Have you ever been sitting there reading a book and noticed the lights flickering? Maybe you thought it was just your eyes or it didn’t really happen. It wasn’t your eyes. It was very likely your lights. So, why do your lights flicker? A Beverly Hills electrician is here to explain flickering lights and what it means to you and the safety of your home. You can always call the professionals at The Electric Connection if you have more questions or concerns about flickering lights.

It is important to check to see if it is just the light in the living room that is flickering or if it is lights throughout the house that are getting darker and brighter.

Some reasons that your lights flicker are as follows.

1-Bad weather. If there is strong winds or a lightning storm raging, your lights may flicker. This is normal and often an indicator the power may go out.

2-Power to the house is fluctuating. The problem may be with the power coming into the house. You may notice flickering lights during peak hours. This is because there is a higher demand on the power grid than what the grid can handle.

3-If it a single light that is flickering, you may have a problem with the switch or the wiring to the light fixture. This is something that needs to be investigated by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners need to understand that a single flickering light is often an indicator of a bigger problem. The bigger problem can lead to an electrical fire.

If you have noticed a single light or random lights flickering at different times, it is a good idea to have an inspection performed by an electrician. This will tell you if there is a problem you need to worry about or you if you simply have a bulb that needs changed. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your inspection.

I called on a Tuesday to get a ceiling fan replaced, they were able to get someone out to me just two days later, on Thursday. I was given a 2 hour window and received a call about half an hour before the electrician arrived to let me know he was on his way. The electrician, Sergio A., arrived just when they said he would, looked at the existing fan, and then brought up his tools, ladder, and drop cloth. He was very careful with my bed, which was right under the fan. He removed the old fan, checked the wiring, and assembled and installed the new fan. He was nice and professional and finished in about half an hour. I will absolutely call Electric Connection again next time I need an electrician. It was a small job but knowing it was done right gave me great peace of mind.

With that major storm from a couple weeks ago still fresh in everyone’s minds, more and more people in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area are starting to think about the benefits of installing a standby generator. Generators are still fairly new, however, and a lot of people still have questions about them.

To put it simply, generators supply backup power to your home when the grid goes down. Most standby generators are powered by gas or propane and are connected to your home’s main distribution panel via an automatic transfer switch. The generator constantly monitors incoming voltage, activating automatically when it senses a power outage. When it turns on, it also closes the line from the power company and opens its own line so you don’t accidentally get power coming from two sources. When the power comes back on, the generator shuts off and reopens the line so you get power back as usual.

Once used more by farmers, businesses and construction companies, generators have evolved significantly over the past decade from their loud, large and expensive roots and are now well suited for use in homes. Standby generators are quickly becoming even more popular than portable generators thanks to their ease of use, quiet operation and aesthetically pleasing design.

One of the most common misconceptions about standby generators is that they’re not affordable to most people. Fortunately, this is not true! Standby generators have come down in price significantly over the years. In fact, these days there are generators available from as small as three kilowatts to as large as 45 kilowatts! Smaller units provide supplementary emergency power for general lighting, a refrigerator, or an air-conditioning unit alone, but large units can run multiple AC units and provide power for other household needs such as appliances or sump pumps. The money you’ll save in spoiled food is practically enough to cover the cost!

Standby generators are becoming increasingly popular as part of new home construction, and while this is obviously an easier job, retrofits are still more popular. At Kolb Electric, we install Generac generators. Generac generators have a number of additional benefits compared to others on the market. They:

Standby generators are safer, more reliable, and less expensive to run than portable generators, and require no input on your part – they start and stop automatically. If you live in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC and want to install a standby generator in your home, call Kolb Electric today!

When you need electrical work, there is a good chance that you may need to get an estimate before having a Burbank electrician perform the job. One of the most frequently asked questions regarding electrical work, is about when to get an electrical estimate. There is no easy answer to this question. The short answer is that small jobs typically require no electrical estimate, while larger jobs should nearly always warrant an estimate. In a nutshell, the bigger and more complex the electrical work is, the higher the likelihood that you will need to have an estimate. If in doubt, you should always err on the side of caution, and give an electrician, such as The Electric Connection, a call to ask if an estimate is recommended.

Examples of Smaller Jobs

There are a variety of small, mostly cut and dry electrical service calls that electricians are called to complete every day. This type of work, such as having outlets installed or interior lighting replaced are fairly quick, easy jobs that most frequently require no estimate. If you just need a new outlet installed, because you are mounting your television onto the wall, your electrician in Burbank CA can typically offer you very close to a fixed price. Naturally, if they encounter anything that will make the job more complex, you will be notified shortly after they arrive. This holds true for other small jobs such as ceiling fan installation, bath fan installation, having smoke detectors replaced and more.

Examples of Larger Jobs

When you require extensive electrical work, such as a whole home rewire, you should always get at least one electrical estimate. Because this type of job can have many unforeseen factors, it can also have many unexpected costs. By getting an electrical estimate beforehand, you can save yourself from a huge headache. Furthermore, this gives you the chance to meet an electrician Burbank CA, and compare rates against others. If you are remodeling a bathroom or kitchen, or making a new addition to your home, you will also want to consider getting an estimate ahead of time.

Scheduling an Electrical Service Call

In order to begin the estimation process, you will need to schedule an electrical service call. Simply call your Burbank electrician, and find a time that is mutually convenient for both you and a technician. Before you call, however, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:

1. You should always have a clear idea of what you need before you call. This way, the proper amount of time will be scheduled for your estimate. This also gives the technician a chance to prepare ahead of time.

2. Clean and clear the area in which the work is to be done. By cleaning everything up, you can save much time for yourself and the technician. Rather than spending the appointment clearing clutter and furniture, you can focus on what is important: the work that you need done.

3. Always be courteous, both on the phone and during the appointment.

Because your electrician in Burbank CA most likely works on an hourly rate, rather than fixed prices, always keep in mind that estimates are just that: estimates. While they will try to provide you with the most accurate quote possible, there is always a chance that the cost may go over. In order to avoid this, many electricians use an in-place estimate model. If you have a medium sized job, for example, a technician may visit your home and start working immediately. If they are not able to complete the job after 30 minutes, they will provide you with a full assessment, recommendation and fixed price for the job. This type of estimation has become very popular because it is very convenient for both the client and the electrician Burbank trusts most.

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Twas the Day before Christmas….a true story December 24, 2009 Garland, Texas As the temperature dropped, it had started to snow, The 100 Amp. Federal, just decided to Blow!……….. It arced and it sparked, sent my wife in a Panic, I felt like the captain, of the famous Titanic…. Kids coming for christmas, lots of food to prepare, No lights in the kitchen, on the brink of despair…. Her I-Phone still up, she went to the net, She Googled some words, and found the Best Bet…. We called and Nick answered, He got someone going, Jeremy from Mesquite, and soon—Power Flowing!!!! Mrs. Overbey and I sincerely thank the Family at ElectricMan for being there and saving our Christmas! God Bless and Merry Christmas, Val & Susan Overbey

Thank you Val & Susan!  It was a pleasure to do business with you!