How Southern California Homeowners Can Combat Outages

Posted on March 3, 2022 | by K Hopkins

For Southern California homeowners, the demand for electricity efficiency can be exceptionally high at times. With consistently hot temperatures, almost every Californian is forced to run their air conditioners to the max, leading to periods of power surges.

State power suppliers and utilities have a hard time keeping up with the demand, which can lead to temporary outages and even rolling blackouts. Power surges and blackouts in your So. Cal home can cause pricey damages to electronic devices and appliances, so here are some useful tips to combat these power outages in the best way possible.

Pull The Plug

The first thing every Southern California homeowner should do when combatting a power outage is to pull the plug on all of their appliances. It’s essential to unplug any appliances with electronic components, such as televisions, computers and microwaves.

This action will help to avoid any damage to your appliances from voltage surges after the electricity is restored.

Wait a few minutes before turning on these appliances. When the electricity is restored, turn them on one at a time.

This will help minimize the demand on the power supplier’s electrical grid.

Unless you have a whole-home surge protection system or individual surge protectors all over your house, some of your plugged-in devices are probably vulnerable to surge damage. It doesn’t take a huge surge from a lightning strike or a transformer explosion to damage your appliances. Small surges commonly occur when other large appliances in your home turn on, for example, your refrigerator’s compressor or your air conditioning. Over a period of time, these small surges can gradually wear away at other appliances on the same circuit, shortening their lifespans.

Utilize Surge Protectors

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to deal with power surges at home is to plug expensive TVs, computers and appliances into a surge protector. While they won’t provide protection from the millions of volts resulting from lightning strikes, these specialized power strips can provide protection against the built up damage from lower voltage surges. Ultimately, a surge protector evens out the sudden peaks of electricity, thus protecting your electronic devices against random power spike damage.

Having a surge protector isn’t enough to protect your appliances from harm. It’s important to find one that suits the needs of your specific items. Identifying the type and value of the equipment being cared for will help you determine the amount of surge protection you need. Surge protectors offer protection in joules; the joule rating refers to the maximum amount of energy it can absorb before it fails. Obviously, the higher the joule rating, the more energy the protector can absorb. For the most protection possible, consider acquiring a surge protector with a joule rating of at least 600. Gain peace of mind by using surge protectors on your most essential appliances and devices.

Invest In A Generator

Depending on the severity of the outage or experience with outages in the past, every Southern California homeowner should consider buying a home generator. A home generator can serve as a backup to the municipal power grid providing your electric functions.

They can cater to the home’s electrical needs when faced with an extended blackout that lasts for days at a time.

If rolling blackouts have taught Californians one thing, it’s that having an extra power source is crucial during tough times.

It’s critical for Southern California homeowners to consider which home generator is right for their property’s past experiences. For longer, rolling blackouts, standby generators are the way to go. Although they are more expensive, they cover more major appliances like your refrigerator. Portable generators are another great option for someone with a limited budget, who needs smaller devices powered for the time being. If you do find yourself with a narrow budget, try using your home’s equity to fund your new generator purchase. A home equity loan can provide funding in a lump sum with a lower interest rate than that of a personal loan or credit card. Take control of your power by investing in a generator that is best suited for your home.

Establish An Emergency Plan

When a power outage occurs, it’s important to relax and assess the situation. Having an emergency plan is essential for the safety of your home and your family. If you have a pet or younger child, make them a priority in this situation. If it’s dark, gather your family members and bring them together to distribute emergency lighting tools. Try using your cellphone’s light to prevent injuries when navigating your home.

Then, check that your flashlights are operational and replace their batteries if needed. Also, analyze your power banks and charging cables to make sure they are ready for use.
If it’s still light out, strategically place battery-powered lights or candles in the most commonly used rooms so they are spread out if the blackout continues later into the night.

Depending on the severity of the outage, each requires some sort of emergency kit. There are a number of things to consider when creating an emergency kit for your entire family. Having enough water available to last several days is significant in these types of situations. Your kit should also include other essential items like non-perishable foods, portable power devices, hand or solar-powered communication tools, and a first aid kit. For entertainment purposes, this kit could also include things like books, board games, and even puzzles. Try being as prepared as possible when an energy disruption arises.

Conclusion

There are a variety of ways for California homeowners to be proactive when dealing with potential outages or existing blackouts. Use your local resources for help as utility companies in your area should assist you when trying to find information surrounding potential disruptions. Being proactive, prepared, and aware of potential threats is the best way to combat potential power outages in Southern California.

