We are giving away 1 ceiling fan to a lucky winner!  Best of all, it comes with installation!  To be eligible to win you must:  Like our page and share this post.  That is it!  Winner will be drawn October 30th, 2016.  *

Fall is fast approaching.  For many its there favorite time of year.  Mild days and cool nights make it a great opportunity to open up some windows and let some fresh air in!  Ceiling fans are a great solution to move some air around.  Many modern day home layouts don’t allow for much cross ventilation depending on the window alignment.  With a ceiling fan installed it easy to get that air moving again.  A ceiling fan can even reduce your energy consumption by up to 30%!  Who wouldn’t want to save 30% on there energy cost?

A chemical free deterrent to bugs and mosquitoes can be as simple as turning on your ceiling fan.  It is a known fact that the wind reduces the amount of air born insects around you.   Also the wind dilutes and blows away the carbon dioxide you exhale.  Similar to why airplanes have trouble landing in high wind so do bugs?  They often seek protection during high winds or try to avoid them all together.

A ceiling fan should only be properly installed by a trained electrician.  We often find ceiling fans installed on plastic boxes or boxes with the wrong size screws.  Can you imagine a ceiling fan rotating at high speeds and weighting 30 to 50 pounds falling from your ceiling?  We have seen ceiling fans that have even fell on a child’s bed due to improper installation.  Thank goodness no one was hurt in that case!

A under sized ceiling fan wont be as effect as a properly sized ceiling fan.  Also, ceiling fans should be installed at a minimum of 7′ off the floor, 20-30 inches from walls and 10-18 inches from ceiling to increase there effectiveness.  Also consider features of the ceiling fan such as the light quality, remote option, and number of speeds.  As the old saying goes ” you get what you pay for” this is also true when it comes to ceiling fans.  Cheap fans are usually more wobbly, nosier, and don’t last as long.  Spend what you can afford but try not to buy the cheapest fan possible.  Search for name brands such as Casablanca, Emerson, Minka and other high quality fans.  Unless your truly a handy individual and know the electrical code when it comes to proper ceiling fan installation you should have a professional install your ceiling fan.  Contact us today to have one of our trained, trusted, and background checked electricians install your fan and put the cool back in that room!

*To be eligible for ceiling fan giveaway you must live within 20 miles of the 50325 zip code.  For installation you must currently have a ceiling fan or light fixture installed and location installation of choice.  Box supporting existing light fixture or ceiling fan must be rated for a ceiling fan.

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Energy deregulation gives consumers choices when it comes to the companies that provide their home electricity. Suppliers can compete for your electricity dollars in a variety of ways, offering low prices, short and long-term contracts, fixed or variable rates, and a choice in how your energy is generated. The sheer volume of options can seem so complicated that you need to ask an electrician to help you tangle out the pros and cons of the available plans. One area in particular that can trip up consumers has to do with whether the source of their electricity is green or renewable. Read on to learn the difference.

Green Customers are Loyal Customers

Currently, 15 states plus Washington, D.C. have active electricity deregulation programs, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and these states are largely concentrated in the Northeast. Consumers who live in deregulated states are likely to be flooded with energy offers, often promising electricity that is derived from green or renewable sources. Purchasing this environmentally friendly power usually costs a bit more than electricity that comes from more traditional sources like coal, but some homeowners like to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to reducing carbon emissions.

Those customers who go green are valuable to the supplier because they are less likely to jump ship based on the availability of a cheaper energy source. "A customer on a renewable-energy product has actively decided what is important to them and has selected their supplier accordingly," Ritchie Hudson, Pennsylvania chairman of the Retail Energy Supply Association, said to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A Question of Semantics

However, while many suppliers and consumers treat green and renewable sources of electricity as synonymous, there is a distinction. Green energy is that which comes from specific sources that have the highest environmental benefit, including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass and small hydroelectric sources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, renewable energy “includes resources that rely on fuel sources that restore themselves over short periods of time and do not diminish,” which includes all the green options but also other sources such as large hydroelectric dams, which present certain environmental tradeoffs.

That means that if you really want to limit your impact on the Earth as much as possible, go green in lieu of simply choosing renewable energy. You can further refine your choices by asking about the specific source of the electricity, if you have a preference for solar, wind or another option.

