When is it Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Work?

You can't see the electrical wiring in your home, but it’s integral to your day-to-day life. The electrical work behind your walls is responsible for lighting your home, powering your microwave and electric stove, running the air conditioning and so much more. So while your electrical work might be out of sight and out of mind, you'll definitely notice if something goes wrong. That's why you should prevent electrical problems before they start by evaluating your wiring and planning upgrades if your system turns out to be damaged, out-of-date, dangerous or otherwise not up to the standard required for modern homes.

Update Outdated or Dangerous Wiring

There are a number of reasons why your electrical work could be in need of an update. One of the most important, and potentially most expensive, is if you have an outdated wiring system running through your home. Homes built in the 1970s or earlier could have aluminum wiring, or even worse, knob and tube wiring – neither of which was designed to carry the amount of electricity necessary for today's households. If you have one of these systems in your home, you might be able to increase your home’s electrical capacity and improve its safety by replacing that infrastructure with modern copper wiring.

Even if you have a modern wiring system, problems like corrosion or damaged wiring may be undetected and worsening. That's a serious hazard hidden in your walls that you might not know about until it's too late. There could also be other dangers in your electrical work, like shoddy connections in your circuit box, too many outlets on a circuit, or a lack of proper grounding.

Look for Expert Guidance

If your electrical work seems like it's performing fine for now, that doesn’t mean there’s no reason to check it out. First and foremost, old wiring puts you at increased risk of an electric fire, which is a risk to both your property and your life. Furthermore, many home insurance agencies won't issue you coverage, or will charge increased premiums, if there is outdated electrical work. Old wiring also may not be up to your municipality's current local building code. Although existing homes are generally grandfathered into compliance if they don't meet new standards, you may be required to make updates to bring the system up to code if you perform any electrical work on your home in the future.

Properly evaluating the safety of a home electrical system is beyond the ability of most homeowners, let alone performing major upgrades like rewiring the home. If you have any doubts about the age or status of your home electrical work, call a qualified electrician today to advise you and make any necessary updates or repairs.

As you walk around your house trying to find ways to save a few dollars here and there on your electric bill, you may be overlooking the obvious. Your current light bulbs. You have probably seen the more expensive light bulbs in the spiral shape in the stores but may have passed over them in favor of the less expensive bulbs. Your electrician in Glendale is here to tell you, you may be costing yourself more money by choosing those cheaper bulbs.

The experienced professionals at The Electric Connection can answer any questions you have about energy savings. One of the easiest things you can do is to start changing out your current halogen bulbs for the more energy efficient Compact Florescent Bulbs or what are simply referred to as CFLs. A CFL uses 75 percent less energy than the old standard bulbs.

Your light usage in your home probably accounts for maybe $20 on an average $100 monthly electric bill. So, if you replace each of your current energy hogging bulbs with CFLs, you could potentially safe about $15 on your electric bill. While that is not a massive amount of savings, it will certainly add up. Don’t be fooled by the word florescent. There is no eerie yellow or green glow. They are available in a variety of colors depending on your preference. If you have more questions, you can ask your electrician. Glendale residents may also want to consider replacing outdated lighting fixtures with more modern energy efficient fixtures.

This is a job for a certified electrician. While there, the electrician can install dimmer switches on lights that do not need to be at full power all of the time. These dimmers give you the freedom to have just a little light or a lot, depending on what your needs are. Call The Electric Connection today to learn more about dimmer switches and how they can help you.

If you are considering having solar panels installed for your home, there are several reasons why that is a good idea. Not only are they energy efficient, they will also assist in reducing your electricity use. Solar panels also notably shrink your carbon footprint.

Solar Panels Are Affordable

Almost immediately upon installation, solar panels begin generating electricity. You will see the cost of your electricity bill begin to significantly decrease. Besides the fact that you will be saving money on your monthly usage bill, you can also look into a program that allows you to have solar panels installed with no money down. The cost of solar panels can actually be quite affordable.

Solar Panels Are Energy Efficient

If you are concerned about solar panels and the amount of energy they store for instance, if a cloud cover rolls in and sets up camp for a while, there is no need to fret. When using solar panels, the electricity runs to your home using your existing electrical wiring, and you are still connected to your area’s electrical grid. On cloudy days and during the night, your solar panels aren’t absorbing as much solar energy, but it shouldn’t effect the running of your household because you are still connected to an electrical source. It’s very similar to the concept of a hybrid vehicle that runs on both electricity and gas, because you are getting the benefit of innovative technology and a lower monthly bill, but you still have the convenience of an electric company for backup.

If you are looking for a qualified company to install solar panels, The Electric Connection has you covered. The licensed solar panel installers and technicians that are a part of this company will help you through every step of the solar panel installation process. Give The Electric Connection a call or visit our website today for more information.

You may hear the terms electrician and electrical maintenance technician and think they are the exact same position. While they do complete many of the same tasks, there is a difference. When you are searching for the best electrician Burbank has to offer, you want to understand this difference so you can make the right decision. Learn more about how an electrician and electrical maintenance technician position varies and you will be ready to make the right hire for your electrical project.

Job Differences

An electrician in Burbank is who you would call to install wiring, make electrical repairs and deal with power systems in residential and commercial properties. These experts understand wiring blueprints and can also help connect circuit breakers and transformers. An electrical maintenance technician also works with electricity, but in less complex forms. For instance one of these technicians may handle preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and repair simple switches.

Education

An electrician must complete an apprenticeship program that offers both classroom courses and extensive on the job training. He or she must also obtain proper licensing from the state or county, ensuring that all proper procedures are followed. In many cases an electrical maintenance technician will learn skills with a certification course or on the job training.

Pay and Growth

Those with electrical skills are lucky to have a bright future. Both positions are expected to grow at a rapid rate, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This same data does show the salary difference between the two positions. An electrical maintenance technician, on average, earns nearly $15,000 less per year than a licensed electrician does.

As you can see, there is a difference between the two positions. If you want a licensed and experienced electrician to tackle your electrical projects, call Electric Connection today and let one of our experts come complete your electrical project today.