The Electric Connection’s Blog

Revamping Outdoor Lighting by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Fall is upon us and it is easy to worry less about the outdoors and focus more on the inside of the house. Even though the weather may be a little cooler, it is still a great time for those outdoor gatherings that carry through into the evening hours. You can ensure your house looks inviting all year with new outdoor lighting that makes your house look fresh again. Your Santa Monica electrician can help transform your old and dated outdoor lighting scheme into one that pops and makes your house look great, even in the dark. All you need to do is call The Electric Connection and schedule your appointment.

Solar lights are great, but with the shorter days of fall and winter, the lights may not be enough to last throughout the night and into the late morning. This is why electric lights are often preferred by many landscape artists. An electrician in Santa Monica can work with you and your landscaper to determine where you want the light and take care of the installation process for you. Lighting up fountains, a play area or the patio are all possibilities and allow you to enjoy the cool fall nights.

There are many things you can do with electric lights that are not possible with solar varieties. If you have a particular shade tree or row of shrubs that you want to ensure is flooded in light for either beauty reasons or to make the landscaping safer, you will want to choose electric lights installed by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners will love the flexibility as well as the control they gain with electric lights that can be set on a timer. It doesn’t hurt to have solar lights as a backup for power outages. If you are ready to update and revamp your outdoor lighting this fall, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Basement Game Room by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Have you always dreamed of having a nice, comfortable man cave? Or maybe you have teen kids living in the house who would love an area that can gather. If your basement is sitting empty and filled with nothing but boxes and cobwebs, it is time to consider a basement remodel. This is a great way to add value to your home while making your home more functional for your family. An electrician in Pasadena, like those at The Electric Connection, want to help you make the most of every square foot possible.

There are many possibilities when it comes to utilizing your basement as actual livable square footage. An office, game room, craft space or even a play area are all great ways to make your house feel much bigger. Imagine being able to clear out a crowded bedroom by placing extra toys, shelves and what not in a beautiful living space downstairs. Your Pasadena electrician can work with your contractor to ensure you have plenty of outlets, proper lighting and even phone and data lines. Having recessed lighting installed during the construction process is an excellent way to maximize ceiling height in a basement.

It is important you leave all of the wiring to an electrician. Pasadena homeowners will want to ensure their remodel is safe and up to code. This is also a great time to get an idea about the condition of your existing wiring as most of it tends to be exposed in the basement. Depending on the size of the area and what exactly you hope to achieve with your remodel, it may be necessary to add additional breakers to your electric panel. If you are thinking about making the most of your basement, give The Electric Connection a call today and get an idea of what will be needed for your electrical requirements.

Dangers of DIY Electrical Work by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

There is a great deal of satisfaction when you can tackle things around the house and take care of them by yourself. A trip to the home improvement store, a couple hours watching tutorials on the internet and you feel like you got in the bag. As if you are now a master builder and can take care of those things around the house that need a little attention. Here’s the thing; not all jobs around the house are as easy as they are made to appear in those videos. In fact, some are really quite dangerous and should never be attempted, no matter how prepared you think you are. Electricity is unforgiving. One small slip and you could be putting your life in serious jeopardy. It is best to leave all electrical jobs to a professional electrician in Beverly Hills, like those at The Electric Connection.

It may seem like you are throwing away money hiring a Beverly Hills electrician to take care of what you think is a small job, but think of the cost of a hospital stay or the alternative. It only takes a tiny mistake to result in an electric shock. Touching wires that are live or accidentally putting wires together that are not meant to be is a risk you take when you don’t have the proper training.

Even if you do managed to successfully complete the DIY side of an electrical job without electric shock, you must consider long term problems. Just because you didn’t get a jolt when putting in that new outlet or wiring that new light fixture, it doesn’t mean it was done right. It could be an electrical hazard that results in a fire explains an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners should leave the electrical work to the people who have trained and gone to school to learn how to do it. Call The Electric Connection and protect yourself from yourself.

Wiring Hazards to Watch for by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It can be difficult to know when the wiring in your home is not up to today’s current safety standards. It is a concern for many homeowners because of the serious dangers involved with faulty wiring. Home fires are often the result of bad wiring and in many cases, the homeowner wasn’t even aware there was a problem until it was too late. It only takes a small spark to cause a devastating fire. A spark happens when wires touch and in the right circumstances, the insulation pushed against the wires will go up in flames. Your Pasadena electrician has some information that can help you identify these hazards. You can always rely on the service at The Electric Connection for professional electrical help.

