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Why Your Old Home Needs An Electrical Inspection?

Posted on October 6, 2022 | by K Hopkins

If you live in an older house, chances are you’d have to re-modify a lot of things including your electrical wiring. With time, all things start to wear off and breakdown. It’s always advised to do a routine check as often as you can and call for professional help the minute you notice a problem.

Old homes often tend to have aluminum wiring that heats up and can cause house fires or old circuit breakers that trip up regularly. You could also find flickering lights, cackling sounds, burning smells, and frayed wires. Older homes also tend to have no modern outlets for modern-day appliances. All of these could put you and your loved ones in harm’s way.

Still not convinced your home has earned an electrical inspection? Here are more reasons why:

Hike in Energy Cost
Ever wondered why your electrical bills are so high? It may be because your current electrical system is now past its prime. It may need a thorough inspection and an upgrade. An inefficient electrical system may cause you to pay more than you should.

Hot Switches and Outlets
Your switches and outlets getting a little warm over time are considered quite normal. However, when you notice your outlets getting hotter than usual, smelling burned, sparks or shocks, you should schedule an electrical inspection and call for repairs as well.

If your appliances are producing odd sounds, then you may have a problem with your fuse or circuit breaker. Beware of flickering and dimming lights as well.

Knob and Tube and Aluminum Wiring
Back in the early 1900s, people used knob and tube wiring which often caused overheating and household fires as it is unable to supply sufficient energy to modern appliances. Aluminum wiring, also found in older homes, weaken electrical connections due to overheating which leads to melting insulations, arcing, and household fires.

Getting an electrical inspection will also help you identify other underlying problems such as improper installation and offer efficient and long-lasting solutions. It also helps to add safety to your home to avoid further property damage such as household fires which are quite expensive.

Remodel and Increase Resale Value
Whether you’re buying or selling a house, you need to know the electrical state of the said property. Endeavor to inspect before you sell or purchase a house. Doing an inspection beforehand will let you know about the electrical problems the house may or may not have and all you’d need to do to fix them.

Purchasing a house without proper inspection may cause you to spend more money and time making repairs on the property. Inspecting before you put the house on the market would allow the opportunity to fix and remodel your appliances which would even improve its chances on the market. Even after you’ve done the necessary repairs and remodeling, you’d still need to do a routine check to ensure that all the appliances were put in place properly and would work effectively.

If you’re in need of an electrical inspection on your Los Angeles home, give The Electric Connection a call.

Why Do Your Lights Flicker When You Turn On The AC?

Posted on September 27, 2022 | by K Hopkins

Electrical problems are too much of a risk to leave unattended. If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering why your lights flicker when you turn on the AC. It’s important to know that your AC needs a high amount of electricity to power up initially. Turning it up will eventually lead to it draining energy from other appliances already turned on, like your lights. This is what causes them to flicker. Subsequently, your lights would also dim and lose about 5% of their initial brightness. This is a normal occurrence if you have a modern AC unit or you live in an older home, then you may have nothing to worry about.

However, it’s not always like that in most cases, and you have to be on the lookout for when flickering lights mean something a bit more frightening. If you’ve noticed that your lights are starting to flicker, you would need to do a routine check. Go around the house and be on the lookout for any other lights in any other place that’s flickering as well. Check out if it’s in a particular area or has a wide coverage. Try out other appliances to know what else could be causing them to flicker.

If you’ve noticed a more consistent flickering in other places as well, the first step would be to call a professional electrician to have it properly checked and the problem fixed. Here are some common problems that are causing your lights to dim or flicker.

Damaged or Loose Wires: if you have damaged or loose wires, your lights probably turn off and on rapidly and consistently when you turn on your AC. You’d notice discoloration or charred wiring leading to a loss of electrical current flowing to the light bulbs, as well as temporary voltage drops causing the lights to flicker and dim.

