that fits into the wall and is somewhere out of the way. Again, you don’t even know it is there unless you are looking for it. Every home has an electric panel. Fortunately, the average homeowner never has to do much with it. Occasionally you may need to open it up to turn a breaker off or on or maybe reset a tripped breaker. However, if you are in and out of that electric panel several times a week, you need an electrician. Pasadena homeowners who are not comfortable with how often they are messing with their electric panel can call The Electric Connection for help. You may need a panel upgrade.

There are several reasons you should consider upgrading your electric panel. The upgrade can only be completed by a licensed electrician in Pasadena. There are codes that must be followed and inspections that must be passed. You don’t want to waste time and money by trying to get by with substandard work. It is also a huge safety issue.

Here are some reasons why you would need or want to have a Pasadena electrician upgrade your electric panel.

The panel has been recalled or deemed a safety hazard
You need more electricity coming from the pole into your house
The panel is outdated
The panel is not working safely or properly any longer
Panels that use old-fashioned wiring methods that are now obsolete

You don’t have to know the ins and outs of your electric panel, but if you suspect there is an issue, it is always best to call an electrician to complete an inspection. You will be given the lowdown on your panel and learn whether or not you need to change out your existing panel. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your inspection.

Dangers of DIY Electrical Repair

Posted on April 25, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

Photo of a Wire Stripper and Electrical Related Items

Fixing things around the house is what you do when you own a home. You probably enjoy taking matters into your own hands and fixing the little things. It is gives you a sense of pride when you look at a project you took on and finished it. You can say you fixed that or you built that. There are some projects that are too big for you to possibly handle yourself so you call a contractor in the business who can paint the exterior of your home, install new cabinets or take care of some of the landscaping issues. This too is a part of home ownership—knowing when to call for help. Electrical repair on new installation of fixtures and appliances is also best left to a qualified electrician like those at The Electric Connection.

It isn’t about pride. It is all about safety. Handling electricity is dangerous and you should never attempt it unless you have adequate training, like an electrician certified in the state of California. There are some dangers associated with electrical repair work in the home.

*Completing work yourself without the proper licensing could void your homeowner’s insurance policy. If there were an incident, you may not be covered.

*The risk of electrocution is very high when you are not familiar with wiring basics. You risk severe injury or even death.

*It will end up costing you more money to fix a mistake that was made in a DIY situation.

*You risk violating city codes and having to pay a fine, tearing out everything that was done and hiring a licensed electrician to complete the work.

*Fire is another real possibility when you undertake your own electrical repairs. The fire may not start right away, but it is a silent threat that can and will strike without warning.

Your home and your safety are worth spending the extra money to hire a professional. Don’t put your life at risk or risk the lives of your family members because you think you are going to save a few dollars. You won’t. Call The Electric Connection today and let us help you safely take care of any electrical work in your house.

Electrical Repairs Require Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on March 24, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

When your car isn’t running right or you have a leaky faucet, you may try and diagnose and repair the problem yourself. These are fairly innocent symptoms and a number of people can safely take care of the problem just by using Google or talking to somebody at the auto parts store or their local hardware store. Unfortunately, electrical problems in the home, even those that seem relatively simple, can be extremely dangerous for the average person to fix. It is absolutely imperative you call an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners who suspect they have something going on with the electrical in their home can call The Electric Connection.

Sometimes, the obvious problem is just a symptom of something much bigger. A light switch that doesn’t seem to work or an outlet that is loose or makes a popping noise may seem like no big deal, but it is. It is hard to say what is happening without an inspection from a trained and certified electrician in Santa Monica. It could really be a quick fix that requires a little tightening of the wires or a replace of the switch or outlet. It could also be an indication of faulty wiring or wiring that is old and brittle.

There are plenty of other scenarios that would require you to call a Santa Monica electrician. If you want new outlets, additional outlets or new light fixtures, you will want to leave the job to the professionals. This ensures the job will be done right and you can sleep better at night knowing it was handled by someone who has been through extensive training and been certified. It is too risky to ignore the problem or attempt to diagnose it if you don’t have the knowledge. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you suspect your electrical wiring may need a little help.

