Competition is a wonderful thing. It makes us want to strive to be better, and keeps us working hard.  But competition isn’t perfect; there’s always another option, and you can’t always tell right away what option is the best deal or the highest quality. It is easy to determine the quality when it comes to something inexpensive; if you don’t like a brand of motor oil or breakfast cereal, you can always buy something different next time. But what happens if you pick a bad electrician?  Failing to spot bad electrical contractors, could mean you’ll wind up paying way too much for your service. Paying too much might actually be the best-case scenario; shoddy electrical work done by “electricians” is a safety hazard, and one you might not even know about until it’s too late.

So how do you find quality electricians? As a Dallas electrician myself, I’ve learned over the years how to make sure the electrician you use is knowledgeable and high-quality:

Wind power is electricity-generating technology that is very similar to hydroelectric power and burning fossil fuels. In all three cases, something is being used to spin a turbine, which then converts that energy into electricity. In the case of fossil fuels, the fuel is burned, which converts water to steam, which then spins the turbine. Hydroelectric power generators use the force of flowing or falling water to turn their turbines. Wind turbines are turned by the power of the wind, making them an ideal source of energy for places with high wind, such as the Great Plains. While the idea of wind power conjures up images of fields full of spinning turbines, it is not hard to find an electrician in Santa Monica who can help you to install one on your own land.

Wind Farms

The majority of all wind power is generated on huge wind farms. Each wind farm typically maintains and operates hundreds of wind turbines, which in turn connect to local electrical circuits that eventually funnel them into the main electricity pool. Your local utility company most often runs these energy operations as a secondary source of electricity. In fact, many companies give you the option to guarantee that some or all of the electricity that you use each month comes from their wind farm operations. In the event that you are unable to install your own wind turbine, this is a great way to contribute and further investment into wind power.

Residential Wind Turbines

As the call for more renewable electricity sources has grown more popular, so has the use of residential wind turbines. In conjunction with other small-scale energy sources such as geo-thermal and solar, wind turbines can be a great electrical upgrade to any home. One caveat is that you must have a small amount of land in order for it to be an ideal fit for you. Talk to a local electrician Santa Monica CA, The Electric Connection for example, to determine whether or not one will work for you.

Installing a Residential Wind Turbine

Although a wind turbine generates electricity for your home and community, its installation is not typically completed by a Santa Monica electrician alone. Because of the complexity of the installation, it is best to find a company that specializes in their application. In most cases, this company will complete the erection and initial setup of the turbine, and then turn it over to an electrician Santa Monica, such as The Electric Connection, to complete the tethering to your home and power grid. This ensures that both the turbine installation and the electrical work is done in the safest, most complete manner possible.

In addition to connecting your new turbine to your home, your electrician may also need to perform a panel upgrade, and small amount of home rewiring. While this is typically not extensive, it is slightly more involved than having electrical outlets replaced. For the best outcome, you should always have someone conduct his or her electrical estimates before the work is started so that you know what to expect.

In regards to small-scale renewable energy sources, wind and solar power are by far the most popular, approachable options. Although many see them as unsightly, most believe that the benefits outweigh the costs. After their initial installation, these electrical upgrades require very little maintenance, provide clean consistent energy and rely on a 100% renewable source. If you have any questions about whether or not you should look into wind power, or other alternative energy sources, don’t hesitate to call or visit our website at www.theelectricconnection.com.

We had a wonderful turnout of ElectricMan Facebook fans who entered to win in our second Dallas Mavericks ticket giveaway and we would like to thank everyone who participated, along with each and every ElectricMan fan and follower.  We truly appreciate your support and love to connect with you in our online community, and we hope you will make ElectricMan Inc. your first call whenever you have electrical problems in your home or business that requires the help of an expert ElectricMan!

Over time, things can go wrong with any electrical system. It’s part of the nature of wiring:  wires deteriorate and connections can break down.  But what if the problem that develops is because of something that happened when the electrical system was installed, something you didn’t have any control over?

There’s nothing so treacherous to the safety of your home as faulty wiring. Mistakes in the initial wiring of your home can lead to serious safety hazards and property damage.

So what can you do about faulty wiring?  A licensed Dallas electrician can help you find the problem areas in your wiring and repair them, but we generally don’t get called in until the faulty wiring causes a serious problem.  Nobody really has the time or money to deal with these problems, so it’s better to not have to suffer through them in the first place. The best way to do that is to be aware of the electrical warning signs that your wiring might be faulty.

Throughout the modern age, we have become desensitized to the radical displacement of major products, categories, and even whole industries. It’s amazing how one simple technological innovation can change the way we use a major product or service in our lives; one of today’s largest examples of this is how LED bulbs are rapidly displacing the standard incandescent or CFL bulb.

VCRs, cassette tapes, home phones, movie stores, steam engines, and more have been added to the list of technologies that were once considered revolutionary, but are now just a novelty. The same will soon be said for CFL and, especially, incandescent light bulbs, as LED bulbs seem to outperform their predecessors in nearly every way.

There are really only two ways to point to an LED bulb and find that it has any flaws when compared to a standard light bulb: They don’t last (quite) as long when kept in a closely confined container that is left on for extended periods and they cost more to purchase. The former issue is solved by adjusting the type of fixture you install LED bulbs in (or losing the fixture altogether, as LEDs don’t need them nearly as much) and the latter is an ever-decreasing problem, as LEDs are becoming more-and-more mass produced and affordable. Even now, for a couple extra bucks, your 4-pack of LED bulbs will pay for themselves with a single bulb in about a year, then continue to last far longer – likely years – longer than an incandescent bulb bought on the same day would have.

One of the major criticisms to LED bulbs was once that the light was too pristine, not natural enough, or just generally felt different. Now, however, LED manufacturers have begun to perfect making LED bulbs replicate and exceed the capabilities of standard light bulbs. In fact, LED bulbs can now even be purchased to replicate vintage-style bulbs (often called Edison bulbs), that fully function on a dimmable switch and provide all the exoticl pizzaz of classic bulbs without the abysmal lifespan. It is reasonable to expect that as LED lights continue to replace incandescent bulbs in standard applications that they will take their place in other areas, including colorful, uniquely-shaped, and even more exotic or rare fixture fittings.

You’ve likely heard the claims of savings and safety features associated with LED bulbs; if you’re skeptical, then worry not, most every claim about LED bulbs is true or even understated. LED bulbs are so much more efficient, reliable, stable, and long-lasting than incandescent bulbs in nearly all situations, that there really are almost no reasons to not choose LED over your standard bulbs. In fact, it is likely not worth waiting for your current bulbs to die, but, instead, upgrade your entire household now; the savings is so significant that you’ll likely save money on your electrical bill in under a year.

Whenever you need electrical work done around your Des Moines home, contact the experienced professionals at Electrical Gurus. We are proud to offer the finest licensed local electricians in the area and are always more than happy to help out on your household projects.