Your AC Has A Weak Capacitor: it’s okay for your lights to go a little dim when you turn on your AC. It happens in a split second and not many people notice it because it’s not as noticeable as you’d think. If your lights lose a significant amount of their brightness at once when the AC comes on, you most likely have a faulty capacitor. A capacitor is meant to store energy to give the compressor an extra boost when it starts. When it loses its ability to store and therefore provide energy, your AC draws on that energy from the other appliances in your home, like your lightbulbs.

Your Circuit is Overloaded: a buzzing or crackling sound followed by the consistent dimming of lights are telltale signs that your circuit is overloaded. If your lights go off as soon as your AC comes on, that’s a sign as well. Your AC needs its own circuit to function properly. Adding any other appliance could cause the circuit to overload. These could start sparks or even fires. All sorts of electrical problems should be considered very critical and treated as such.

clean kitchen with under cabinet lighting

The Best Lighting For Your Under Cabinet

Posted on September 23, 2022 | by K Hopkins

Having under-cabinet lighting is an excellent investment to have in any kitchen or countertops as it brightens the area below it that may be darkened because of the cabinets above them. Working on countertops or utilizing the area below could be a bit difficult to do without the lights. Aside from just brightening the area, they also increase the resale value of your home all while making it aesthetically beautiful and giving your kitchen a more modern feel.

Getting under cabinet lighting installed takes away the hassle, and the expense, of having to install a new lamp fixture as they’re more cost-effective. You wouldn’t have to worry about finding the lights in a place that would brighten the entire area as well. Under cabinet lighting is centralized in the places that you need them most. You can be certain they won’t be of any inconvenience as they are installed onto the underside of the cabinets.

However, they are some factors you’d need to consider before you can get your under cabinets installed. Here’s a list of the boxes you’d need to check.

Sizing and Placement: you do not want to get lights that are too big and won’t stay hidden underneath your cabinet. Be sure to take your measurements to ensure your fixture will stay as unnoticeable as possible. To make it blend in more, pick a fixture that matches the length and color of your cabinets.

Type of Under Cabinet Lighting: there are different varieties of under cabinet lighting. They work differently in different home structures. Picking out an under cabinet lighting that better suits your home will help you save up more time and money. We have the battery powered, the plugin, and the hard-wired under cabinet lighting. The battery-powered under cabinet lighting can be strips or pick lighting.

An advantage of these lights is that they can be installed anywhere and because they’re battery-powered, they’d work during power outages as long as you change the batteries. Calling an electrical professional to install your hard-wired lighting would be a better option for you and your home as you’d need to connect the lights to an existing circuit inside the walls. The plugin doesn’t need batteries or to be connected to the circuits in the walls. You can power it by plugging it into any existing outlet in your kitchen. Be sure to pick lightbulbs that are best for you as well.

Energy efficiency and Heat Output: Like every other lighting, under-cabinet lighting produces heat. Different types of lighting work in different ways in terms of energy efficiency and heat output. LED lighting is the best option for both energy efficiency and heat output. It utilizes as little energy as possible while still producing more than enough brightness. LED lights also have a low heat output which means your kitchen won’t feel any hotter and it’ll feel cool to the touch.

If you happen to have a dimmer switch or a smart home system, you could connect your LED lights to it to enable you to access to dim or control the lights using your voice or smartphone.

Do You Need Lights On Your Outside Porch?

Posted on September 14, 2022 | by K Hopkins

Finding the right lights for your porches isn’t as easy as you think it is. Most homeowners find it quite challenging. This is probably because aside from just picking out the lights and knowing where to put them, you also have to figure out why you’d want to have lighting and what atmosphere you’d like to create as well as find the right fixtures, the colors, and knowing porch light safety. It may sound like a lot and without the proper guidance, it is a lot to take on. So here’s a list of all the things you need to figure out before you install lights on your outside porch.

The Why?

