If you have never heard of or seen the outlets that are in new homes or office buildings, you are missing out on something that could potentially save you or a family member’s life. A GFCI outlet is an added layer of safety when it comes to dealing with two things that never mix well—water and electricity. No matter how cautious you are, there is always the chance of an accident happening that will mix the two and create a life-threatening situation. Your electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you protect your family by installing GFCI outlets.

GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. The outlets are designed to trip the breaker the instant the flow of electricity is interrupted. If you were to accidentally drop the mixer in the sink or spill a cup of water on it while you were using it, the outlet would trip the breaker and cut the flow of electricity. This prevents you from getting an electric shock. This would be the case if you were in the bathroom using a hairdryer or any other appliance. The outlets also work on cords that may be damaged and at risk of causing an electric shock.

The outlets will replace any current outlets you have in the kitchen or bathroom. You may have seen these before. They have small reset buttons usually in the middle between the top and bottom outlets. Because the outlets will need to be wired, the job will need to be completed by an electrician. Glendale homeowners will feel better about using their electric appliances in areas that are prone to accidents that involve electricity and water mixing. If you would like to learn more about GFCI outlets or are ready to make an appointment to have an electrician upgrade your current outlets, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Are you still struggling to lower your electric bill? Maybe you have made a conscious effort to turn off lights and shorten your showers and you are not seeing that big of a difference. There is more you can do that will not change the way you go about your daily routine. It is by reducing your phantom power usage. What is phantom power, you ask? An electrician in Glendale, like those at The Electric Connection is here to explain what phantom power is and why it is costing you money every month.

Phantom power is the electricity that is used by anything that is plugged in. Your toaster, your cell phone charger and even your television are all pulling a small current even when they are not powered on. Just because you shut off your television, it doesn’t mean it isn’t using electricity. To reduce phantom power, you will need to unplug things that you are not using. When you leave for work in the morning or before you go to bed at night, unplug anything you won’t be using. You may discover you don’t use your toaster for a week.

Phantom power isn’t costing you a ton of money, but when you reduce the amount of phantom power you are pulling, you can help add to the savings you have already implemented. By combining your phantom power reduction, limiting the lights and taking shorter showers, you can save more than 20 dollars a month on your Glendale electrical bill. As you know, every dollar saved counts. You can help make reducing your phantom power a little easier by using power strips in areas where there are several items that are plugged in, like your entertainment area or computer area. Unplugging a single power strip is much easier than unplugging numerous devices. If you have any questions about phantom power or would like to learn more about energy savings, give The Electric Connection a call today.

With spring upon us and summer just around the corner, you are probably itching to get the pool uncovered so you can host the first pool party of the season. Before you do that, you may want to consider upgrading, adding or replacing your existing pool lights. Pool lights add a certain quality to a pool while providing a layer of safety. However, there are several lights to choose from and you need to know which lights are best for your needs. An electrician in Beverly Hills has some tips for you to use when choosing your pool lights. If you have any other questions, you can call The Electric Connection.

There are two main options available for your pool lighting needs; in-ground and above ground. The above ground option is the cheapest. The in-ground tends to be a favorite simply because it provides a more uniform look.

Above Ground Options

Floating pool lights are inexpensive and do not require a Beverly Hills electrician to install. Simply pop the lights in the pool and it is done. The lights are festive, but they can interfere with swimming. You will also not have the benefit of the lights being stationary. It seems they tend to congregate and float to one area of the pool. For soft-sided pools, there are magnetic lights that stick to the side. These are again very easy to install and reliable. In Ground Options

LED bulbs are extremely bright and will last for around 10,000 hours. The lights are sealed in a waterproof housing. You can expect the bulbs to last anywhere from 10 to 15 years depending on how often the lights are used. Fiber optic lights are another option. However, they do tend to be much more expensive and the bulbs do not last nearly as long. In either case, you would need the pool lights installed by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners need to hire a professional to ensure the lights are installed safely and do not pose an electrical hazard. Give The Electric Connection a call today to schedule your pool light installation.

Since we’re in the thick of the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to replace knob& wiring in Manassas. While it’s certainly an exciting time, you should also ensure your home is safe and secure, especially when it comes to your home’s wiring. The main problem with knob & tube wiring in Manassas is that it’s outdated and unable to keep up with today’s electrical demands. It’s still equipped in many older homes across the area, leaving them prone to electrical fires, shocks, and power outages.

We’re already nearing the end of May. It’s hard to believe, I know. It can be a little uncomfortable to think about how quickly time passes. I’m here to help with a reminder that time’s rapid passing only means all the cool things about each season will reach your senses sooner.

This is an especially exciting time of year, at least for me. By this time, I have been spending a lot more time outdoors. Finally, the pallid, morose visage of a long winter has been touched by a little sun. Exercise has my energy levels up, and it seems like every evening, I’m exclaiming as if for the first time, “Man, it’s NICE outside.”

You’re like, “Where is this going?”

I want to show you some pictures of bugs! Fireflies, in particular. Even more specifically, I want to show you some long exposure digital photography of fireflies. Why? Because it’s really cool. Who doesn’t like chasing fireflies with a camera?

If you are one of our beloved regular readers, you might remember my posts about via audobonmagazine.org

Pretty cool, huh?