Tag: electrical tips

Electric Safety a Priority Says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

You probably never really think twice about using your toaster or running the vacuum. That is because we are so used to electricity we rarely give it a thought when we use our favorite gadgets and gizmos. However, electricity can still be dangerous. We need to take precautions and teach our children about how to be safe in a world surrounded by electricity. A Los Angeles electrician has some tips for staying safe. You can call The Electric Connection to find out more about staying safe in this electrical world.

One thing you can do to keep your children safe as well as your home is to keep cords out of travel paths. Cords that are stepped on repeatedly will break down over time. This can result in bare wires, which can lead to an electrical spark and even a fire. Not to mention, cords that are strung about also create tripping hazards.

Any cord that looks like it has suffered some abuse or been chewed by animals should never be plugged in. Have the item repaired with a new cord by a certified electrician, or throw the appliance out. It is too risky to try and use.

We all know the dangers of using electricity around water. However, places like the kitchen and bathroom need electricity and water. Accidents happen, but you can add a layer of protection against electrocution by having GFI outlets installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will feel safer knowing a GFI outlet automatically cuts power to an appliance as soon as the electric current is interrupted. This keeps the electricity from flowing into your body.

These are just a few things you can do with the help of your electrician to keep yourself and your family a little safer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your appointment to have GFI outlets installed in your home.

3 Tips to Save Money on Heating Costs Provided by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

After going so long without using the heater, it can cause quite a bit of a surprise when you get that first electric bill this winter. There are some things you can do to lessen the burden of winter heating bills. Your Pasadena electrician has some tips you can use to keep the electric bill at a manageable rate. For more tips and advice, you can call The Electric Connection.

1-One of the most important issues that many people tend to overlook with their furnace is the upkeep and maintenance. It is crucial your furnace is in good working order. Clean filters and ducts will ensure your furnace is not working overtime to try and keep the house warm.

2-Use a ceiling fan to help keep the warm air in the living space instead of close to the ceiling. Hot air rises and without a fan to push it down, you are wasting a lot of money heating the ceiling. If you don’t have one, you can call an electrician. Pasadena residents will feel the difference a ceiling fan can make when the warm air circulates the room rather than hovering near the top.

3-Use a programmable thermostat to regulate the heat in your home throughout the day. Set if for one temperature, 72 degrees is typically adequate for the home. Do not go above 76. At night, you can get away with lowering the thermostat a couple of degrees because you will be under blankets. Set the thermostat to about 68 degrees when you are going to be gone for the day. Avoid turning the thermostat up and down throughout the day. These three things can save you a great deal of money this winter.

You won’t be forced to freeze in your own home because you are trying to save a few dollars if you follow these tips. For more information, give The Electric Connection a call.

Traits of a Good Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 4 Comments on Traits of a Good Beverly Hills Electrician

There are plenty of electricians listed in the phone book along with a handful of companies who take out large ads boasting about their expertise. It seems like a fairly straightforward task to open the book and pick out the electrician or the company that jumps out at you. However, you will want to choose a little more wisely than that. What should you look for when choosing a Beverly Hills electrician? At The Electric Connection, you will find electricians who meet the following traits.

Reliable

You absolutely need an electrician who is reliable and will get the job done within a decent amount of time. You want to be able to call a company who can meet your needs by providing you with electricians who are reliable and will show up as promised.

Licensed, Bonded and Insured

Only hire an electrician who is licensed, bonded and insured. Failure to do so could end up costing you a great deal of money. All contractors who have access to your home should meet these qualifications. This will allow you to check the license number of a particular electrician to ensure he or she has a good track record. If something does go wrong, whether the electrician is somehow injured or if something is damaged in the home, insurance will take care of the problem.

Reputable

It is always a good idea to check out the reputation of a company and an electrician. Beverly Hills residents can check with the Better Business Bureau as well as their friends and neighbors who may have had any work done. Ask your friends to recommend an electrician.

You can always count on The Electric Connection to meet all of these qualities as well as several others like providing prompt service and giving accurate quotes about a job. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment to take care of any of your electrical needs.

