The Electric Connection’s Blog

More Protection with Hard-Wired Smoke Detectors say Los Angeles Electrician

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This is the time of year when home fires seem to be prevalent. The addition of heaters, burning in fireplaces or woodstoves and the additional holiday decorations can increase the risk of a fire in the home. It makes more sense than ever to give your home a little bump in the safety department by adding another layer of protection in case of a fire. A hard-wired smoke detector is an excellent option for those who are worried their battery-operated smoke detector won’t be working at a time that is most important. An electrician in Los Angeles, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you sleep a little better at night knowing your home has several functional smoke detectors.

Hard-wired smoke detectors respond the same as a typical detector, but instead of relying solely on batteries, they are wired directly into your home’s power. Another real benefit to the hard-wired detectors explains a Los Angeles electrician is the fact they are all connected. When one alerts they all alert. This means that no matter where the smoke is first detected in the house, the entire household and even in the garage will be alert to the potential fire. This can add minutes to your escape time or give you time to catch a small, manageable fire before it engulfs the entire home.

If you have a home security system, this is typically the type of smoke detector that is used. There are apps that allow you to connect the smoke detector to your smartphone to alert you something is wrong. All of these are things you can discuss with your electrician. Los Angeles homeowners who want to do a little more to ensure the safety of their home and the occupants can give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule a fire detector installation.

Commercial Renovation No Problem with Certified Electrician

electriccon_10_7If you are interested in purchasing an old building for commercial use or maybe your business is in an old building that needs a serious upgrade, you will need a specialized crew of professionals to make it happen. Commercial projects require a different set of skills and talents than the standard residential projects. Everything is on a much bigger scale, including the wiring and electrical needs. For this reason, it is absolutely critical you hire an electrical team that has experience and training to work on commercial projects. A certified electrician on your job ensures everything will be done right and up to code, which means your renovation or upgrade will chug along according to your schedule. The team at The Electric Connection has the commercial experience you want and need.

It is always best to bring the electrician in at the very beginning of a restoration project. This allows the professional to provide valuable insight and input as to where the wiring needs to be as well as the best type of materials to use for a commercial project. Bringing in the certified professional early on also makes the scheduling of the project much easier. You won’t have to worry about down days or redoing certain areas because the wiring wasn’t put in first. The construction team needs to work together and that means everyone needs to be involved from the get go.

The planning phase is an excellent time to discuss all of the commercial lighting options and various upgrades that can be put in place throughout the building. It is important these are thought about beforehand to make sure the project runs smoothly. Projects that are delayed or run into various hiccups can cost more money and end up pushing back opening dates. Give The Electric Connection a call today and talk with one of our professionals about your commercial building renovation.

Electrical Safety this Holiday Season by Santa Monica Electrician

electriccon_10_6Decorating your home and the outdoors is an extremely popular activity starting in about October. October and fall weather tends to be very wet. Putting electric-powered decorations outside can get tricky. Every year, it seems like we try to go a little bigger with our holiday displays. Every year, manufacturers are putting out bigger, cooler and more elaborate decorations for us to add to our collections. If you are one of those people who likes to have the coolest holiday display on the block, you probably rely on electricity to run lights and some of the moving figures placed outside or around the house. That means you need to brush up on your electric safety knowledge and an electrician in Santa Monica is here to help you do just that. You can always count on The Electric Connection to give you accurate information.

One of the most important safety rules to keep in mind is to pay attention to what the decorations and lights are designed for. If they are designated “indoor use only” don’t attempt to put them outside. It could result in the item shorting out and possibly sparking a fire. This applies to extension cords as well explains an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners need to follow the guidelines on the cords. Outdoor extension cords will generally be round and brightly colored.

Do not connect more than three strands of lights together. Read the manufacturer guidelines on each of the boxes to determine if you can put several decorations on the same cord or if they will need separate ones. Avoid connecting more than 2 extension cords together. If you need additional outlets outside, hire a Santa Monica electrician to do so for you. This can make decorating a breeze. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need additional outlets or have questions about electric safety.

Home Additions with Pasadena Electrician

electriccon_10_5If you own your home, it is essentially yours to do as with you please. You are not restricted to what colors you paint the walls or how you decorate your home. For those who don’t live in neighborhoods with strict home covenant laws, you are also free to make your home a little bigger. Every square foot of livable space you have in your home adds value. The cost to add the space is far lower than what the additional square footage is actually worth. Home additions are an excellent way to make a home big enough to suit your family’s needs, while adding significant value. This is definitely a big project and will require the services of a trained, professional Pasadena electrician. The team at The Electric Connection is available and can help you iron out the details of your addition.

