Updating Pool Lighting with Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on March 24, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

With spring upon us and summer just around the corner, you are probably itching to get the pool uncovered so you can host the first pool party of the season. Before you do that, you may want to consider upgrading, adding or replacing your existing pool lights. Pool lights add a certain quality to a pool while providing a layer of safety. However, there are several lights to choose from and you need to know which lights are best for your needs. An electrician in Beverly Hills has some tips for you to use when choosing your pool lights. If you have any other questions, you can call The Electric Connection.

There are two main options available for your pool lighting needs; in-ground and above ground. The above ground option is the cheapest. The in-ground tends to be a favorite simply because it provides a more uniform look.

Above Ground Options

Floating pool lights are inexpensive and do not require a Beverly Hills electrician to install. Simply pop the lights in the pool and it is done. The lights are festive, but they can interfere with swimming. You will also not have the benefit of the lights being stationary. It seems they tend to congregate and float to one area of the pool. For soft-sided pools, there are magnetic lights that stick to the side. These are again very easy to install and reliable.

In Ground Options

LED bulbs are extremely bright and will last for around 10,000 hours. The lights are sealed in a waterproof housing. You can expect the bulbs to last anywhere from 10 to 15 years depending on how often the lights are used. Fiber optic lights are another option. However, they do tend to be much more expensive and the bulbs do not last nearly as long. In either case, you would need the pool lights installed by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners need to hire a professional to ensure the lights are installed safely and do not pose an electrical hazard. Give The Electric Connection a call today to schedule your pool light installation.

Understanding Light Bulbs with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on March 24, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

If you have ever went to the store to buy new light bulbs for the home or garage, you have probably been a little surprised to see an entire aisle filled with a variety of bulbs. It can be a little overwhelming. What kind do you need? Are your current light bulbs adequate or should you be using something else? When you start to read packages and look at various price points, it can all become a little confusing. The cheaper the better seems like a good plan, right? Wrong. You need to understand the differences in light bulbs and what they mean to you and your home. An electrician in Los Angeles, like those at The Electric Connection, will explain.

Incandescent Bulbs

These are the old bulbs we all became used to. You could by a pack of 4 bulbs for around a dollar. Unfortunately, they were simply not energy efficient explains an electrician. Los Angeles residents may be surprised to learn those bulbs would only last about 2 years if you used the bulbs only 3 hours a day. Most of the energy the bulbs used produced heat, which ends up being a fire hazard. These are the bulbs that have been phased out. Yes, you can still buy the smaller incandescent bulbs for your fridge and certain lamps, but they are no longer mass produced.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs)

These are the bulbs that have replaced the incandescents. They have that swirl shape that makes them difficult to put into some light fixtures and they do take a few seconds to heat up to their full power. The lights are extremely energy efficient and use 75 percent less electricity than the incandescent bulbs. You can save a great deal of money on your electric bill by switching to these bulbs. They also last about 5 times longer. If you have a light fixture that will not accommodate, consider having it upgraded by a Los Angeles electrician. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting upgrade.

3 Ways to Make Your Fridge Cost Less by Pasadena Electrician

Posted on February 24, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

It is always nice to have a little extra change in your pocket. Sometimes, when the cost to buy gas or groceries always seems to be going up, it can be tough to find that change. You could start cutting down on your electric bill by following these handy tips from your Pasadena electrician. Every extra dollar helps and by making your refrigerator a little more energy efficient, you will be doing something good for your checking account and the environment. The team at The Electric Connection wants to help you and is ready to answer any questions you may have.

1-Do what you can to keep your refrigerator as full as possible. Don’t be so quick to toss out the little bit of milk in the jug to clear out some space. Space takes more electricity to cool. A full fridge will maintain its temperature better than an empty fridge.

2-Avoid putting the toaster microwave, coffee pot and if at all possible, the oven next to the fridge. You want to limit the heat near your fridge. If you are heating it up from the outside, it will make the fridge work that much harder to keep cold. If you need to move your fridge, considering hiring an electrician. Pasadena residents who want to renovate their kitchen to keep the fridge away from the hot appliances will need an additional outlet.