Innocent or Dangerous Glendale Electrical Problems Addressed

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 1 Comment on Innocent or Dangerous Glendale Electrical Problems Addressed

You never know when things are going to go haywire and sometimes you just don’t have an idea what to do next. A light that is flickering could be a bad bulb or it could be faulty wiring. An outlet that is working one day and then dead the next is perplexing as well. You may not even realize you have an electrical issue. So how do you know when you need an electrician in Glendale? The team at The Electric Connection has a few tips for you to follow when things are not quite right.

*A flickering light that is not remedied by replacing the bulb with a fresh one is a reason for a call to your electrician. There could be some faulty wiring or wiring that has frayed or been damaged by rodents. If it is not taken care of, it can result in an electrical fire.

*An outlet that works sporadically is also cause for alarm. It definitely indicates there is some trouble with the wiring. It is best to get it looked at right away.

*An outlet that has black streaks shooting up the wall or arcs blue when you plug something is a definite sign of trouble. Avoid using the outlet until you can have it checked out. Glendale electrical problems are serious. Fortunately, these early warning signs give you a heads up that your home has an electrical problem that could end up starting a fire.

*If you smell burning wires, get out of the house and quickly call an electrician. This is an emergency that should not be put off until tomorrow. If you have any other questions or concerns, give The Electric Connection a call today. You can schedule and electrical safety inspection to help set your mind at ease while identifying any potential problems.

Prepare Today for Power Outage by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | 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.

Phantom Power Real or Science Fiction? Burbank Electrician Explains

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It may sound like science fiction, but phantom power is very real and it is costing you real money. It isn’t a lot of money, but when you add it up, it can be more than a hundred dollars a year. And let’s face it, every dollar in your pocket helps. Learning how to stop that phantom from stealing your power is easy and your Burbank electrician is here to give you the power you need. Okay, really it is just knowledge, but knowledge is power and The Electric Connection wants to help you keep your hard earned cash in your pocket.

Phantom power is the electricity that is being pulled from anything and everything you have plugged in, whether it is on or not. Just because you are not using your coffee maker does not mean it is not drawing a current. This goes for your cell phone charger as well. Even if you are not charging your phone or laptop, the charger is pulling electricity and running up your bill. One charger or small appliance isn’t going to cost you a lot of money, but take a walk around your house and look at everything that is currently plugged in.

Make a list of things that can be unplugged when not in use. You will see the savings on your electric bill almost immediately. Obviously, it doesn’t make sense to pull out furniture everyday to get to some items, but just focus on the cords that are easily unplugged. If you want more energy savings tips, contact your local electrician. Burbank homeowners may find it is easier to plug several items like your television, DVD player and stereo all into one powerstrip. This makes it easy to turn it off and on without unplugging numerous devices. Give The Electric Connection a call today to find out more.

An Electrician in Pasadena Can Save You Money on Your Electric Bill

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

As energy costs continue to rise, we all have to make some adjustments and figure out how to afford the higher electrical bill or how to reduce our electricity use in order to afford a roof over our heads. Obviously, the latter is probably the best and who knows, you just may be able to reduce your bill lower than you ever thought possible. You could actually put a few extra dollars in your pocket every month to put towards the rising cost of food. An electrician in Pasadena has a few tips you can start using today to save money tomorrow. If you would like to learn more, call The Electric Connection and talk with a member of the helpful staff.

1-The easiest thing for you to do is to turn off and unplug anything and everything when it is not in use. You can save a couple dollars every day by reducing your phantom energy draw.

2-Switch to CFLs and save about $20 a month on lighting costs. If you have a big house and typically use a lot of lights, you can save more by switching your incandescent light bulbs to CFLs.

3-Have somebody familiar with Pasadena electrical code install a ceiling fan to reduce your heating and cooling bill. Fans circulate the air in a room to help keep it cool in the summer and warm in the cooler months.

4-Hire an electrician to install dimmer switches on lights in the living room, dining room and even a bedroom. You don’t always need a well-lit room to watch television, enjoy an intimate meal or simply chat. Using a dimmer switch to turn down the lights can save you money on your electric bill.

