Does the concept of a whole house surge protector have you scratching your head? Perhaps you’ve envisioned a super-sized power strip? Or maybe a large magical box capable of absorbing lightning bolts? Whatever your misconceptions about whole house surge protectors, we’ve got the 4-1-1 you need to help you protect your home and all its valuable appliances from those inevitable and frequent power surges.

Simply put, a whole house surge protector protects all the appliances in your home from voltage spikes, limiting excess electrical current by blocking its flow or shorting it to ground, much like a pressure relief valve. This includes surges occurring not only from lightning, but the 60-80 percent of surges that occur from within your home – typically from major appliances cycling on and off. With all of today’s electronics, you simply can’t afford not to protect your home with a whole house surge protector.

Whole house surge protectors are typically hard-wired to your electrical box. Proper installation is essential. A whole house surge protector must be properly grounded, since without proper ground even the best surge protector will be unable to perform its job.

Whole house surge protector installation by a professional typically takes about two hours. Unless you are highly skilled in electrical, it is strongly recommended to hire a professional electrician to install these devices. The electrical wiring on your service panel may be confusing, improperly installed, or house defects that could pose a danger to DIY installers not in-the-know. In addition, without proper grounding, your whole home surge protector will not function properly. For the safety of your home, your appliances, and your family, consult a professional for whole house surge protector installation.

Many components in today’s sophisticated electronic devices are sensitive to power surges. However electronics and appliances containing microprocessors -- an integral part of most of today’s appliances and technology -- are particularly sensitive to surges. Since microprocessors only function properly when they have the right voltage, a power surge can easily damage these fragile devices, affecting everything from central heating and air to kitchen appliances and entertainment technology.

Due to the prevalence of sophisticated electronics in today’s homes, every home should consider installing a whole house surge protector. In fact, everyone from the National Fire Protection Association to the Institute for Business and Home Safety recommends them. And while insurance companies don’t give discounts for surge protectors, they can easily pay for themselves in the event of a single power surge. Give your home the protection it needs with the help of Mr. Electric®. Contact Mr. Electrictoday for the fast, safe installation of this inexpensive and easy to use safety device for all of your essential electronics.  

Did you know that there is more to the average electric fan than meets the eye? Fans of all types and styles do more than just cool you down; they actually circulate the air in your home, helping to keep humidity under control and prevent the air from becoming stagnant. Two types of fans accomplish these goals very well: attic fans and ceiling fans.

In your home, an attic fan installation can help you ventilate your attic space and even prevent the buildup of any gasses and fumes. Attic fans can be installed by an experienced and knowledgeable electrician. Burbank residents should, of course, be selective when it comes to who works on the electrical wiring in their home. Be sure to have your attic fan installed or replaced by a licensed and bonded Burbank electrician when the time comes. An attic fan is a worthwhile investment, and it can even help you keep humidity from building up and causing mold and mildew to form in your attic space!

Ceiling fans are by far the most common type of fans that an electrician installs. Your typical ceiling fan installations are quick and easy to install if there’s already existing power available at the ceiling fan location. Otherwise, more time and work would be required if new wiring is needed at the desired location.

Before you pick out your ceiling fans and have them installed, consider all of the factors involved such as what style best suits your décor, and precisely where you’ll want to have them placed. Ask yourself how difficult it might be for an electrician in Burbank to wire and/or hang the ceiling fans. For example, is there a support beam for the fan to be anchored to, or will it be “free floating” and only attached to the material of your ceiling? It is also important to think about how the air in your home will circulate once the fan is installed. This same line of thought can be applied to any type of ceiling fan that you would like to have installed, so keep these in mind when contacting a local electrician.

No matter what type of fan you choose or where you need to have it installed, check out the attic and ceiling fan services available at TheElectricConnection.com. Our level of commitment to excellence is consistent with every job we do, and we are continually building a base of satisfied customers that keeps on growing. Give us a call or visit us on the web to find out more about our services and how The Electric Connection can help you with installing the perfect fans for your home or business.

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The London Olympics are certainly on the tip of nearly everyone’s tongue (and Courtesy of FrenchArt-Deco.com

This piece, entitled “Swimming Pool” by French artist Albert Decaris won gold in the Engravings and Etchings competition.

In 1949, the International Olympic Committee decided to stop all art competitions, reasoning that it was illogical to let professional artists compete, while only amateur athletes were eligible. Instead, cultural festivals replaced the art competitions, and still do to this day. There’s still a chance for the best of the best artists and entertainers to showcase their stuff on an international stage, and for lighting designers, this is certainly a world class exhibition. 

LED is the light source that’s in it to win it this summer, wowing Olympic fans with spectacular light shows and festive monuments alike.

At the opening ceremony, LEDs were at the center of almost everything. The dove bikes used LEDs to light up their wings as they performed a circuit of the stadium.

LEDs lit the screen showing the Queen’s acting debut, with none other than James Bond.

Even on the sidewalk outside the main Olympic Stadium, there are 20 circular slabs that capture the kinetic energy of pedestrians’ footsteps to light up nearby LED lamps for 30 seconds at a time!

Water heaters are one of the greatest inventions we have in the modern home. There is nothing like a nice warm shower or bath. But to improve this invention even more, you can switch to an electric water heater. Electricity is much safer than traditional gas water heaters. It also offers a longer life and greater efficiency.

Whenever you are removing gas from your home you are always making it safer. With a natural gas or propane water heater you have a chance of explosion or fire. Either of these situations can leave you with significant damage to your home.

Electrical water heaters last longer than gas water heaters. This is because electrical water heaters have less parts, meaning they do not need to be replaced as often and do not come into contact with direct heat as much as gas water heaters do. Having your water heater last 4 years longer is a great benefit for anyone’s wallet.

When it comes to electrical, it usually means it is more efficient. While the cost of running an electrical heater may be the same as a gas water heater, the costs are recovered over the life of the heater because of the lower repair and installation costs as well the longer life span. Electrical water heaters also have an energy factor of 0.95. This means that there is less energy wasted when heating your water, making it much better for the environment. And, because it is electric you can put it on a timer and stop it from running when it is not needed.

If your water heater at home is reaching the end of its life span, start thinking about going electric. With the help of a licensed plumber you can purchase and install the right electric water heater and the piping to the heater. Then one of our Expert Electricians can take care of all the necessary wiring. Since the heater is electrical there is no need for an exhaust vent being drilled through your home! Contact your local Expert Electrician and he will help you realize the full benefits of electrical water heaters.