No matter how you choose to celebrate, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks! But while fun and friends are great, and we are really looking forward to some holiday eats, our experts would like to take a moment to point out some critically important details regarding the holidays. Namely, electrical safety.

At Hoffman Electrical, the safety of our patrons in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida is of the utmost importance. And while the holidays are pretty awesome, they also open up some opportunities for unique dangers that you’d do best to avoid. Follow along to learn our quick tips for a safe and happy holiday season!

One of the things that makes electrical troubleshooting so difficult is the fact that your electrical system is largely behind the scenes. Located behind your walls and in your ceiling, many issues will not manifest until they become very serious. As a result, it can be very easy to ignore electrical problems until they come to a point where they can no longer be ignored. To combat this, especially if you live in a n older home, you should have an electrician in Santa Monica inspect your electrical system regularly. By doing so, you can avoid many issues that result from an aging home and electrical system.

In addition to having a regular inspection, you should also educate yourself on the early signs of electrical issues. If you notice any of the below, make sure that you get in touch with a Santa Monica electrician right away. It can save you significant time and money if you take care of the issue early on, rather than when it becomes a real problem.

Lights Dim Unexpectedly

Do you have lights that dim whenever large appliances, such as your air conditioner cycles on? If these high-demand appliances are not on dedicated circuits, then they could be causing electrical issues within your home.

No GFCI Outlets

According to most local building codes, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet is required in all areas that are frequently wet. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and garages. If you do not have these, call The Electric Connection or click here.

Ungrounded Outlets

Older homes were often equipped with outlets that do not accept three-pronged, grounded plugs. This is a very strong indication that your electrical system is not grounded. If you have an ungrounded electrical system, then you could be exposing yourself to unnecessary dangers every time you use your electrical system. Have someone inspect your system and provide the proper grounding if necessary.

By Clarissa Allison | December 11th, 2015

If you are lucky enough to have a large family room or “great room”, you may encounter some exciting challenges when choosing home decor and lighting that complements and balances your space. A great room is a large room typically found in modern homes that combines the features of a living room with those of a dining room or family room.

Large, open spaces are very common to find in floorplans these days. The dining room incorporates the kitchen, which is part of the living room and leads into the den, etc.  This trend sees walls to separate activity spaces removed. You’ll find that the kitchen is no longer segregated from the rest of the home but may easily become a main focal point. As you’ll see, the key to lighting these types of spaces is variety. You’ll want to utilize ambient, task, wall, and spot lighting to eliminate a “cave-like” atmosphere and maintain a feeling of spaciousness and height.

Read on for tips on how to set up the perfect lighting scheme for functionality, elegance and entertaining.

Update Your Kitchen Island As An Activity Space