When You Need to Call an Electrician

Posted on March 24, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

If you are sick, you call a doctor. If you air conditioner stops working, you call an HVAC repairman. We are fortunate to live in a world where we are only a phone call away from help. We are not expected to fix things ourselves. In fact, the economy relies on us calling in professionals who have went to school and made a living repairing things and making our lives a little easier. What about an electrician? When should you call an electrician, like those at The Electric Connection.

Here are a list of jobs that would require you to give your electrician a call.

When you have a flickering light or a light that doesn’t always turn on when you flipped the switch.
When you need electrical upgrades around the house, like adding additional outlets or replacing old outlets with GFCI outlets.
When you want to add a new light fixture.
When you know you have old wiring that could be potentially dangerous.
If you are doing any kind of remodeling or adding an addition to your home.
When you are having a new home built from the ground up.
When you buy a new house or are thinking about selling and want to know the condition of the electrical wiring in the home. This is especially important if the home was built before 1950 and there is no proof of electrical upgrades.
Upgrading the breaker panel to accommodate your needs.
Installing a home office.

This is not a comprehensive list, but it does include some of the more common reasons you would need to hire an electrician. If you have a job that is listed here or have any questions about what kind of electrical work you may need, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your consultation.

Hidden Dangers Behind Your Outlets by Glendale Electrician

Posted on March 24, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

Your home is the place where you feel safest. It has all your creature comforts. Things like your favorite chair where you sit and watch television or play on your laptop. While you are sitting there, feeling comfortable, you may be in danger. If your laptop charger is plugged in, you are at risk of electrocution if the outlet is hiding a dangerous situation. Your television and all electronic devices that are plugged into a bad outlet are at risk of being short-circuited and possibly ruined. An electrician in Glendale is here to tell you that a single faulty can be extremely dangerous. The team at The Electric Connection has trained professionals that can identify problems and then take care of them.

It takes very little for an outlet to become unsafe for regular use. Outlets in older homes are at a higher risk of being faulty, especially if they were wired with cloth insulated wiring. Over time, the cloth frays and falls away and the wires are bare. Plugging things into the outlet and unplugging mildly disturbs the outlet, which can result in the wires touching. This can create a spark that can start a fire or cause an electrical shock when another device is plugged in explains an electrician. Glendale homeowners who have felt a mild or major shock when using an appliance plugged into an outlet, need to have it investigated immediately.

Another problem that may cause an outlet to become dangerous are rodents. Rodents have a strange desire to chew electrical wires. They can chew through the wires, leaving them exposed and arcing. Again, this leaves you prone to an electrical fire or electrocution. Your Glendale electrician can do a fairly quick inspection to identify any hazards. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule a home inspection to determine whether or not your outlets are hiding a dangerous secret.

Adding Outlets for Easier Life with an Electrician

Posted on February 11, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment

We live a world that is very plugged in. All of gadgets that keep us updated with work, play and family require a charged battery that can only be achieved by plugging the unit into the wall. We have an electrical appliance for just about any task we have. All of this means we are very dependent on the electricity we are so lucky to have. Sometimes, our needs surpass the supply. How many times have you had to dig out an extension cord because you were short on outlets or you needed to charge your laptop while you were in an area that didn’t have an available outlet? It happens a lot. You need the services of an electrician, like those at The Electric Connection.

Additional outlets installed in your home or office can make life easier. It allows you to streamline your work space whether you are cooking dinner or working on a big project for work. You don’t have to figure out what to unplug so you can plug in another device. You can have it all with the help of an electrician in southern California. It doesn’t take a lot of work and there won’t need to be a complete remodel to add the additional outlets.

In some cases, the electrician may need to add an additional breaker to support the new outlets. This is generally when you want to run a large appliance, like a refrigerator or stove, or when you already have a number of appliances on the same breaker. This is something that will be evaluated before any electrical work is started. An additional breaker is usually not an issue. In rare cases, a panel upgrade may be necessary. This is usually for older homes that have limited breakers or outdated wiring. Give The Electric Connection a call today and get started on your way to electrical outlet freedom.

