Energy Savings at the Office with Electrician in Burbank

office_related-(11)We see plenty of tips and tricks for residential electric company owners that are meant to help save them money, but what about business owners? Businesses face the same issues as residential customers. When electric rates rise, businesses lose money from their bottom line. In order to keep the bottom line healthy or just to save a few dollars that could be put to use in other areas, it is important managers and employees learn a bit about energy savings. An electrician in Burbank, like those at The Electric Connection, has some tips that can help you lower the electric bill while lessening the demand on the power grid. It is a win-win situation.

*On Fridays, turn off power strips and unplug things like the coffee maker and other small appliances in the office. This will help reduce the phantom power that is drawn even when appliances, computers and other equipment are not in use.

*Install motion sensors in the copy room, bathrooms and supply rooms that are not always in use and do not always need to have lights on. The sensors detect movement and will automatically turn the lights on when somebody enters the room and shuts the light off when a person leaves the room.

*Switch your lighting to LED. This is a huge energy saver and you will see savings on your next Burbank electrical bill. Track lighting is common in offices. These fixtures are typically equipped to handle the energy-efficient LEDs. If you need to upgrade your existing lights, talk with your local electrician.

*Make sure to regularly maintain the fans on your computers. Keeping the computers dust free helps them run better and will ultimately lose less energy. This also applies to the coils on the office refrigerator and the furnace filters. Dust isn’t just unsightly—it costs you money!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a lighting upgrade in your office, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Making Your Fridge Energy Efficient with Electrician in Beverly Hills

file0001359474869Cutting your electrical bill by a few dollars here and there gives you a sense of satisfaction that you are making a difference in your monthly budget as well as doing a little something good for the environment. There are some things in our homes that are major energy users, Your furnace, air conditioner, water heater and refrigerator are all things that you need, but are costing you money. You have probably seen plenty of information about how to make your furnace, AC and water heater a little more energy efficient, but do you know how to make your fridge a little easier on the budget? An electrician in Beverly Hills has a few quick tips to help you save money on your electric bill by making your refrigerator less of an energy hog. You can can always count on the team at The Electric Connection to answer any questions you may have about saving electricity.

*Your refrigerator should not be near heat sources. Put your microwave, coffee pot and toaster oven on a counter away from the fridge. If your fridge is currently next to your stove, consider doing a minor remodel to move it.

*It may seem like a no-brainer, but do what you can to limit the amount of times and length of time you open the fridge. Tell the kids to pick what they want and shut the door!

*Do regular maintenance on the coils behind your refrigerator. Use air or a broom to dust off the grime from the coil behind your refrigerator. The build up can effect the efficiency. If you are not sure what you are doing, give an electrician familiar with Beverly Hills electrical work a call.

*A full refrigerator will be more energy efficient. Do what you can to keep your fridge full and you will save money. .

These quick tricks can help you save electricity while prolonging the life of your refrigerator. Give The Electric Connection a call if you have any more questions.

Reduce Your Los Angeles Electric Bill

money-(4)Wouldn’t you like to keep your hard earned money in your pocket rather than pay it out on excessive electric bills? Californians get used to mild weather, but when those cold temps blow in, they are a real shock to the system. Your first reaction is to reach for the thermostat and crank it up. Unfortunately, if your home isn’t ready to ride out a cold snap, you could be paying double or triple what you really need to be to keep your home warm. These are some tips from your local electrician in Los Angeles to help retain the heat from your furnace in the home and save you money on your electric bill. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help.

• Spend some time adding weather stripping around your doors or windows. It is sold in a roll with self-sticking tape on one side. Simply peel and stick. This one little thing can block cold drafts from coming in as well as prevent your hot air from seeping out. During the summer, you can keep your air conditioned air in and the hot air out.

• If you have sliding glass doors or French doors, consider investing in heavy curtains. Again, these are great for the summer and winter months. You can block the cold by covering large windows with heavy curtains.

• Have your furnace or heat pump maintained. Keeping filters clean and the unit in good working order can save you a lot of money in repair costs as well as keep the unit operating in prime condition.

You don’t have to pay a lot for your Los Angeles electrical bill when you do these three simple things. You can reduce your heating and cooling bills by taking care of the little things around the house. If you have any more questions, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Power Outage Tips by Pasadena Electrician

lightbulbs (4)Cold weather and winter storms are often to blame for power outages. It seems like when you need your heater the most, it will be rendered useless by a power outage. The power may go out for a number of different reasons. An accident, a severe storm or mechanical failure are all possibilities. You never know what may happen. A Pasadena electrician has some tips for you to keep handy just in case the power goes out this winter. If you have any more questions, you can always call The Electric Connection.

• Unplug your small appliances, computers, Smart televisions, gaming systems and any other items that have sensitive electrical components. Leaving items plugged in could damage them when the power comes back on. A small power surge can fry the electrical components. You can reduce or eliminate this risk by having a whole home surge protector installed by an electrician. Pasadena residents can save themselves a great deal of money on damaged appliances with one of these inexpensive tools.

• Call the power company hotline to determine how long the outage is expected to last.

• Shut the doors to any rooms you are not using to keep the heat in one area. Put on extra layers of clothing to stay warm.

• Pull out flashlights and candles if the power outage happens in the evening. Emergency candles are different than the typical decorative candles and will put out more light.

• Instruct everyone in the house to leave the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Your food will stay cold for 4 hours in the fridge and up to 24 hours in the freezer.

If the idea of dealing with a power outage does not thrill you, you could always invest in a standby generator. These handy tools will keep your home powered and allow you to continue on with your life without any interruption. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more.

Finding the Right Glendale Electrician

bigstockphoto_Construction_Worker_2047015There are times when you simply can’t or shouldn’t do certain repairs around your house. Not everybody is trained or cut out to take care of all the little jobs that arise. You need to hire a professional from time to time. One of the professionals you will likely need on occasion is a Glendale electrician. If you have never used an electrician or have had a bad experience in the past and are looking for a new one, how do you know what to look for? The team at The Electric Connection has been helping folks out for years and is here to help you as well. The following characteristics are what you should look for when you need to hire an electrician to take care of work around your home.

• Good reputation-ask your friends, neighbors and family members if they have used a particular company. What was their experience? Do some checking online as well. Angie’s List is a great place to start.

• Professional-an electrician that shows up at your door should look and act professional. A clean uniform is a good sign of a professional contractor. If you are bringing an electrician into your business, a professional appearance is very important.

• Licensed and bonded-this is an absolute must when hiring an electrician. Glendale residents should only allow contractors into their homes or businesses who have the proper licensing through the state as well as a bond to protect you in case there is any damage done to your home.

• Timely-Cable companies are often joked about because of their lack of timeliness, but it isn’t a laughing matter. You are busy and don’t have hours to sit around waiting for an electrician to show up. You need a company that can give you a set window and stick to it.

If you need an electrician, you can call The Electric Connection and find an electrician who meets all of these standards.

Holiday Lighting Issues Addressed by Burbank Electrician

heat_related2 (14)Although the holiday lighting season is still at least a month away, you are probably already digging around and planning your decorations for the season. Maybe you have already pulled out some of your Halloween decorations that require electricity and realized you are going to need some work done before it is time to pull out the twinkling lights. A Burbank electrician has some tips for you before you start plugging in your lights this year. If you have any questions, you can call The Electric Connection for help.

One of the most important rules of stringing lights together is not to connect more than three strands of lights. Doing so could overload the circuit and cause the breaker to trip. If you have a shortage of outlets, consider hiring an electrician. Burbank residents can have outdoor outlets installed that are designed to withstand the weather. The additional outlets outside are handy to have all year round. You won’t have to worry about running extension cords.

Speaking of extension cords; only use cords that are approved for outdoor use. Do not use cords that are damaged or have some of the protective insulation covering missing in areas. Wrapping the area with tape to compensate is never a good idea. Invest in the proper extension cord. A cord with several outlets is helpful. However, do not get carried away with hooking up numerous strands of lights are large yard ornaments. If the breaker trips, it is a sign the outlet is overloaded. Move some of your lights to a different outlet.

Outlet power stakes are a great option and many of them are equipped with timers and remote controls that allow you to turn on your lights without ever stepping foot outside. The power stakes are designed to protect the outlets from wet weather.

If you are ready to get your home ready for another holiday season filled with pretty lights, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Reduce Heating Costs with Los Angeles Electrician

bigstockphoto_radiator_721238Southern California residents are fortunate in the fact the winters are fairly mild, but you will need to run the heater from time to time. You can save a lot of money on heating costs by following these tips presented by your Los Angeles electrician. The team at The Electric Connection can help you get your home ready for what very well may be a very long, cold winter.

Keeping your house warm can be difficult if it isn’t properly insulated. Do your best to make sure your attic space is insulated. Another helpful tool to keeping in the air you pay to heat inside where you want it is by adding weather stripping around doors and windows. This will take care of those cold drafts that seep in around the spaces. The stripping includes sticky tape that is easily peeled off and stuck to the door and window jams. It is fairly inexpensive, but can save you a great deal of money on heating AND cooling costs. It won’t be visible and can also reduce the sound that comes through those small cracks.

