Tag: burbank electrician

Spruce Up the Kitchen with an Electrician Burbank Homeowners Rely On

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Kitchens play such an important role in your home. They are essentially the hub of your home’s operation. Because of this, you want it to be somewhere you love to be. You may already have the kitchen of your dreams or you may still be saving up for that big remodel. While you are waiting to get those granite countertops and new appliances, you can help pass the time with some modern lighting upgrades that are very affordable. And, they can actually help you save a little money on your electric bill, which you can put towards the big remodel.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can spruce up your kitchen, contact your electrician. Burbank residents can rely on The Electric Connection to provide superior service that will exceed their expectations. A new light in your kitchen, especially if it is extremely outdated, can be more energy efficient. Electrical jobs should always be left to a professional due to the hazards of working with electricity.

Track lighting is a popular option and one track can be used to provide plenty of light for the whole kitchen. The lights can be directed at various areas on countertops, over the kitchen sink or over a center island. Recessed lighting is another option and is extremely handy for kitchens with hanging pot racks. If you are planning on one of these fixtures, talk about installing recessed lighting with your electrician. Burbank homeowners have a ton of possibilities. Take a trip to the hardware store and check out all of the beautiful light fixtures and find the ones that appeal to you. Look for the Energy Star sticker for fixtures that are energy efficient.

Once you have made your decision, give The Electric Connection a call. We would be happy to schedule an appointment to give your kitchen a mini-makeover.

Leave the Thermostat Alone Says Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Are you one of those who loves the idea of summer, but you hate the heat? Enjoying the warm weather while you are spending a day at the beach or enjoying a picnic with family in the great outdoors is one thing, but what about when you are tired of the heat? After a long day at work or a long day in the sun, you are probably hoping for some relief from the sweltering temperatures.

You probably thought it was a waste of money to run the air conditioner all day while you were out. You would be right, but now that you are back home, you are wishing you would have left it running and running up your electric bill. Your electrician in Burbank has some valuable tips to help you stay cool without wasting a ton of cash on your electric bill.

1-Don’t turn the AC up and down. When you get home and it is hot in the house and you crank the AC down, you will cause the unit to run constantly as it works to cool your home. This is hard on the air conditioning unit and will counteract any savings you thought you were creating by turning it off during the day. Instead, set the AC to 78 while you are away. If you can, leave it there.

2-Invest in a few fans. Ceiling fans are excellent, inexpensive ways to stay cool during the summer. If you do not currently have one, call your electrician. Burbank residents can call The Electric Connection to have a qualified, trained professional install one of these cost-saving devices in your home.

3-Close the windows before you leave. Pull the shades and shut the windows. You don’t want the sun heating up the room. You will be surprised at how well your house will stay cool when the sun is kept out.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can save on your electric bill, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Electrical Safety Inspections by Burbank Electrician Prevents Accidents

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Whether your home is old or new, you are likely the kind of homeowner that wants to make sure the house is safe for your family. One of the major concerns many homeowners have is the safety of the electrical wiring. You must rely on the people who originally worked on the construction of the home to have done it safely and correctly. Older homes may have been safe according to the standards of years gone by, but we have better, safer ways of wiring homes today.

A Burbank electrician can help give you peace of mind by conducting a thorough electrical safety inspection. The Electric Connection is a company Burbank home and business owners have come to rely on and we would love to help you ensure the safety of your home.

An electrical inspection will be able to determine if there are any issues or concerns that a homeowner will need to address. Older homes are liable to have outdated wiring that will need to be updated. GFI outlets can also be used to replace older outlets. Any light fixtures, outlets and switches will all be investigated to determine whether or not they need replacing or upgrading in order to meet today’s safety standards.

If you are experiencing any trouble with outlets not working, lights flickering or a burned wire smell, it is a good idea to call an electrician in Burbank immediately. These are all signs there is a problem. It is crucial to the safety of your family and the investment in your home to have any electrical problems investigated. The Electric Connection can help put your mind at ease by inspecting and fixing any electrical problems that may be discovered during the course of the inspection. In many cases, it is a simple fix. However, left unchecked it could become a major issue, resulting in a home fire.

Remodeling Jobs Best Left to Electrician in Burbank

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment on Remodeling Jobs Best Left to Electrician in Burbank

You have been tossing around the idea for years, and now the idea of remodeling your home is finally a reality. What an exciting time for you! Whether you are getting a brand new kitchen, complete with the latest and greatest appliances, or adding on that bedroom your expanding family so desperately needs, you will need an electrician. Burbank homeowners who are the DIY kind of person will need to think twice before trying to tackle such a big, technical job.

