Nothing is more important than your family's safety. That's why you need to make every effort to identify and eliminate fire risks in and around your home, particularly in your electrical work. Faulty wiring, delayed maintenance or carelessness can lead to a disaster that can cost you your home and endanger your life. Read on to learn more about the most common causes of electrical fires and how you can prevent them.

Power in Percentages

Electrical failures contributed to about 47,700 home structural fires in 2011, according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Those fires resulted in 418 deaths and $1.4 billion in damage. Clearly, the stakes are high in making sure that the electrical work is safely installed in your home.

According to the NFPA's report, 48 percent of home fires caused by electrical failure were started by the electrical distribution and/or lighting systems. Of that 48 percent, 63 percent were started by wiring, 20 percent by lighting, 11 percent by cords and plugs, and 6 percent by transformers and power supplies.

Fans caused an additional 6 percent of electrical fires, washers and dryers another 6 percent, space heaters 4 percent, air conditioning 4 percent, water heaters 3 percent and stovetop ranges 3 percent.

Don't Become a Statistic

The good news is that electrical fires have declined steadily since the 1980s. Modern technologies and building techniques have lowered the risk of fire and kept everyone safer. However, there's no reason to be complacent when it comes to safety. To decrease your risk of falling victim to a fire caused by your electrical system, follow these tips:

Keeping Your Family Secure

Stay vigilant about maintaining your electrical equipment and follow all safety recommendations to reduce your risk to a minimum. If you are concerned that your home is at risk of fire, have a qualified electrician inspect your electrical work and point out any danger areas without delay.

There is something for everyone with Lighting Designs from Lite Source Inc. newly available at  1800lighting.com!

Get the lighting that grows with you!  Lite Source Inc. is the source for classic styling and fashion forward lighting designs for the entire family.  Maybe you are looking for sleek LED adjustable bedside reading lamps, or novelty theme-based lamps for your child’s bedroom—Lite Source Inc. has got you covered!

Perhaps you are searching for the perfect Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift? Check out new magnifying/reading lamps from Lite Source Inc.’s outstanding desk/task lamp collections.  If you are thinking about updating your den or family room, you will find unique table lamps that are affordable and superbly crafted.

New lighting concepts from Lite Source include classic chandeliers for your dining area, fabulous accent lamps for your night tables, and whimsical bedroom lighting to deliver that personalized touch to your child’s bedroom.

Browse a remarkable selection of lighting, including Classic, Elite and Kids styled lighting categories.  Portable lamps, ceiling light fixtures, wall lamps, clip-on lights, adjustable table and floor lamps—fulfill all your lighting needs with marvelous finds from Lite Source at 1800lighting.com.

Styles include traditional, contemporary and transitional, as well as, accent and office/task lighting compositions.  The finest materials-ceramic, crystal, glass, metal and wood-are combined in artfully captivating lighting designs from Lite Source.

Lite Source maintains a large headquarters in California and has showrooms in major US cities, including Dallas, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Lite Source team works hard to bring you the best in novel lighting designs and the ultimate in easy and affordable task and accent lamps.

Dynamic designs, outstanding functional lighting compositions, the latest in lighting technology—you get it all from Lite Source Inc. On board with state-of-the art lighting styles, lamps from Lite Source include LED (light emitting diode), CFL (compact fluorescent) and energy-efficient halogen.  With a myriad of illuminating choices combined with advanced performance, you will find exactly what you are looking for to complete your lighting design.

Lite Source remains true to its commitment to provide you the largest selection of fashion forward lighting that is timeless, top quality and always in style.  See for yourself—visit 1800lighting.com and enjoy the fabulous Lite Source line of lighting products designed with something for everyone from the very young to the fashion conscious mature adult!

Update your den or living room with the contemporary geometric LS-22078 “Nizanna” table lamp featuring a Polished Steel/ Dark Walnut finish and White Fabric Shade.

Illuminate your room with the attractive two-tone LS-5750 “Relaxar” flushmount fixture.

See these lighting designs and browse the entire collection of Lite Source Inc. at 1800lighting.com.

solar lights to our online store, and there are a handful that I’ve been ogling since the day they took residence on our site. In a strictly professional quest to gain a better understanding of our product offerings (wink, wink) I requested some products for thorough evaluation. The first item to take the spotlight: The Solar LED White Washed Metal Lantern:

The Nitty Gritty:

This lantern would be an attractive addition to just about any style or decor. Use it with a beachy/coastal home or a rustic mountain cabin. I probably wouldn’t choose it as a decoration for an ultra-modern home, as it has a very vintage look.

Gas prices are fabulous—right now. We all know it is only a matter of time before the gas prices creep back up and we will once again be forced to pull from other areas of our monthly budget to afford to drive our vehicles. Many people have already made the switch to electric cars in an attempt to save money on their gas bills while reducing the strain on natural resources. There are plenty of different models of electric cars available that are sure to suit your needs. When you make an electric car purchase, you will likely also buy a charging station for you car. An electrician in Pasadena has some vital information for you. The team at The Electric Connection can also help answer questions about the electrical requirements of your electric car charging station.

When you buy your car, you will have the choice to buy a Level I or a Level II charging station. A Level I station is essentially a trickle charger. It sends a small charge to your car and can take upwards of 24 hours to fully charge the car. This charging station can be plugged into a standard outlet. However, it will need to be the only item plugged into that outlet and should be on its own breaker. If you need additional outlets or breakers, your electrician can take care of that for you.

A Level II charger is a fast charging system that typically fully charges a car in about 8 hours. This charging station requires a 240-volt outlet, which is not standard in your garage. It is a special outlet that will require installation by an electrician experienced with Pasadena electrical requirements. An inspection of your breaker panel will need to be conducted to make sure you have room for an additional breaker dedicated to your fast charging station. These are all things your electrician will evaluate on the first call. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your consultation.