A summer in Florida brings about a ton of exciting activities. From the pool to the playground, there’s a lot of adventure to be had! But don’t break out the barbecue just yet! The certified electricians at Hoffman Electrical would like to take a moment to identify some common electrical hazards that can come as a result of all of this summer fun.

Our experts have been bringing our patrons the best in electrical services for years. And in that time nothing has ever been as important to us as your safety! To avoid risks of shock and fire, read along for some safety tips you should put into practice.

Don’t worry, we’re not going to spoil the fun. These tips are quick, easy, and are mostly about taking precautions:

If it’s time to bolster the electrical defenses of your home, look to the certified electricians at Hoffman Electrical! We can ensure your home is safe and shock free this summer, leaving you to have fun in safety! Hoffman Electrical is a family owned and operated business serving the Tampa and Brandon, Florida communities since 1989. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff of electricians install, repair, and perform regular maintenance check-ups in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

You may have heard the term GFCI from your electrician before. But what exactly does it mean? And is that type of outlet really necessary in your home or building?

We all know that water and electricity don’t mix. That’s what makes electrical outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms where water is used so tricky. To reduce the chance of electrocutions, burns, and shocks, virtually all North American building codes require that ground fault circuit interrupter outlets (GFCIs) be installed where there is water nearby. GFCI outlets have a built-in circuit breaker that instantly stops the flow of electricity when it senses a surge.

A GFCI outlet not only helps keep you and your family or building occupants from getting shocks and burns, but it helps prevent electrical fires. In the even that there is an electrical fire, it can lessen the severity and any damage.

A GFCI outlet is important not only to meeting local building code requirements, but also to help prevent potentially-fatal accidents.

GFCI outlets are designed with a red button that activates the outlet after the built-in breaker is tripped, and a black button that tests the outlet to make sure that the breaker is working properly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that all ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets be tested in the following intervals:

To test your ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets, plug a lamp into the outlet. Turn the lamp on and push the black test button. If the lamp goes out, the outlet is working properly. If the lamp remains lit, contact a licensed electrician to evaluate the problem. Electrical and wiring issues make poor DIY projects and are best left to electricians who are trained to safely handle electrical current and wiring.

At Kolb Electric, we want to help you keep your home or building safe in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC areas. We can save you time by inspecting and testing all of the ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets in your interior space and addressing any electrical issues we may discover during the tests. To learn more about electrical safety and GFCI outlets and/or to schedule a service appointment, call us at 877 287-1179. We’ve been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners like you with their electrical needs since 1925.

Southern California residents are fortunate in the fact the winters are fairly mild, but you will need to run the heater from time to time. You can save a lot of money on heating costs by following these tips presented by your Los Angeles electrician. The team at The Electric Connection can help you get your home ready for what very well may be a very long, cold winter.

Keeping your house warm can be difficult if it isn’t properly insulated. Do your best to make sure your attic space is insulated. Another helpful tool to keeping in the air you pay to heat inside where you want it is by adding weather stripping around doors and windows. This will take care of those cold drafts that seep in around the spaces. The stripping includes sticky tape that is easily peeled off and stuck to the door and window jams. It is fairly inexpensive, but can save you a great deal of money on heating AND cooling costs. It won’t be visible and can also reduce the sound that comes through those small cracks.

Another option that is very helpful during the cooler months as well as the summer months is a ceiling fan installed by an electrician. Los Angeles residents can help reduce heating costs with the installation of a ceiling fan. The fan blades will push the hot air that rises up to the ceiling back down into the living space. The hot air in the room will keep the thermostat from kicking the furnace on repeatedly. This is where the cost savings is. Your ceiling fan can also act as a light fixture in the room. Remote controls are an option if you have high ceilings. If you are ready to take the next step in fighting high heating bills, give The Electric Connection a call today.

With fall on the horizon and all of your outdoor duties winding down, it is time to take a look around the inside of your house. Fall and winter means there will be plenty of opportunities for indoor entertaining. Your kitchen is the center of that entertainment and you will want to have it in excellent condition as you prepare for holiday feasts and celebrations. A kitchen upgrade, update or remodel is an excellent way to get you ready while improving the value of your home. You will of course need an electrician in Los Angeles to help you with your kitchen update. The team at The Electric Connection is familiar with all aspects of remodels and upgrades and ready to help.

There are plenty of little things you can do that will give your kitchen a more modern look while making it more functional. You don’t always have to go with a huge remodel that includes putting in new cabinets and countertops.

*Lighting is a huge factor in the overall look and feel of a room. A Los Angeles electrician can replace old lights and add new ones that brighten up the space while making it look brand new. *Hardware on the cabinets is another quick and easy trick to making a kitchen look a little different. This is a quick job you can do yourself in just a few hours.

*Adding LED lighting under the cabinets is an excellent way to brighten up your countertops and give your kitchen a whole new look.

Kitchen upgrades are always appreciated by the cook in the house. Anything to make meal prep a little easier and enjoyable will be accepted with gratitude. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your kitchen upgrades.