If you are looking for a spring project that will get you outside, look no further. A fun, rewarding project you can take on with just a little effort and creativity is an outdoor sitting space. The area will be a private retreat in your own backyard. Imagine a stone bench surrounded by lush greens, pretty flowers and a few hand-picked lawn ornaments. Your retreat will be the perfect place to rest after a long day or first thing in the morning. Because there is a good chance you will be enjoying your space in the twilight hours, you will want to make it safe. An electrician in Beverly Hills, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you add light to your place of serenity.

A common feature that will add beauty to your little haven is a fountain. The sound of water falling is very relaxing and will make the space even more appealing. Fountains require electricity to operate the pumps that keep the water flowing. You will need to have an outlet available to plug the fountain pump into. Any Beverly Hills electrical work should always be completed by a certified electrician who is familiar with current codes.

Along with an outside outlet, you will want to have proper lighting installed so the space is safe as well as beautiful. Your corner of the yard will likely be shaded so it is cool enough for you to enjoy. Solar lights will not do well in a heavily shaded area. Electric lights are a better option and more reliable. Your electrician will go about installing the lights and the wiring needed to operate them. If you would like to schedule an appointment to add the finishing electrical touches to your corner of serenity, give The Electric Connection a call today.

If you are looking for a Plano electrician, you undoubtedly want one who cares about saving you time and money. Many electricians, even good ones, are motivated by money, so it is rare to find one that will share with you this trade secret: not all problems require a visit from an electrician. Fortunately, right here in Plano, TX, there is an electrician willing to troubleshoot common problems over the phone. This is a great benefit to customers, who can handle some issues without waiting around for a service call or shelling out tons of cash. The electrician Plano homeowners can call for advice is Electric Man, and here are a few scenarios that have been resolved over the phone:

Electrical systems all fit certain specifications, but electricians are not all the same. For a Plano electrician who knows the ropes and cares about your needs, consider Electric Man, Inc. To learn more, connect with us on all our social sites, or call us (972)792-7270.

Why slave over a hot stove to provide healthy meals to your family when you could be saving time and money by using a microwave oven instead? In many cases, the microwave will use less energy than your range or oven and still create a delicious meal.

Radio Wave Technology

Using a microwave can save you anywhere between 30 to 80 percent in energy compared to your stove, according to the California Energy Commission. The devices work by using radio waves to excite water molecules in food, heating it from within. For many food items, that's a lot faster and more cost-effective than applying heat directly via a range or oven.

For example, the Energy Center provides a comparison of the average cost of cooking a casserole using various methods. The microwave is by far the quickest and cheapest, finishing the job in 15 minutes for a cost of 3 cents in energy. Meanwhile, the standard oven is actually the least efficient cooking method, taking an hour and burning up 16 cents in energy costs. A few cents might not sound like a big difference, but over a year the savings add up.

Great for Small Meals, Defrosting

The microwave won't save you energy in every situation, but they're perfect for small portions like side dishes and leftovers. If you try to make a large meal in the microwave, however, you can end up cooking it unevenly or not getting the desired texture, and the more food you heat at once, the less efficient microwaves are compared to the stovetop. For specific tasks like defrosting a piece of meat, on the other hand, a microwave is a great solution.

There’s another bonus with using a microwave in the summertime: it won't heat up the kitchen, so you don't put extra stress on your air conditioner to offset the rise in temperature.

For safety's sake, make sure you only use microwave-safe containers, and never put metal in the microwave.

Choosing a Microwave

Unfortunately, the federal Energy Star program does not certify microwaves at this time so you have to do a little more research to discover the most efficient models. Energy usage is fairly consistent across different brands. However, you can cut down on consumption by purchasing the smallest model that will meet your needs. Look at the wattage label, which will tell you exactly how much electricity it draws, and try to find one at 800 watts or fewer.

New microwaves are also far more efficient than older models. Look for devices that have variable power settings, temperature probes and sensors that can tell when the food is done cooking.

Microwaves aren't a perfect solution for every meal, but they are an important tool in the arsenal of any energy-conscious homeowner.

Call local Mister Sparky® for more energy-saving tips.

Have you ever noticed a small spark when you plug an appliance into an outlet? This may be normal or it could be cause for concern, depending on the size and frequency of the electrical outlet sparking. It’s important to recognize the difference between a normal spark and a dangerous one—as well as possible causes for outlet sparking—so you can pursue an electrical repair if necessary.

The supply line that carries electricity through your home measures about 115 to 240 volts with a frequency of 60 hertz. In layman’s terms, this means the flow of electricity runs very fast and hot through the wires behind your walls.

Electrical outlets tap into this fast-flowing stream of electricity, powering everything from your lamps to your laptops to your coffee maker. A small blue spark arcing from the outlet to the plug can occur as the appliance suddenly draws amperage and electrons begin to flow through the cord. Once the flow steadies, the spark should disappear. This type of electrical outlet sparking is completely normal and comparable to static electricity.

Electricity generates heat as it travels through wires. Insulation surrounding a wire may begin to melt, exposing the bare wire. If it comes in contact with the metal outlet casing or even another wire, electrons can leap out of the wire and create a dangerous spark. This is called short circuiting and could cause an electrical fire if not repaired promptly.

Short circuits may be caused by a number of things, including old outlets with loose connections and too many appliances being plugged into the same outlet via a power strip or extension cord.

Water and electricity don’t mix. That’s why bathrooms should have special outlets called ground fault circuit interrupters (GCFIs). These outlets automatically shut down the circuit when they detect water, which can help prevent electrocution and house fires. If the bathrooms in your home have ordinary outlets, you should have an electrician replace them with GCFIs.

If you’ve had an electrical problem in the past, you may have attempted to perform a repair yourself or used a cheap electrician. Electrical wiring can be extremely dangerous if you don’t the proper licensing and qualifications and lead to potentially serious issues, electrical outlet sparking being just one of them. Fortunately, a professional electrician can undo the damage and make your outlets safe to use once again.

When you need a repair for electrical outlet sparking, Kolb Electric is the company for the job. We hire only licensed, fully qualified electricians to handle important outlet wiring repairs in your Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC home.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment or call 877-287-1179 to have an emergency electrician sent straight to your home.