Tag: santa monica electrician

Electrical Repairs Require Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_06_5When 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.

Updating Old Wiring with Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electricon6_2-16Homes 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.

Improving Office Lighting with Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
Interior of the empty modern business office
Interior of the empty modern business office

Working indoors with very little windows can be depressing. An office that is full of bored employees who long to see the outdoors can have a negative impact on the work environment in general. One way an employer can change that is by updating the lights in the work space. The lights don’t necessarily need to be brighter, but more aesthetically appealing. An electrician in Santa Monica can help you work through some of the lighting options available and help you decide which lights would best accomplish your goal of creating a cheerier, more inviting work environment. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help.

The typical fluorescent lights that are in an office can be harsh to work under day in and day out. The eyes tend to strain under the lights. A Santa Monica electrician can install new lights that resemble the daylight outside and are more energy efficient. Maybe the office is dark because of a lack of lights in general. This is something that can be quickly fixed by an electrician. Santa Monica managers and business owners who want to brighten up the employee work space or maybe spruce up the area where customers frequent will appreciate the expertise of a professional. Lighting can make a huge difference in a room or large space. Lots of light makes it look bigger and of course, brighter and more inviting.

Because your business needs to remain professional, you only want contractors in the work area who reflect those same high standards. Choosing a team that wears clean uniforms and maintains a professional demeanor while in the work place is important. You don’t want customers to see an unprofessional crew working behind the scenes. It gives a bad impression. When you call The Electric Connection, you can be assured you will get a professional team who will adhere to your high standards.

Troubleshooting Electrical Problems with a Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_6This is not the time of year to be dealing with electrical problems in the home. It can be a huge issue to have an outlet fail or a breaker constantly trip when you are trying to deck your halls. The problem can be a number of different things, but you won’t know for sure until you have an electrician in Santa Monica come out to take a look. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to any kind of electrical concerns. The team at The Electric Connection is ready to help you discover what the problem is and get it taken care of before it becomes a serious safety hazard.

If you are not a trained electrician, you are going to have to guess what the problem is. That is a risk you don’t want to take. What if that outlet that only works on occasion is actually not just a fluke and is the sign of a much bigger problem. It is a good idea to have a Santa Monica electrician inspect your home. During the inspection, the outlet will be tested and the cover removed to check for any loose wires. While it may be an easy fix, ignoring those loose wires could create a tiny spark that ignites the insulation packed around the outlet.

You are not expected to know all of the hazards or to know why your breaker is tripping. That is a job for an electrician. Santa Monica residents will feel better knowing their house has been given an electrical checkup. Problems will be identified and you will be given the option to take care of right away or wait until it is a little more convenient. Your electrician will let you know just how serious the problem is or whether it is something relatively minor. If you are concerned about an electrical problem in your home, give The Electric Connection a call and let one of their experienced electricians diagnose the problem for you.

Smoke Detectors Save Lives says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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.

Holiday Lighting Safety Tips 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

It is almost time to head to the garage or attic or wherever you have stored your lights and other decorations all year. It is exciting to pull out the holiday decorations that signal a time of giving and family. The family loves the work you put into decking the halls and making your home bright and beautiful. However, it is important you are practicing safe decorating tips provided by your electrician in Santa Monica. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to enjoy this holiday season without putting yourself or your home at risk.

Limit the Strands

Don’t get carried away connecting light strands together. You should not connect more than three strands together to plug into a single socket. If you don’t have enough outlets to run all of your decorations, call an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners will love the freedom and flexibility additional outlets give them, especially outside.

Proper Usage

While most lights and decorations are designed to be used inside and out, there are some that specifically note indoors only. Don’t risk putting these outside as they could short out and cause a fire. You can read the box or the tag near the plug to determine whether it is indoor only.

Appropriate Extension Cords

You will likely need to use a couple of extension cords, but you need to make sure they are appropriate for use outdoors. You also want to make sure you are not connecting several cords together. A Santa Monica electrician explains this could be hazardous if water or snow managed to get between the two connections. Buy cords that are long enough to suit your needs so you don’t have to connect them together.

Decorating should be a fun job—not dangerous. If you need outlets or have any additional questions about electric safety when decorating, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Understanding High Electric Bills by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_6Did you just get the electric bill in the mail and now you are suffering from a minor panic attack? You are not the first person to be surprised by a higher than average electric bill. Along with adjusting the budget to pay for the unexpected expense, you are probably making a commitment to go dark until you can get the high electric usage under control. Where do you start? An electrician in Santa Monica has a few suggestions that may help explain the high bill and how you can avoid repeating the same issue with another high bill next month. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help.

*Using a single light in a room to try and provide enough light probably isn’t working. You may have a couple of other lights on in the room to try and supplement the light, which is running up your electric bill. With shorter days, you will be using more light. Having a better, more energy efficient light fixture installed by a Santa Monica electrician can alleviate that issue.