If you would like to schedule an appointment to have a dimmer switch, ceiling fan or other energy-saving appliance installed, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Power Outage Tips and Tricks by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It is better to be prepared for a power outage than to have to scramble when one actually happens. Having a drawer, a small space in a cupboard or even a rubber tote filled with the supplies you will need when the power goes out is a good idea. Your Beverly Hills electrician suggests you keep at least one flashlight and some backup batteries, a battery-powered radio, matches and some emergency candles along with sturdy candleholders in your kit. These are just a few things you will need to get you through an outage. You can call The Electric Connection to learn about some other things you may want to keep in your kit.

Once the power goes out, you will want to grab your kit, especially if darkness is falling or it is already dark. If it is daylight, you can take care of these things without needing any light. As soon as the power goes out, you want to go about protecting your sensitive electric equipment. Smart TVs, computers, laptops and so on are very sensitive to electric surges. They need to be unplugged from the wall until after the power comes on and seems to be staying on. Don’t rush right over and start plugging stuff in the second you see the lights come on. It is not uncommon to have the power hiccup a few times before there is a steady stream.

You will also want to turn off any appliances and lights that may have been at the time of the outage. This will help cut down on a surge coming into your home and potentially causing serious damage. If this does happen, you will need to call your electrician. Beverly Hills residents can call The Electric Connection if there have been any side effects from a power outage.

What to Look for in a Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins | 3 Comments on What to Look for in a Los Angeles Electrician

If you are in need of an electrician in the Los Angeles area, you have probably picked up the yellow pages or headed to your favorite search engine to wade through the listings. It is hard to pick the right one. How do you know which Los Angeles electrician to choose? At The Electric Connection, you won’t have to worry about what you are going to get when you make that first phone call. Here are some things every homeowner or business owner should look for when they are trying to hire the right electrician.

Reputation

A solid reputation is important. Past customers will be able to tell the real story about a company. Look for reviews online and verify the business with the Better Business Bureau. Angie’s List is another great place to check out an electrician’s reputation.

Clean

You take pride in your home and are likely a little picky about who you let in. You want a company who employs people who will respect your home and clean up after themselves. Presentation of an employee is also important and says a lot about the company’s image. Clean, nice-looking uniforms are always a plus. This is especially important if the work is going to be in a business where customers will see the electrician.

Honest

When dealing with any Los Angeles electrical work you want to ensure you are dealing with somebody who is being honest and up front with you. You don’t want to be paying for work that is not completely necessary. An honest electrician will tell you what needs to be fixed and what is optional but recommended. This gives you the option to decide what is best for you or your business.

At The Electric Connection, we pride ourselves on all of the above qualities and would love to help you with your electrical needs.

10 Tips to Save on Your Electric Bill by Electrician in Pasadena

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Even if your electric bill isn’t really a problem for you, just imagine what you could do if you shaved it down just a tad. A few more dollars in your pocket could be put towards your retirement nest egg, save up for that new big screen television you have been wanting or maybe just going out for a nice dinner. It is your money, do as you please. There are always ways to save here and there and your electrician in Pasadena has a few simple tips you can start doing today, to get you one step closer to that nest egg. The Electric Connection has been helping customers for years with energy savings.

1-Cook with small appliances when possible. Use a toaster oven, skillet or slow cooker.
2-Use cold water to run the garbage disposal.
3. Clean the filter on your refrigerator and freezer at least twice a year for maximum efficiency. Defrost the freezer at least once a year.
4. Only run full loads in the dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer. Use warm or cold water to wash clothes with.
5. Use CFL bulbs in place of halogen light bulbs.
6. Rely on a ceiling fan to circulate air and adjust temperature in the home up or down by several degrees. This is a job for your electrician. Pasadena homeowners who rely on their ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner or furnace can save a great deal of money.
7. Turn off all lights when you don’t need them.
8. Unplug small appliances when not in use to prevent phantom energy from being stolen.
9. Install dimmer switches on your lights to reduce the amount of light created and reduce the amount of electricity used.
10. Use a timer to control outdoor lighting to only come on at dusk and turn off at dawn.

These are just a few tips. You can call The Electric Connection to begin saving money today by installing a ceiling fan and dimmer switch.