If you’re like us, you are proud of the artwork you’ve chosen to adorn the walls of your home or business. A framed movie poster, an original oil painting, or even a stylish wall hanging all serve to bring color, and life to a room. Make sure that the images that have been so carefully selected are seen in their full splendor with the right lighting.

With a hot, dry summer predicted for this year, it is going to take a little creativity to stay cool without the luxury of endless amounts of water and electricity. You are going to need to do everything you can to stay cool, without relying on a swamp cooler or your air conditioner. There is a possibility scheduled blackouts will be performed to try and conserve resources. You can still stay cool by doing the following things recommended by your Glendale Electrician. If you have any more questions, you can give the team a The Electric Connection a call.

1-Keep the blinds closed. You may feel like you are living in a cave, but caves are cool. You need to do what you can to block the sun from heating up the home. Investing in heavy, sun-blocking curtains is also an option.

2-Consider having any south facing windows tinted. This can give you the openness you like, while still blocking the heat from the sun. Tinted windows are becoming more and more popular as people look for ways to save on cooling costs.

3-Have a ceiling fan installed by an electrician in Glendale in your bedroom and main sitting areas. This can help you feel much more comfortable. The cool breeze stirred up by the fan will go a long way to keeping you cool.

4-Don’t run the dryer during the day. Only dry clothes in the early morning hours or late night hours.

5-Avoid cooking with the oven if you can. Consider cooking outdoors on the barbecue or using the microwave. A crockpot is another, much cooler option.

You can stay cool, without running up your electric bill or soaking in a tub of cold water. If you need a ceiling fan installed, call your electrician. Glendale residents can count on the professional team at The Electric Connection to take care of their ceiling fan installation needs.

Electrical rewiring in Fairfax, VA may be the best decision you make this spring. After all, with the weather finally making the switch from snow and sleet to sun and heat, now is the time to start making some positive changes around your home. There’s no better way to start changing with the times than by improving your home’s electricity and with improved rewiring, you can live more comfortably in your home than ever before!

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.