Persistent ice dams are a common problem in our area, and the only way to keep them under control is by taking preventive action today! The chunks of ice that form along the edges of your roof may not seem like much of a problem from the outside. But the constant thawing and freezing of the ice throughout the day can lead to some seriously dangerous structural damages within your home.

On a warm afternoon, ice can thaw, only to freeze later and thaw again. This action may allow shingles or gutters to loosen and fall off in some instances. And over time, the water can work its way underneath the shingles, damaging your roof and potentially leaking through to your ceiling. Your insurance may cover this damage, but it’s never worth the trouble of having to take time out of your schedule to deal with the hassle.

Some homeowners almost never have to deal with ice damming and the potential water damage it brings. Proper insulation and ventilation in the attic help to keep your attic cool, so that a blanket of snow can help to prevent the freezing and thawing cycle from damaging your roof.

However, if you’re one of many homeowners who has insulation and still finds issues with ice damming each winter, ice-melting cables are your best bet. These cables mount on the roof in a zigzag pattern, melting the ice and snow so that water can run off instead of damaging your home.

However, an ice melting cable is not useful to you unless it is installed correctly. If not, parts of your roof may become more susceptible to ice damming, or the melted snow may not have anywhere to route. Have an electrician wire your ice-melting cables safely and correctly, so that you can feel confident they won’t fail when you need them, and so that they run as efficiently as possible.

Happy holidays from everyone here at FB Electrical Services, Inc.! We go above and beyond for our customers in Boston, MA and the surrounding areas. Call us today!

Being prepared for anything is nearly impossible, but you can be prepared for some of the little eventualities in life like a power outage. If you are prepared for the outage it is a lot less inconvenient than if you were taken completely off guard. Power outages happen for numerous reasons. Most of the time the outages are not long in duration, but there are times the outages can be extensive and your life is sorely interrupted. An electrician in Santa Monica has some advice for you to follow before an outage happens so you can be ready to deal with the aftermath. At The Electric Connection, you will find a team of knowledgeable electricians who can provide you with service to deal with any electrical problems caused by an outage. There are times appliances malfunction after a power outage. You can prevent this from happening by having a whole home surge protector installed.

You can also prepare for the lack of lights by putting a couple of flashlights along with extra batteries in a safe place that you can easily find when the lights are off. A kitchen drawer, a nightstand table or near the front door are all good places. Along with flashlights you will want to have a supply of emergency candles along with matches or a lighter. Don’t forget to keep candleholders handy as well. If you are not comfortable with using candles or relying on flashlights, you can talk with a Santa Monica electrician about installing a standby generator.

Keep the phone number of the power company handy as well. Most power companies will have an emergency number. This is the number you would call to find out how long the outage will last. If you have any more questions or would like to learn more about generators or surge protectors, give The Electric Connection a call today.

The rule of 3’s. They’re the triple threat of lighting design. Three types of lighting: ambient, task and accent. Three levels of design: top, middle & bottom. For today’s blog post I’ve put together a quick reference guide on what the different layers are, along with a few tips on how to use them to pull your space together.

Three Layers of Light: Ambient, Task & Accent

this interactive picture that shows the dramatic difference in a kitchen after under cabinet lights were added. (That’s next on my project list!)

3. Accent lights add depth & dimension and showcase individual items or areas. A favorite painting or photograph displayed under a picture light on the wall is a popular way to accent with lighting. One of my favorite examples of decorative outdoor accent lighting are Annie’s original post to see if you’re right.]

Three Layers of Design: Top, Middle & Bottom