It’s as simple as it sounds. Installing porch lights can instantly transform your porch. However, installing the wrong porch lights may not give you the transformation you’d like. If you’d want lights so you could have a nice, quiet time alone or with a loved one, then you’d have to pick lights that suit that purpose. If you need lights for security reasons, then you’d have to go for lights that are a lot brighter as well. Having this in mind makes the selection a lot easier. Remember that going for lights that’d enhance your security doesn’t completely remove the chances of burglaries. You’d have to learn some common porch light safety rules as well.

The Where?

Now that you’ve figured out why you’d like your lights based on the purpose they’d serve, you have to identify where you’d want them as well. The different placements give off a different feel so be sure your placements align with the mood you’re going for. You could place your porch lights on either the side or overhead. Be sure to take proper measurements when buying new lighting. Ensure you enlist the help of a professional when installing or changing new lighting.

The What?

Choosing the right materials is an essential part of the process. You have to get the right lighting fixtures, lights, and colors of bulbs. Getting light fixtures that match the existing colors and patterns in your home won’t be a bad idea. It’ll make your house look more aesthetically pleasing. Following the purpose you’d like to achieve, it would be wise to get colors that highlight it. Bulb colors also have a deeper meaning than you think so be sure to research what the colors you’d like would purchase mean.

There are also different varieties of porch lights. The flush and semi-flush offer better coverage for large porches. The powerful lights are more decorative as you can choose to style them however you want. They’re also not too bright and a perfect fit if you’d rather want your porches to have a more calming aura. They’re not good as security lights so you may want to look into other options if you’re more safety conscious. No matter the lighting and the fixtures you’d be getting, ensure to hire the services of a professional electrician.

What To Do When Your Outlets Aren’t Working

Posted on August 23, 2022 | by K Hopkins

Having a faulty outlet can be hazardous. The start of a house fire can be a faulty outlet. And as an electrical problem it’s not one that you can simply DIY and call it a day.

When noticed, the best reaction would be to call a professional immediately to troubleshoot it and fixed properly. However, before you proceed to call an electrician, here are a few things you could do when your outlets aren’t working properly.

Safety First: Be sure to turn off all the lights in the area and unplug any appliances there as well. Make sure you check out the state of each of the appliances. The fault may not lie with the outlet if your appliances are also faulty. Plus, you’d need to check to make sure that the outlet hasn’t ruined the appliances in the house.
Test Other Outlets: Is the fault in just a specific spot or a general area? You’d need to do a thorough check to ensure that it’s just a specific spot. You can test out other appliances on the outlet to pinpoint where the exact fault is from. If the fault is from just one outlet, then it’s most likely an isolated problem. If it’s in a more generalized area, then that’s more complicated. Either way, you need to call a professional to have it properly checked and fixed.
Check Your Circuit Breaker: One of the most common reasons why your outlet may not be working is a tripped circuit breaker. Your circuit breaker is like the motherboard of all the electricity flowing in your house. When the current becomes too much, the circuit breaker protects the circuits by tripping it or cutting it off to avoid overheating. So check out your circuit breaker and try resetting it.
Loose or Burned out Outlets: Outlets, like all other things, tend to go bad after a certain period. A loose outlet wouldn’t work as effectively as it should and can also start house fires. A burned-out outlet would seem quite warm or look like it’s burned. Don’t forget to check out your fuse box as well. These can cause serious fire hazards and should be fixed as soon as possible by a professional.
See a Professional: Electrical problems are dangerous and should not be taken likely. Irrespective of how little or big the problem may seem, you should leave it to experienced hands or experts to avoid further complications. Although some problems can be handled with a quick fix, they may not be as simple as it looks. If you do need a professional and you are in the Los Angeles area, give The Electric Connection a call.

It’s easy to overlook a faulty outlet or a blown fuse or to postpone fixing a loose outlet because it works, in a way. However, those aren’t solutions to the problem and can only make it worse. Make sure you check all your appliances, replace any faulty ones and get a faulty outlet properly checked and fixed.

