If you are renovating or updating your kitchen, one common kitchen addition you might be interested is a garbage disposal unit. This little unit sits in your sink and allows you to shred food that you would not normally fit down the drain. This can be a handy appliance, however it may introduce the threat of electrocution into the environment, as water and electricity don’t mix well. If you are looking at having a garbage disposal unit installed in your sink, have one installed safely.

The garbage disposal unit is installed into your existing sink pipe. In order to power the unit, you will require a 120-volt GCFI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). This means that you will need an outlet under your sink to plugin into. If one is not available you will need to have it installed. Often, other appliances may already heavily load kitchen circuits, it is important to check the load on that circuit before installing a new electrical outlet. If you are not careful, every time you run your garbage disposal you could cause the breaker to trip and lose power to your toaster, microwave, or refrigerator.

At times disposal units may need maintenance, become clogged, or break down for some other reason. To identify the problem you may need to open up the sink or motor to get to the part that you need access to. Before you begin any work, shut down the circuit that the garbage disposal is on and unplug the unit. This will not only keep your fingers safe from the motor activating unexpectedly, but it will also help you avoid an electrical related accident. If you start to take apart the pipes and water begins leaking there is a big risk of electrical shock. If you are not familiar with the plumbing or electrical work of the garbage disposal, leave it to a professional. You may think it is a simple job, but one mistake can be costly.

Before having a new garbage disposal installed, inspect your sink and pipes for any leaks. If these leaks make contact with exposed electrical wires or outlets there is risk of electrical shock. If you are not familiar with the plumbing or electrical work involved in installing a garbage disposal unit, call an expert. Our licenced electricians can ensure that your kitchen circuit can handle the unit and install a new electrical outlet.

LED light bulbs and fixtures are the best alternatives for many reasons.

LED lights are available in several shades of white. These shades are referred to as a bulb’s correlated color temperature (National Institute of General Medical Sciences, states that, “Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment.”

According to writes, “Several studies have documented the importance of light in reducing depression, decreasing fatigue, improving alertness, modulating circadian rhythms, and treating conditions such as hyperbilirubinemia among infants. Further, the presence of windows in the workplace and access to daylight have been linked with increased satisfaction with the work environment.” Windows are the best method of accessing daylight, but cool white LED lights along with the right color temperatures at the right times, can have the same effect on the body.

Warmer color temperatures lead to the release of melatonin, which causes drowsiness. This is appropriate during bedtime hours, but causes problems for those who need to stay awake, such as overnight nurses and doctors. Introducing natural or cool white light to hallways, operating rooms, and nurse stations can help hospital staff, especially overnight workers, feel more alert and energetic.

EPA has a list of cleanup procedures, such as having everyone leave the room, opening a doors or windows, shutting off heat and air-conditioning systems, and other specific instructions.

Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs also emit low doses of UV radiation that can damage not only facility materials but can also damage skin and eyes. According to a CBSLA.com discusses the results of another study that had similar findings. In this article, it is said that, “. . . exposure to the (fluorescent) bulbs could lead to premature aging and cancer.”

Continued UV exposure is also harmful to the eyes. A LED lights won’t flicker or emit any color spikes. Color fluctuations and flicker can cause negative effects, such as headaches and dizziness. When used for hospital lighting, LED bulbs and fixtures can improve overall health and eliminate the possibility of additional health risks posed by fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.

Seeing colors as they truly are is critical in health care environments. Inaccurate color rendering of skin or blood could lead to a misdiagnosis or failure to see signs of infection or jaundice. The spectral graph below can be helpful in understanding the advantage of high-CRI light sources. Lights with a low CRI will show fewer colors while high-CRI lights cover more of the spectrum. A light source’s ability to show more colors increases its accuracy in revealing the true colors of people, objects, and surroundings.

FreemanWhite, a health-care-focused design firm reports, “. . .light fixtures with a high CRI . . .  help caregivers assess rashes, lesions, and skin pigmentation.” They go on to say, “In the interest of avoiding liability claims, better lighting quality can enhance a caregiver’s ability to diagnose correctly, identify reactions, prevent secondary infections, and minimize readmissions.” High-CRI LED lights can also help prevent medication errors.

Another method of LED hospital lighting control is the use of occupancy sensors. These sensors will save money beyond those that result from reduced energy consumption. Sensors will also extend the life span of bulbs and fixtures even further by turning them off when no one is in the area. These sensors are best suited for low-traffic areas.

Part of home ownership is the freedom to do as you choose with your home. Painting walls a wild color of orange or adding new carpet are all things homeowners do to make the home fit their personality. These are minor things that can be done on your own over a weekend or two if you like. Then there are those bigger changes homeowners are typically keen to make. Whether it is knocking out a closet to make a room bigger or adding additional square footage onto the house to accommodate a growing family, a home is constantly evolving. However, there are some jobs that require a little more expertise than your cousin’s friend. You need the help of an experienced electrician in Burbank if you are planning any major home remodels. The team at The Electric Connection are the ones to call when you are ready to change up the interior of your home with a remodel.

Adding an entire new room, transforming a basement or updating a kitchen are all common remodels families will do to make home life easier. These things also add value to the home and can be an investment for the future. To protect that investment, it is important you use a certified electrician. Burbank homeowners who try to cut corners by avoiding permits and hiring unlicensed electricians are putting themselves at a huge risk.

Remodels will almost always require new wiring, updating outlets and fixtures and a host of other electrical related job. The overall safety of the home must be considered. Stay safe, protect your investment and make the call to a trained, professional Burbank electrician. The job will be done right and you will feel better knowing the wiring is up to code and has passed inspection. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your remodel consultation.

Kauai’s electrical grid surges affect the life span of our computers, appliances, and other electronic equipment. Power surges can also completely roast the internal electronic parts during a storm or utility fault.

A whole house surge protector installed by a licensed electrician will greatly decrease the risk of power surge destruction.

Blue Sky Electric offers a quality whole panel surge protector for your home or business (parts and labor)

Guarding against surges requires a two-pronged approach: a whole-house suppressor to tame the big, dangerous power spikes and an individual circuit (or “plug-in”) surge suppressor for vulnerable appliances and electronic devices. Both types essentially act like pressure-relief valves. Normally they just sit there, allowing electric current to flow through them. But with higher-than-normal voltage, the devices instantly divert excess voltage to the ground wire. (The best ones react in less than a nanosecond.) As soon as voltage levels return to normal, the flow of electricity is restored, unless the surge was big enough to melt the fuse built into some units.

Typically, whole-house suppressors are hard-wired to the service panel, a process that takes a licensed electrician about two hours. Whole-house systems should be rated to stop a 40,000-amp surge, at minimum. Features to look for include thermal fuses, and lights or alarms that indicate when a device has taken a hit. Protection for an average house with 200-amp service will run about $500 — including a couple of hours of an electrician’s labor. Separate but smaller whole-house units are recommended for the phone and cable lines. These protect fax and answering machines, televisions, and modems.

By themselves, whole-house suppressors can’t stop surges completely; up to 15 percent of excess voltage may leak by. That’s where “plug-in” surge protectors come in. These buffers between individual appliances and wall outlets come in a bewildering array of options and prices. They range from $70 units not much bigger than a computer mouse to $350 units the size of a pizza box that guard all the components in a home theater. But most plug-in models fall into three basic categories: the familiar multi-outlet power strip; the multitasking surge station that can handle phone and cable jacks as well as power cords; and the UPS (uninterruptible power supply), which completely cleanses electric power of random fluctuations and provides a short-term battery backup in case the power dips or goes out entirely. Expect to pay between $20 and $70 for a quality power strip or surge station, and from $100 to $250 for a UPS.