Hiring the Right Electrician in Los Angeles: 4 Things to Look For

Posted on June 24, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

Anytime you pay money to a contractor, there are going to be risks. Hiring someone for a job may be a source of anxiousness for you as you try to determine who is going to do the best job in a timely, professional manner without breaking the bank. This is a decision that deserves some time. You will definitely need to do a little homework before you hire anybody to complete a big job that actually puts the safety of your home and ultimately your family in their hands. When you need the right electrician, Los Angeles homeowners can count on the team at The Electric Connection to do a job up to code and up to your high standards.

There are 4 things you should look for when you begin your search for an electrician in Los Angeles.

1-Overall good reviews from people who have used the electrician or company in the past. Checking Angie’s List is one way to get some honest reviews from real people. You will likely find testimonials on the business website as well.

2-Ask around. Businesses have a reputation in the community. Talk with neighbors, co-workers and friends to ask if they have a particular electrician they would recommend. They can give you an honest opinion and the little details you won’t hear anywhere else.

3-Every contractor you hire to perform work in your home should be licensed and bonded. This insures your home is covered should something happen during the course of the work and also protects the Los Angeles electrician. Homeowners can check the status of the license by making a quick phone call.

4-A company that has a good record of showing up as scheduled is also important. Everyone has schedules to keep and one person showing up late can throw it all off. Punctuality and the ability to stick with a completion schedule is very important.

If you are in need of an electrical contractor, give The Electric Connection a call and let them take care of your electrical needs.

Home Safety Additions by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on March 24, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

When you walk in the door of your home at night, you expect to be relatively safe. You expect the home to be constructed well and to protect you from the elements. Your home keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is where you spend time with your family and feel the most comfortable. That is the idea at least. Unfortunately, there are often hidden dangers in the home that need to be addressed. It only takes a few changes to make your home a little safer. These are things your Los Angeles electrician can help you with. The team at The Electric Connection has a trained staff of electricians ready to help you make your home a little safer for you and your family.

Installing GFCI Outlets

These are standard features in recent construction, but older homes were not equipped with GFCI outlets explains an electrician in Los Angeles. These outlets are specially designed to be used around areas where water is at, like the bathroom and kitchen areas. The outlets will trip the breaker the second the flow of electricity is interrupted by water. This will prevent an electric shock.

Hard-Wired Smoke Detectors

These are an ideal option to the standard battery-powered smoke detectors. A hard-wired smoke detector will need to be installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will love the fact that the smoke alarms are wired directly into the home’s power and do not rely on batteries. If a fire breaks out and the smoke detector alerts, it will trigger the rest of the smoke detectors that have been hard-wired into the main power system.

These are two fairly simple, basic upgrades that can make your home a little safer for you and your family. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your outlet upgrades and smoke detector installation.

Commercial Buildings Need Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on February 9, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

If you are the owner of a commercial building that hosts floors filled with business offices, you know you have a responsibility to ensure the building is electrically safe and in good working condition. While some corporations choose to have an in-house maintenance team, most realize that electrical work is a specialty and the typical maintenance person is not going to have an electrical license, which is why you need a trained and certified electrician in Los Angeles. You will find a great team ready to help you take care of your commercial properties at The Electric Connection.

When you are responsible for keeping tenants happy, it can be a big job. There are minor problems that are going to need to be taken care of, like replacing light fixtures inside and outside the building. Things like tripping breakers and poor connections are also common issues that arise on a weekly basis. Your Los Angeles electrician can take care of all those minor problems in a timely manner. When you are the landlord or owner of the building, you have a responsibility to solve problems quickly. You can’t afford to be put on a list that may take weeks before someone can come out.

If you have been informed of a much bigger problem, like no power to an entire office or section of the building, you will definitely need the services of a trained commercial electrician. Los Angeles property owners will need to hire a team that can maintain a professional demeanor and represent the company hiring the work as well as the businesses operating in the space. You don’t want to hire a company that isn’t professional and doesn’t have the appearance of a crew that respects business operations and personal property. Don’t hire just any electrician or person who claims to be an electrician without checking credentials. You can always count on the team at The Electric Connection to provide excellent, timely and professional service for your commercial properties.

Dramatic Lighting Schemes with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on January 23, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

When you walk into a room in the house, you flip a switch and the light comes on. It is a standard, expected feature. It is actually a little boring when you think about it. Your light looks just like the lights in every other room in every other house. Maybe you enjoy being a little different or appreciate making a statement. Dramatic lighting schemes are one way to make your house just a little different from the rest. A Los Angeles electrician, like those at The Electric Connection can help you achieve your goals of having a lighting scheme that enhances the room and will get guests talking.

