Most homeowners typically don’t give their electrical systems a whole lot of thought, and we wouldn’t expect them to. However, with the increasing demands we place on these systems—with the purchase of high efficiency appliances and devices such as smart phones and tablets—it is important to consider your safety as well as the effectiveness of your electrical system.

One of the most effective ways to keep your electrical outlets throughout your home as safe as possible is by installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets in areas that need them the most. These areas include places where you use plumbing, since the main function of these outlets is to shut off the power if there is any risk of electrical shock near a water source.

Chances are, you already have a couple GFCI outlets installed somewhere in your home. You’ll recognize them as the outlets that have a “test” and “reset” button. As mentioned above, they are most used in areas with water sources—so bathrooms and kitchens. However, if you have an older home with outdated wiring, this may not be the case. In some cases you might even need rewiring services just to allow for the installation of GFCI outlets.

While bathrooms and kitchens are the most important locations for these outlets, they are not the only spaces that will benefit from them. You may want to consider GFCI outlet installation in your laundry room, crawlspace, basement, utility room, or even your garage.

Many homeowners with small children choose to update the entire home for safety purposes. Additionally, you might want to consider Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) outlet installation as well. Unlike ground faults—which can lead to electric shocks—arc faults are caused by damaged wires and can lead to fire.

Southern California residents are fortunate in the fact the winters are fairly mild, but you will need to run the heater from time to time. You can save a lot of money on heating costs by following these tips presented by your Los Angeles electrician. The team at The Electric Connection can help you get your home ready for what very well may be a very long, cold winter.

Keeping your house warm can be difficult if it isn’t properly insulated. Do your best to make sure your attic space is insulated. Another helpful tool to keeping in the air you pay to heat inside where you want it is by adding weather stripping around doors and windows. This will take care of those cold drafts that seep in around the spaces. The stripping includes sticky tape that is easily peeled off and stuck to the door and window jams. It is fairly inexpensive, but can save you a great deal of money on heating AND cooling costs. It won’t be visible and can also reduce the sound that comes through those small cracks.

Another option that is very helpful during the cooler months as well as the summer months is a ceiling fan installed by an electrician. Los Angeles residents can help reduce heating costs with the installation of a ceiling fan. The fan blades will push the hot air that rises up to the ceiling back down into the living space. The hot air in the room will keep the thermostat from kicking the furnace on repeatedly. This is where the cost savings is. Your ceiling fan can also act as a light fixture in the room. Remote controls are an option if you have high ceilings. If you are ready to take the next step in fighting high heating bills, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Photo via Kickstarter.com

Bosua didn’t design this light with merely lethargy in mind – its technological advancements also have the potential to improve your wellbeing. Here are a few things you can do with the LIFX:

While some of these features may seem silly or impractical (I’m sure not everyone reading this has robot dance parties on the regular) I believe there are 2 notable features that make this LED worth a try:

1. Energy Savings. For the equivalent brightness of a 60W incandescent, this light only uses about 10 watts of energy. Plus, by programming it to turn off when you’re gone and dim automatically, you can save even more energy with minimal effort. The creators also say the LIFX will last up to 25 years, so you won’t need to replace them for a very long time.

2. Changing Colors. While at first, turning your lights from blue to red to green might seem a little superfluous, if you spend long periods of time indoors under the same white, bright lights, it can start to mess with your circadian rhythms. Studies like Photo via Kickstarter.com

And if you ever lose your phone, don’t worry, because these lights still work with standard switches too.

The LIFX project is funded through Kickstarter, and light bulbs will start shipping in March of 2013.