How Much Electricity Is My Stove Using?

Posted on August 17, 2022 | by K Hopkins

Are you bothered about how much electricity your stove is using? Do you wonder what appliances use the most electricity as your electric bill comes in? Are you looking for the advantages and benefits of using an electric stove instead of a gas cooker?

In this article, we would exemplify how your stove uses electricity, how to reduce your electric stove electricity usage, the advantages and benefits of using an electric stove, the options available for cooking, and their pros and cons.

If you need to add a new circuit for your stove, give The Electric Connection a call!

How To Determine How much Electricity your Electric Stove is Using

According to research, an electric stove uses on average about 2,000 to 5,000 watts during use depending on so many factors, including:

Number of burners

How many burners do you use? How often do you use more than one burner while cooking? All these will depend on how much electricity you use while cooking.

Oven Usage

Do you power your oven with electricity? Ovens are known to use more electricity than stoves. Your oven usage and frequency can greatly affect your electricity consumption.

Cooking Duration

How often do you cook? How long do you cook? Do you make multiple foods and make meals for large people? All these can adversely affect how low or high the amount of electricity you use.

How To Reduce Your Stove Electricity Usage

You can reduce your electricity use with some tips no matter how much cooking you do. Sometimes, you can save up some watts of electricity by being organized, careful, and following the tips below:

Use the same burner-to-pot ratio

It is advisable to use the same circumference of the burner for your pot. When you use a larger burner for a smaller pot, you are wasting electricity you could have ordinarily saved.

Meal Preps

To save electricity, you need to learn how to make meal preparations and do all the washing and cutting before turning on your electric stove. This will save you the electricity while prepping your meals while your electric stove is on. You would be amazed at the amount of energy you save when you begin to do this.

4 Advantages of Using Electric Stove

Let’s highlight a few benefits of using an electric stove.

It is safer and easier to turn off and turn on an electric stove.
It is noticeable that the kitchen is cooler while cooking with an electric stove than with a gas stove.
It has a more stable surface for pots and pans and is easier to clean with a cooktop.
It is less expensive and easier to install unlike a gas stove with the hike in gas prices.

4 Disadvantages of Using an Electric Stove

Also, there are a few disadvantages to using an electric stove: They are:

It is dependent on electricity. When there is a power outage then you can’t cook either.
Some electric stoves, especially the modern ones, cost more than gas stoves. Which is generally not cost-effective.
They cook food slower than gas stoves. The cooking time is slower which may not be helpful when you are hungry.
The cooktops can be easily damaged if handled carelessly which may not be cost-effective.

Why Your Utility Bill Is High

Posted on August 12, 2022 | by K Hopkins

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re probably dealing with a high utility bill. You wouldn’t normally pay attention to your power bill but now you want to know what’s going on.

You’re not the only one who’s turned suspicious over a utility bill so pay close attention. Here is a list of things to check when you see a spike in the bill.

You Never Go Out: Hear me out; when you stay indoors for too long, you use a lot more power. You watch a little more TV; cook a little more; leave the lights on a little longer and you charge your appliances a lot more often, and then it all adds up.

Utility bills are bound to spike up during holiday seasons when you’d spend a lot of time indoors with family and during the pandemic as well. You may also notice an increase in the price during certain seasons. For instance, the weather gets a lot hotter during the summer, so you use the air-conditioning a bit longer and when it gets colder in the winter, you use your heater more. All that can give your utility bill a rather significant boost.

Vampire Appliances Sucking The Power: These are appliances and electronics that stay connected all the time. Appliances like your TV, your kitchen appliances, and the likes consume a good amount of power all the time. Whether these appliances are in use or not, as long as they stay plugged into the power source, they add to your bill.
Inefficient Appliances: The older the appliance, the less effective it is. That doesn’t mean it consumes less power though. Also, some appliances consume a lot more than others. So if you just bought a new appliance, like a lightbulb, be sure to check the type of bulb you’re getting and the amount of energy it consumes. Getting Led bulbs would be better for you. They use far less power and last way longer than the rest.