There are so many options. If you have gorgeous artwork that you want to be the focal point when the lights are turned on or a particular corner that is meant to draw the eye, you need the right lighting. You don’t have to stick with the standard white light. You can have fun with it and add a splash of color or put the boring white light in a flashy fixture. An electrician in Los Angeles can pretty much install any fixture that catches your eye. Your biggest job will be doing the shopping and finding the right chandelier, wall light or recessed light.

The rest is up to your electrician. Los Angeles residents will appreciate how quickly a single change in the lighting scheme can change the look and feel of a room. Whether you want to go bold and bright or soft and subtle, it can be done. In fact, the light fixture changes can happen in just a few hours, assuming the wiring for the fixtures is already available. If it isn’t, no problem. New wiring can be added along with a new switch. Make the call today to The Electric Connection and transform your boring lighting into something fun and exciting.

Christmas Tree Safety with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on December 9, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

The holidays are a time of celebrating and spending time with family. They also tend to be a time when fires in the home increase due to improper use of lights and holiday décor. It is important you keep your home safe this season and follow proper lighting safety, especially when lighting up your tree. There are many people who prefer the traditional live Christmas tree. If you are one of those people, you need to take a few steps to ensure your holiday decoration does not become a fire hazard. An electrician in Los Angeles has some important safety guidelines to keep in mind when decorating your real tree this year. If you have any more questions, you can always call the team at The Electric Connection.

1-Keep your tree hydrated by ensuring there is plenty of water in the bowl. You may need to add one to two gallons a day when you first get it home.

2-Check your tree daily to determine if it is dry. Your Los Angeles electrician advises against lighting up a tree that is excessively dry. Brown needles or needles that fall to the ground when they are gently touched are a big indicator the tree is dry as tinder and the smallest heat source could spark a fire.

3-Extension cords are pretty common during the holiday season. You need extra outlets to light up the tree and any other décor you have set out. However, extension cords can be dangerous if they are not used correctly. Never overload a cord. If you are in need of additional outlets, call your electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will love the freedom a few extra wall outlets adds all year round.

4-Keep your tree away from heat sources like a space heater, woodstove or even the heater vent. The heat will dry out your tree much faster and can ultimately spark a fire. Do what you can to block the vent if you have to put your tree next to a vent.

Stay safe this season and give The Electric Connection a call if you need any new outlets installed to ease your holiday lighting.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on November 22, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

When you hear something a lot, you tend to brush it off. Warnings about changing the batteries in your smoke detector are heard so often, it is easy to push the advice to the bottom of your to do list. When the smoke detector beeps incessantly, it is easier to pull the battery out with the idea you will put a new one in tomorrow. All of these seemingly innocent plans can actually be extremely dangerous. You never know when a fire will break out in your home and often times, it happens when the batteries are out of the smoke detectors. A good option for every home is to have hard-wired smoke detectors installed by a Los Angeles electrician like those at The Electric Connection.

Hard-wired smoke detectors remove the risk of a fire going undetected by a smoke detector without batteries. The smoke detectors are wired directly into the home’s main power by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will take comfort in knowing that as long as the power is on, the smoke detectors are functioning. There is a place to batteries in the detectors to act as a backup system should there be a power outage. This ensures the home is always protected, even if somebody borrowed the battery out of the smoke alarm.

You should invest in at least one hard-wired smoke detector on each floor and in the garage of your home. Another benefit to having these devices installed by a Los Angeles electrician is the fact they are all interconnected. When one alarm is sounded, all of the detectors will go off. This means if there is smoke detected in the garage, you will know about it if you are upstairs in your room. These tools can save lives. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your smoke detector installation.

New Pole Building Needs Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on October 22, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Have you recently had a new shop built on your property? Maybe you are thinking of having a pole building erected to keep your car or other outdoor equipment in it throughout the winter. Did you know that the electrical portion of the building is a separate job altogether in most cases? If you were hoping to have lights, use electrical equipment or plug in your iPod dock, you need to have electricity run to the building. This is typically a job you will have to hire out yourself. Meaning, it is up to you to find the right Los Angeles electrician to complete the job. Customers from around the area have been counting on The Electric Connection to handle their electrical needs and have been very satisfied.

When you are choosing the right electrician in Los Angeles to handle the job, you will want to have a conversation about what is needed for your shop. The size of the building and what kind of equipment you plan on using in the building are going to play a role in what you need. Typically, a separate structure like a shop will require its own electrical box. This is something that will absolutely require the experience and expertise of a certified electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will need to hire a certified professional in order to obtain the proper permits and sign-offs that make the new building legal and up to code.