Some of the biggest clues are as follows;

*The age of the home. If it was built before 1960, you are likely dealing with outdated wiring—unless you know the electrical has been updated by an electrician in Pasadena.

*Flickering lights could mean a short. Shorts are bare wires that are not connected properly and could create a spark, igniting a fire.

*Outlets that don’t work suggest the wiring behind the outlet is not connected, which could be a serious fire hazard.

*Breakers that constantly trip for no obvious reason could mean a number of things, but it is always best to have it investigated.

*If you notice the smell of burning wires, which tends to be very distinctive, you have a problem that needs checked out.

These are some of the more obvious signs. If you suspect your wiring isn’t safe, call an electrician. Pasadena homeowners will appreciate an inspection by a professional that can identify any potential problems, making your home safer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electrical inspection or have your faulty wiring repaired right away.

Home Additions with Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Adding on to your home to make it a little bigger and more accommodating for you and your family’s needs is a typical part of home ownership. Sometimes, you buy a smaller house or a house that isn’t quite what you want with the intention of remodeling it to suit your needs. This is often a cheaper solution and gives you a little more say in what the addition looks like. If you are considering adding on to your home or transforming that big closet into a second bathroom, you will need the services of an electrician. Glendale homeowners can call The Electric Connection to assist them with their home remodeling needs.

Plenty of people choose a DIY approach when it comes to home remodels. Those with some basic carpentry experience can knock out walls or install sheetrock. However, it is never okay for anyone, besides a certified Glendale electrician, to deal with any of the electrical wiring required for the addition. The risk associated with dealing with electricity are far too great and not worth the few extra dollars you may save. Your homeowner’s insurance will also negate any coverage in many cases if the wiring was not completed by a certified electrician.

It is far easier and will give you peace of mind to have an electrician in Glendale take care of new wiring as well as the installation of new light fixtures. This ensures the job is done right and you will know the addition is safe. In most counties and cities, the addition you put on your home will require permits. The inspector will need to inspect any electrical wiring completed. Don’t risk the job not being done right the first time. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your new addition electrical job.

Do You Have Enough Light? Beverly Hills Electrician Answers

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Are you tired of feeling like you are living in a cave? Or maybe your home seems to be overly bright to the point you have to close the curtains or leave the lights off to save your eyes. How do you know when you have enough light? An electrician in Beverly Hills has a few tips to help you determine how much light should be in a room based on what that room is used for. Certain areas, like the kitchen or bathroom, are going to need more light while other rooms are best with lower light. The team at The Electric Connection can help you take care of adjusting the amount of light in your room once you have decided what you need.

There are a few terms you need to know before we get started. Foot candle is the brightness of a bulb one foot away from the source. Lumens is going to be the number of foot candles multiplied by the square footage of the room. It’s easier than it sounds explain a Beverly Hills electrician.

*Bedrooms typically need about 10 to 20 foot candles
*A kitchen needs anywhere from 30 to 80 depending on how much light to prefer.
*A hallway only needs about 10 foot candles
*A living room does best with 10 to 20 foot candles

Now that you know what you need for each space, multiply your needed foot candles per room by the square footage of that room. For example, your living room needs 20 foot candles and it is 200 squre feet, you would need 4000 lumens. Check the lumens on a particular bulb and you will know if you need more light fixtures. You can add a lamp, track lighting or some recessed lighting to get the light you need by calling your electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can call The Electric Connection to have more light fixtures installed.

Chandelier Upgrades by Santa Monica Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Would you like to have your entryway lighting fixture be one that screams elegance while being functional? If you have always marveled at the homes in magazines or featured in some of those renovations you see on television, you may have noticed the entryway is generally very dramatic. It sets the tone for the home. If you have been longing for a similar update in your home, it can start now with the installation of a gorgeous chandelier by an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners can count on the crew at The Electric Connection to complete the installation.

A chandelier is really a statement piece in a room. You can often let the light fixture act as the only piece of décor and skip adding any artwork. There are many different styles and sizes to choose from, ensuring you will find one that perfectly suits your needs explains a Santa Monica electrician. Do a little shopping online and do what you can to visit the lighting department of your store. The fixture you choose should complement the space, without completely overwhelming it. Large is great, but too large and it will make the space look smaller.

Your next consideration is the amount of light that is actually produced with the chandelier. An electrician in Santa Monica recommends LED bulbs, simply because they are much more energy efficient. You can generally have the chandelier installed with a dimmer switch that allows you to turn up or down the intensity of the bulbs if you have went with a fixture that may be a little too bright for all occasions. However, a dimmer switch will typically not work with a fixture using LEDs—yet. The technology is likely coming, but we aren’t there yet. Give The Electric Connection a call today and let us get your new chandelier installed for you.

Why We Love Recessed Lighting by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Recessed lighting has been a trend in new home construction for the past decade or more. It only seems to be getting more popular with home renovations as more people discover the benefits to the sleek lighting system. People may also be unaware of some of the variations of recessed lighting that are available. It really is a great way to light up your entire home. Your Pasadena electrician has a few points for you to consider as you think about updating the lighting in your home. The team at The Electric Connection can answer any other calls you may have about installing recessed lighting throughout your home or in a single room.

1. The reflective can that surrounds the actual lamp helps direct the light, making it appear much brighter. Instead of light flooding the area, it is directed in one space. A single bulb in a recessed lighting can looks significantly brighter than a traditional fixture.
2. There are different sizes of cans, which means you can tailor the size of the fixture to your needs.
3. You can choose from a variety of trims to match your décor explains an electrician. Pasadena homeowners can choose a reflective trip or ring around the light or go with one in a particular color. This is one way to make a room unique and showcasing your personal style.
4. Most recessed lighting fixtures are compatible with LED bulbs. This a great way to save electricity and take advantage of the brighter, cleaner light of an LED.
5. You can choose an “eyeball” trip, which allows you to direct the light in a particular direction. This is especially handy in living rooms and dens when you don’t want a light shooting directly on you. This style is perfect for highlighting artwork in a room.

Your electrician in Pasadena can help you pick the right light for your needs by offering some tips. Once you are ready to update your lighting, give The Electric Connection a call to have it installed.

Electric Safety for Outdoor Projects by Glendale Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Summer is the time of year when you want to be outdoors doing something. It is a great time to make your outdoor living space a little better or maybe to build a space. Fixing the deck, taking care of loose fence panels or maybe building the kids that playhouse they wanted are all great ways to spend a couple of days off. Using power tools to complete those jobs makes it a little easier and faster. However, your Glendale electrician wants you to always be safe when working outdoors with electricity. The team at The Electric Connection has a few tips to ensure you stay safe while working on your outdoor projects.

1. Only use an extension cord that is rated for use outside. These will generally be orange, round and have a 3-prong outlet. The cord should be in good condition with no frayed or exposed wires.
2. Don’t use power tools if it is raining out or the ground is wet.
3. Do not string more than one extension cord together says an electrician in Glendale. You will lose a little electricity and risk damaging your power tools by trying to use a low current.
4. Make sure your outdoor outlets are protected from the weather. The outlets should also have ground fault circuit interrupters. If they don’t call an electrician. Glendale homeowners can have new, safer outlets installed that will protect them from an electric shock.
5. Pay attention to your surroundings. If there are powerlines over head, be extremely careful when moving ladders or carrying tools that may come into contact with the lines. If you are going to do any digging, call your electric company to have a quick inspection for any buried cables.

Outdoor projects are a fun way to spend your summer days. Don’t let a project turn into a safety nightmare. If you have any questions or need those outlets installed, give The Electric Connection a call today.

What Uses the Most Electricity? Los Angeles Electrician Reveals Answer

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

If you have a goal to use less electricity in your home, you need some information to help you make the best choices. Saving electricity can save you money while lessening your impact on the power grid and using resources. There are little things you have heard for a long time that can help save on electricity, but how much are you really saving? If you want the biggest bang for your buck, you need to know what electrical devices in your home are sucking the most electricity. An electrician in Los Angeles has the answers you need. If you have more questions, feel free to call The Electric Connection.

1. Your air conditioner or furnace is by far the biggest energy hog in your home explains a Los Angeles electrician. Turning the AC up a couple of degrees and relying on a ceiling fan can save you a great deal of money in the summer. Dress in layers in the winter and lower the thermostat to save money.
2. The water heater is the next big offender. Shortening the length of your showers, turning off the water when you are wiping down counters and lowering the temperature on the water heater can all reduce your energy usage.
3. Your clothes washer and dryer are right up there. Only wash full loads and when possible, use cold water. Air drying your laundry when possible can save you a significant amount of money.
4. Lighting is the next big one and is probably one of the easiest to manage. If you haven’t done it yet, switch your bulbs to LEDs says an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will be pleased to learn LEDs use a fraction of the energy of a traditional bulb.

These are your four main culprits. Find ways to reduce their usage and you can save big on your electric bill. Give The Electric Connection a call if you need a new ceiling fan installed.