Updating Old Wiring with Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on February 11, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

Homes are built to last, there is no doubt about it, but sometimes, the little details in the home are not always quite so durable. Technology is constantly advancing and we are always learning new ways to build. Homes are built to be safer than they ever were in the past. Building codes and regulations are far more strict nowadays, which is a good thing. It means builders and contractors are being held to a higher standard. Older homes are still valuable and worthy of being taken care of and updated to meet today’s safety standards. An electrician in Santa Monica, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you make your old home a safe place to live.

Wiring that was put into houses more than 50 years ago wasn’t made to last. Cloth insulated wiring was regularly used in home building into the 1950s. The cloth has proven to be frail and decays over time. As it decays and falls away, it leaves the wires it once insulated bare. A Santa Monica electrician, along with a team of trained electricians, can replace all of the wiring in a home to make it safe again. It is an extensive process, but once the wiring has been updated, you can expect your homeowner’s insurance to be much lower.

If you are not sure what kind of electrical wiring you have in the home, you can call for an inspection by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners don’t have to guess about what is behind their walls. An inspection will tell you exactly what you are dealing with. There is a chance some of the wiring has already been updated. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electrical wiring inspection so you know what needs to be done to make your home safe.

When Light Fixtures Stop Working by Burbank Electrician

Posted on February 10, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

There is nothing more frustrating then flipping on the light to your room or the kitchen and it won’t come on. Maybe it flickers and pops before going out completely. It not only leaves you in the dark, but it makes you more than a little worried about the safety of your home. Electricity is no joke and you never know what is going on in the ceiling or behind the sheetrock where all of those electrical wires are sitting. It is a scary situation and deserves immediate attention from an electrician. Burbank homeowners who have a light fixture that is giving them fits can call The Electric Connection to get it looked at right away.

A faulty wire or a wire that has shorted out could be causing the problem. The light fixture may be fine, but it isn’t getting the electricity it needs to function. That means those wires that were once feeding electricity to the fixture are sitting behind the light, touching insulation. This is a recipe for disaster and can lead to an electrical fire. The situation must be attended to by an electrician in Burbank as quickly as possible. It is a good idea to flip the breaker that feeds the light to cut off the electricity while you wait for help to arrive.

Some fixtures are truly outdated and the wiring inside the fixture itself may be bad. This is difficult to tell just by looking. Your Burbank electrician will need to perform some quick tests to track down where the problem lies. Once the problem has been identified, you will be given your list of options to take care of it. In many cases, the fixture needs replaced or the wiring to the fixture needs to be fixed. Don’t put off calling an electrician if you have a fixture that is flickering or not working. Give The Electric Connection a call today.

Planning Your Home Renovation with a Glendale Electrician

Posted on January 23, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

If you have recently moved into a home and have plans to put your personal touch on it, you are probably considering some renovations. Other reasons to renovate include accommodating a growing family or transforming the family home into one that is more of a retirement home. Maybe your home is old and you want to upgrade it to feel a little better or you are preparing to sell. No matter what your reasons for renovating may be, you will need an electrician in Glendale to help you make it possible. The team at The Electric Connection can assist you in making those renovation dreams a reality.

There are many different ways to renovate a home. Some are a little more labor intensive than others. A renovation may be something as simple as transforming a bedroom into an office. This would only require a Glendale electrician to do some minor changes to the wiring, including bringing in data lines and more outlets for equipment. Maybe you are making an office space into a bedroom and want to change out the fixtures to be a little more suitable for a bedroom. This is a quick fix that can be achieved in a single day when you rely on a certified electrician.

If you are going big and adding a new room or knocking out walls to make a space bigger, you will definitely need the services of an electrician. Glendale homeowners should always leave wiring issues to the professionals. An electrician can ensure the wiring is removed safely and new wiring is installed to compensate if needed. Kitchen upgrades are also going to run into some wiring issues, especially if you are adding more appliances or moving existing appliances. Give The Electric Connection a call today and set up your appointment to talk about your renovation plans.