Some winters pass quietly, others live in infamy. As one of the latter, this winter many of you may have had to resort to a “by any means necessary” approach to staying warm. Hopefully you had carbon monoxide detectors in your home to help you make it through safely. Manage without them? You might want to seriously consider the addition of these useful appliances.

Who needs a carbon monoxide detector? Anyone using any type of combustion heating such as wood stoves, fireplaces of any kind, gas and oil furnaces, in addition to gas appliances such as water heaters, stoves, and more. The incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, wood, charcoal, kerosene, propane, and natural gas used to power these items naturally produces CO (carbon monoxide) fumes. If you made it through this winter without a detector – great! But don’t push your luck. CO is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports 200 people are killed each year from accidental CO poisoning, with another 5,000 injured. Chimneys get clogged, appliances malfunction or suffer venting issues, and today’s airtight homes increase the chance of CO accumulation. In short, stuff happens – be prepared!

We love carbon monoxide detectors. Why?

How they work Though design varies slightly by model, carbon monoxide detectors use a CO gas sensor to identify and measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in your home in parts per million (ppm). When dangerous levels are detected, an electronic pulse is sent to activate the alarm – the higher the levels, the faster the response.

Are your carbon monoxide detectors safely installed?

Know the signs of CO poisoning so you can react quickly:

Need to add a few carbon monoxide detectors to your home? Contact Mr. Electric® today. Our professionals technicians use the latest in technology to ensure the safety of you and your family.

With summer on its way out, it is time to prepare for the colder months ahead. There are plenty of options you have when it comes to keeping your home warm. One of the main decisions you have is choosing between electric, propane or natural gas. Each has its benefits, but fossil fuels are increasing in price every day. Electric heat is easy and inexpensive and offers a variety of options.

Your electrician in Beverly Hills is here to explain the different ways you can use electric heat to keep your home warm and comfortable this winter. Electric furnaces are one of the most common methods, but there are also ways to add additional heat in certain rooms without heating the entire house. The Electric Connection has the electricians on hand to answer electrical heating questions you have.

Space Heaters

Space heaters are easily plugged into any outlet in a room that needs additional heat. They heat up a small space rather quickly and are equipped with thermostats to regulate the temperature in the room. There are various sizes of heaters you can purchase depending on the size of the room.

Radiant or Underfloor Heating

This particular type of heating is energy efficient and is quickly growing in popularity. New home construction is an ideal time to have this particular type of heating installed. It involves heated water running through tubes underneath the flooring. The heat rises, warming the room.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are a safe, clean way to get the look of a real fire without the mess or the work. Fans on the fireplace push the warm air into the home, keeping it warm. These will require an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can rely on The Electric Connection to complete the installation process in a safe and timely manner.