If you are in need of an electrician in the Los Angeles area, you have probably picked up the yellow pages or headed to your favorite search engine to wade through the listings. It is hard to pick the right one. How do you know which Los Angeles electrician to choose? At The Electric Connection, you won’t have to worry about what you are going to get when you make that first phone call. Here are some things every homeowner or business owner should look for when they are trying to hire the right electrician.

Reputation

A solid reputation is important. Past customers will be able to tell the real story about a company. Look for reviews online and verify the business with the Better Business Bureau. Angie’s List is another great place to check out an electrician’s reputation.

Clean

You take pride in your home and are likely a little picky about who you let in. You want a company who employs people who will respect your home and clean up after themselves. Presentation of an employee is also important and says a lot about the company’s image. Clean, nice-looking uniforms are always a plus. This is especially important if the work is going to be in a business where customers will see the electrician.

Honest

When dealing with any Los Angeles electrical work you want to ensure you are dealing with somebody who is being honest and up front with you. You don’t want to be paying for work that is not completely necessary. An honest electrician will tell you what needs to be fixed and what is optional but recommended. This gives you the option to decide what is best for you or your business.

At The Electric Connection, we pride ourselves on all of the above qualities and would love to help you with your electrical needs.

When it comes to your home's electrical system, you don't want to overestimate your capabilities by attempting a repair that should be handled by a professional. The risks associated with a faulty electrical system are many, ranging from damage to your property to life-threatening injuries.

However, one simple repair that should be easy enough for the average homeowner is replacing a fuse or a breaker.

Homes that feature a breaker have a series of "on" or "off" switches that will trip when a surge is too powerful. Fuse boxes will feature small, bolt-like fuses that need to be replaced after a surge blows the device out.

Breakers and fuses are designed to protect the wires' ampacity rating and the devices and appliances that they are connected to. Where a breaker will simply switch off when wiring is overwhelmed, fuses are built to a specific size that will moderate the amount of power that goes to a specific source. When a fuse constantly blows or a breaker is continually tripping, some homeowners think it's because they have invested in the wrong size for the wiring. To correct this issue, some individuals will try inserting larger fuses or breakers. In almost all instances, this will only cause more problems.

Are you dealing with frequently flickering lights? Do your circuit breakers trip often when you turn on large appliances? Does your home have several two-pronged outlets that do not accommodate today’s three-pronged plugs for most electrical appliances? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your home more than likely needs a heavy up, which is an increase in the power of your main electrical service. For example, we can transition your home from lower amperage to either 200 or 400 amps.

Homes without Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) outlets in the bathrooms, kitchens, or garages also need to be upgraded. This is a type of outlet that protects against electrical shocks. GFI outlets are required in most states, and homeowners in MD, VA, and DC should change all older version outlets to GFI outlets. A GFI outlet has two buttons, including a test button and a reset button, and the outlets turns the power off before a shock can occur. It is especially important that GFI outlets are installed in any area of your home where water flows—bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor areas. The outlet will sense when there is a potentially dangerous imbalance in the flow of electricity from the outlet to whatever is plugged and will shut off to prevent shocks or electrocution.

Many older homes in the area were constructed with aluminum wiring. When these homes were built, aluminum wiring was considered safe to use and viewed as a cost-saving measure. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) now believes aluminum wiring poses a safety hazard in homes that still have this type of wiring.

The biggest danger associated with aluminum wiring is that unanticipated fire hazards arise from the rusting and deterioration caused at the points where aluminum wiring is connected at outlets, light fixtures, and splices. Call us so an expert electrician can evaluate whether or not this is a problem in your home and take steps to transition your home from aluminum to copper wiring.

If you live in an older MD, VA, or DC home, contact Kolb Electric today. We strongly recommend that you avoid attempting any electrical upgrades or repairs on your own as this can be very dangerous. Electrical upgrades are best left to a professional, licensed electrician.

This month, everyone is taking the leap to be more green by pledging to take the bike rather than drive, or turning off the lights for longer periods of time to reduce heat waste. Those of us in the lighting industry are taking on the challenge of beautifying the environment with new energy-efficient and sustainable lighting designs.

Leading lighting vendors have showered the market with Energy Smart and Energy Star-rated indoor and outdoor light fixtures that are infused with designer style.

Check out the latest light fixture fashions: From classic traditional and urban rustic to sleek, modern and art-deco, these designs receive top grades in energy-efficiency.