When you need electrical work, there is a good chance that you may need to get an estimate before having a Burbank electrician perform the job. One of the most frequently asked questions regarding electrical work, is about when to get an electrical estimate. There is no easy answer to this question. The short answer is that small jobs typically require no electrical estimate, while larger jobs should nearly always warrant an estimate. In a nutshell, the bigger and more complex the electrical work is, the higher the likelihood that you will need to have an estimate. If in doubt, you should always err on the side of caution, and give an electrician, such as The Electric Connection, a call to ask if an estimate is recommended.

Examples of Smaller Jobs

There are a variety of small, mostly cut and dry electrical service calls that electricians are called to complete every day. This type of work, such as having outlets installed or interior lighting replaced are fairly quick, easy jobs that most frequently require no estimate. If you just need a new outlet installed, because you are mounting your television onto the wall, your electrician in Burbank CA can typically offer you very close to a fixed price. Naturally, if they encounter anything that will make the job more complex, you will be notified shortly after they arrive. This holds true for other small jobs such as ceiling fan installation, bath fan installation, having smoke detectors replaced and more.

Examples of Larger Jobs

When you require extensive electrical work, such as a whole home rewire, you should always get at least one electrical estimate. Because this type of job can have many unforeseen factors, it can also have many unexpected costs. By getting an electrical estimate beforehand, you can save yourself from a huge headache. Furthermore, this gives you the chance to meet an electrician Burbank CA, and compare rates against others. If you are remodeling a bathroom or kitchen, or making a new addition to your home, you will also want to consider getting an estimate ahead of time.

Scheduling an Electrical Service Call

In order to begin the estimation process, you will need to schedule an electrical service call. Simply call your Burbank electrician, and find a time that is mutually convenient for both you and a technician. Before you call, however, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:

1. You should always have a clear idea of what you need before you call. This way, the proper amount of time will be scheduled for your estimate. This also gives the technician a chance to prepare ahead of time.

2. Clean and clear the area in which the work is to be done. By cleaning everything up, you can save much time for yourself and the technician. Rather than spending the appointment clearing clutter and furniture, you can focus on what is important: the work that you need done.

3. Always be courteous, both on the phone and during the appointment.

Because your electrician in Burbank CA most likely works on an hourly rate, rather than fixed prices, always keep in mind that estimates are just that: estimates. While they will try to provide you with the most accurate quote possible, there is always a chance that the cost may go over. In order to avoid this, many electricians use an in-place estimate model. If you have a medium sized job, for example, a technician may visit your home and start working immediately. If they are not able to complete the job after 30 minutes, they will provide you with a full assessment, recommendation and fixed price for the job. This type of estimation has become very popular because it is very convenient for both the client and the electrician Burbank trusts most.

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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.

As you go through your home and do some spring cleaning, you are probably doing some needed updates to your home. While you are taking care of jobs that have been stacking up for months, you should also consider evaluating the safety of your home. Things like smoke detectors are often overlooked. We are so used to seeing them in the corner of the room, you rarely give them much thought, that is until you need them. An electrician in Pasadena can install hard-wired smoke detectors that really can be forgotten about, but will still work. That is important. You can rely on The Electric Connection to send out an experienced electrician to complete the installation for you.

Smoke detectors are typically out of sight, out of mind, until they start chirping to remind you the battery is low. If the chirping is ignored, the battery will die and the smoke detector will become nothing more than a fixture on the ceiling. With hard-wired smoke detectors, you don’t have to worry about the batteries going dead and your home left vulnerable. The smoke detectors are wired directly into your home’s main power. As long as your home has power, your smoke detectors will work. There is also a spot for backup batteries in case of a power outage.

When the Pasadena electrician installs the smoke detectors, you will get the added safety feature of all the smoke detectors being interlinked. When one detector goes off, every detector that is hard-wired will sound. This can add several seconds to your alert time. If you have ever seen a house fire or been involved in one, you know how fast it can go. Every second counts. If you are ready to add an additional layer of safety to your home, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your installation.