As you look around your home, you probably see a long list of little things you would like to do to make it better and safer. It is all a part of home ownership. It is exciting to take something that is very basic and mold it into something that is as much a part of your family as the dog or cat. It is only normal you would want to protect your home and the family that resides in it. The Electric Connection can help you do just that.

Homeowners can have hard-wired smoke detectors installed in their home by an electrician Los Angeles residents probably already know how important it is to have at least one smoke detector on every floor of the home, but there is a big difference between hard-wired and battery operated detectors.

The hard-wired varieties are interconnected. This means when the one in the kitchen goes off, the one in the master bedroom upstairs will also go off. Doesn’t that just make sense? It can be difficult to hear an alarm when doors are closed or the television is on. You need detectors that give you precious seconds to get your family out of the house quickly and safely.

Another benefit to this particular type of smoke-detector is the reliability. As long as the home is powered, the detectors will work. There are battery backups as well in case of a power outage. Because the devices are wired directly into your home’s main power, you will need somebody trained to work with electricity. Los Angeles electrical work can safely be performed by the experienced and professional staff at The Electric Connection.

If you would like to learn more about these devices or would like to schedule an appointment to have yours installed, give us a call today.

We’ve all heard the old saying “buyer beware” at some point, right? Well, this is not only an old saying but also, in our opinion, an incredibly outdated one. Nowadays it easier than ever to get direct customer feedback and reviews about products and services, of course. We believe, though, that nothing beats actually trying something out for oneself. That is why we make our office available between the hours of 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM, so that interested parties can come and try out some of our sample products. This is a great way in which to get some hands on experience with the products and systems that you are interested in.

There are a whole lot of products and systems that we’ll be happy to share with you should you take up our earnest offer of visiting the office. Some of the most popular items are:

Without proper lighting, the details in your furniture and artwork at first sight go unnoticed. Careful lighting design gives dimension and texture, revealing the articulacy of your home décor. Creating the proper lighting setup lies in finding the correct spacing, fixtures and functions for each room. Every lighting technique brings you closer to customization and works together to establish a healthy balance between posh and practicality.

Consider adding toe kick lighting under the counters of your kitchen or bathroom to balance light between the ceiling and floor. It’s subtle yet useful, and provides an extra cushion of safety. Toe kick lighting arrangements also bring depth to unlikely spaces.

Don’t neglect the nooks and crannies of your home; light them up. Take advantage of layering through the use of key, task and accent lighting. Key lighting will provide basic light function overhead. If used alone, it will provide flat, uninteresting light.

Reading lamps are the perfect approach to task lighting and can be placed on your bedside table or next to your favorite lounge chair. And, accent lighting gives the finishing touch. It highlights details that slip under the radar if left in the dark. Add accent lights to illuminate intricate artwork, plants, cabinet silhouettes and wall textures.

Cost, energy savings, maintenance and aesthetics must all be taken into account to optimize your budget and bring out the best in your home with the finest lighting design.

1.   Fluorescent and CFL (compact fluorescent) lamps work well in areas that require cooler, energy-efficient general illumination, such as undercabinet lighting and cove lighting in kitchens or flush-mount ceiling fixtures in garages and basements.

2.  Low-voltage halogen lamps are best for accent lighting and to provide luxurious illumination in areas of the home that call for a more up-scaled look, such as living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and master bathrooms.

3.  For task lighting, choose LED (light-emitting diode) desk lamps, reading lamps, track lighting and mini-pendants. Bulbrite’s Generation 3 dimmable LED lamps provide great color rendering and light output, perfect for track and recessed fixtures. 

 4.  LED lamps are becoming the standard for outdoor lighting, too, due to their low-maintenance and high energy-efficiency. Although the initial cost for LED lamps is considerably higher, you will find tremendous long-term savings in energy, maintenance and replacement costs—especially in areas where illumination is frequently needed such as outdoor security lighting.

5.  Incandescent lamps are still popular for portable lighting and ceiling fixtures to provide pleasant general illumination.  Aim for energy-efficient incandescent:  Bulbrite’s Eco-Friendly Halogen A19 standard bulb is energy-saving, fully dimmable and available in clear or soft white.

Note:  Do not skimp and buy bulbs of lesser quality, because substandard bulbs may emit a poor quality of light and may burn out prematurely.  Purchase your lighting from a reputable dealer who will stand behind the quality of their merchandise.

For more information on updating your home with quality, energy-efficient lighting, visit a Capitol Lighting showroom and meet with a professional lighting consultant.

This year at the mall in Glendale, I swear I saw holiday lights go up right after Labor Day. And, how much do you want to bet that Black Friday starts by the first of November next year? Stores all over are initiating it way before I have digested my Thanksgiving dinner which is usually served by 2PM. I thought the point of that famous shopping day was that it kicked off the holiday shopping season, now I am expected to get up from Thanksgiving dinner and head straight to the mall. Actually, if someone else would clean up the mess, that might not be a bad idea.

Okay, accuse me of sounding like Ebenezer Scrooge. It won’t be the first time, since I have told many that I think this well-loved holiday season should only be celebrated every other year. We would still honor any religious purposes annually, but we could skip the hustle and bustle of all the decorating and gift buying. Time goes by so fast anyway, most of us would not even notice. We would all save money, which would help alleviate stress, and Santa would have a well-deserved hiatus. And think of all the electricity costs we would lower if we only put up the lights every two years.

Speaking of electricity, I did soften a little bit about this whole holiday thing. For the first time in 5 years, I decided to put one row of outdoor lighting across my front window. When I added the tree inside with its colorful light bulbs, all went dark quickly. No matter what I did, it soon became clear that I needed to find a Glendale electrician. Bah Humbug evolved into more like Electrician, Glendale, and I was feeling grumpy.

Not knowing any electrician in Glendale, or any where else for that matter, I called a company I found online called The Electric Connection. Bright and early the following morning, a pleasant and knowledgeable young man arrived at my door. I kept reminding myself, all this was because of the holiday season that happens way too often.

Did you know that those colorful strings of holiday lights put a burden on really old electrical circuits? I would definitely be more of a complainer if all this holiday stuff had not been the real indicator of major electrical issues happening at my house. Events happen like they are supposed to, and sometimes we might miss why if we don’t pay attention. My new Glendale electrician enjoyed his time working at my place as I listened to his stories about working as a volunteer with needy kids during the holiday season. He enlightened me to the fact that this season brought out the spirit of giving that was so important, he wished it would happen two times a year. I didn’t dare tell him about my wishes to have it occur every two years. However, I could tell he saw me melt as I asked how I could get involved with his volunteer efforts.

As a result of my holiday season fiasco, I now have a new friend, a great Glendale electrician to use and refer, new electrical circuits, and my “electrician, Glendale, California” has turned into “Happy Holidays” to everyone this year and next.

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