To save up on electricity and cut down the utility cost, you may want to check on those vampire sources and unplug them when they’re not in use. You can plug them back in when you’d want to use them but be sure to take them right out after.

Getting new appliances as well to replace the old ones will also prove to help along the way. Just make sure you’re checking how effective they are and how much energy they’d likely consume.

Don’t forget to turn off the lights when the day’s bright. You don’t need the extra lighting in the middle of the day. Invest in a good programmable thermostat that you can customize to suit your needs.

Check if you’ve been billed for the wrong meter reading as well. If your bill isn’t an estimate, then you may have been given someone else’s by accident. Compare your previous meter readings to the new ones and call up your supplier to lay a complaint.

An electrician may be able to help troubleshoot what is causing the high electrical bills. Please call The Electric Connection for more information if you are interested.

Extension Cord Storage Tips

Posted on July 25, 2022 | by K Hopkins

It may seem ridiculous to give safety reminders on how to store extension cords but lots of hazards have occurred because of the lack of extension cord storage. Think about it for a minute, do you own an extension cord? Where do you keep them? Are they safe and accessible where they are kept?

Do you want to learn storage tips for extension cords? Are you willing to learn safety tips for extension cords? We hope the answers in this article help you to stop underrating the importance of safety measures for your extension cord.

4 Safety Tips for Extension Cord Usage

Before you know how to effectively store your extension cords to prevent safety risks, below are safety tips you should consider while using an extension cord.

Avoid wet surfaces: Never use wet hands to handle an extension cord or plug in one on wet surfaces. You should also be wary of plugging in a wet extension cord to avoid electric shocks.
Pull the plug: While unplugging your extension cord, do not pull the cord rather pull the plug connected to the cord.
Avoid use on foot traffic areas: people can easily trip on extension cords so it is advisable not to be used on where there is a lot of foot traffic. You should also keep out of reach of children and Pets
Use good extension cord: You may be tempted to use damaged, frayed extension cords but don’t. It is risky to use these kinds of extension cords as they are hazardous. Also, you can avoid getting the extension pinched or damaged by not running it through a window or door.

3 Simple and Smart Extension Cord Storage Ideas For You

Below are some simple extension cord storage ideas you can try out in minutes with little or no cost.

Loop your Extension Cord
This is the method of looping your extension cords and then hanging them on a hook in your storage closet or garage. Be careful to loop them in the same direction to avoid tangling when you need them. If they are more than one, you may need to loop them separately on different hooks.
Also, ensure you use a sturdy hook so it can support the weight of your extension cords. Using this method, you can easily find your cords handy and safe whenever you need them.
Spool Method
Another method of storing your safe fashion is by spooling it around a cylinder tube, old electric wire spool, or anything in that fashion that can serve such a purpose. All you have to do is spool your extension cords around it in the same direction and you are good to go.Ensure it is not too tight or loose so it is not damaged or loose. You can easily stack it or put it in a cabinet without any safety risks.
Hang like a tie or belt
This is simple if you have a rotating belt and tie hanger. All you have to do is hang the extension cords like you would hand a tie or belt on the hanger and you are good to go. You can hang multiple cords like this, saving you space.

Did you find the safety and storage tips useful in helping you keep your extension cords safe and accessible? You can reach out to us at The Electric Connection for inquiries and questions concerning extension cords or any other electric concerns.

What To Do When You Have A Loose Outlet

Posted on July 8, 2022 | by K Hopkins

No matter how it seems, fixing a loose outlet is not a job to be taken likely. It’s more than just screwing a few nuts into the wall and calling it a day. Faulty outlets can result in electrical shocks and can even go on to cause house fires.

