Tag: los angeles electrician

Colorful Lighting Installed by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

It is amazing to see the difference a light fixture can make to the overall look and feel of a room or living space. In the past, you were stuck with a one-size-fits-all approach to home lighting. Today, that is no longer the case. You have the freedom to choose just how you want a room to feel when you step in. You get to choose what kind of light you want shed, whether it is clean and bright or subtle with a nice glow. An electrician in Los Angeles can take care of the installation of the light fixtures once you have come up with a decision. The team at The Electric Connection is always ready to help.

With the numerous options in styles of fixtures and an equally wide selection of light bulbs, you can really create a dramatic room. Right now, LEDs are growing in popularity. They are going to cost you more money to buy than CFLs or incandescent lights, but think of it like this; you won’t be changing that bulb for years if you don’t want to. Your Los Angeles electrician encourages you to browse the lighting aisle at your favorite home improvement store. You will find some very unique fixtures that really help create a statement or you can stick with the tried and true classical fixtures.

Rooms that don’t really need a lot of light can benefit from fixtures that use the smaller bulbs. Try having some fun with the space by going with a colored bulb. Blues, pinks and greens can create a fun space while providing plenty of light. What if you could paint a room without ever applying a drop of paint? You can with a colored bulb. All you need to do is have your new fixture installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can change the colors of bulbs with their mood, the season or to support a cause. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your new light fixture installation.

Updating the Dark Basement with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

Basements are excellent spaces for storing things you don’t want taking up space on the main floors of your home. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long before the basement becomes a bit of a catch-all and gets crowded. The lack of proper lighting and the walls in general don’t make the space very appealing, so it seems like the only thing it is really good for is hiding your storage. What if you could add spruce up the basement, even just half of it and make it a little more inviting? Would you do it? An electrician in Los Angeles can help you transform the dark space into one that looks beautiful and is filled with light. The team at The Electric Connection wants to help you do just that.

One of the biggest problems you will find in a basement is the lighting. It is either way too dark or way too brightly lit with some garish shop lights that will blind you if you look directly at them. The lights tend to leave a yellow glare on everything and it is just unpleasing overall. Imagine being able to step down those stairs into a room with carpeting or vinyl, paint on the walls and beautiful lighting that gives the room an inviting feel. Your Los Angeles electrician can really do that—the lighting part of it anyways. Really, the lighting is one of the most important details. It can make or break a space.

Basements are tough to work with because of the lack of natural light and the low ceilings. In order for the space to look big and bright, recessed lights should be installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will love how much light there is in the space. Another perk is they are not going to lose any ceiling space. The lights are recessed right into the ceiling so you don’t have to worry about your tall friend hitting his head. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your basement lighting installation.

Do You Need an Electric Panel Upgrade? Electrician Answers

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_11_7Have you been struggling with what feels like a lack of electricity in your home? You don’t have enough outlets and have extension cords plugged in here and there. Maybe you have to unplug appliances in the kitchen so you can use another one. Your microwave and toaster can’t run at the same time or your breaker trips. These are all major inconveniences and at times, they can pose a fire hazard. It may be time to consider an electric panel upgrade. The crew at The Electric Connection is familiar with this particular job and can get it done professionally and efficiently for you.

An electric panel upgrade is typically needed for homes that were built before the 1980s. 30 to 40 years ago and of course long before that, homes didn’t have even half of the appliances that we have today. There wasn’t a computer, television and even a mini fridge in every room. Today, we are very dependent on the gadgets that run our life and make life easier and that means we are very dependent on the electricity needed to keep them going. An electrician in California can upgrade the panel and give you the additional electricity you need to make your home run smoother.

Once the panel is upgraded to 200 amp or higher service, you can have additional outlets installed. You can have some of the outlets in the kitchen put on separate breakers so you can run your microwave, toaster and coffee maker at the same time. You will discover the upgrade truly makes your life a little easier. You may even be able to save some time in the morning and will absolutely reduce your frustration as you work around your electrical problems. Your California electrician is ready to help. Just give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your initial consultation.

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

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins
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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.

Electrician in Los Angeles Explains Light Control

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

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.

Dramatic Lighting Changes with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_09_1Walking into the same house you have lived in for years may bring mixed emotions. It is a place of comfort and safety. You love coming home, but maybe you walk through the door and see all the things you would like to change in the home. Maybe you dream of a more modern look or a classical style that is more in line with your personal tastes. Big home remodels and renovations can get expensive and they can take some time. If you are looking for a quick fix that will give your home a new look and feel, you need to call an electrician in Los Angeles. The team at The Electric Connection can help you get the new look you have been dreaming about, but haven’t been able to do just yet.

Believe it or not, enhancing your home can be fairly easy and take less than a couple of hours to do. Dramatic lighting changes can completely change the way a room looks. Adding track lighting with LEDs to a kitchen and getting rid of that boring old fixture is a breeze with a Los Angeles electrician on board. You shouldn’t try to do it yourself. Electricity isn’t something an inexperienced person should ever mess with.

A dark space tends to look smaller and more boxy. You can open up your kitchen, bedroom or living room with the right lighting. Taking it into the ceiling with recessed lights is also an option explains an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners that want to give their old look a face lift can do so with the easy job of changing out a light fixture. When you shop around for light fixtures, you will be amazed at how inexpensive a dramatic change can be. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting upgrade.

Surge Protection a Must Says Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electriccon_08_1The power goes off and on at random times and often when you least expect it. When it happens, it is a minor nuisance that requires you to reset clocks and turn back on whatever appliance you are using. You don’t typically think of that few seconds of the power going off and then going right back on as serious. It is. Those little power outages are killing the life of your appliances and damaging your sensitive electronics. Every time the power flickers or surges, anything that is plugged in is basically getting a jolt. An electrician in Los Angeles wants you to save your electronics and appliances by investing surge protection. The team at The Electric Connection can get your home protected in just a few short hours.

Every day, little surges of electricity are sent through the lines and into your home. You may hear your refrigerator compressor kick on when nobody has left the door open or your lights may get suddenly brighter or dim. These are all signs of a power surge explains an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners may notice these things happen if they run more than a couple appliances at a time or when something like the AC unit kicks on. The electricity is pulled from the other appliances and electronics to run the AC, which is a lot like cutting off the supply. This makes everything else, including the AC, work a little harder and not run quite as it should. This is what causes the damage.

The fix is to have a whole house surge protector installed at the electric panel by a Los Angeles electrician. This will control the electrical flow and prevent those surges from happening. If the power goes out and comes right back on, the surge protector will prevent any one appliance from getting a jolt of electricity that may fry the board. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your surge protection installation.

What’s Spinning Your Meter? Los Angeles Electrician Explains

Posted on | by K Hopkins

electriccon_july_1Have you ever walked outside the house where your electric meter is mounted and heard a strange whirring noise? Was it the sound of the little hands on your frantically spinning around and around? If so, you were probably instantly alarmed. Every turn on that meter is costing you money. Your electric bill is going up right before your very eyes. How can you stop the wheels from spinning quite so fast? An electrician in Los Angeles is going to tell you how. At The Electric Connection we understand that every dollar counts and if you can keep a few more in your pocket things will be much better for you.

The following items are some of the biggest energy hogs in your home that are causing that meter to spin like crazy. Some you can control and others are just a part of life explains a Los Angeles electrician.

1-The refrigerator is costing you money. If you have invested in an energy efficient refrigerator, you are ahead of the game, but even those use a lot of electricity. The key is to make it use less by making sure the filter on the bottom and behind the refrigerator is clean.

2-A hot water heater is also going to cost you. You can limit how often it runs by shortening your hot showers and only washing full loads of dishes. Using the cold or warm setting on the washer is another way to cut back on hot water usage.

3-The air conditioning unit is probably one of the biggest culprits causing your meter to spin explains an electrician. Los Angeles residents definitely need to stay cool in the summer, but keeping the thermostat turned down too low isn’t really necessary. You can save some money on your electric bill by having a ceiling fan installed. The fan will circulate the cool air and create a slight breeze that makes you feel cooler.

Give The Electric Connection a call if you have any questions or would like to have a ceiling fan installed in your home.

Hiring the Right Electrician in Los Angeles: 4 Things to Look For

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electricon_06_1Anytime you pay money to a contractor, there are going to be risks. Hiring someone for a job may be a source of anxiousness for you as you try to determine who is going to do the best job in a timely, professional manner without breaking the bank. This is a decision that deserves some time. You will definitely need to do a little homework before you hire anybody to complete a big job that actually puts the safety of your home and ultimately your family in their hands. When you need the right electrician, Los Angeles homeowners can count on the team at The Electric Connection to do a job up to code and up to your high standards.

There are 4 things you should look for when you begin your search for an electrician in Los Angeles.

1-Overall good reviews from people who have used the electrician or company in the past. Checking Angie’s List is one way to get some honest reviews from real people. You will likely find testimonials on the business website as well.

2-Ask around. Businesses have a reputation in the community. Talk with neighbors, co-workers and friends to ask if they have a particular electrician they would recommend. They can give you an honest opinion and the little details you won’t hear anywhere else.

3-Every contractor you hire to perform work in your home should be licensed and bonded. This insures your home is covered should something happen during the course of the work and also protects the Los Angeles electrician. Homeowners can check the status of the license by making a quick phone call.

4-A company that has a good record of showing up as scheduled is also important. Everyone has schedules to keep and one person showing up late can throw it all off. Punctuality and the ability to stick with a completion schedule is very important.

If you are in need of an electrical contractor, give The Electric Connection a call and let them take care of your electrical needs.

Home Safety Additions by Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on | by Kim Hopkins

electricon1_3-16When you walk in the door of your home at night, you expect to be relatively safe. You expect the home to be constructed well and to protect you from the elements. Your home keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is where you spend time with your family and feel the most comfortable. That is the idea at least. Unfortunately, there are often hidden dangers in the home that need to be addressed. It only takes a few changes to make your home a little safer. These are things your Los Angeles electrician can help you with. The team at The Electric Connection has a trained staff of electricians ready to help you make your home a little safer for you and your family.

Installing GFCI Outlets

These are standard features in recent construction, but older homes were not equipped with GFCI outlets explains an electrician in Los Angeles. These outlets are specially designed to be used around areas where water is at, like the bathroom and kitchen areas. The outlets will trip the breaker the second the flow of electricity is interrupted by water. This will prevent an electric shock.

Hard-Wired Smoke Detectors

These are an ideal option to the standard battery-powered smoke detectors. A hard-wired smoke detector will need to be installed by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will love the fact that the smoke alarms are wired directly into the home’s power and do not rely on batteries. If a fire breaks out and the smoke detector alerts, it will trigger the rest of the smoke detectors that have been hard-wired into the main power system.

These are two fairly simple, basic upgrades that can make your home a little safer for you and your family. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your outlet upgrades and smoke detector installation.