Summer is right around the corner, which, for us here in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., generally means extreme humidity, unpredictable weather patterns and, in recent years, rolling blackouts. Although we have all undoubtedly been looking forward to warmer days after this volatile past winter, summertime is not without its headaches.

It was just last summer that a massive blackout left millions along the Atlantic Coast without power after devastating thunderstorms downed tree limbs and power lines across the region on June 30. Shortly after the power outage, the state of Maryland ordered a heat advisory, warning elderly and infirmed individuals to stay indoors. However, because of the blackout, millions were left without the air conditioning they relied upon to make temperatures indoors more tolerable. As a result, area hospitals that were already crowded following the storms were flooded with even more patients suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Older homes have a very distinctive look and feel and some people prefer to invest in older properties, rather than in a newer one. These homes have an old world charm and offer great value too. But most of these homes also have older installations and some basic upgrades and improvements can give them a new lease of life.

While most property owners do get the house painted, add new features and furniture etc. very few consider getting the extension cord doesn’t have the capacity to power multiple devices simultaneously. The safest thing to do is to get more powerpoints installed at the time you get the rewiring done. When you are planning this installation, take into account the number of appliances used in your home and get that number of (or more) power points fitted in the different rooms.

One of the best ways to relax outdoors is by sitting in your own private hot tub. After a long hard day at work, a soak in the hot tub can help rinse away all the stresses of work and life in general. A hot tub is also a great way to entertain a few friends on the weekend. Once you have picked out the tub that you have been dreaming of, the next step is getting it set up and ready for you to enjoy.

Setup

Although you may be extremely excited to start filling your new toy up with water for that first use, hot tubs require an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners will need an electrician to help wire the hot tub to the home. These wonderful devices are not something you can simply plug into the patio outlet.

The tub or sauna will need to be hard-wired into the home’s power. Typically, because of the electric requirements, a dedicated breaker will be needed. Depending on the available service, you may need an additional breaker installed.

It is not uncommon for permits to be required for the setup and installation of a hot tub. An inspection may also be needed. A qualified professional will need to make sure the hot tub is wired correctly and safely. These are all things that will need to be handled by an electrician. Santa Monica residents can call The Electric Connection to discuss the setup of their new hot tub.

Maintenance

Like anything that is run by electricity, there are times when the unit will fail. Never try and fix the hot tub yourself. In many cases, you could end up voiding your warranty by doing so. If you ever run into trouble with your hot tub, call an electrician to take a look and save yourself time and money from a voided warranty. The Electric Connection is here to help you get your hot tub up and running.