Why You Need a Professional

There are several reasons you may decide to do most of the remodeling work on your own, with cost typically being the biggest motivating factor. There is certainly nothing wrong with saving a few dollars on a remodeling job, but there are some things that need to be left to the professionals. Electrical wiring is one of those things.

Most building codes require a permit be obtained for any rewiring. Inspections will also be performed. A person who has no real knowledge of electrical wiring will likely be unable to perform the work up to code. You could end up costing yourself more money in the long run if an electrician in Burbank has to remove everything you did and start over. You are looking at money wasted in material that will need to be replaced.

There are certainly some minor jobs that you could do, as long as you have an idea of how to go about it safely. Replacing outlets or light fixtures is easy enough if you understand basic electricity work. However, adding outlets or the wires needed to put in light fixtures is best left to the trained professionals.

Although you may think you are saving yourself money, you are risking your safety and the safety of your family by trying to do a job that requires a professional. The Electric Connection has the experience to take care of these things for you.

Interior Lighting Know-How From a Burbank Electrician

Posted on | by K Hopkins

Interior lighting consists of the lights on the ceilings and walls in all of the rooms in a house, as well as the lamps and other lighting fixtures that you may have in your home. There are many different styles of interior lights to choose from such as track lighting, chandeliers, pendant lighting, recessed lighting, wall sconces and more. Choosing the type and style of lighting that you like best can be difficult, but fun at the same time. As far as the proper placement of your lighting fixtures goes, an Burbank electrician can help you decide what works best.

Chandeliers can be used in any home, but the bigger styles tend to work well in larger homes or rooms with high ceilings. There are many chandelier options that you can choose from in all different shapes, sizes and finishes. Electric Connection is the electrician Burbank homeowners rely on for professional lighting and chandelier installations.

Another style of lighting that’s very common is a ceiling fan with built-in lights.  A support box is required to support the weight of the fan, so if there’s no existing junction box these may require a little more work to install than a chandelier.  With a ceiling fan you have the added benefit, though, of having both the lighting and a fan in one unit.

As we know, most lamps need to be turned on and off at the lamp switch, but a certified electrician from Electric Connection can easily wire your outlets so that you can use your wall switches to turn your lamps on and off instead. This type of set up makes your table lamps even more convenient and easy to use.

Of course, there are even more options for lighting in your house, but you’ll definitely want to consider choosing one or more of the options we’ve mentioned since they’re the most popular. When you’re ready to install or update your home lighting, you can give us a call at Electric Connection.

An Electrician in Burbank Discusses Your New Home Purchase

Posted on | by K Hopkins

When you are shopping for a new home, you have a lot of things on your mind. You want to find the perfect place to live, in a great neighborhood and you do not want to break your budget. However, there is one other thing you want to keep in mind—the electrical system. While you will have a home inspector check the house and he will check the basic electrical system as part of the whole house survey, it is good to make a few basic checks yourself too. You can call an electrician Burbank from Electric Connection to help you. However, if you want to check some things yourself, here are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Check that all wires are neatly bundled and squared as they enter the connection points. This will show you how careful the original electrician was.
  • Make sure that all circuit breakers only have one wire entering the terminal. This is what the NEC requires to maintain proper code.
  • Check for a neatly written or printed list of circuits inside the cover.
  • Go into the attic and make certain all electrical work up there is neat and seems safe.
  • For older homes, make sure that all receptacles are grounded, requiring a three prong plug. You can find a test kit for this at Home Depot or a similar store.
  • Make certain all ceiling fans are installed properly. This is a do-it-yourself project many people take on that can sometimes go awry.
  • Check outside receptacles for a waterproof cover and test these outlets as well.

These are just a few of the things that you need to keep in mind as far as the electrical system in a home you are considering purchasing. Remember, if you ever have questions or concerns during the process, call your electrician in Burbank—Electric Connection.

Electrical Maintenance Technician and Electrician in Burbank – What is the Difference?

Posted on | by K Hopkins

You may hear the terms electrician and electrical maintenance technician and think they are the exact same position. While they do complete many of the same tasks, there is a difference. When you are searching for the best electrician Burbank has to offer, you want to understand this difference so you can make the right decision. Learn more about how an electrician and electrical maintenance technician position varies and you will be ready to make the right hire for your electrical project.

Job Differences

An electrician in Burbank is who you would call to install wiring, make electrical repairs and deal with power systems in residential and commercial properties. These experts understand wiring blueprints and can also help connect circuit breakers and transformers. An electrical maintenance technician also works with electricity, but in less complex forms. For instance one of these technicians may handle preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and repair simple switches.

Education

An electrician must complete an apprenticeship program that offers both classroom courses and extensive on the job training. He or she must also obtain proper licensing from the state or county, ensuring that all proper procedures are followed. In many cases an electrical maintenance technician will learn skills with a certification course or on the job training.

Pay and Growth

Those with electrical skills are lucky to have a bright future. Both positions are expected to grow at a rapid rate, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This same data does show the salary difference between the two positions. An electrical maintenance technician, on average, earns nearly $15,000 less per year than a licensed electrician does.

As you can see, there is a difference between the two positions. If you want a licensed and experienced electrician to tackle your electrical projects, call Electric Connection today and let one of our experts come complete your electrical project today.

Electric Shower Info from an Electrician in Glendale

Posted on | by K Hopkins

In most cases, the water for showers or baths are heated using a water heater in the basement or other area of the home. However, there are certain situations where this is not practical. Especially if you travel, you may come across electric showers.

An electric shower has a special shower head where the water is heated directly at the point of use. There are pros and cons when it comes to these devices. Learn more about an electric shower and find out if one may be the solution to your warm shower needs.

Pros

An electric shower works well in homes that have low water pressure because the electric shower also has a built-in pump to increase the pressure. Additionally, if you are trying to conserve energy, an electric shower uses less electricity than a water heater that is constantly heating the water whether it is being used or not. A final benefit to using this type of shower is that in areas where the temperature is cold, a traditional water heater may not be able to get the temperature as high as it needs to be.

Cons

The only main con to using an electric shower is that it requires some additional electrical work, (Click Here). Luckily, if this is something you want done, contacting The Electric Connection, an electrician Glendale, is an easy way to get the job done. Some people worry that having electrical parts near the shower is dangerous. However, there is a grounding wire, and if the system is properly connected there is no more risk using this shower than there is with any other shower.

If an electric shower is something you wanted to add to your home, call an electrician in Glendale from The Electric Connection today, and let us help you with the choice and installation of an electric shower.

Burbank Electrician Explains Top Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

Posted on | by K Hopkins | 1 Comment on Burbank Electrician Explains Top Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

In today’s tough economic landscape, the idea of saving money on your electric bill is especially appealing. By following a few simple tips you will find that your monthly bill will shrink—giving you additional money to do the things you want to do. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Use Fans – Fans use much less electricity than air conditioners. Installing an attic fan or even ceiling fans around your house can help you keep the AC use to a minimum. An electrician in Burbank from The Electric Connection can help with the installation project. (Click Here)

Use Energy Saving Bulbs – An energy saving bulb can produce as much light as a typical bulb but at a significant energy savings. These bulbs cost more up front but cut the electric bill by a significant sum.

Use Power Strips – Most electronic devices use power even when turned off because they remain in a standby mode. If you plug many of your products into power strips and flip the switch off at night you can reduce energy use.

Eliminate Appliances – Do you need all the electric appliances you use? Are there any you could replace with gas-powered appliances? Look over your appliance use and see where you can make changes.

Replace Old Electronics – Older electronics often use more electricity than newer ones. Newer products follow Energy Star standards so they are cheaper in terms of energy consumption. Replacing appliances often saves money in the long run.

Turn Down the Water Heater – If you use an electric water heater, you may not need it as high as it is. See if you can turn it down a few degrees and save money from heating costs.

Saving electricity isn’t just about reducing the impact on your wallet, it is good for the environment too. Contact The Electric Connection, the electrician Burbank residents trust, today and see what other changes may help your bottom line too.

Pasadena Electrician – Benefits of a Residential Generator

Posted on | by K Hopkins

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were to lose power in your home? For most people, the inconvenience would be enormous. Food spoils, temperature control is an issue, security devices fail and you may even lose access to certain methods of communications. A certified Pasadena electrician can help you prevent these issues by installing a residential generator.

What is a Residential Generator?

A residential generator safeguards your home from the perils of power failure. It is on standby until the time you need it. It operates on natural gas or propane energy and kicks in when the main source of electricity is interrupted. It is a good investment for those who would not be able to handle an extended period of time without electricity. An electrician in Pasadena, such as one from The Electric Connection, can explain more about the benefits.

How Does the Generator Activate When Needed?

The generator is installed by a Pasadena electrical contractor through an electrical transfer switch. The switch “watches” the home’s energy source. When there is an interruption, the switch signals the generator, which in turn activates. When the main power is reconnected, the switch once again signals the generator—this time to shut off. The switch makes certain there is never more than once source of power to your home.

Choosing a Generator

Searching the web for electrician Pasadena to find someone to talk about your generator needs is the best way to go about choosing a generator. It is important to remember that generators come in different sizes, so depending on the square footage of your home, you may need a larger or smaller generator than someone else needs.

If you think a generator may be the right choice to solve your home’s power problem, call The Electric Connection or visit us at ElectricConnection.com  to talk to a Pasadena electrician about your options today.