Additions can be anything from a single bedroom add on, adding on to an existing room in the house, transforming a basement or even something a little more elaborate like installing a second story. Adding mother-in-law apartment’s are also a common home addition that seem to be growing in popularity. These are all possible with the help of an electrician. Pasadena homeowners that are big on DIY can certainly do a lot of the construction of the addition, but the electrical wiring will need to be completed by a licensed professional in order to meet city code standards.

You will also feel better knowing the wiring has been completed by an electrician in Pasadena. If you have hired a contractor, you can request to use a particular electrician that you have researched and are comfortable using. This project is going to make your life a little easier and will increase your investment into your home. Don’t leave it to anybody you don’t trust. Give The Electric Connection a call today.

What You Shouldn’t Do with Electricity by Glendale Electrician

electriccon_10_4Electricity is such a common part of our world, we rarely think twice when we use it or are around it. Technology and a lot of trial and error has made electricity extremely safe with safeguards built in place on almost everything that uses electricity to run. We feel safe around it and tend to get complacent. Complacency can be extremely dangerous and cost us a home or result in a serious injury. Your electrician in Glendale wants you to keep some things in mind when you are using electricity in and around the home. If you have questions, give The Electric Connection a call.

What NOT to Do

*Never yank a cord out. Always use your thumb and finger placed on the designated area and gently pull.

*Don’t use a cord that has any holes in the protective coating says an electrician. Glendale homeowners can use electrical tape or have the cord properly repaired by a professional.

*Don’t connect several extension cords together. This can damage the appliance as well as cause the breaker to trip.

*Don’t staple or nail a cord to the floor or wall to keep it out of the way. You could damage the protective coating and cause a short.

*Don’t try and fix or work on any appliance while it is plugged into the wall.

*Don’t run a cord under a rug or in a high traffic area. If you need a better placed outlet, have one installed by a Glendale electrician.

*Don’t plug in an appliance if your hands are wet or you are standing in water.

Electric safety is fairly simple, but it is important you are always thinking about what you are doing to avoid silly mistakes that can end up being extremely hazardous. Give The Electric Connection a call if you would like to learn more about how you can make your home’s electrical a little safer.

Energy Action Month Explained by Burbank Electrician

electriccon_10_3This is the second year the United States is focusing its efforts to really bring energy conservation to the forefront of conversation. We have all heard about fossil fuels being depleted and the demand each house puts on the power grid. We are constantly told we have to be more frugal with electricity. It is for the benefit of the world as well as our bank accounts. Saving energy will ultimately save money on the electric bill and make each one of our carbon footprints just a little bit smaller. Your Burbank electrician and the team at The Electric Connection wants you to know about Energy Action Month, which is this October.

Right now, the government in the United States is taking action to reduce their own energy consumption. It starts at the top and by their good influence, hopefully citizens will follow suit. An electrician in Burbank has some ways that will help you take action this October and develop new habits that will ultimately lead to less energy usage, lower electric bills and a smaller demand on today’s power sources.

Things to do right now include;

*Turn up the AC a couple degrees or turn up the heater a couple of degrees
*Switch out those old bulbs with LEDs (this may require a different light fixture)

Things to Schedule

*Get a ceiling fan installed by an electrician, Burbank homeowners can really save money on their heating and cooling costs with this one device

*Schedule an energy audit to get an idea where you use the most electricity and how you can cut back

These are 4 easy, actionable steps that will help you save money and do something great for the environment. Give The Electric Connection a call if you need a new light fixture or ceiling fan installed.

Electrician in Los Angeles Explains Light Control

electriccon_10_1Lighting has come a long way in the last several decades. We are no longer forced to endure the same, boring light fixtures and bulbs. There are plenty of new designs that provide more light while using energy efficient bulbs. In fact, the lights are so much brighter than the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, it can be a little too much for some situations. Bright light is great at times, but other times you don’t need to see every inch in the room and just need a soft light to allow you to watch television, eat a meal or relax while surfing the net on your laptop. This is a downside to the CFLs and LEDs that are trending in the lighting world. An electrician in Los Angeles has a solution for your lighting needs. The team at The Electric Connection can help explain it a little better.

