Scams are nothing new in the Tampa area. For years and years, unscrupulous folks have been trying to cheat homeowners out of their money. And in the dead of summer, scamming is at its worst! All kinds of unsavory folks come out of the woodwork, offering false claims about electrical, lighting, and other contract work that they have no intention of actually doing.

When it comes to DIY jobs, electrical wiring is one thing that you should avoid. Most wiring or rewiring jobs are incredibly complex, and require the expertise of trained and licensed professional electricians, such as the members of our staff. You also don’t want to trust this job to an amateur or a general “handyman” as they most likely lack the necessary training to do the job right.

One of the most popular rewiring jobs people choose to proceed with is finishing their basement, which requires a good amount of rewiring throughout. Keep reading to learn more about what this type of job requires, and why you should only trust the professionals to complete it.

Even the smallest drip coming through your below-grade walls can create a problem. You’ll want to have the outside checked to ensure that the ground is graded away from your foundation, and also will want to check for cracks in your foundation walls and have that damage repaired if necessary.

Chances are, you don’t know the local building codes in your area. Many times, you’ll need to get building permits to make any electrical changes to this room of your home, as that room may need to be inspected before the job begins. Our electricians are aware of these rules and will take the necessary steps to ensure the job is done correctly.

A drop, or suspended, ceiling is one that is lower than the natural ceiling of your basement. This allows you to conceal any new plumbing that is put in, as well as electrical components such as wires. The good news is, there are plenty of attractive options for these types of ceilings. This also allows you to give your lighting a recess, which allows you more space for light fixtures.

As tempting as it may be to finish your entire basement, keeping the space housing your HVAC units and water heater clear, open, and unfinished is a good idea. That’s because these spaces have specific code requirements, plus your service professionals will need access for maintenance and repairs.

If you have ever lived in a home with a chandelier in the dining room, you may have had a dimmer switch. The switch probably seemed functional and rather standard. You never thought twice about it. However, if you live in a home that doesn’t have a dimmer switch, you can quickly see the benefits to having one. In fact, your electrician in Santa Monica, like those at The Electric Connection, can explain why a dimmer switch is more than just a convenience.

Energy Savings

There are many times you don’t need full light, but you have to turn on the switch to avoid being in complete darkness. It is a waste of electricity and you know it, but you may feel trapped. You don’t have to! Dimmer switches can be installed by a Santa Monica electrician where light needs are likely to fluctuate like the living room, dining room and your bedroom. By only turning the light on as bright as you need, you are reducing the amount of electricity you use.

Save on Light Bulbs

By reducing how much you use your light bulbs, you are going to prolong their life, which will save you money. You can add years to your bulb’s life simply by adjusting the dimmer.

Freedom to Control Ambiance of the Room

Light plays a huge role in the overall ambiance of a room. When you are enjoying an intimate dinner, low light is appropriate. When you have lots of kids and a more lively dinner, you want plenty of light to see what is happening. A dimmer switch gives you complete control of the light setting.

If you would like to have a dimmer switch installed, call your electrician. Santa Monica homeowners may need to upgrade their older light fixtures to accommodate light bulbs that are suitable for dimmers. Not all CFLs or LEDs can be connected to a dimmer switch. Give The Electric Connection a call today to learn more about what you need to have a dimmer switch installed in your home.

Home automation allows homeowners throughout the country to live with far more conveniences than ever before. In addition to being able to remotely control the comfort of your home, you can also make your home safer with security automation. Smart home security automation has numerous benefits and can incorporate a number of options into its design.

However, if you don’t understand how to utilize these features you may not be using your system safely or at least to the best of its ability. To ensure that you are getting the most from your home automation security system, be sure to consider the following tips.

Are you going on vacation and leaving a pet behind? Naturally, you want a pet sitter you can rely on. However, what if an emergency occurs or they are late? Be alerted by setting up a no-show alert so that you’ll be notified by phone or mobile device if they don’t show up. This is also a good idea to set up if you are home and there is a solicitor or sales person at your door that did not have a previous appointment.

As the weather begins to warm up, it’s easy to forget that you’ve left a window open. With contact sensors added to your window, paired up with the Sensor Left Open alert, you’ll be notified if they are left ajar at night or when your home is unoccupied.

With the integrated Amazon Echo, you can arm your system and manage all connected devices simply by stating a command aloud. You just need to invest in the Amazon Echo, and then download the Alarm.com Skill Alexa app on your mobile phone to start using this excellent feature.