It is only natural you would want to make your home as safe as possible. You are protecting your investment as well as the people who dwell in your home. There are plenty of little, fairly inexpensive things you can do around your house that ensure there are safety measures in place. An electrician in Santa Monica can help you make your home safer. The team at The Electric Connection is here to help. Safety Inspection

Your first layer of safety is to have an electrical safety inspection completed by an electrician. This will help identify any problems that are lurking behind the walls of your home. An electrician will go through your home’s electrical system checking for any warning signs. If the home has cloth wiring, it will be recommended the wiring is replaced and upgraded to today’s standards.

Hard-Wired Smoke Alarms

Hard-wired smoke alarms are an excellent addition to any home. The smoke detectors are wired directly into your Santa Monica electrical system. You won’t have to worry about your home being left vulnerable to fire because a battery was dead. If your home is multilevel or spread out, the hard-wired smoke detectors are especially ideal. When one detector is alerted, all of the smoke alarms will go off. This gives every person a few additional seconds to escape, which can mean the difference between life and death.

GFCI Outlets

GFCI outlets are an additional safety measure you can add to your kitchen and bathroom areas. The outlets prevent against electric shock if water happens to somehow come in contact with an appliance that is in use. The second the circuit is interrupted, the outlet will trip the breaker and cut off the electricity flow and prevent electric shock. If you would like to make your home a little safer this spring, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Whenever you have a short circuit, it means that there was an accidental path created in your existing circuit, which generated a connection that was not there before the short occurred. Electricity will always follow the path of least resistance, which means that it will almost always follow this new path, rather than its intended path. This typically results in an abnormally high level of electrical current. The most common type of short is when two bare wires cross, such as when old insulation deteriorates, causing a loose connection which allows two wires to touch.

An electrical short is not something to take lightly. This increased current generates a great amount of heat, which can lead to sparks and fire. One way to identify an electrical short is by hearing a popping sound whenever that particular circuit is turned on. This is the sound of the electricity taking the path along the new connection that it has found, causing the circuit to experience a sudden overload. Smoke, flames and melting fixtures can follow, leading to larger fires and risk of shock in the immediate vicinity.

Another common source of electrical shorts is improper wiring. This can occur if the metal lining of a particular switch or outlet touches one of the wires. An electrician in Burbank must always find and fix shorts caused by damage, such as storm damage.

The most important thing to do whenever you have a short is to address it immediately. Because of the potential severity of this situation, call an electrician right away to have them inspect and fix the problem for you. A short left unrepaired can lead to more extensive damage, resulting in a much higher cost than if you had fixed the problem whenever it was first detected. For more information on electrical troubleshooting and our services, visit our main page (Click Here).

Don’t sweat the small stuff; Change it up, lighten your load and keep cool this summer with innovative and energy-efficient light source solutions and state-of-the-art ceiling fans and free standing fans.

1.  Stop baking in your kitchen!  Get rid of old incandescent and hot halogen bulbs.  Replace with cooler CFL’s (compact fluorescents) or LED’s (light-emitting diodes) in recessed and overhead fixtures. CFLs and LEDs** consume at least 75% less energy and emit 90% less heat.  Relamping with cooler bulbs will make a major difference in work areas of the home such as kitchens where oven, cook-top and dishwasher usage emit a great deal of heat.  Laundry rooms, too, can heat up pretty quickly when machines are in use, so update your illumination with cooler lamps. Also, switching to cooler bulbs in offices and hobby/work areas will vastly improve your ability to concentrate and keep cool.

2.  Shield yourself from sun streaming in through windows. Close the shades and curtains during peak daylight hours to keep the sun from fading your fine fabrics and overheating your rooms.

3.  Conserve energy and do not leave lights on haphazardly.  Consider automated heat and motion sensors to conveniently turn lights on and off.  Dimming ambient light sources adds an extra cool down option and helps save energy.  Brilliant and stylish cool new switches, automated fan and lighting controls provide the utmost in sophistication and design to revamp your home this summer!

4.  Opt for task light, and limit usage of general and accent light sources.  Task light includes focused reading lamps, uni-directional and adjustable recessed or track lights over work areas, and security lighting for safe navigation.  Although accent lamps enhance the beauty of your environment, save them for the times when you are entertaining or showcasing your home.

5. Beautify your environment and bask in the comfort of ceiling fans, wall fans and free-standing fans. Save on air-conditioning bills and keep cool by employing energy-efficient fans in rooms that are used most frequently.

