Hiding Home Entertainment Wiring with Pasadena Electrician

Posted on March 25, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

With flat screen televisions the new norm in home entertainment systems, those large, wooden entertainment centers are being phased out. Now, it is much easier to simply hang the television on the wall and free up quite a bit of space in the living area. Unfortunately, those entertainment centers provided a nice camouflage for all of the wires that go along with your media equipment. Your Pasadena electrician has a few tips to help you make it all look a little cleaner and less disorganized. If you need help installing or organizing your electrical cords, you can always call The Electric Connection.

Cord Organizers

Your first step is to tidy up the cords that have a lot of length left. These can turn into a tangled mess on the floor that can ultimately become a hazard. Kids and pets will love the cords and could electrocute themselves or yank the television down. Consider using cord organizers, which are small plastic cases that keep cords wound up and out of sight, or use cable ties to keep the extra length in check.

Hide the Cords

Hide the cords under the equipment, behind the shelf or stand the equipment is on or if using a flat screen, behind the television. You can also find nifty covers that run the length of the wall. The covers hide the cords and can be painted to match your existing wall.

More Outlets

Many older homes have outlets that are close to the floor. Consider having an electrician in Pasadena install an outlet higher up on the wall for you to plug your flat screen into. This will keep you from running the cord down the wall.

In a Closet

Consider hiding your electrical wires and cords in a closet or pantry. This will need to be taken care of by an electrician. Pasadena homeowners can successfully put all of their necessary equipment in this small space, keeping the room clean and tidy. Give The Electric Connection a call today to take care of your home entertainment needs.

Understanding Electrical Hazards with Burbank Electrician

Posted on February 23, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Electricity is a valuable part of our world today. We use it for just about everything. Without electricity, we would struggle to get through a single day. With that said, electricity can be extremely dangerous, deadly even. There are some electrical hazards you need to be aware of, teach your children and keep top of mind as you go through your daily routines. Becoming complacent around electricity can be extremely hazardous. Your Burbank electrician has some tips to understanding electrical hazards and how to avoid them. You can count on the crew at The Electric Connection to keep you informed about electricity and the potential hazards it poses.

1-Extension cords are not meant to be long-term solutions. They are simply meant for temporary fixes while you use a particular appliance. Extension cords are the cause of over 300,000 fires every year due to improper use. If you need an additional outlet, whether it is in the house or outside, call an electrician. Burbank homeowners don’t have to put their homes at risk by using extension cords as permanent fixes.

2-Pets and young kids and electricity never mix. Do what you can to keep children away from outlets and pets away from cords. You can buy cord protectors to keep pets from chewing on the lamp cord and outlet protectors to keep children from putting things into the outlets. These are quick, inexpensive fixes that can save lives.

3-Water is probably one of the most obvious dangers when electricity is around. You can protect yourself by having GFCI installed in kitchen and bathroom areas where water is most likely to be introduced to an electrical current. This is a simple fix that can be taken care of by your electrician.

Give The Electric Connection a call today to take care of any electrical hazards in your home.

Remodels In Time for Holidays with Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on November 16, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

Are you planning on having lots of family and friends over this holiday season? Maybe you are hosting a lavish party or a quaint dinner party. Whatever the case may be, wouldn’t it be nice if you had a little more space or if your kitchen was setup a little differently to make cooking for a large party easier? There is no better time to remodel your home. Consider it an early gift for yourself. A gift that will add value to your home while making it a little more enjoyable for you to live in. If you are ready to make that basement remodel or kitchen remodel happen, now is the time. Your electrician in Beverly Hills, like the team at The Electric Connection, is here to help.

You will likely need to hire a contractor to do the remodel. It makes it easier and you can keep up with your busy life. A remodel will involve some Beverly Hills electrical work. Whether you are tearing down walls, adding on a room or moving appliances around, you will need an experienced electrician to complete the wiring portion of the remodel. Meet with the electrician and discuss what it is you need. If you need extra outlets on one side of the room or would like data lines in a certain place, communicate that to your electrician.

It is important you choose an electrician who will work well with your contractor. Being licensed to perform the work is also an important factor. Remodels will require permits from your county building department. You want to make sure the wiring passes inspection the first time. By hiring a qualified electrician you can ensure the process will go smoothly and your remodel is finished in time for the holidays. Give The Electric Connection a call today and get started transforming your home.

Holiday Lighting Issues Addressed by Burbank Electrician

Posted on October 21, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

heat_related2 (14) Although the holiday lighting season is still at least a month away, you are probably already digging around and planning your decorations for the season. Maybe you have already pulled out some of your Halloween decorations that require electricity and realized you are going to need some work done before it is time to pull out the twinkling lights. A Burbank electrician has some tips for you before you start plugging in your lights this year. If you have any questions, you can call The Electric Connection for help.