Do I Need Surge Protection in Southern California?

Posted on January 11, 2022 | by K Hopkins

Power surges are almost a given, even in Southern California. One minute you could be watching the TV, and the next, your home gets struck by lightning. Before you know it, the power surge is burning expensive electronics like your refrigerators, dryers, washers, computers, and your beloved TV. A power surge is usually a result of things like storms, downed power lines, or lightning and could be prevented using surge protection.

The dangers of a power surge

Most Power surges are not as serious and may last only for a nano-second. However, occasionally, there could be one powerful surge that pushes thousands of volts through your electrical connection, and this can become a disaster.

These powerful surges can destroy your home appliances or electronic devices, pretty much whatever was plugged in, even your computer or gaming console. Sometimes, this increased voltage may even cause your device to catch fire, leading to a full-blown fire hazard.

Apart from the potential of your expensive appliances and devices getting damaged, your safety and that of the entire house are at risk too.

Prevention

Power surges come with such high risks and you should consider ways to prevent such electrical hazards. The first step is to have a licensed electrician examine your home wiring and prescribe ways to fix it if necessary. You should in surge protection in Southern California.

Power surges are unpredictable, so you will have to use a surge protector all the time. The trick is figuring out which one is best for you. There are two types of surge protectors:

Primary Surge Protectors: These are larger and can protect your whole house, including your appliances. It is considered more effective than others and has access to internal ground wires.

Secondary Surge Protectors: These are unlike the primary surge protectors and can only protect individual appliances that are plugged into them. They are not as effective, although they’re much more portable. With the secondary surge protectors, you get to plug in the most important things like televisions, stereo systems, media centers, and computers. The best way to decide what devices are most important to you is to figure which damage would cost you more; once you have this figured out, you know what devices to plug in.

In conclusion, surge protectors are a necessity to keep your household safe and protect your appliances. Plus, the surge protectors can help to reduce cable clutter and enhance organization with your appliances. This way, it directs all of your cables to one destination, making handling them neatly easier.

To install a surge protector in your house or establishment, you need to hire a professional electrician. It is not advisable to do this yourself because electricity should not be toyed with or handled by individuals other than people who are qualified to. The Electric Connection is a trustworthy electrical company that not only carries out surge protector installations but also guides decisions about what surge protector is best.

Surge Protection a Must Says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on August 29, 2016 | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_08_1 The power goes off and on at random times and often when you least expect it. When it happens, it is a minor nuisance that requires you to reset clocks and turn back on whatever appliance you are using. You don’t typically think of that few seconds of the power going off and then going right back on as serious. It is. Those little power outages are killing the life of your appliances and damaging your sensitive electronics. Every time the power flickers or surges, anything that is plugged in is basically getting a jolt. An electrician in Los Angeles wants you to save your electronics and appliances by investing surge protection. The team at The Electric Connection can get your home protected in just a few short hours.

Every day, little surges of electricity are sent through the lines and into your home. You may hear your refrigerator compressor kick on when nobody has left the door open or your lights may get suddenly brighter or dim. These are all signs of a power surge explains an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners may notice these things happen if they run more than a couple appliances at a time or when something like the AC unit kicks on. The electricity is pulled from the other appliances and electronics to run the AC, which is a lot like cutting off the supply. This makes everything else, including the AC, work a little harder and not run quite as it should. This is what causes the damage.

The fix is to have a whole house surge protector installed at the electric panel by a Los Angeles electrician. This will control the electrical flow and prevent those surges from happening. If the power goes out and comes right back on, the surge protector will prevent any one appliance from getting a jolt of electricity that may fry the board. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your surge protection installation.

Surge Protection by Electrician in Glendale

Posted on September 11, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

electricalBS (28) It is time to get ready for another winter and there is no time like the present to get some of those little things done around the house that you have been putting off. During the spring and summer, most of your time and energy is focused on the outside of your home and the landscaping needs. Now, it is time to focus your attention on the inside of your home. An electrician in Glendale is here to help you take care of a few things that can make your home a little safer while adding a layer of protection for some of your expensive electronic equipment and appliances. At The Electric Connection, you will find a team of professionals who are capable of handling any job, big or small.

Surge Protectors

Whole home surge protectors are a worthy investment. In the event of a power outage or a power surge, the surge protector deflects the extra electricity away from your electronics. Sensitive electronic equipment like computers and smart televisions can be damaged when there is a surge or when the power goes out and then right back on. Your refrigerator will also suffer overtime and the expected life of the refrigerator will be dramatically reduced if it is constantly subjected to power fluctuations. The surge protector will need to be installed by an electrician familiar with Glendale electrical codes.

