This is the final post in our four-part series, "The Secret Guide for Super Moms” — tips, tricks and hacks for busy moms who need to know everything that’s happening in their house.

If you believe Pinterest, every home repair or improvement project can be a do-it-yourself job. Apparently, if every blog is to be believed, moms and dads around the country are remodeling bathrooms, rebuilding old houses and refurbishing vintage furniture -- and they do it all the time! And they look great doing it! And they have plenty of time to take lots of photos!

Maybe some people really are able to do it all (and write about it, too). Most of us are too busy and simply don’t have the training to do more than the basics around the house. When it comes to potentially dangerous repairs, a super mom knows that she needs a professional. When the time comes to fix, rewire or repair her home’s electrical needs, she knows she needs an electrician.

Electrical wiring is complicated and can be dangerous -- and it's tough to spot signs you need an electrician. An amateur electrical job may cause poor wire connections, overloaded circuits or faulty grounding. These situations are hazardous to you, your family and your property. While it may be tempting to try saving money by doing it yourself, or trusting your spouse or a friend to help, you're better off spending the money to have the job done right.

Let's take a fairly common scenario: your fuses keep blowing, or your circuit breakers keep tripping. Yes, you can keep replacing the fuses, but do you know whether they're the right type? Screwing in a 20- or 30-amp fuse as a replacement for a 15 is tempting—no electricians needed, right?—but now you've created a fire hazard by overloading your wiring. The smarter move: call a professional, certified electrician to wire a new circuit.

Like fuses, circuit breakers are meant to prevent circuit overload and the risk of fire, but we use much more electricity than people of our parents' or grandparents' generation. As you upgrade and add appliances and gadgets, you may need to upgrade your circuit breaker panels to adequately supply your home with power. Hire an electrician to do the job, not your brother-in-law who swears he did the same kind of work in the navy. The work is extremely complicated and should not be attempted by an amateur.

Do you have an electrical repair or a project you’re moving forward on, or you’re wanting to improve the look of your home or business?  Will you do it yourself, hire a handyman, or hire a qualified electrician?

Because of the rising costs of our island’s economic environment, many are looking for ways to cut costs when it comes to electrical repairs or additions. One way people are doing this is through their own attempts or choose someone who claims to be a qualified electrician working as a “handyman”. The current economy has left many skilled tradespersons unemployed and eager to offer their expertise as a handyman repair worker.

A “handyman” might be able to do the electrical job you have or they might not.  How are you to know?  Much of the work performed in an electrical project is covered up by walls, wire junction boxes, or in limited access locations.  I’ve  seen bad connections where the previous installer has connected wires using gift wrapping tape or paper clips or some other household items. Also, wires that carry high voltage were cut, pinched, and fully exposed to a shock or fire hazard (see above picture).  The owners knew nothing about this!  Following the electrical codes didn’t seem to be a priority in these attempts.  Codes need to be met or there’s a huge liability to persons and property.

Electrical wiring can be very dangerous! A handyman may have some electrical talent, but they are not recognized by the law as a licensed contractor. In other words, in Hawaii, they cannot pull permits on jobs where they are required or legally work on projects that earn $1000.00 or more for their services. The State knows the dangers of unlicensed work.  They are not just looking for other means for revenue.  If you hire someone who is unlicensed to save money, then you are taking a huge risk.  If something goes wrong,  you have  very little recourse.  You could end up paying more in the end.

Blue Sky Electric not only is licensed, but insured and bonded.  The State requires this for good reason….. The State of Hawaii has a fund for you that all licensed contractors pay into called the “Contractor’s Recovery Fund”. The purpose of the fund is to provide reimbursement to a consumer who has suffered a financial loss as a result of a licensed electrical contractor who has engaged in fraudulent, deceptive or dishonest practices, or failed to perform.  Injured parties my collect funds to recover damages.  Any unlicensed person can not offer you this protection.

To get the results that you expect, it is essential that you put appropriate effort behind finding an electrician matched to the specific requirements of your job – do not simply trust someone that puts you at ease or wins your confidence.  If a licensed contractor is hired one item to look into is their complaint record with the Hawaii Board of Contractors. Here’s a link to check the status of a person’s record: Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing Search Whoever you may hire, they should always come with word-of-mouth recommendations or testimonials of their peers.

Call us to discuss your project, and our expertise.  Let’s talk about doing it right the first time.

If you live in an area where power outages are, unfortunately, quite common, you know just what an annoyance they can be. Sometimes, homeowners have portable generators they can plug a few appliances into so that they can stay at home. But for some longer outages, families have to leave their homes.

An automatic standby generator can power your whole house automatically! We recommend this to anyone who’s ever had to put up with a days-long outage, or for those who worry they one day will.

Portable generators can be useful during a power outage, but not for long. Fuel capacity is limited and depends on how much you can store at your home. The number of lights and appliances a generator can power is very limited, especially for larger homes and households.

Automatic standby generators use a transfer switch to detect a loss of current flow and automatically restore power to your entire home. You won’t have to do a thing!

Yes, a generator can cost a lot of money upfront. But the good news is that you’ll have it in your home for many, many years. It pays for itself if you save on losing refrigerated items, spending money on fuel and battery-powered appliances, or even hotel costs from moving out of the home for a day or even weeks.

Your home is a lot safer when you have a whole-house generator to protect it from flooding, burst pipes, and other issues. Keep the heat on to protect your pipes, continue operating your sump pump, and know that your home is safe.

In many cases, being without power for too long can actually lead to major safety hazards. Going without lights can be dangerous, particularly if you have kids or elderly family members. And many people with health issues can’t get by for long without heating or air conditioning—or without lifesaving medical equipment.

The “Broche” pendant, available in an Antique Gold or Antique Silver finish, features a leaf-like bouquet in wrought iron suspended by a decorative chain-link.  This restoration vintage fixture is also available in a mixed-metal combination for the epitome of high-style.

“Middlefield,” a rustic and chic restoration vintage masterpiece, presents a historic feel in Solid Distressed wood and steel with an Iron Rust finish.  The pear-shaped finial,  superbly crafted and detailed, adds to the elegance and stature of this outstanding over five-foot tall chandelier.

The “Livingston” pendant from Murray Feiss presents restoration vintage style with a modern twist.  Finished in a choice of High-Gloss Gray or High-Gloss White, the caged rounded dome delivers a soothing illumination through the dual Clear glass surrounded by a Sandblast outer layer of glass.

“Reel” from Varaluz Lighting is reminiscent of the vintage movie reel. This spherical composition delivers a modest charm and sophistication in a rich Rustic Bronze finish fashionably illuminated by three decorative slender vintage light sources.

“121 Main” from Troy Lighting provides a brilliant display of illumination in a creative and surprising mix of whimsy and elegance.  Hand-worked wrought iron supporting a cascade of pressed glass beer bottles delivers the dazzle of a formal crystal chandelier, while the Old Silver accented with Brass finish, signature “wrecking ball” center and dangling bottle opener elevate this restoration vintage style with an original and playful vigor.

The Dallas Market