3-Make sure there is a couple inches between the wall and the back of your fridge. Keep the coils dusted. Lint, cobwebs and dust will clog up the filters on the refrigerator and make it have to run more often and work harder to function properly. Keep it regularly maintained and you will extend the life of the appliance and reduce your electricity usage.

Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need a new outlet for your fridge.

Updating Home Security with Glendale Electrician

Posted on February 23, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Your home is your safe haven and your castle. It likely contains treasures you would rather not lose as well as the precious lives of your family members. There are a few things you can do to add a layer of safety to your home. Your Glendale electrician has some ideas for preventative measures you can take to protect your home. The team at The Electric Connection is ready to help you implement these options.

1-Install security lights that include motion sensors. When motion is detected, the lights will turn on and flood the area with light. Light often deters would-be burglars. It can also scare away animals that may be a nuisance. The lights and motion sensors are ideal to have in your driveway and front walkway as well so you won’t have to worry about walking to the door in the darkness.

2-Installing camera for surveillance can help give you peace of mind when you are not home. Many surveillance systems can be viewed via an app on your smartphone. The cameras will need to wired into your home’s electrical panel, which will require an electrician. Glendale homeowners will be able to check in on the kids and the family pets from anywhere.

3-Landscape lighting or bright spotlights is an excellent idea for any yard. You want a well-lit yard for safety as well as a security measure. If you happen to be out and about when the sun is down, you don’t want to trip over stray toys left outside or veer off a path. Electric landscape lights are ideal and can be set on a timer to come on when dusk falls and to turn off when the sun starts to appear on the horizon.

Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule the installation of your home security measures.

Understanding Electrical Hazards with Burbank Electrician

Posted on February 23, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Electricity is a valuable part of our world today. We use it for just about everything. Without electricity, we would struggle to get through a single day. With that said, electricity can be extremely dangerous, deadly even. There are some electrical hazards you need to be aware of, teach your children and keep top of mind as you go through your daily routines. Becoming complacent around electricity can be extremely hazardous. Your Burbank electrician has some tips to understanding electrical hazards and how to avoid them. You can count on the crew at The Electric Connection to keep you informed about electricity and the potential hazards it poses.

1-Extension cords are not meant to be long-term solutions. They are simply meant for temporary fixes while you use a particular appliance. Extension cords are the cause of over 300,000 fires every year due to improper use. If you need an additional outlet, whether it is in the house or outside, call an electrician. Burbank homeowners don’t have to put their homes at risk by using extension cords as permanent fixes.

2-Pets and young kids and electricity never mix. Do what you can to keep children away from outlets and pets away from cords. You can buy cord protectors to keep pets from chewing on the lamp cord and outlet protectors to keep children from putting things into the outlets. These are quick, inexpensive fixes that can save lives.

3-Water is probably one of the most obvious dangers when electricity is around. You can protect yourself by having GFCI installed in kitchen and bathroom areas where water is most likely to be introduced to an electrical current. This is a simple fix that can be taken care of by your electrician.

Give The Electric Connection a call today to take care of any electrical hazards in your home.

Flickering Lights Explained by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on February 23, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Have you ever been sitting there reading a book and noticed the lights flickering? Maybe you thought it was just your eyes or it didn’t really happen. It wasn’t your eyes. It was very likely your lights. So, why do your lights flicker? A Beverly Hills electrician is here to explain flickering lights and what it means to you and the safety of your home. You can always call the professionals at The Electric Connection if you have more questions or concerns about flickering lights.

It is important to check to see if it is just the light in the living room that is flickering or if it is lights throughout the house that are getting darker and brighter.

Some reasons that your lights flicker are as follows.

1-Bad weather. If there is strong winds or a lightning storm raging, your lights may flicker. This is normal and often an indicator the power may go out.

2-Power to the house is fluctuating. The problem may be with the power coming into the house. You may notice flickering lights during peak hours. This is because there is a higher demand on the power grid than what the grid can handle.

3-If it a single light that is flickering, you may have a problem with the switch or the wiring to the light fixture. This is something that needs to be investigated by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners need to understand that a single flickering light is often an indicator of a bigger problem. The bigger problem can lead to an electrical fire.

If you have noticed a single light or random lights flickering at different times, it is a good idea to have an inspection performed by an electrician. This will tell you if there is a problem you need to worry about or you if you simply have a bulb that needs changed. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your inspection.