One of the most important rules of stringing lights together is not to connect more than three strands of lights. Doing so could overload the circuit and cause the breaker to trip. If you have a shortage of outlets, consider hiring an electrician. Burbank residents can have outdoor outlets installed that are designed to withstand the weather. The additional outlets outside are handy to have all year round. You won’t have to worry about running extension cords.

Speaking of extension cords; only use cords that are approved for outdoor use. Do not use cords that are damaged or have some of the protective insulation covering missing in areas. Wrapping the area with tape to compensate is never a good idea. Invest in the proper extension cord. A cord with several outlets is helpful. However, do not get carried away with hooking up numerous strands of lights are large yard ornaments. If the breaker trips, it is a sign the outlet is overloaded. Move some of your lights to a different outlet.

Outlet power stakes are a great option and many of them are equipped with timers and remote controls that allow you to turn on your lights without ever stepping foot outside. The power stakes are designed to protect the outlets from wet weather.

If you are ready to get your home ready for another holiday season filled with pretty lights, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Home Safety Addressed by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on October 21, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

bigstockphoto_Trimming_Electric_Wire_1913494 You will be spending a lot more time indoors over the next few months as we ride out yet another winter. You will want to do what you can to ensure your family is as safe as possible inside your home. There are a few things you can do today to provide an extra layer of safety. Your Beverly Hills electrician is here to help you. You can count on the team at The Electric Connection to provide you with a knowledgeable, experienced electrician to take care of the following safety features for your home.

• Replace your old, standard outlets in the kitchen and bathroom areas with GFCI outlets. These are designed to cut the electricity the second the circuit is interrupted. These outlets are especially handy in areas where water is present, like the kitchen and bathroom. If an appliance is accidentally dropped in water, the breaker will trip, cutting off the electricity and reducing the risk of electric shock.

• Have hard-wired smoke detectors installed. These smoke detectors rely on your home’s main power rather than a battery. Dead or missing batteries in smoke detectors are often to blame for late warnings in the event of a house fire. The detectors are all interconnected so when one goes off, the rest of the alarms are sounded. You will need the installation completed by a professional electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners will feel better knowing the wiring was handled by somebody trained to work with electrical wiring.

• Carbon monoxide detectors are also handy devices that every home should have. If you use natural gas for your heat or have a woodstove, a carbon monoxide detector can warn you to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in the home.

Your home is somewhere you should feel safe. These rather easy and inexpensive safety features can eliminate some of the risks in your home. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your safety enhancements.

Space Heater 101 by Electrician in Los Angeles

Posted on September 11, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

bigstockphoto_Portable_Space_Heater_1667164 The changing season is upon us. School has started and it won’t be long before we are pulling out those jackets and watching Friday night football. The chilly air may not warrant turning on the furnace, but you will still need to take the chill off. Your trusty space heater is always an option. When you are sitting at your desk or when you first step out of the shower, it can be a little cold. The space heater is perfect to warm up your immediate space without heating up the entire house. Before you plug it in that first time, it is a good idea to read the following tips provided by an electrician in Los Angeles. If you would like a professional to do the inspection, give The Electric Connection a call.

1-Thoroughly check the cord on the heater from end to end. Look for any areas of the cord that have been chewed by mice or pets that have left the wires exposed. If there are exposed wires, do not plug the space heater in. Either take it in to be serviced or throw it out. Wrapping black tape over the cord is not a safe option.

2-Choose a spot to place the heater that gives it plenty of clearance from the wall, furniture and curtains. You need to allow at least 3 feet of space between the wall and the heater. Heaters need ventilation to work properly.

3-Do not use extension cords to plug in the heater. It increases the risk of tripping and knocking the heater over. If you don’t have enough outlets, consider having an electrician add additional outlets. Upgrading your Los Angeles electrical system is a worth investment for your home. Give The Electric Connection a call today to add more outlets to your home.

Fall Preparations Need Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on September 9, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

bigstockphoto_Autumn_Background_150400 With summer coming to an end, it is an excellent time to take advantage of the cooler weather to get some things down around the house. It is time to prepare for winter and the weather that accompanies the season. While you are taking care of putting away the outdoor furniture and blowing out the sprinklers, it is a good time to call an electrician in Beverly Hills to have an electric safety inspection completed. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help you discover any electric safety problems you may not be aware of. We tend to use more electricity during the winter plugging in Holiday lights, space heaters and spending more time indoors in general. It is important you make sure your home’s electric system is in good, working condition.