Ask an Electrician About Your Options

Deregulated energy markets give you flexibility, but can also sow consumer confusion. If you need help deciphering the offerings of your state's electricity providers, ask an electrician who can walk you through your choices.

If you are planning on renovating or sprucing-up your kitchen, it’s probably a good idea to map out a detailed lighting plan as well. Most people find this a little strange as they feel that lighting in a kitchen isn’t something that needs too much of consideration or planning. It’s just a place where you cook and probably where you have an informal meal after all.

However, the fact is that it’s important to plan kitchen illumination well if you want to make optimal use of your kitchen spaces. Here, we would like to share some basic lighting ideas to create the right balance of functionality and aesthetics.

If you want to get a better idea about what type of lighting would work best for your kitchen, it’s vital to understand how your kitchen spaces relate to the different type of lighting. Let’s start off with understanding what type of bulbs you can use for the best effects:

These bulbs emit a yellowish light and you will now find many artistic versions of these on the market today.

These bulbs throw off a flat, cold light that has a bluish tinge, which lends a very harsh effect to the room.

These have a warm light that makes the place look very inviting and comfortable

These are the latest in light bulb technology and are available in a range of effects including white, cool daylight, warm light, yellow and a range of other colours and hues. Aside from this, LED bulbs are also 80% more energy-efficient than standard bulbs; and most property owners are now opting for these fixtures.

In addition to the types of bulbs used, the style of lighting or the lighting effects are what impact the ambience and appearance of a room. With this in view, here we discuss the different lighting effects that can be used in your kitchen:

This is one of the simplest ways to create the right lighting effect in your kitchen. This type of lighting is designed to help you move comfortably around the room. In most instances this type of lighting comes from grid-style can lighting, widely-spaced, wall and ceiling lamps, semi-translucent skylights or even the natural light that streams in through glass windows and doors. This is the base layer of any lighting plan.

In your kitchen, task lighting would be required to illuminate kitchen counters and food preparation spaces. Since you will be cooking in your kitchen every day, it’s important that the task lighting be planned and installed well. If you have only recessed lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will feel the lack of focused light when you are cleaning, cooking or prepping in that space.

If you install one-dimensional lighting in the kitchen, it creates unsightly shadows in different areas of the room, while ceiling lighting is ineffective in illuminating spaces like sinks, under counter or cabinet areas etc. On the other hand, if you add special pendant lamps over the counters or even your kitchen island it can prove to be a more practical solution. Under-cabinet lighting can also help in illuminating the cabinets that are positioned there.

This effect doesn’t seem as necessary as ambient or task lighting does in a kitchen space, as the illumination it provides isn’t as functional as the first two. However, it can have a significant impact on the way your kitchen spaces look. If you want to enhance the appeal of your kitchen (regardless of whether you are getting it entirely renovated or are opting for a lighting upgrade), it’s important that you plan your accent lighting well.

Enjoying your back deck after dark is something that many homeowners may appreciate. However, many lighting options, such as floodlights, attract bugs and really do nothing to improve the overall ambiance and atmosphere of your property. A better option is to consider the options in accent lighting including low-voltage or solar lighting. An electrician in Glendale, such as one of the team from Electric Connection, can help you choose the right garden lighting and begin the installation process.

On a warm summer night, what is more relaxing than sitting out on the deck?  There are a variety of options available to create the perfect effect for your deck. There are lighted post caps that provide just the right amount of lighting or there are under-step and riser lights that add needed light without taking up space.

Safety and security is another major concern. With the right lighting, you can add an element of security to the rear of your home making it less attractive to thieves or miscreants. Additionally, with plenty of lighting, you are less likely to have falls and other accidents outdoors.

All of these benefits come together to mean that deck lighting is something you cannot live without adding to your home. Consider all these benefits paired with the relatively low cost of installing this lighting and you will find this is a simple way to add value to your home too.

While it may be possible to handle some of these installation tasks yourself, calling the experts in electrician Glendale—Electric Connection will give you the best possible results. If you have any questions or concerns about deck lighting, give us a call or contact us online today and let us work with you. We want to make your deck a comfortable place for you to enjoy with your family and friends.