Your shop or new garage won’t be complete without electricity. Talk with a qualified electrician today to learn more about your options as well as the expected cost. The investment will be well worth it and you will appreciate the flexibility a shop with electricity gives you versus one without it. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your consultation.

Updating the Kitchen with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on September 14, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

With fall on the horizon and all of your outdoor duties winding down, it is time to take a look around the inside of your house. Fall and winter means there will be plenty of opportunities for indoor entertaining. Your kitchen is the center of that entertainment and you will want to have it in excellent condition as you prepare for holiday feasts and celebrations. A kitchen upgrade, update or remodel is an excellent way to get you ready while improving the value of your home. You will of course need an electrician in Los Angeles to help you with your kitchen update. The team at The Electric Connection is familiar with all aspects of remodels and upgrades and ready to help.

There are plenty of little things you can do that will give your kitchen a more modern look while making it more functional. You don’t always have to go with a huge remodel that includes putting in new cabinets and countertops.

*Lighting is a huge factor in the overall look and feel of a room. A Los Angeles electrician can replace old lights and add new ones that brighten up the space while making it look brand new.
*New appliances are another way to give a kitchen an entirely new look. With new appliance installation, it is a good idea to have the old outlets and breakers inspected by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will want to make sure their new appliances will last a while and having the proper electrical connections will help.
*Hardware on the cabinets is another quick and easy trick to making a kitchen look a little different. This is a quick job you can do yourself in just a few hours.

*Adding LED lighting under the cabinets is an excellent way to brighten up your countertops and give your kitchen a whole new look.

Kitchen upgrades are always appreciated by the cook in the house. Anything to make meal prep a little easier and enjoyable will be accepted with gratitude. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your kitchen upgrades.

Save Money and Save the Planet with an Electrician in Los Angeles

Posted on June 19, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Every month we hear more about our failing earth. Whether you buy into all of the theories or not, it isn’t hard to deny the abuse we impose on Mother Earth. We know things are reaching a breaking point. It is time to make some changes before things get so bad, there is no going back. Although it may seem like a daunting task to save the world, you don’t have to look at the big picture. Focus on your little corner. Focus on making a few changes around your house and you can save the planet that way. Every little bit helps. An electrician in Los Angeles has some tips to help you do just that. The team at The Electric Connection wants to help you do what you can by providing electrical services.

Check out some of the ways you can save money while saving the planet.

1-Switch to CFLs. Don’t put it off. Using less electricity will save you money while reducing the demand on natural resources.

2-Look into having your home switched to solar power. There are numerous tax breaks and incentives for homeowners who are willing to make the change. A Los Angeles electrician will hook up the system and you will start saving money on your electric bill in the first month.

3-Make your home heating and air conditioning more efficient by sealing up cracks around your windows and doors. Have a ceiling fan installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can reduce the demand on their furnaces and air conditioning units with ceiling fan installation.

4-Be conscientious when showering, brushing your teeth or running the washer or dishwasher. Conserve water by taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing and only running the washer when it is full.

Be kind to the planet and your wallet. Follow these quick and easy tips. If you need a ceiling fan installed or have questions about solar energy, call The Electric Connection today.

Understanding Light Bulbs with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on March 24, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

If you have ever went to the store to buy new light bulbs for the home or garage, you have probably been a little surprised to see an entire aisle filled with a variety of bulbs. It can be a little overwhelming. What kind do you need? Are your current light bulbs adequate or should you be using something else? When you start to read packages and look at various price points, it can all become a little confusing. The cheaper the better seems like a good plan, right? Wrong. You need to understand the differences in light bulbs and what they mean to you and your home. An electrician in Los Angeles, like those at The Electric Connection, will explain.

Incandescent Bulbs

These are the old bulbs we all became used to. You could by a pack of 4 bulbs for around a dollar. Unfortunately, they were simply not energy efficient explains an electrician. Los Angeles residents may be surprised to learn those bulbs would only last about 2 years if you used the bulbs only 3 hours a day. Most of the energy the bulbs used produced heat, which ends up being a fire hazard. These are the bulbs that have been phased out. Yes, you can still buy the smaller incandescent bulbs for your fridge and certain lamps, but they are no longer mass produced.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

These are the bulbs that have replaced the incandescents. They have that swirl shape that makes them difficult to put into some light fixtures and they do take a few seconds to heat up to their full power. The lights are extremely energy efficient and use 75 percent less electricity than the incandescent bulbs. You can save a great deal of money on your electric bill by switching to these bulbs. They also last about 5 times longer. If you have a light fixture that will not accommodate, consider having it upgraded by a Los Angeles electrician. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting upgrade.