♦When the air temperature is 78 degrees, your body will feel as if it is 72 degrees if you are seated under a ceiling fan operating at a low speed. Plentiful cooling options include innovations from Casablanca, Fanimation, Hunter, Kichler and Savoy House.

♦Purchase lamps, light fixtures and fans from a reputable dealer.  Top quality LED and CFL lamps are engineered to last and provide pleasant illumination.  Cheaper LED and CFL lamps may contain substandard elements; they may burn out prematurely and  illumination effects may be less pleasing. The best ceiling fans are engineered with motors that are guaranteed to last and work flawlessly for a lifetime of comfort.

Lighten Up, Cool Down and Revel in Summer 2013!

Bring on the summer heat, and power up the latest in sophisticated design and energy-saving innovation.  Pairing ceiling fans and air conditioners set at low fan settings offers the ultimate in comfort and energy-savings.

1.  ENERGY STARtm-rated fans:

2. The greater the angle of the blade, the more air circulation. Fan blade brackets should be positioned so the blades form a 12-15 degree angle for optimal circulation.

3.  The heart of every ceiling fan is the motor. Motors equipped with heavy-duty windings and sealed bearings that are permanently lubricated should work flawlessly for long periods of time.  Check out motor warranty information when comparing ceiling fans.

4.  A typical ceiling fan weighs between 15 and 50 pounds when fully assembled.  While many junction boxes may support that weight, a fan in operation exerts additional stresses. Be sure to upgrade to a proper junction box when replacing a light fixture with a ceiling fan.

5.  American Lighting Association (ALA)-member showrooms offer customizable fan products—decorator finishes, unique options such as hand-carved blades, custom light fixtures, ceiling medallions, and control systems, as well as installation tips and servicing advice.

Check out the latest energy-efficient products to keep you cool for the dog days of August….

–Energy-efficient and “cool” new bulbs from Bulbrite Industries* include the LED G5 dimmable Omni-Directional Series with GU 24 base options and 5-Watt chandelier bulbs.

*Bulbrite offers top quality lamps from novelty colors, fluorescent, halogen, and krypton/xenon to outstanding award winning LEDs and CFLs.  Enjoy all the benefits of LED, CFL and energy-efficient incandescent light sources from Bulbrite.

From Lite Source:  LS-21680 “Rubik” Energy Smart LED lamp

Multimax ™ by Fanimation, Energy-Star rated and available in 2, 3 or 4 blade options.

— The Sleep Fan Standing Floor Fan by Savoy House, available in Cherrywood, English Bronze, Satin Nickel and Wrought Iron Black; UL-listed for damp locations, comes with a independent volume control to adjust sound according to sleep preference—the lowered frequency red noise has proven to promote better sleep*.

Over 50 million people sleep with some kind of fan device for the soothing tone and the air circulation they provide. –David Furnace of Savoy House

Utilizing “red noise” * and a revolutionary volume control, the Sleep Fan delivers a soothing tone to lull you to sleep, while the gentle cooling system keeps you comfortable throughout the night.

*Studies show that “red” noise delivers low tones with the absence of high frequencies to induce a more soothing, deeper sleep than white noise.

One of the most integral parts of our daily lives is the electrical system that powers our home. We use it every day to provide power to our televisions, appliances, heating and cooling systems, lights and all other electrical devices that we have become accustomed to. For this reason, it is very important that our electrical systems remain both safe and in proper working order. Any damage, big or small, to your electrical system could pose potentially serious safety hazards, resulting in electrical shock, fire or even death. If you have an older home, or have been having doubts about your electrical system for one reason or another, it may be time to have an electrical safety inspection.

When should you have an inspection?

Older Homes

One of the biggest electrical issues with older homes is that they just were not built with today’s electrical usage in mind. Because of this, they have undersized electrical systems that can result in frequently tripped breakers or blown fuses. Although tripped breakers are sometimes easy to ignore, it can represent a serious problem if it happens frequently. If you are having this issue, then you will want to get in touch with The Electric Connection right away. We can send an electrician in Los Angeles out to your home to perform an electrical safety assessment and determine whether or not any electrical upgrades are necessary. In some cases, older homes can even have outdated equipment or ungrounded outlets that can result in unsafe situations. In this type of situation, you may require a whole house rewire.

If you are experiencing any regular electrical problems, whether your home is old or new, don’t wait to call your Los Angeles electrician. Leaving these issues unchecked will often only make them worse, ultimately resulting in more extensive repairs than if you had addressed the issue quickly. For more information about inspections and other electrical services, browse our website at theelectricconnection.com.

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.