Now, you probably remember the dimmer switches that were very standard in construction throughout the 70s and into the early 2000s. Those switches lost some popularity as the CFL bulbs gained in popularity. CFLs are not meant to be used with a dimmer switch in most cases. Keep in mind, there are some that are specifically labeled as dimmer switch capable. This meant people were stuck with the bright light or no light at all, explains an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can upgrade their old lighting fixtures to those that use LEDs and take advantage of the cost savings and flexibility of dimmer switches once again.

Dimmer switches are an excellent way to save money on your lighting bill says a Los Angeles electrician. Combined with energy efficient LEDs or CFLs and you can make a dramatic difference on your electric bill each month. It is important you only buy bulbs that are specified for use with a dimmer. Your electrician can explain more about the risks of using non-approved lights in the fixtures attached to a dimmer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your dimmer switch installation and take back control of your lighting.

Hiring an Electrician in California that Can Do It All

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When you find an excellent place to shop or a reliable business, you tend to stick with them. You become a loyal customer. It is nice when you finally find a company you can count on to take care of your needs in a way that satisfies you. You are left feeling good about spending the money to buy something or have something repaired. It gives you a feeling of confidence knowing you don’t have to worry about substandard quality. When you think about electrical work, you may assume that the team you use to take care of problems and jobs around your house is specifically reserved for residential use. If you are a business owner, you will be pleased to know that The Electric Connection offers a variety of services that are not limited to your residential needs.

If you have come to depend on the professional and timely service of the team, you will love knowing you can call them out to take care of much bigger jobs. A commercial electrician has the knowledge and experience needed to work with larger electric panels and some of the issues that accompany industrial and commercial businesses.

Maybe you work in an office and have seen a particular company taking care of the electrical repairs around the business. You realize that your place of employment trusts the team and you notice they seem to be very professional. Wouldn’t it be great to know you can call an electrician in California that not only works in the commercial industry, but can also work on problems you may have in your home? The next time you are in need of an electrician, whether it be at home or work, you can call The Electric Connection to take care of any job, big or small.

Hiring a Santa Monica Electrician: 3 Tips

electriccon_09_6If you have any kind of remodeling project, home improvement or need some electrical maintenance around the house, you will need to hire an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners have a big decision to make. It can be a little stressful and you may feel like you are rolling the dice. Will you get a great, solid electrician or will you get someone who is a fly-by-night untrained person who will leave you in worse shape than you started? It can be difficult to call and make an appointment if you don’t know where to start. Well, your first call should be to The Electric Connection. You can rest assured you are getting a professional service.

How do you know? The following 3 tips will help you pick the right electrician in Santa Monica.

1. Always check to make sure anybody who is going to perform work in your house is licensed and bonded. A license means they have met certain requirements by the state. Bonded means they have insurance should there be an accident where they are injured or your house suffers damage.
2. A professional appearance may not seem like a big deal, but it gives you an idea of the work ethic of the person working in your home. You want to make sure your house is left neat and tidy. A big mess isn’t going to make you happy.
3. Your Santa Monica electrician should be known for their timeliness as well. You have a busy life and cannot afford to wait for someone to show up or wait for them to finish a job. You need the work to be completed as close to the schedule as possible with the understanding little hiccups do happen.

If you need a quality electrician, you can rest assured each member of the team at The Electric Connection will meet each of these requirements.

Total Landscape Lighting with Pasadena Electrician

electriccon_09_5Dark spaces can be trouble for many different reasons. If you are trying to navigate a dark space, like your back yard or the outer areas of your landscaping, you risk suffering an injury because you can’t see. Dark spaces also tend to invite unwanted critters. Animals big and small will appreciate the darkness so they can skulk around without being detected. You also have to worry about people who may vandalize or burglarize your home, outdoor furniture and décor or even your cars under the cloak of darkness. It is a good idea to invest in landscape lighting that completely lights up the entire area. An electrician in Pasadena can make that happen for you. The team at The Electric Connection knows how important it is to keep your home secure and can get you set up with the right lighting.

When you have a Pasadena electrician install landscape lighting, you are not limited by an extension cord. You also don’t have to worry about whether or not a solar light is going to get enough sunlight in particularly shaded areas of the landscaping. With the proper lighting scheme, you can light up every corner of the yard, including under bushy shrubs and full shade trees. You don’t have to leave any area in the dark.

In fact, you can create a lighting scheme that enhances the property and doesn’t give it that sterile look. Add soft lighting or pretty colors to act as an effective security measure, while making the landscaping look gorgeous, even in the dead of night. This kind of job needs to be handled by an electrician. Pasadena residents will love the freedom of putting lights anywhere and the ability to control when they come off and on. Give The Electric Connection a call today and get your landscape lighting installed.