*A water heater in a cold basement is going to run up your electric bill. Do what you can to insulate the water heater to help the water stay warm without the heater having to constantly kick on. You can upgrade to a better water heater that is insulated.

*Another big mistake people make without thinking about it is running half loads of laundry or the dishwasher. Always wait until the washer is full.

*You probably have several chargers plugged in with many of them interchangeable. If you can charge all the cell phones in the house with the same charger, unplug all but one and take turns charging your phones when possible.

Save yourself the shock of a high electric bill by following the advice from an electrician. Santa Monica residents can save hundreds of dollars every year by taking care of all the little things that add up. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting fixture replacement.

Why Hire a Certified Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_09_6If you need some work down around the house, you may be tempted to look for one of the least expensive people you can find. Calling a name you found on Craigslist or calling the friend of a friend who does things around the house is not a good idea. There are several very good reasons you should only call a certified electrician in Santa Monica like those at The Electric Connection.

Insurance

If a mistake is made on the part of the electrician and the home suffers damage, you may risk your home owner insurance payout. Many insurance companies require you to use a certified, licensed and insured professional in your home. This gives the insurance company somebody to hold accountable should something go wrong.

Training

A Santa Monica electrician who is certified will have had to have passed some tests to receive their certification. This is one way to test their knowledge about electricity before they ever step foot in your home. The certification process also guarantees the certified electrician has some hands-on knowledge and training. If you choose to hire somebody who isn’t certified, you risk getting someone who doesn’t have any real knowledge.

Guarantees

When you hire a professional, you have some sort of guarantee the work will be completed up to code and will be safe. Hiring somebody off the street could leave you with a bigger mess and no recourse. You need to be able to have somebody to hold accountable.

Your home is a huge investment. It just makes sense you would only trust it to a certified electrician. Santa Monica homeowners cannot afford to risk their investment. Your home as well as the safety of your family while in the home is far too important. Call The Electric Connection if you need any electrical repairs and you can take comfort knowing you are getting a certified, professional electrician to work in your home.

Are Sparking Outlets Dangerous? Santa Monica Electrician Explains

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_08_6Have you ever plugged something into an outlet and sparks fly—literally? Little sparks or a lot of sparks accompanied by a popping sound can be scary and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are minor sparks and major sparks. An electrician in Santa Monica will explain why outlets spark and what it means for you and your safety. If you have any more questions, you can call The Electric Connection.

A blue arc that occurs when you first plug in an appliance, is not generally cause for concern. You are seeing that blue arc because the appliance is immediately drawing electricity from the outlet. The electricity that is flowing through the wires behind your walls and to the outlet is moving pretty quick. When you make that connection between appliance or lamp and outlet, it is kind of like static electricity explains a Santa Monica electrician.

Now, a spark that happens while an appliance is plugged in is a serious concern. This means there is a break in the connection somewhere along the line. It may be the cord to the appliance or it could be the wires to the outlet. Bare wires that come into contact with each other or touch anything else can spark, causing a fire. This is an issue that should be repaired immediately by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners should shut off the breaker to the outlet that is sparking and call for service.

Another cause for sparking could be water. If an appliance comes into contact with water, the water interrupts the flow of electricity and creates a spark. This is obviously very dangerous. Water and electricity do not mix—ever. Consider having GFCI outlets installed in areas where water and electricity are in close vicinity to each other, like the bathroom or kitchen. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your outlet repair.

Electrical Considerations for Remodels Explained by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_06_6With summer weather driving you indoors where it is much cooler, you may be looking around the house and thinking you could change this or that to make it all a little better. Home remodels range from very minimal renovations to big changes that may include adding a room or completely removing walls. All of this will make your home a little more perfect for you and your family, but home remodels can be a lot of work. While small renovations are typically something the average homeowner will attempt to do on their own, an electrician in Santa Monica points out that even the smallest changes should be evaluated by an electrician. You can count on the team at The Electric Connection to send out an experienced electrician to handle the inspection for you.

When you hire a Santa Monica electrician to inspect the area you plan to remodel, you will get a good idea of the electrical work that is involved in the remodel. Often times, homeowners forget all about the electrical wiring that is needed with any renovation. During the inspection, you will be told what all is hiding behind the walls and what would need to happen to move the wiring. Things to consider are light fixtures, outlets and data lines. If you are planning on adding more outlets, your electrician will need to evaluate whether or not you have enough room in the breaker panel to do so.

Another important part of the inspection will be to determine the condition and age of your existing wiring. This is always a job for an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners who live in homes that are more than 30 years old will appreciate the information. Outdated wiring could be a fire hazard. Upgrading the wiring will make your home safer while potentially saving you money on your homeowner’s insurance. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your home inspection before you move forward with any remodeling plans.