Protecting your homes electronics with whole house surge protection is dramatically more important today then just ten years ago.  Your home becomes more and more filled with electronics and appliances that need protection from power surges.  A lighting storm can wreak havoc on the utility grid and your homes electronics.  A good lighting storm will generate 12-18 calls in one day just for our local business Custom Electrical Services.  Sometimes it even seems you can almost track the storms path as it moves across the Des Moines Metro based on the incoming calls.  Customers who experienced power surges have received thousands of dollars and in some cases tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage from one major power surge.  A surge is most commonly known for taking out electronics such as computers, TV’s and stereo equipment.  But did you know many of your homes appliances now have sophisticated electronics built into them?  We see garage door openers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and even the homes hot water heater, air conditioner and furnace all taken out by power surges.

You should know that nothing will fully protect your home from a direct lighting strike.  However in most cases the damage is caused by the power surge rather than a direct lighting strike.  We are all familiar with the power strips that offer surge protection you can purchase from the big box stores.  Even if you have a whole house surge protection system we still recommend point of use surge protection.  When purchasing surge protection you want to look at the joule rating.  The joule rating is the amount of energy absorption / dissipation a surge protector can handle before the surge protector fails.  The higher the number the better the surge protection device is at protecting the electronics plugged into it.  But what about the items not plugged into the power surge strip?  Well unfortunately anything not plugged into the power surge strip is not getting any protection.  So that $1200 dishwasher, $600 garage door opener, or $4,000 air conditioner is not getting any protection from your point of use power strip.  But don’t worry you now have options.

We have installed hundreds of whole house power protection devices in peoples homes across the Des Moines Metro.  One customer in West Des Moines received frequent issues from power surges.  After we installed a SPD (surge protection device) in each of his electrical panels he has not lost any electronics since.  A whole house surge protection device like a power surge strip is only capable of absorbing or dissipating so much power.  This particular customer received a significant power surge which he said would of normally damaged his very expensive home theater equipment and whole house automation system in the past.  A SPD when properly installed in your electrical panel can protect your entire home from power surges.  Not just electronics plugged directly into a surge protector.

There are several types of whole house surge protectors on the market.  Many are good while others are not.  Even the best whole house surge protectors are not as effect if they are not properly installed.  Manufacture specs are specific when it comes to the required installation so the device can properly perform the way it was engineered.  A good quality whole house surge protection device will come with several thousand dollars worth of manufacture insurance covering your homes electronics if the device were to fail when properly installed.

 

We have a variety of whole house surge protections devices capable of providing safe and reliable protection for your home.  We offer Siemens devices as well as Eaton products we can install in your home or business today.  Stop procrastinating and call us before the next big storm moves across the Des Moines metro.  From Adel to Altoona, from Norwalk to Ankeny and all the surrounding communities we are here and ready to serve your 24/7.

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There are plenty of reasons to install new indoor light fixtures in your home. Perhaps you want to update your interior aesthetic, or save energy by upgrading to efficient LED bulbs. Maybe you even want to bring your lighting into a smart home control system. Although wiring a new fixture is usually a simple job, complications can crop up if your home still uses an outdated wiring system. In order to comply with your local building code, you may have to perform some extra electrical work to ensure the safety of your new fixture. Read on to learn more.

Bringing Older Electrical Work Up to Code

If your home still uses knob-and-tube wiring, the law prohibits connecting new light fixtures to the old wiring. You don't have to replace the entire wiring system itself, although that’s not a bad idea, because it can reduce your risk of an electrical fire and lower your insurance rates. Even if you don't have the time or money for such extensive electrical work, though, you can remain in compliance with your local code by installing an electrical box between your wiring and the light fixture.

You can purchase an appropriate electrical box at most local hardware stores – but make sure you verify that it is designed to meet local code guidelines for installing new light fixtures. From there, after you turn off the power to the room, you have to cut a hole in the wall where you want the fixture to go, large enough for the box to fit. If you're lucky, the fixture will be near a stud or part of the frame so you can mount the box easily. Otherwise, you have to cut the wall extremely carefully to ensure you leave enough lath and plaster keys to support the box.

Wiring the New Light into Place

Next, once the box is ready to be installed, follow the manufacturer instructions to clamp in the home wiring to the back of the unit. You may have to add a ground wire as well, depending on the specific scenario. Anchor the box using metal supports, and when it's all in place, connect the light fixture. When everything is securely connected, you can turn the power back on and give your new light a trial run.

Remember, knob-and-tube wiring can be a fire hazard, and performing electrical work in general can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. If you have any doubts or questions about installing your new light fixture, the best route is to have a professional electrician give you a hand.

Expert Assistance with Your Electrical Work

For assistance with all your electrical work, including installing new light fixtures, contact a qualified residential electrician today.

Imagine how relaxing it would be to soak away the day’s stresses or invite friends over for a fun party featuring your own hot tub. Having a hot tub or sauna in your backyard or patio area is a dream of many. These provide a lot of fun as well as stress relief and are more affordable than you may think. However, the idea of installing a hot tub is something you may not be ready to tackle yourself. Even if you are looking to save money, you may find that calling a Burbank electrical service, such as The Electric Connection, is actually the best option. Consider the following before you think about installing a hot tub yourself.

Safety

Even if you are a skilled at home improvement projects, installing a hot tub can be a dangerous activity. This is because installing a hot tub combines water and electricity. You do not want to take the risk of injury to yourself or others by making a mistake in the installation. A licensed electrician in Burbank has the background to make certain he or she is not injured and the electrician should have insurance in case there is an issue.

Equipment Care

In addition to your personal safety, you should also keep in mind properly caring for the equipment during the installation process. In many cases, you will void the warranty on a hot tub or sauna if you do not install it properly. So for this reason, search the internet for electrician Burbank and allow a professional to take care of this job for you.

If you are considering the installation of a hot tub, sauna or backyard water feature, find a Burbank electrician by visiting The Electric Connection’s website at ElectricConnection.com  or calling us and talking to a customer service specialist today.