Another option that is very helpful during the cooler months as well as the summer months is a ceiling fan installed by an electrician. Los Angeles residents can help reduce heating costs with the installation of a ceiling fan. The fan blades will push the hot air that rises up to the ceiling back down into the living space. The hot air in the room will keep the thermostat from kicking the furnace on repeatedly. This is where the cost savings is. Your ceiling fan can also act as a light fixture in the room. Remote controls are an option if you have high ceilings. If you are ready to take the next step in fighting high heating bills, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Energy Savings Tips by Electrician in Santa Monica

bigstockphoto_Electrical_Meter_1042644We can always find ways to save a few extra dollars, but sometimes it can be little difficult to pinpoint exactly where those savings are to be had. You may look at the budget over and over and still keep coming up with the same bottom line. An electrician in Santa Monica can help you discover a few ways you could cut your electric bill without dramatically changing your lifestyle. If you ever have any questions or concerns about these tips, you can call The Electric Connection to ask more questions.

1-Get rid of any of those remaining incandescent light bulbs. They are costing you money. You can shave 20 percent off your electric bill simply by relying on CFL and LED bulbs that are much more energy efficient. They tend to be a bit brighter as well.

2-Have a ceiling fan installed in a central room of your house. This will help circulate hot and cold air produced by your furnace or air conditioner. Ceiling fans run on a fraction of the electricity of a heating or air conditioning unit. It is a good idea to have the fan installed by someone familiar with Santa Monica electrical codes.

3-Ask every member of the household to shave off 2 minutes from their average shower time. This can save a lot of money on your electric bill by reducing the demand put on the hot water heater. You could also turn down the thermostat of the water heater by about 5 to 10 degrees and save even more money.

4-Unplug any appliances, computers and electronics when they are not in use. When you leave for the day or go to bed at night, unplugging your electronics can save you money on wasted phantom power.

Give The Electric Connection a call today to have your ceiling fan installed or to learn more about energy savings.

Space Heater 101 by Electrician in Los Angeles

bigstockphoto_Portable_Space_Heater_1667164The changing season is upon us. School has started and it won’t be long before we are pulling out those jackets and watching Friday night football. The chilly air may not warrant turning on the furnace, but you will still need to take the chill off. Your trusty space heater is always an option. When you are sitting at your desk or when you first step out of the shower, it can be a little cold. The space heater is perfect to warm up your immediate space without heating up the entire house. Before you plug it in that first time, it is a good idea to read the following tips provided by an electrician in Los Angeles. If you would like a professional to do the inspection, give The Electric Connection a call.

1-Thoroughly check the cord on the heater from end to end. Look for any areas of the cord that have been chewed by mice or pets that have left the wires exposed. If there are exposed wires, do not plug the space heater in. Either take it in to be serviced or throw it out. Wrapping black tape over the cord is not a safe option.

2-Choose a spot to place the heater that gives it plenty of clearance from the wall, furniture and curtains. You need to allow at least 3 feet of space between the wall and the heater. Heaters need ventilation to work properly.

3-Do not use extension cords to plug in the heater. It increases the risk of tripping and knocking the heater over. If you don’t have enough outlets, consider having an electrician add additional outlets. Upgrading your Los Angeles electrical system is a worth investment for your home. Give The Electric Connection a call today to add more outlets to your home.

Outdoor Lighting Options by Electrician in Santa Monica

photo_23_20050923We love to decorate our landscaping with various ornamental trees, gorgeous flower beds, fountains and various statues. Unfortunately, with the daylight hours already getting shorter, it isn’t always easy to showcase your hard work without adequate outdoor lighting. Homeowners have several choices when it comes to finding the perfect way to highlight various areas in the landscaping. An electrician in Santa Monica has some tips for you to use when choosing the right lighting for your yard. You can call The Electric Connection to learn more about outdoor lighting options.

Solar Lighting

Solar lights are great for those areas of your yard that need soft lighting and get at least 8 hours of full sunlight a day. They are easy to place and are free of wires. Outlining a flower garden or pathway through the backyard or from the driveway to the front door are great ways to use solar lights. However, this particular type of light is not a good idea for areas that are shady or close to the house where they will not get full sun exposure.

Electric Lighting

Electric lights come in a variety of styles and sizes. They can be placed throughout the landscaping, but it will be necessary for you to pay close attention to the Santa Monica electrical requirements. Electric lights in the landscaping are perfect for shady areas that the solar lights are not ideal in. You will need to bury the wiring and have it wired into your home’s main power. A switch can be installed that allows you to turn the lights off and on manually or you can opt to have a timer installed that will take care of everything.

If you would like to have electric landscape lighting installed around your home, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your installation.