Hard-Wired Smoke Detectors

If you have a woodstove or plan on using a space heater this winter, it is a good idea to have hard-wired smoke detectors installed. These devices are wired directly to your home’s main source of power and do not rely on batteries. The detectors are inter-connected, adding precious minutes to a family’s escape from a house fire.

If you are ready to make a few improvements to your home, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your surge protector and smoke detector installation.

Whole Home Surge Protection by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on July 28, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

tool (7) Weather is so unpredictable, even trained weather people struggle to accurately predict storms and the strengths of those storms. It just makes sense to prepare for anything in order to keep your life as normal as possible. Power outages and power surges are very common during high winds, heavy rainfall and of course thunderstorms. A Pasadena electrician can help you protect your appliances, computers and televisions with the installation of a whole home surge protector. If you have never heard of one of these devices, give The Electric Connection a call to discover how they can save you hundreds of dollars by preventing damage to your electronics.

Every single day, there are power fluctuations in your home. This may be caused by large appliances like a refrigerator or air conditioner kicking off and on or things that are happening around the area. These minor power surges are not always noticeable, but they are damaging the sensitive electrical components in each of your devices. This can shrink the life expectancy of certain high-dollar appliances like your refrigerator, well pump, freezer and even the stove. More sensitive devices like computers, smart TVs, and gaming systems are easily damaged by these minor power surges.

Large surges can wipe out a computer board in an instant. Every electrical device has a board. When this happens, the appliance or gadget is ruined and will likely cost hundreds of dollars to repair. All of this can be avoided with a surge protector installed at the electric panel by an electrician. Pasadena homeowners can purchase a whole home surge protector for a couple hundred dollars. The investment could save hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars in damaged electronics. Lightning and power surges are part of our world. It makes sense to spend a little money now to prevent a lot of damage and hassle in the future. Give The Electric Connection a call today to schedule your installation.

Power Outage Preparation Makes Life Easier Says Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on February 10, 2014 | by Kim Hopkins

Being prepared for anything is nearly impossible, but you can be prepared for some of the little eventualities in life like a power outage. If you are prepared for the outage it is a lot less inconvenient than if you were taken completely off guard. Power outages happen for numerous reasons. Most of the time the outages are not long in duration, but there are times the outages can be extensive and your life is sorely interrupted. An electrician in Santa Monica has some advice for you to follow before an outage happens so you can be ready to deal with the aftermath. At The Electric Connection, you will find a team of knowledgeable electricians who can provide you with service to deal with any electrical problems caused by an outage. There are times appliances malfunction after a power outage. You can prevent this from happening by having a whole home surge protector installed.

You can also prepare for the lack of lights by putting a couple of flashlights along with extra batteries in a safe place that you can easily find when the lights are off. A kitchen drawer, a nightstand table or near the front door are all good places. Along with flashlights you will want to have a supply of emergency candles along with matches or a lighter. Don’t forget to keep candleholders handy as well. If you are not comfortable with using candles or relying on flashlights, you can talk with a Santa Monica electrician about installing a standby generator.

Keep the phone number of the power company handy as well. Most power companies will have an emergency number. This is the number you would call to find out how long the outage will last. If you have any more questions or would like to learn more about generators or surge protectors, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Prepare Today for Power Outage by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on December 9, 2013 | by Kim Hopkins

You never know when a winter storm is going to rear its ugly head and cause all kinds of problems, including power outages. While it is pretty rare in southern California, power failures are not. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared to deal with a power outage if and when it happens, no matter what the reason may be. You can do a few things today that will make your life a little easier when that surprise power outage hits. An electrician in Los Angeles has a few tips for you. If you would like more information, give The Electric Connection a call.

First and foremost, you need to be prepared. You will need to have at least one flashlight, but preferably several along with extra batteries. Storing these items is a designated drawer or in a rubber tote that is easy to get to is ideal. You don’t want to be fumbling in the dark or trying to traverse the stairway to get to your only source of light. However, just a little tip that can be very handy, your cell phone is probably never far from you. Take the time to download a free flashlight app that can be used to safely guide you to your flashlights. Be warned, these apps can suck the battery of your phone so use it sparingly.

