With the explosion of home renovation shows such as House Detective, Holmes On Homes and Income Property, you would be hard pressed to find the person who isn’t aware that any renovation of an older home would require the specialized services of a licensed, qualified electrician. Often conjuring up images of the older, ‘quaint’, 40+ year-old home, the word “renovation” has almost become synonymous with a neglected home in disrepair, complete with bundles of wiring that could pass for extension cords. Obvious stuff that would appear glaringly unsafe to the average person.

What doesn’t come to mind is your typical, one or two-story home built anywhere from the 1980’s to early 2000’s.  But in today’s housing market, doing a kitchen and bath remodel could mean the difference between a sale and seeing no movement at all. Whether it’s to compete with newly built homes in a weak housing market or to increase the value and enjoyment of one’s home, a homeowner would be prudent to consult a licensed electrician when making any updates to their home. There can be unforeseen dangers when combining newer, modern appliances and lighting with existing wiring and a licensed electrician can inspect and update your home’s electrical framework, ensuring its safety and increasing energy efficiency.

In a case of one trend bringing about another, the increasing popularity of in-home offices and theater rooms has  sparked the inclusion of structured wiring, or heavy-duty electrical and data cables designed to manage the latest (and yet-to-be-invented) electrical devices. Take into account that almost 50% of new homes built in 2008 included structured wiring and you can see that this trend could very well become the norm in the near future.

For questions or a free consultation and estimate on updating your home’s electrical infrastructure, call Bryant Electric Service at 512-402-8587.

From twisted to swinging, the top 5 LED pendant lights award the most sophisticated styling and sensational lighting effects.  Here are our top picks from the Dallas Market Center…

1.  “Swing” from WAC Lighting’s Modern Forms

“Swing” from Modern Forms presents a playful, yet powerful geometric filled with sparkling Art Glass encased in Polished Chrome.  These 10-inch mini pendants may be artistically grouped in a linear or circular pattern to deliver superb LED illumination.

2.  “Manette Grande” from Tech Lighting

“Manette Grande” from Tech Lighting adds a sleek and versatile sophistication to this contemporary cylindrical composition.  A myriad of finish options, including Antique Bronze, Black and Satin Nickel,  combined with custom mix-and-match hand-blown glass in a choice of Clear, Smoke or White makes for a winning presentation.

3.  “Helix” from Hubbardton Forge

“Helix” from Hubbardton Forge is magnificently twisted and tastefully tapered in this minimalistic contemporary style.  Superb finish options include Natural Iron, Mahogany and Burnished Steel for a classic ensemble to highlight interior design schemes from retro-casual to modern-formal.

4.  “Masque Grande” from Tech Lighting

“Masque Grande” from Tech Lighting delivers gently diffused illumination in a modern-contemporary 22-inch Energy Smart pendant.  The blown glass shade is available in choice combinations:  Clear-White, Smoke-Black and Smoke-Gray with finish options in Black, Satin Nickel or White for a cleverly defined and robust illumination.

 5.  “Light Spheres” from ELK Lighting

“Light Spheres” from ELK Lighting dazzles with hundreds of LED light sources within Chrome plated glass balls and a laser-cut Stainless Steel frame.  Floating elegance and remarkable illuminating effects bring this pendant light to the top of the A-list.

The Dallas Market Center, home of the American Lighting Association (ALA), is the most complete wholesale merchandise resource for home decor and the lighting industry.  Attracting buyers and exhibitors from around the world, the Dallas Market Center is where the “best of the best” introduce new products, including the latest giftware, decorative accent pieces, garden accessories, and–of course–outstanding LIGHTING designs!

When you are shopping for a new home, you have a lot of things on your mind. You want to find the perfect place to live, in a great neighborhood and you do not want to break your budget. However, there is one other thing you want to keep in mind—the electrical system. While you will have a home inspector check the house and he will check the basic electrical system as part of the whole house survey, it is good to make a few basic checks yourself too. You can call an electrician Burbank from Electric Connection to help you. However, if you want to check some things yourself, here are a few things to keep in mind.

These are just a few of the things that you need to keep in mind as far as the electrical system in a home you are considering purchasing. Remember, if you ever have questions or concerns during the process, call your electrician in Burbank—Electric Connection.

When it comes to your home electrical system, safety should be your number one priority. Electricity can be dangerous when your wiring isn't connected properly, and a house fire can rip through your home and possessions with alarming speed, putting you and your family's very lives at risk. One common cause of fires is an electrical arc in the circuits behind your walls, when current jumps on an unplanned path from one conductor to another, potentially igniting wood or insulation along the way. Fortunately, you can protect your home against electrical arcs with arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs). Read on to learn more.

Your Electrician Can Keep You Safe

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were 47,700 residential fires caused by electrical failures in 2011, causing 418 deaths and $1.4 billion in damage. Any steps you can take to prevent becoming a victim to one of these disastrous events is money well spent. And while conventional circuit breakers will automatically shut down if a circuit shorts or gets overloaded, they are unable to detect most electrical arcs. That's where the AFCI comes in.

The AFCI works by monitoring the current passing through the circuit, searching for unusual activity that could indicate an arc. When a problem is detected, the device immediately shuts down the circuit, lowering any opportunity the arc could have to start a fire. Keep in mind that some of your appliances or equipment may intentionally create arcs, but in a safe manner – the AFCI should recognize them and only trip during dangerous arcing conditions.

Find Out if Your Family is Protected

Your local code almost definitely requires your home to include ACFIs for circuits that lead to bedrooms, and if your municipality has updated its code in the past year, it may require interrupters for every circuit in the home. However, if your home was built before 2000, it may not have AFCIs installed at all, and it may be worthwhile to make an upgrade.

If you aren't sure if you have arc fault circuit interrupters, open the door of your main panel and look inside. Circuits that have AFCI capabilities are usually indicated by a yellow or green label. If you can't tell, ask an electrician to inspect your wiring and verify whatever safety features are included. The electrician can also make recommendations about whether you should consider upgrading your circuits and give an estimate on how much it would cost.

Don't Let Your Circuits Create a Disaster

If you need help installing arc fault circuit interrupters in your home, or otherwise bringing your wiring up to code, contact an expert electrician today.