Outdoor Lighting Repairs with Los Angeles Electrician

Posted on February 23, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Are you looking forward to backyard barbecues and evenings outside on the patio this spring? Although southern California doesn’t have to worry about some of the issues that winter normally causes the rest of the country, this winter did bring a pounding of rain that likely affected your outdoor equipment. Your landscape lighting may not have fared so well and before you can really enjoy those warm spring and ultimately summer evenings in the backyard, you need to have your lighting fixed. This is something you can have a Los Angeles electrician do for you. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help you get your yard and the landscaping back in shape for another beautiful spring season.

Overtime, the wiring in the electric lights erodes and you may notice some lights are not working or they flicker. This is something you will want to have taken care of before the entire string of lights shorts out. Depending on the problem, it may be able to be repaired by an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can opt to have newer, more energy-efficient lights installed in their landscaping or stick with the older ones and just have them repaired. Updating the outside lights is like giving your landscaping a facelift. You can add more dramatic lights to showcase a blooming flower garden or highlight a new water feature.

If you have been considering getting new landscape lights or want to expand the scope of your existing lights by adding new ones or possibly brighter ones, now is the time to do it. Spring will be here before you know it and the hustle and bustle of the summer will quickly follow. Get your outdoor lighting taken care of today so you are ready for that first barbecue. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your lighting appointment.

5 Questions for an Electrician in Santa Monica

Posted on January 17, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

If you have determined you need an electrician, you are probably wondering how to best find the right electrician for you and your needs. It can be tough to find an electrician in Santa Monica you can trust to get the job done right without overcharging you or doing work that is substandard. You can always count on the crew at The Electric Connection to provide you with excellent service every time. The following tips will help you find the perfect electrician for your needs. Yes, you do have the right to “interview” potential candidates.

Do not waste your time or money by hiring an electrician who is unlicensed. Ask for the license number if it is not readily available on their business card.

Ask if the electrician is insured and for how much. If the electrician isn’t insured for at least $500k, it is best to look elsewhere. Although this may seem like a lot of money, it doesn’t take much to burn through that much money if there is major damage or injury caused by faulty wiring.

Ask to see references or ask for numbers of clients who have used the electrician’s services in the past. Do your due diligence and make the phone calls. You can also check Angie’s List and online for reviews.

Ask the potential electrician how they go about the job. Will they give you updates about the status of a job? Will they contact you about unforeseen expenses that might pop up before making the decision to tack the extra money on to your bill? Communication is crucial when you are dealing with any contractor.

Ask if there will be a detailed estimate of the job. You need to know just what kind of Santa Monica electrical work you are paying for. An estimate will help you budget and compare prices to other electricians.

If you need a reliable and reputable electrician, give The Electric Connection a call.

Phantom Power Costs You Money Says Electrician in Glendale

Posted on January 17, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

Are you still struggling to lower your electric bill? Maybe you have made a conscious effort to turn off lights and shorten your showers and you are not seeing that big of a difference. There is more you can do that will not change the way you go about your daily routine. It is by reducing your phantom power usage. What is phantom power, you ask? An electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection is here to explain what phantom power is and why it is costing you money every month.

Phantom power is the electricity that is used by anything that is plugged in. Your toaster, your cell phone charger and even your television are all pulling a small current even when they are not powered on. Just because you shut off your television, it doesn’t mean it isn’t using electricity. To reduce phantom power, you will need to unplug things that you are not using. When you leave for work in the morning or before you go to bed at night, unplug anything you won’t be using. You may discover you don’t use your toaster for a week.

Phantom power isn’t costing you a ton of money, but when you reduce the amount of phantom power you are pulling, you can help add to the savings you have already implemented. By combining your phantom power reduction, limiting the lights and taking shorter showers, you can save more than 20 dollars a month on your Glendale electrical bill. As you know, every dollar saved counts. You can help make reducing your phantom power a little easier by using power strips in areas where there are several items that are plugged in, like your entertainment area or computer area. Unplugging a single power strip is much easier than unplugging numerous devices. If you have any questions about phantom power or would like to learn more about energy savings, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Energy Savings at the Office with Electrician in Burbank

Posted on January 15, 2015 | by Kim Hopkins

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.