Businesses cannot afford an interruption in their equipment use and faulty wiring or wiring that is not adequate could ultimately cost the business money. Lighting that does not work properly is also bad for business. It reflects negatively on the establishment and could very well turn customers away. If you want to avoid lost revenue, you will need to fix any electrical issues promptly. The Electric Connection is one business who understands your needs and has the experience necessary to do commercial work.

Picking the Right Electrician for Your Commercial Job

When looking for a commercial electrician, you want to ensure your business is represented by somebody who is professional and courteous. In many cases, the electrician will be in sight of customers and may need to interact with them from time to time. You will want to pick a company whose technicians are neat and tidy. The last thing you need is an individual who is disheveled and making a mess of your space. Another important tip when it comes to choosing an electrician in Glendale is to consider your budget. It is important to get quotes about a job before you hire anybody. Contractors and electricians will have to work together and coordinate in order to get the job done according to schedule. Any electrician who will be performing work should be licensed, bonded and insured. It doesn’t hurt to check the company rating with the Better Business Bureau as well.

Many of us have considered underfloor heating, especially when we step into the bathroom during a harsh Des Moines winter. Today, our electricians will share many benefits to underfloor heating that you may not have considered. You may find that there is more to underfloor heating than simply a warmer bathroom floor (although that is nice).

Underfloor heating spreads evenly dispersed, rising heat throughout your room’s flooring; heat emanating from the floor warms the air, which then rises toward the ceiling before cooling and falling, only to encounter more warm, rising air. This creates a pocket of cool air stuck in the ceiling of your room, leaving the space from floor to head height a comfortable, warm temperature. Additionally, since the heat doesn’t come from a single source (vent, radiator, etc.), there are no hot or cool spots in the room, the entire space is even heated.

Each room that has an underfloor heating system installed will have its own corresponding thermostat, which effectively removes the need to heat each room to achieve a desired temperature in a single room. For instance, during the night, your home could be relatively cool, except in bedrooms; likewise, certain floors can be kept at a cooler temperature when not in use during daylight hours. This can heavily cut down on energy costs when compared to inefficient whole-house heating systems.

The homes of today are more open and airy than ever, with open-concept living dominating real estate markets across the country. Open spaces are notoriously difficult to heat with radiation or forced air systems, which can create undesirable warm and cool zones in the space. By contrast, underfloor heating works excellently in larger, more open spaces.

In addition to the better, steady stream of heat found in your rooms, you will enjoy a comfortable warming underfoot. While this may seem like a feeling reserved for luxury homes, many other countries use underfloor heaters almost exclusively in new construction for its comfort and efficiency. You will no longer have to hope and wait for the furnace or radiator to kick on for warmth to flood your room, instead you will enjoy a steady stream of warmth coming from beneath.

If you’ve ever renovated a home with radiator or ventilation heating, you’ve undoubtedly had to deal with relocating or working around existing HVAC lines. Unlike traditional heating systems, underfloor heating poses little-to-no issues when renovating or remodeling your rooms. Plus, since professionally installed underfloor heating is compatible with most flooring types, you won’t find yourself limited in choices for placing an all-new flooring over your heating system.

Underfloor heating may require a bit more planning and investment to install than fixing an old furnace system would, but the benefits you can gain by adding it to one or more rooms in your home are worth the effort. Be sure to consult one of our Des Moines electricians with your plans for underfloor heating prior to construction for best results, advice, and electrical installation.

Get in touch with our Des Moines electricians today!

By Lindsay Mirick

When lightning strikes and thunder rolls, will you be prepared for the power surges that follow? When you think about storm proofing your home, power surge protection may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, getting caught in a power surge during a storm without protection could leave you with some very expensive, very useless electronics. Mr. Electric has reasons why...

Many homeowners have the idea that surge protection is simply a matter of plugging their devices into a low-cost, multi-outlet surge suppressor. However, we all know that the cheapest option isn’t always the best option, and making exceptions can lead to more expensive consequences in the long run.

If you think about it, adding surge protection to your home costs very little in comparison to the replacement of your electronics. A single surge can follow any wire into a house and threaten televisions, computers, appliances, satellite systems, phone and cable lines, and any other electrical devices you can think of.

The cost of replacing a single large home appliance such as a washer or dryer will likely cost you double the investment of a whole house surge protector. According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurers paid over $673 million in lightning claims in 2013 alone. In the three years prior, approximately $1 billion was paid annually to policyholders.

Most people associate power surges with lighting strikes. However, many things both outside and inside the home can cause them. Outside the home, events such as power outages and power transitions in large equipment on the same power line can introduce damaging power surges on your electric lines. Inside the home reengaging trip circuit breakers or switching of pool pumps, AC units, and other devices with large motors can also introduce power surges onto your electric wiring. To effectively protect your home from these damaging surges, you need to implement whole house surge protection .

Ask yourself if can you afford to live without surge protection. A few hundred dollars isn’t much when you compare it to the cost of replacing some of your most cherished possessions, not to mention the inconvenience of living without them until they can be replaced.

Trust us to keep your valuables safe and let us power your tomorrow. Call Mr. Electric today!

Air conditioning systems are complex electro-magnetic appliances that can very easily have an electrical issue develop at one time or another. If there is any time that safety trumps convenience, it’s when you have an electrical problem. So, be sure to contact the professionals on our team if you suspect you have an AC electrical problem, as our staff is highly trained and licensed to do this type of work. First though, you should understand what some of the most common AC electrical problems are.

Your AC system houses 3 different motors: 2 fan motors—the condenser and indoor blower—and the compressor motor. Since your AC system functions on an alternating current, these motors require 2 capacitors—a start capacitor and a run capacitor—that helps your AC start up and maintain its electrical flow. When you run into an issue with either capacitor on any of the motors, then you’ll probably observe stuttering at start-up, intermittent operational problems, or even a total breakdown of the motor itself.

There are many wires running throughout your AC system. With natural wear and tear over the years, these wires can begin to fray, corrode or disconnect. This can cause issues with electrical flow and overall operation. Locating faulty wiring can be tricky and should only be left to trained professionals.

Your AC draws enough power that it requires its own breaker in your home’s electrical panel. Because of the intense demands on this system, problems can develop. Common issues are related to a breaker that is faulty, undersized, or loose. While loose breakers may be tightened, an undersized or faulty breaker has to be replaced by an electrician who has the knowledge of how to do so safely and accurately.