In all likelihood, the electrical panel is something you’re familiar with, especially if you have an older home with older wiring. When something stops working in your home, like the refrigerator, it’s often the first thing you check.

But if you find yourself running to the electrical panel often, it’s probably not a good sign. This is just one of the many indicators that you probably need an upgrade. Here are some others:

If you are remodeling your home, you are likely changing out appliances in the kitchen or adding a few new gadgets. And if your home was designed decades ago, the electrical system was simply not made to handle all of these new systems.

As our electrical needs grow, the electrical service has to change, too. The panel is what is responsible for distributing power throughout your home, and attempting to burden an older panel with a large load of appliances could mean major electrical trouble or even a fire hazard.

Do you find yourself resetting one or more circuit breakers all too frequently? Do your lights flicker as soon as you turn on the AC or hot tub? This type of electrical trouble could signal a big problem. Call an electrician to inspect your wiring and your circuit breaker box, and make an upgrade ASAP if this is seen as the best course of action.

Finally, it may be time for an upgrade simply because you have an older panel. If you still have a fuse box, and you need to replace a fuse every time you have electrical trouble, it’s not worth it. A new circuit breaker can replace your fuse box and will be a lot easier to use, and safer too.

Besides, some older panels, even those controlled with circuit breakers, are dangerous. Federal Pacific Electric panels, for example, were widely installed in the middle of the 20th century, but it turns out that most do not trip properly a large percentage of the time, presenting a fire hazard.

A problem so many people deal with and assume there is no real solution to is bathroom lighting needs in the dead of night. Turning on the light to take care of business can be too much. It is too bright and ends up blinding you before waking you completely up and making it next to impossible for you to fall back to sleep. You may feel like you are forced to choose between complete darkness or too much light, but an electrician in Burbank has another option. The reliable team at The Electric Connection wants to help you take care of your bathroom lighting woes.

Under the Cabinet Lighting

You can add some light to the bathroom without making it completely by blinding by placing it low to the ground. A rope light placed under the lip of the bathroom counter near the floor adds just the right amount of light in an area where you really need it. This is a quick and easy job for an electrician. Burbank homeowners will appreciate the effect the soft lighting gives the room as well as its usefulness.

Outlet Nightlights

These are very handy and shed just the right amount of light over the sink area. The lights are attached inside the outlet cover and do not require the services of a Burbank electrician. The lights work on a sensor and will automatically turn on when it is dark.

Lighted Toilet Seats

These may not be quite as practical, but they are certainly very neat looking. It isn’t the actual seat that lights up, but the hinge of the toilet seat. The soft glow of light illuminates the bowl and gives a person a little direction.

If you would like an electrician to take care of these small bathroom lighting jobs, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your appointment.

More Problems

Okay, so light pollution isn’t good. But perhaps you’re thinking, if we turn off the lights that illuminate our streets and sidewalks, homes and buildings, they’ll become dangerous. Car accidents are bound to increase on dark, busy streets, and walking on sidewalks out at night would be scary to say the least. Not to mention a poorly lit home is a target for sinister intruders.

So what do we do? Is there any sort of compromise?

New LED lighting offers some hope, but it’s certainly not all sunshine and rainbows.

How LED Light Can Help Decrease Light Pollution   

How LEDs May Add To Light Pollution

When you own a home, it’s easy for household expenses to spiral out of control. Every year, the average homeowner is in the unenviable position of spending thousands of dollars on owning and maintaining a home- and that’s just when everything is going well! If an emergency hits, many homeowners have to make sacrifices they can ill afford just to keep the home up and running. The best strategy to avoid disaster is to work on cutting down the everyday household expenses associated with owning a home.

So where does the money really go? On average, American homeowners spend about 34 percent of their income on home expenses. Paying for the house itself, of course, is the largest chunk of that expenditure, but does it surprise you to know that utilities make up the next largest amount? Most Americans spend about seven percent of their income on utilities; that’s more than what they spend on entertainment, clothing for the family and even health care! Obviously, that’s an area where it makes sense to find ways to scale back. If you live in Texas, it’s even more important than it is for people in other states as Texas electricity rates are 30 percent higher than rates elsewhere.

To save money on electricity, you need to understand it. Electric companies measure energy usage in kWh, which is a measurement of the hours you spend using 1000 watts. By lowering your kWh, you will, of course, lower your electricity cost, but where do all those kilowatt-hours go? Appliances can be huge energy hogs but so can game systems, televisions and computers. Older homes are often ill-equipped to handle the energy demands of a modern lifestyle, and this can be not only costly but dangerous, as faulty electrical systems can lead to house fires. Modernizing your home can save on more than just household expenses- it might also save your life.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to save on energy (and its associated costs). If your home is more than 20 years old, get your electrical system checked out by a professional to determine if you need any upgrades. Buy ENERGY STAR compliant appliances whenever possible, and turn off anything you’re not using, from lights and appliances to your Xbox 360.

Are you ready to lower your household expenses? It helps to find a company such as ElectricMan, committed to providing low-cost electrical services without sacrificing high-quality service. A family owned business, we offer quality electrical services, and we only employ professional, licensed, certified electricians. And we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s a general electrical repair or an electrical emergency, ElectricMan has you covered! Visit the ElectricMan website to learn more, or connect with our online community on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus.