There are always things that need to get done around the house. Some of those jobs tend to be more obvious than others. Things like repainting the walls, fixing the brick pathway or oiling squeaky door hinges tend to be more obvious. However, there are some little things that deserve our attention as well. Little things that are silent, but ignored or used improperly, they can become extremely dangerous. We are referring to the electrical outlets in the home. Little, insignificant and rarely focused on outlets pose a threat explains your Pasadena electrician. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to know you can help make your home a little safer by giving those outlets some well-deserved attention.

There are too many homes that do not have the GFCI outlets in the kitchen and bathroom areas. These outlets have been designed to trip the breaker within a split second of the circuit being interrupted. This one little feature can save lives by preventing electric shock. If you are not sure what the outlets are or whether you already have them or not, a quick visual will tell you the story explains an electrician in Pasadena. A GFCI outlet will have 2 small buttons in the center of the outlet between the top and bottom plug-ins. If the circuit is interrupted, you will want to unplug whatever device triggered the trip and push the reset button.

This one small feature is an important safety feature, especially when water is nearby, like the kitchen or bath areas. It is an inexpensive, quick upgrade that could save lives, prevent minor shocks and electrical shortages that could result in a fire. If you are ready to make this minor change, call your electrician. Pasadena homeowners will appreciate the additional safety precaution. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your GFCI installation.

As you probably know, a ceiling fan does not actually cool the air in the summer time. What it does do, though, is to help the circulation of air throughout your home. On mild days, this can help to keep the air moving and may help you to feel a little cooler. On hot days, when you are running your air conditioner, it helps to distribute cooled air throughout your home evenly. By reversing the direction in which your ceiling fan(s) turn, you can actually make use of this dynamic during the winter season, as well.

When you heat your home with a furnace, heat pump, or any other forced air based system, the heat in the air will cause it to rise. When you set your fan(s) to the winter setting, it is able to force that heated air back down into your living space. This can help to prevent heat from gathering up near the ceiling, where it’s not really doing anyone good, as well as to prevent your thermostats from telling your heater to continue working, just because they cannot register the heat in the room successfully. This helps you to save money, and to take some strain off of your heater. Contact us to learn more.

Radiant heating systems do not have a lot of moving parts, so it they aren’t as prone to breakdown as other systems can be. However, this doesn’t mean that you may not have to repair your radiant heating system. The type of radiant heating system you have – hydronic or electric – helps determine what kind of radiant heat repairs you may need. As with any kind of heating system, it’s always best to hire trained experts for repair. If you are experiencing problems with your radiant system in Brookline, MA, call for an FB Electrical Services expert today!

Electrical Radiant Repairs

Electrical radiant systems use electric cable to heat. The cable can be set into cement, installed to subflooring or be part of an electrically-conductive plastic mat that is installed to subflooring. A couple of common problems that can develop with electric radiant heating are:

Christmas is just around the corner, and many families are decorating their homes. During the holiday season, when the sun sets early, decorative lights along the streets and homes can bring a sense of warmth during the cold and dark evenings. When decorating your home, take extra precautions so that your lighting installation is safe from electrical hazards.

Ensure light bulbs don’t come in contact with flammable items (i.e. paper, cloth). Over time bulbs can generate heat and transfer this heat into nearby material that can lead to a fire. Although decorations look beautiful lying atop Christmas cloth, keep an eye on them if the lights are to be left on for a significant amount of time.

With this same issue in mind, don’t leave any lights unattended in the home. If you are leaving a room for an extended period of time, unplug the lights. Should a fire start, and no one is nearby to address it quickly, you could risk losing more than just a Christmas tree.

When hanging your lights do not use nails or staples that can penetrate the wires. If the protecting rubber and plastic is pierced, the exposed wires can lead to an electrical fire. The heat from the wires can heat up surrounding material and moisture exposure can cause sparks.

Ensure your lights are rated for outdoor use should they be used on the outside of your home. Some lights tend to be more delicate and not weatherproofed and are intended for indoor use only. Should it rain or snow, you may find it necessary to replace all the lights on the exterior of your home.

Once the holiday season has come to an end, take down the lights. Christmas decorations and lights are not designed to be exposed to the elements 365 days a year. After an extended period of harsh weather and temperature fluctuations, wires can deteriorate. This means that you could risk an electrical fire if you do not replace the lights. Saving time and effort by leaving your lights up year-long can cost you money.

When connecting strands of lights, check each connection carefully so that it is tight and secure. The connection prongs can become exposed during wind gusts. If they are already exposed you can risk experiencing electrical surges when exposed elements come in contact with the elements.

You also want to avoid overloading power outlets and extension cords. Too many strands attached to the same extension cord, or chained extension cords can be dangerous. A good rule of thumb is to limit the strand length to no more than three chains of lights.

The Christmas season can be warm and inviting, but without the proper precautions you can risk losing more than just a few presents under the tree. Take some extra time when decorating this season to ensure that your family and home are protected. For more information or for a help from a licensed electrician, contact your local Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.