Not only will the electrician be up on all codes, he will be bonded and insured. You have complete peace of mind that he is doing the job right – the first time.

So what do you need to know?

Well, let’s talk about your needs. Are you replacing an outdated outlet with a new GFI? Are you adding a new outlet so you can plug in your computer and printer without disturbing the other appliances, lamps, clocks, etc. that are already using wall outlets? Are you installing a new outlet on your back porch where you can plug in a new ceiling fan? You can’t wait to get that new hot tub filled and ready for fun. Fill it up and plug it in. Right? Wrong.

First you need to know whether what you are using is for a standard 120 volt home outlet. Some appliances, like hot tubs, call for a larger capacity. Replacing an outlet can certainly be simpler than creating a new outlet. How much do you know about your electrical panel? Is there a free circuit? How do you determine if your panel will hold the new outlet? Do you know enough to keep you and members of your family from being shocked or electrocuted? It seems exaggerated, but unintentional shocks have happened.

How much do you know about wiring?

You may think you are cutting corners by purchasing the actual wires on your own. Are you sure you know what size to buy? Electrical wire is sized on the AWG system (the American Wire Gauge).  You need to know what the capacity for the wire will be and what the wire feed will be to make a sound decision.

If you go into a hardware store or home improvement store you will be amazed at the number of different wires that are sold. The each have a place and purpose in your home. Your neighbor said that he used aluminum wiring when he had his electrical outlets installed. Did you know that copper wires have been determined to be the best in today’s environment? Just look at the number of people stealing copper and you will realize that copper is now in demand.

Things a pro will know

You electrician will know exactly how much current the gauge of wire will safely carry. When a novice looks at the wiring it is obvious that the larger the gauge, the more electricity it can handle. Plus, the pro will know if your intended ampacity matches the circuit size on your electrical panel.

When you want to replace or upgrade electrical outlets, the smart thing to do is let a licensed professional do it. It will be done safely, efficiently and correctly.

Although there are many options out there for heating your home, electric heating options have become one of the most popular solutions in many areas of the country. It is generally clean, low-maintenance heating that gives off no soot or fumes associated with combustible heat sources. It is also much less expensive to install in both existing homes and new construction. Once installed, however, electrical heating can be more expensive than gas or other heat sources.

Often in addition to a central heating system, electrical heat sources are placed in homes to provide additional heat to areas that need it. This can by done by any homeowner, and generally requires no help from an electrician unless there’s the need to have additional electrical outlets installed. While this type of heating can be somewhat efficient if used properly, unchecked small heaters can lead to excessive energy usage. To prevent this, you should only use portable heaters if they have a built-in thermostat. You can also find heaters that will turn themselves on and off according to a schedule. These advanced features are more expensive, but can be very convenient.

The various types of electric heaters include:

Storage heaters are fairly large heating units, which are mounted to a wall and must typically be installed by an electrician. These heaters are unique, in that they generate heat during off-peak times so that your electrical bills remain low. They will then release that stored heat during the day. In order for this type of heater to work efficiently, special off-peak meters must be installed and agreements with your utility company must be made. This is one of the cheapest types of electrical heating to have installed, but it can be more expensive than other central heating options.

You can find a variety of fan heaters in nearly every store that you visit during the winter. This relatively cheap, portable solution can provide fast, portable heat to a small area. This makes them ideal for providing additional heat to areas that need it. Convector heaters are bigger than fan heaters, but provide more long lasting, even heat. While they take longer to heat up, they make little to no noise, which makes them much more appealing than heaters with noisy fans. There are many options available, most of which do not require the assistance of a licensed electrician.

Under floor heating is an excellent solution in many ways. If you are building a new home, this may be an especially great option for you. Because it can be very invasive, however, under floor heating is not recommended for pre-existing structures. Heat is generated and distributed through a network of electrical heating cables that are placed under your floors.

Another home or office heating methods that’s gaining popularity today is the electric fireplace. Because they require less maintenance than traditional wood or gas fireplaces, many people are choosing this aesthetically pleasing heating option. These fires provide various levels of heat, as well as a visually pleasing fire effect. Regardless of the electrical heating solution that you choose, make sure that you look into the different options and choose the one that is best suited for your needs. If you have any doubts or questions about the use and installation of an electrical heat source, get in touch with an electrician in Los Angeles, such as The Electric Connection. We are a licensed, bonded and insured Los Angeles electrician. We will be more than happy to discuss the different types of electrical heat sources that are available, as well as what the installation requirements would be.

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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

The DC area is likely to see more rain over the next few months as fall weather arrives. Among the many issues that homeowners could face if the rain is particularly torrential is flooding. This opens families up to a number of safety hazards, not least of which has to do with the exposure of electrical systems to moisture. As one of the leading has a rundown of four rules for dealing with electrical issues after a flood which can give you a basic understanding of what you should do:

Finding a reliable electrician that you feel as though you can trust is hard enough, without having to go through the process again and again. Different types of electrical work take different skill sets. Those specializing in new construction have different skills than those that handle existing electrical systems or specialize in electrical troubleshooting. Far better to find a electrician Santa Monica CA contractor that has the experience and skill to handle a broad range of electrical projects, one that is able to handle your present needs as well as those that you’ll have in the future.

The Electric Connection is a full service electrical contracting company that has been doing a broad range of electrical projects throughout the area for three decades. They’ve built up quite a reputation for the high quality of their work. The Electric Connection handles electrical systems for new construction, maintains and repairs existing systems, does commercial electrical work, residential electrical projects, and is trusted with property management related electrical work. Through years of deliberate effort, they’ve built a solid Santa Monica electrician team, well rounded, with plenty of complementary skill sets. This strategy allows them to take on the wide variety of work that they do successfully.

Electrical services include whole house rewiring, electrical upgrades, and a wide assortment of other maintenance and repair tasks for existing electrical systems. The Electric Connection also does home and business remodeling and renovation electrical work, as well as electrical work for new additions and new construction. This Santa Monica electrician company also installs back up generators, surge protection, smoke detectors, and security lighting, as well as other types of exterior lighting, like landscape lighting. They do all sorts of indoor lighting installation and handle a wide variety of custom lighting and electrical system upgrades. The Electric Connection also have experienced electrical troubleshooting experts on staff.

They’ve built up an excellent reputation for customer care and satisfaction through the years, something they’ve been able to do because of the quality of people that they hire. An electrician in Santa Monica CA that is in the employ of the Electric Connection is expected to be highly skilled, with a professional demeanor, and to the minute prompt. In fact, if you arrange for an electrical service call with the Electric Connection, if your Santa Monica electrician is even just a single, short minute late, that electrical service call is free. That is is a fine example of the high standards they expect their electricians to meet.

They care about their customers, and demonstrate that in a wide variety of ways. On their web site, they feature a wealth of information relating to trouble shooting electrical problems and the proper care and maintenance of an electrical system. They offer free over the phone help to their customers, and are readily accessible and easy to contact. The Electric Connection web site features a variety of discount coupons for electrical services and they run regular specials. With every job that a Santa Monica electrician from the Electric Connection does come a free electrical safety assessment, that check such things as the main electric panel, the grounding, and other important safety related features.

The Electric Connection offers a lifetime guarantee on all of their work, and that’s a guarantee that holds some weight, because they’ve been working successfully in the area for 30 years. They have no plans to go anywhere, and no time to think about it. They are far too busy doing electrical work throughout the region, and making sure that each electrician in Santa Monica CA working for them provides the sort of high quality service the company is known for.

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