Summer storms can get pretty wild with raging winds and crazy rain and hail. Power companies do their best to build power grids that can withstand some of the worst Mother Nature has to offer, but it isn’t always enough. There are times when power lines get taken down and residents are left sitting in the dark. Brief outages are not usually an issue, but outages that extend for several hours can be devastating. Any food in the refrigerator and freezer will likely need to be tossed resulting in an expensive waste of food. An electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you prevent damage by installing a standby generator.

A standby generator can save you from losing all the food that would otherwise become unsafe to eat after an extended power outage. The generators can also keep your life as normal as possible despite a raging storm right outside your windows. Families with young children are likely familiar with the need to maintain a normal routine that will keep the kids feeling safe. Lights are another major factor. Lights add comfort and security. It can be dangerous walking around your house in the dark.

Because the generator will need to be wired directly into your home’s electric panel, it is important to hire somebody who is familiar with Glendale electrical codes and standards. Once the installation is complete, you won’t have to worry about doing anything else. The generator automatically turns within seconds of the main power grid failing.

There are various sizes of generators and you will want to choose one based on your power needs. You can discuss this with your electrician before buying the generator. If you are ready to schedule your generator installation or have any questions about generators, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Halloween is no doubt one of the most festive times of the year and decorating for the season is a fun and cherished pastime enjoyed by many families. Unfortunately, as almost all Dallas Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. would like for you and your family to enjoy the ghoulish festivities while practicing electrical safety, so here are a few tips for making the most out of decorating for this exciting time of year.

The Hazards of Halloween Decor

When people talk about Halloween decorations, they’re often thinking about lots of lights combined with smoke machines, spiderwebs and paper decorations, all of which can be cheaply made. The down side of these homemade special effects is that many of these decorations are made of highly flammable material which, if left unattended and in close proximity to electrical lighting, can be anything but fun.

Another problem that often arises from Halloween decorating comes from using electrical lighting and components with electrical wiring that has become cracked and damaged over time. Any cracks in the insulation or damage to the wires can prove frightening and sometimes even deadly. Furthermore, heavy usage of lighting and decorations that require electricity can put a strain on extension cords, power strips and electrical outlets in your home, straining your home’s circuits.

Tips for Safe Decorating

You don’t have to leave the Halloween spirit behind to celebrate safely. Follow these easy-to-remember safety tips when Halloween decorating with your family for the ultimate ghoulish celebration:

If you are working with electricity, it is important to know how to safely install an organized electric wiring layout.  Fires and accidents can be caused by faulty electric wiring layouts, so it’s important to be able to recognize potential hazards and avoid them whenever possible.

Although this job may be The electric wiring layout for your home will vary according to what room you are doing the wiring for. In any case, it’s a good idea to draw a diagram of the layout first. The diagram will help you determine what lighting or appliances are needed, where they will be located and what sort of outlets will be necessary for each item.

Next you should determine which tools and Because it is so important to have your electric wiring layout installed safely, here are a few tips you should be aware of during the installation process:

Over the last few years, talk about LED lights has become more commonplace. As there is a global trend to become more economically friendly, it is no surprise that more people are switching to LED lights. LED lights, which stand for ‘light emitting diodes’, are not only ecologically sound, but economical as well.

Traditional fluorescent lights contain small amounts of mercury. Mercury is extremely hazardous to the environment but humans as well. If you come into contact or inhale mercury, it can be very dangerous and negatively impact your health. Fluorescent bulbs need special care to dispose of properly. LED lights do not contain any hazardous or poisonous material and are 100% recyclable. This means you can have peace of mind when disposing of your LED bulbs and know that the impact on the earth is minimal.

When we say energy efficient, this means that it takes less electricity to convert into light. Part of the reasons that LED bulbs are more efficient is because they do not heat up as much. Less energy is lost in heat so the electrical energy that flows in can go directly to light. Traditional bulbs tend to run at 20% efficiency where as LED bulbs can run at 80% efficiency. Practically speaking, if you are using LED bulbs in your home you are looking at large saving increases on your monthly electrical bill!

In addition to saving money on your monthly electrical bill, you will also save money by replacing your light bulbs less frequently. Standard light bulbs have a life span of 800 to 1,500 hours, while fluorescent bulbs can last up to 10,000 hours. LEDs on the other hand can last up to 60,000 hours! You can run for years without needing to replace an LED bulb. So while LEDs are more expensive initially, they are a wise investment in the long run.

Although the number of benefits of using LED lights is quite long, these are just a small number of ways that LED bulbs help the environment and your pocketbook.