Snap! Crackle! Pop! These are great sounds if you’re crunching cereal or curling up in front of a roaring fireplace on a cool winter evening. However, they are definitely unwelcome if you have just flipped on an electric light switch in your Los Angeles home. While most people can do simple home repairs, electrical problems are much more difficult — and potentially dangerous. At times like this, you’ll need to call on a Los Angeles electrician.

Since 1979 the Electric Connection has been providing electrical service and electrical repairs locally as an electrician in Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. But they offer an additional, very unique electrical service; they are willing to answer your electrical questions and give free electrical advice to homeowners who have questions about their home lighting, electrical rewiring, electrical safety assessments, electrical upgrades, or any other electrical concern. In a way it’s like having your own personal electrician in Los Angeles who will share bits of wisdom and electrical trade advice without charging for an unnecessary electrical service call.

Here’s an example of the kind of electrical help that’s available on The Electric Connection’s website. Suppose a short circuit causes your circuit breaker to flip off. Do you have an electrical wiring issue? Is the circuit breaker overloaded? Is the breaker broken? This Los Angeles electrician’s site walks you through some steps you can take to isolate the problem at no fee. They suggest you think back to what happened immediately before the electrical power went out. For example, if you just plugged in an iron or other appliance immediately prior to the circuit breaker jumping off, unplug the appliance and reset the circuit breaker. If it stays on without any additional electrical power interruptions, the problem is most likely a faulty appliance and not an electrical issue at all.

On the other hand, if the circuit breaker does not work normally, or if you can’t find any specific cause for the break in your electrical power, then it may be time to call a licensed electrician in Los Angeles CA. Everything wears out over time, even circuit breakers, and you may simply need to have yours replaced. Another possibility is that the electrical wiring in your house is not sufficient for the amount of electrical appliances you now have. This situation frequently occurs in older homes which were built before the age of multiple televisions, home computers, entertainment centers, trash compactors and more. In this situation a Los Angeles electrician can add additional electrical wiring to your home or upgrade your electrical panel, bringing it up to speed with today’s highly powered lifestyle.

The Electric Connection’s website is full of other little hints that can help the do-it-yourself homeowner. For example, do you want to change out that old dining room light fixture with a more romantic chandelier that is hooked up to a nice dimmer switch? If so, read the advice on the Electric Connection site to make certain you purchase the correct electrical switch. Do you have flickering lights or electrical outlets that fail to work? The Electric Connection, your Los Angeles electrician, will tell you all of the possible reasons for your problem.

They are also willing to explain things such as the recent electrical upgrades to the National Electric Code that requires special outlets called ground fault circuit interrupters (GFIs) to be installed in electrical outlets which are near water sources, like the bath, kitchen, garage, pool or hot tub. These inexpensive electrical upgrades can be a lifesaver – literally!

Things wear out, including electrical wiring, and codes continually change as improved materials and safety features become available. Do you know the state of our home’s electrical health? If not, you may want to contact a licensed electrician in Los Angeles CA to conduct a free, no-obligation safety check. Your home is not only one of your largest financial investments, but it’s the place of safety you provide your family. Take a little time to give your home a checkup.

When you’re looking on line for electrician Los Angeles, you’ll you can always call The Electric Connection to discuss your electrical projects, to ask any electrical related questions, or to inquire about an electrical estimate.

Rats and mice are quite common house pests; once they find your home to be a safe place to live in and that there are different sources of food there, they will be reluctant to leave. Not only do they pose a health hazard, they also tend to cause a lot of damage to various features on your property and will chew through the insulation of your electrical wiring.

This can affect the system and impact the supply of electricity throughout your property and can be a fire hazard as well. Here are some effective tips to prevent rodent damage to the electrical wiring in your home:

Since rodents are nocturnal creatures, you won’t really see them running around your home in the daytime. However, if you are wary, you will surely hear scratching and chewing sounds in the walls of your homes. You may also hear scurrying noises coming from the attic. You should look out for nesting material or droppings and will typically find these in enclosed spaces.

It’s important to check the wiring’s insulation with regularity to ensure that it’s intact and that it hasn’t been chewed by rodents. The unfortunate part is that this isn’t something you can do for wiring behind walls. However, if you are undertaking any repairs, renovation or upgrades, take that as an opportunity to check the wiring for signs of rodent damage.

If you notice any flickering or experience power fluctuation in a certain room or part of the house, or if you find that a certain circuit breaker keeps tripping for no specific reason, get the system checked for rodent damage.

If you notice any signs of a rodent infestation, it’s important that you act without delay and take some steps to get rid of them. Buy some spring traps and rat poison from your local hardware store and set these at different places where you have seen rat droppings or heard noises. Even as you do this, it’s equally important that you also identify where these pests are entering your property from. Place the bait or poison at these points along your home’s exterior walls.

If you find the infestation to be too severe or if you aren’t too confident about using DIY rodent control measures, call a licensed electrician to inspect the wiring and check it thoroughly for damage. If they confirm that the damage has been caused by rats, it’s a good idea to call pest control professionals to handle the rodent control for you. They will provide solutions and give you advice on the steps you can take to prevent these pests from entering your property.

While the rodent control professionals will ensure that the rats are eliminated from your property, they will also advise you on how to seal all the possible rodent entry points in your home. Aside from very evident points such as doors and open windows, these pests can easily squeeze their way into the indoor spaces of your property through holes and large cracks. If the cracks are too small, they won’t shy from chewing their way in through the loose concrete of the walls.