During the inspection, the electrician will evaluate your outlets, light switches and the electric panel to see if there are any issues. If you have been experiencing problems with flickering lights, an outlet that doesn’t work all the time or a tripping breaker, you need to let your electrician know. These are subtle warning signs of a bigger problem. You will want to get any Beverly Hills electrical repair work completed sooner rather than later.

You will rest easy knowing your home’s electrical system is up to code and doesn’t pose a serious risk to your family. During the inspection, the electrician will give you recommendations of things you can do yourself or have done by a professional to add another layer of safety to your home. These are optional and you will have the ability to decide if you want to go ahead and have it all taken care of or wait until it is a better time. Don’t delay, call The Electric Connection and schedule your electric inspection today.

Dream Big with Electrician in Pasadena

Posted on August 13, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

homeSafetyInspect Your home is constantly changing and evolving. It is one of the things that makes home ownership fun. It is exciting to sit down at night and look around your home and your yard and think of the different things you could do to make it a little better. The definition of the perfect home is always a little different and it can change from year to year. If you have some big plans that you would like to see happen in and around your home, you need an electrician in Pasadena. The Electric Connection has been around for years; helping homeowners just like yourself turn their home into their dream home with various projects and upgrades.

It doesn’t matter if your dreams are big or small, your electrician can help. It may be something as simple as adding a few outlets to your kitchen or installing a beautiful center island to make your meal prep easier and more efficient. Sometimes, you may have no idea where to start or what is actually needed to make one of your dreams a reality. This is why you need the help of somebody familiar with the ins and out of Pasadena electrical work.

Your job will be to communicate what it is you want to achieve and then an electrician will give you a free electrical estimate to let you know what kind of costs you can expect to incur. Keep in mind, the electrician will be providing the electrical portion of the job. You will need to do any actual renovating and construction yourself or hire a carpenter to take care of that part. You will want to choose an electrician who will work with your contractor while ensuring your electrical needs and desires are taken care of. You can count on The Electric Connection to provide you with an experienced electrician. Give us a call today.

Small Jobs for Electrician in Burbank

Posted on August 11, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

bigstockphoto_Electrician_Industrial_Panel_2009627 As we prepare for fall and eventually winter, there are probably plenty of jobs you need to get done in the house. We often focus a lot of our time and energy on the outdoors during the spring and summer months and the indoors gets neglected. The following tasks are some things you will want to take care of with the help of an electrician in Burbank. The team at The Electric Connection will make sure your tasks are taken care quickly and professionally.

GFCIs

Ground fault control interrupters are excellent safety features to add to your kitchen and bathroom areas. The outlets prevent against electric shock when an appliance comes into contact with water. The second the circuit is interrupted by contact with water, the electricity to the circuit is automatically cut off. This can prevent the person holding the appliance from being shocked.

Smoke Detectors

The standard smoke detector you have in your home may not be quite as safe as you would think. These battery powered smoke detectors must have fresh batteries in order to work properly. There is also the risk of not hearing a smoke detector down the hall or in another room. Hard-wired smoke detectors are a better option. They are wired directly into your home’s main power and are interconnected. When one alarm is sounded, all the alarms will go off. This can add several minutes to your escape time.

Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are an excellent way to circulate warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer. There is some minor Burbank electrical work involved that can be taken care of by an experienced electrician. Ceiling fans are energy efficient and can save you money on your electric bill.

If you would like some help taking care of these small, but necessary upgrades around your home, give The Electric Connection a call today.

New Shops Need Burbank Electrician

Posted on July 28, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

bigstockphoto_Chair_22955 If you recently had a pole building or shop put up on your property, you are probably debating to have it powered with electricity or stick with a generator. There are clearly some real benefits to a shop having electricity. If you are simply using the building to store items, than electricity is probably not a major concern. However, if you are planning to use your shop to work on various hobbies or use it to repair vehicles, electricity is extremely helpful. You will need a Burbank electrician to go about completing the wiring process. You can depend on the team at The Electric Connection to help you make your shop complete with electricity.

Depending on the amount of electricity you need in your shop, you may need to have a sub-panel installed. This is something your electrician will discuss with you and advise you on. If your home is already using the majority of the breakers available in your existing panel, you will need an upgrade or an additional panel installed to run the shop. The size and type of the tools you will use in the shop will influence your decision.

Once you have decided on the electric panel situation, the next stop is to discuss outlet placement with your electrician. Burbank shop owners can decide how many outlets they need in the shop. You may even need a 240-volt outlet to run certain heavy machinery or to plug in a Level II electric car charging station. These are all options for you to consider when you make the decision to hire an electrician. Lighting is yet another element you will want to think about. Typically, a single fixture is installed along the ceiling and then several lamps will be used to illuminate specific work areas. If you would like to discuss running electricity to your new shop, give The Electric Connection a call today.