Safety candles, the number for your power company and matches are also good to have on hand in case of a power outage. Most of the time the outage is very short-lived, but you still need to be ready if you live in Los Angeles. Electrical equipment like your televisions, computers, and kitchen appliances should be unplugged immediately following a power outage. This ensures a surge doesn’t happen when the power is restored and ultimately destroy anything that is plugged in. If you have any more questions about what to do in a power outage, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Whole-Home Surge Protection Installed by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on November 24, 2013 | by Kim Hopkins

Although thunderstorms are a rarity during the cooler months and you don’t have to worry about lightning causing a power surge, there are other factors that can cause an electrical surge in your home. Power surges happen all the time and are not only the result of a lightning striking nearby. You may not realize this, but your home is constantly exposed to small surges every single day. Each time your heater kicks on or your refrigerator goes into defrost, it draws additional power. Once the additional power isn’t needed, there is a bit of a surge. Your probably don’t even notice it happening, but your sensitive electrical equipment like your computer or gaming console are certainly effected. The Electric Connection has the Beverly Hills electrician you need to protect your valuable equipment from small and large power surges.

Whole-home surge protectors are an option you can choose to have installed now to prevent small or large power surges from damaging computers and other sensitive electrical equipment. An electrician will install the protector directly to the electric panel. This is an ideal option because your entire home will be protected instead of just the few items you have plugged into a power strip. It should be noted that power strips are not always enough to protect equipment from large power surges. However, when combined with a whole-home surge protector, you can rest assured your expensive computers, gaming consoles and screen TVs will all be protected.

The initial cost of the surge protector is minimal and is almost always much cheaper than the replacement cost of a single appliance. Because the surge protector will need to be installed directly in the electrical panel, you will need to call an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can rely on the friendly and knowledgeable staff at The Electric Connection to get the job done right.

Power Outage Guidelines Provided by Electrician Santa Monica Relies On

Posted on August 28, 2013 | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment

Rolling power outages can be a royal pain. It seems like they strike just when you have put dinner in the oven or sat down to watch your favorite television show. Typically, the blackout is over within a few hours and life goes back to normal. However, those few hours without power will require you to do a few things in order to ensure everything powers back on normally when the electricity is back on provided by your electrician. Santa Monica residents should consider writing this list down and keeping it handy. You can always call The Electric Connection if you would like a more detailed explanation about anything on the list.

First and foremost, ensure your family is safe. If anybody is in darkened rooms, calmly guide everybody into one area to wait out the power outage. This will help keep you occupied and hey, it can actually make for some excellent family time. No lights, no electronics means no distractions!

1-Unplug all of your small appliances and electronics. This will prevent damage from happening when the power does come back on. When electricity is restored, power surges through the lines and can damage to things like computers, game consoles and even televisions.

2-Tell everybody to stay out of the refrigerator and freezer. Leaving the doors closed will preserve the cool temperatures inside the spaces and keep your food safe. You can expect your refrigerated foods to stay fresh for 4 hours without electricity and up to 24 hours in the freezer.

3-Open the doors and windows to allow airflow through the home says your electrician. Santa Monica residents will appreciate a cool breeze to help keep the air from becoming stagnant during a power outage.

If you would like more information about what you should do when the power goes out, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Surge Protectors Save Money Explains Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on June 27, 2013 | by Kim Hopkins

Summer months are notorious for power surges and outages due to the high demand for power air conditioning units place on the grid. Outages are definitely inconvenient, but they can also be very costly to you. If you are not home during an outage and cannot unplug sensitive electrical equipment like your computer before the power comes back on, a surge could destroy the computer. Surges are common when the power is restored. Surges can also occur during a thunder storm. Again, storms happen anytime and you know to unplug items during a storm, but what if you are not there?

Your electrician in Beverly Hills can help you protect your appliances and sensitive equipment by installing a whole-home surge protector. The staff at The Electric Connection These devices are installed on the outside of the home at the breaker panel and help regulate the electricity that comes into the home. When a surge hits, the devices deflect it away from your expensive appliances.
As a second line of defense, it is strongly recommended computers and video equipment be plugged into a surge protector inside the home. These are the long strips with several outlets, which you can install yourself.

Another option to consider is the equipment on the outside of your home. Things like your air conditioner unit, hot tub or pool pump are all at risk of electrical surge Your Beverly Hills electrician can talk with you more about how you can protect the costly equipment with exterior surge protectors.

Surge protectors are an investment that can ultimately save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in replacement costs. You never know when a power surge will hit. It just makes sense to be protected all the time. Call The Electric Connection to schedule your appointment for whole-home surge protection today.