It’s also quite easy to overlook the problem initially as it may not seem like such a big deal. We guarantee you, it is. You should call for a repair when you notice a loose outlet. Sometimes, the signs may not be as clear as day. If your cover plate doesn’t lay flat on the wall, if it shakes or the plugs fall out, that can be a clear indication that you have a loose outlet. If you do want a quick fix before you call a professional then you should follow the next steps with precision and caution.

Turn Off The Power:

Doing this would go a long way in your ensuring your safety and is a top priority. To be completely safe, turn off the main breaker. It’s far safer to carry this out during the day when it’s a lot brighter to avoid making mistakes due to the lack of a sufficient light source. Be sure to use a tester to be completely sure that there is no power.

Unscrew The Outlet:

Using a screwdriver, unscrew the screws holding the cover plate in place to expose the outlet. You’d need to see what’s going on behind the cover plate so it’s best to take it off. Gently remove your outlet. Be careful not to cut any wires when pulling it out and if you do, you’d need the services of a professional immediately. Do not continue with the rest of the instructions.

Add Electrical Spacers:

If your outlet is loose because the electrical box is too far back into the wall, adding outlet shims can bridge the gap between the screws and the electrical box. The number of shims you use depends on how far your electrical box is from the screws. You can also tighten your screws if they seem loose. Use your screwdriver to screw in the nuts tightly. Give it a little shake to be sure it’s nice and firm. Fix your outlet and tighten the screws. You can place more shims if the outlet still seems loose. Otherwise, proceed to fix the cover plate as well, and then turn on your breaker.

If your outlet still seems loose, do not proceed any further. The wisest and safest option would be to call a professional electrician to ensure that your outlet is properly fixed to avoid additional damages that could occur otherwise.

We are always here to help.

I Have A Shed Outside, Can I Add Electricity To It?

Posted on June 23, 2022 | by K Hopkins

Sheds are generally for simplistic purposes like a garden, a sit-out, or a workshop. Oftentimes, you can feel like there’s no need to add electricity to it. Using a hand or table lamp might be enough for you.

But whatever your shed is useful for, whether it’s a workshop, a workspace, or a garden, you’ll be needing some proper level of lighting so you can see, especially at night.

If you use your shed as a workspace, then you need that electricity more than ever.

Although using solar energy to power your shed will work perfectly, some people prefer the use of electricity, especially when they can’t easily opt for solar power.

Whichever way, it is possible to add electricity to your shed, but there are things you must consider first before doing this.

What to Know Before Adding Electricity to your Shed.

Permit

In the area where you live, you will need to find out what the rules and regulations are surrounding the installation and use of electricity on certain occasions, to avoid trouble with the authorities for going against neighborhood rules.

Power Hazard

Because a shed is not your home, you will not always be in there. So, adding electricity to a shed means there will be a possibility of a power hazard. How can you control that? Preventing or controlling this begins with running your electricity properly, in other words, ensuring that you are careful with how you fix the wires and run the connections.

To help set up your electricity safely, you’ll need an electrician to help you. Make sure that you only hire a licensed and experienced professional to handle this.

The Electric Connection is a great example of what kind of electrical contractor you should hire. We make sure all safety measures are in place.

What Kind of Electricity Should you Put in Your Shed?

This depends on several factors, like where your shed is or how close it is to your house. You may choose to connect the shed to your house electricity, use a solar panel, which is safe, or use a generator specifically for your shed, which is also safe because you have control over it.

Using a generator will require more maintenance because you’d need diesel; you’d need to service it if it gets broken, and you’d need space to mount it.

Using a solar panel will work for you if your shed is exposed to sunlight, and you have to consider the amount of wattage your shed can take before buying solar with the right capacity.

The final and most advisable option is connecting your shed to your stable home electricity. This way, the lighting in your shed is constant.

At The Electric Connection, our team of professional electricians are well-versed with electric installations of all kinds. This means that whichever option you go for, we handle the installation perfectly. Book a call with us to get electricity in your shed.