Kitchens play such an important role in your home. They are essentially the hub of your home’s operation. Because of this, you want it to be somewhere you love to be. You may already have the kitchen of your dreams or you may still be saving up for that big remodel. While you are waiting to get those granite countertops and new appliances, you can help pass the time with some modern lighting upgrades that are very affordable. And, they can actually help you save a little money on your electric bill, which you can put towards the big remodel.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can spruce up your kitchen, contact your electrician. Burbank residents can rely on The Electric Connection to provide superior service that will exceed their expectations. A new light in your kitchen, especially if it is extremely outdated, can be more energy efficient. Electrical jobs should always be left to a professional due to the hazards of working with electricity.

Track lighting is a popular option and one track can be used to provide plenty of light for the whole kitchen. The lights can be directed at various areas on countertops, over the kitchen sink or over a center island. Recessed lighting is another option and is extremely handy for kitchens with hanging pot racks. If you are planning on one of these fixtures, talk about installing recessed lighting with your electrician. Burbank homeowners have a ton of possibilities. Take a trip to the hardware store and check out all of the beautiful light fixtures and find the ones that appeal to you. Look for the Energy Star sticker for fixtures that are energy efficient.

Once you have made your decision, give The Electric Connection a call. We would be happy to schedule an appointment to give your kitchen a mini-makeover.

Wiring problems in the home are the most serious issues that owners should address, as these deficiencies could lead to serious property damage if overlooked. It's true that a house's plumbing could cost residents a lot of money to repair if it is compromised - even forcing them to renovate all or part of the property - but fire is among the most destructive forces known to man, and it could easily consume an entire home if it spreads quickly through a faulty electrical system.

One of the many causes of house fires is poorly protected wiring. Where two wires meet, it is required in standard building codes that proper wire junctions and terminations be installed.

In the case of two or more wires that are being joined, each junction point needs to be properly nutted using electrical-grade connectors. After this, wires need to be enclosed in a metal junction box, which will contain the connection completely so that if it is weak and produces sparks, the beams hoisting the wires won't be exposed.

If a wire is disconnected from a source, it too needs to be nutted correctly and contained in a termination box. This way, should the wire be re-energized accidentally, it will be fully enclosed, protecting the wooden supports from potential flames.

Every year, we see dozens of do-it-yourself jobs go horribly wrong. While our trained and certified electricians can fix the issue, the property owner who tried (and failed) to do the job in the first place probably made it worse. Even if that supposedly simple job sounds easy and you find yourself reasonably handy, you should never attempt to do it yourself. Here are three reasons why you should always hire a professional.

The first and perhaps most serious risk associated with DIY work is injury. Electricity is no joking matter—it’s a powerful force with the ability to change your life in a sheer instant. The current that’s flowing through your walls has the ability to seriously injure you in a split second, and could even kill you in serious situations. You should never take working with electricity lightly, and you shouldn’t even attempt to work with it unless you’ve had extensive training and know how to do so properly.

We hear of too many people who are injured while trying to work with electricity and they fail to notice a hazard or are unaware of a potential problem. Our technicians have all been trained through years of education, practical application, and apprenticeship in order to become a certified electrician. We know how to properly handle electricity and can do so with minimal injury risk.

Are you trying to install a new appliance you just purchased? What about something larger, such as installing a ceiling fan or changing over to recessed lighting? These are all things you should trust to a professional. Not only can a professional do so quickly and cleanly to avoid the mess often caused by a lack of experience, but you can avoid potentially damaging your new purchase as well.

Lack of experience frequently can melt the wires or overload circuits through improper installation, which can ruin your brand new device, and may even void the warranty on it in some situations. If you want your new home appliance installed correctly, trust a professional to do it right the first time.

Hundreds of fires are started by faults in electrical systems every year, such as shoddy connections, low-gauge wire choice, or even loose wires left dangling. These are not only against code, but extremely dangerous and could spark at any moment. Sparks cause fire, which will damage your home considerably. A professional Marietta electrician is well-versed in the ever-changing electrical code rulebook and can do the job you need while adhering to these rules and minimizing your fire risk.

Electrical systems, regardless of how advanced the technology is or how well they are installed, can fail and require repairs from time to time. Now, the average Joe knows how to change a bulb or even check a fuse but beyond that, it’s best to leave the job to the professionals. Safety is a major reason, as you never know the risk involved in any electrical problem around the house. It is best to let a trained technician deal with the matter on hand than taking a chance by attempting it yourself. However, you might be confused when selecting an electrician to hire.

This one is a no-brainer. The local electrician will be able to reach you quicker as he has to travel a shorter distance and this can come in handy if you an electrical emergency on hand. On the other hand, any electrical service located at a distance might take a few hours to send over their personnel to you by which time the damage would have exacerbated and you could be left with a large repair bill. Regardless of the extent of the problem, having it dealt with without delay is a good idea and this is where hiring a local electrician is the best option. And you won’t have to explain the route to him either!

As mentioned above, the shorter commute and the less time taken to get to your home means the electrician will charge you less money. Generally, professional electricians charge by the hour and they include the time of travel in that bill. By opting for a local electrical service, you can lower this cost and only pay for the labor and material. Not to mention, it can be a hassle for an electrician to have to travel a long distance to get to you, especially if the project is going to take a number of days.

You might have done a fine job of explaining the problem over the phone but the real extent of the damage will only be discovered once the electrician is on your premises and examining the damage. Now, this could mean he needs supplies or tools that he doesn’t have on hand. This isn’t a concern with a local electrician as he can get the materials he need delivered right away or even go and get them himself without wasting much time. Also, he would know the area which means he knows where to buy any stuff required to get the job done. This means the work will be finished quicker.

A local electrician will do his best to impress you with the quality of work to convince you to refer him to your friends and relatives. This is one advantage of hiring a local electrician not many people consider. This also means you can ask the people in your neighborhood if they have availed his services and whether or not they are satisfied with them. Just because he is located near you doesn’t mean he will not do a competent job. His bread and butter depend on the quality of service he provides, so you can expect no problems in terms of quality.

With electrical projects, you never know when a project ends up taking more time than budgeted for due to some reason. Now, professional electricians generally don’t like to stay beyond the time they had decided for when they came over initially. With a local electrician, you have some wiggle room because of his shorter commute and the fact that he is likely to get referrals from you. So, if the work ends up taking more time than anticipated, it is likely he would stay back and finish the job without any extra charges.

So, the next time you encounter an electrical problem you feel requires a professional to deal with, call in a local electrician!

For many homeowners, the presence of a smoke alarm within the home equates to pretty much background noise. You might ask about it upon purchase, or make sure there is one within your home that may or may not work. This shouldn’t be the case! A smoke alarm just might be the single factor between heading off a dangerous situation and major property loss. At Hoffman Electrical, your safety always comes first, and we would like to take a moment to let you know why adequate smoke alarms within your home are of the utmost importance to your safety.

For professional  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are nearly a million home fires in the United States each year. That’s nearly one in every three hundred United States homes! That is a concerning statistic, and damages include property damage and loss, and possible injury or loss of life. Ensuring you have the best chance possible of detecting, preparing for, escaping or mitigating a home fire is absolutely crucial.

If you’re in need of fire alarm installation, don’t hesitate to call Hoffman Electrical! The longer you wait, the greater the chance of extensive property damage and injuries! When you choose Hoffman Electrical, you receive: