Today is December 2nd, which means as of yesterday it’s officially the most wonderful time of the year! Families across the country have begun putting up their Christmas trees, decorating their homes with dazzling lights, and baking the day away. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be focusing on decorating safety – for your beloved tree, as well as for the interior and exterior of your home. Our goal is to ensure that you have a safe and happy holiday!

When it comes to decorating your tree, it’s important to follow certain guidelines so that you can help prevent electrical and fire hazards.

So, it’s time to sell your home and you’re making upgrades here and there to increase its value. That’s a great idea, but have you spoken to a Dallas electrician yet about potential lighting upgrades? All it takes is a little lighting knowhow and you can increase your home’s value well beyond the initial investment you make before it goes on the market. Here are a few simple ideas from a certified electrician to inspire you.

For more on how lighting can increase your home’s value, please contact a certified electrician at ElectricMan today. ElectricMan is your trusted, local Dallas electrician with 27 years of experience. For more information, visit the ElectricMan website. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

If you have just recently purchased a home or have concerns about the home you currently live in, you can call to have an electrical safety inspection. These inspections are performed by a knowledgeable electrician who can identify any potential hazards you may have in your home. It is always a good idea to have an inspection upon moving into a new home. It essentially gives you a peek behind the walls so you know exactly what you are getting into.

These inspections will need to be performed by an electrician. Pasadena residents can call The Electric Connection to have one of these assessments performed. If your home is older or if you have noticed some issues like tripping breakers, flickering lights or dead outlets, it is crucial you have an electrician come out. The electrician will also be looking for outdated electrical work that should be replaced to meet today’s current standards. Over the years, technology has given us safer methods of bringing electricity into our homes. You will feel safer knowing your home is up to code and as safe as possible.

There are some serious hazards that can be lurking in the walls that could end up starting a fire if left unchecked. These hazards may go unnoticed until it is too late. In many cases, there are some warning signs like the ones mentioned above and in other situations the problem goes undetected until it is too late.

During an inspection, the electrician will evaluate the home’s wiring for fraying or breaking along the line. The entire process is relatively short and inexpensive. Once the inspection is complete, you will get a report from your electrician. Pasadena homeowners will rest easy once they know the condition of their home’s wiring. Any problems that have been identified should always be fixed immediately. This is something The Electric Connection can help you take care of. Just give us a call today.

Within the construction industry is a continued need for highly qualified specialists in many areas, including carpentry, plumbing, and electricity. All are well-paying fields, but in particular the trade of master electrician can give a person a good standard of living and considerable career flexibility. The path to earning the title of master electrician is somewhat long and requires many hours of trade school or college coursework but is very well-marked with the apprenticeship experience required. Of course, as with any profession, the level of education and practical experience needed depends upon the state or territory within which you wish to learn such a valuable trade.

High school courses rich in math and science are a must if you wish to do well in your path to master electrician certification. These courses will give you a great background in which to be able to successfully complete trade school or junior college courses in physics (electricity) as well as safety and industrial maintenance. Most states require some up-front training in a trade school or college before beginning your on-the-job training as an electrician. Checking with your particular state or territory is necessary in order to assess the exact requirements for certification.

In addition to any classroom work, you will be required in most cases to fulfill at least two years of apprenticeship work with a licensed master electrician. It is during this time that you begin to learn this profession fully and gain a proper understanding of the responsibilities involved. The International Brotherhood of Electricians supports all apprenticeship activities, including helping potential apprentices find qualified master electricians with whom to learn. You should expect any master electrician you work with to be highly knowledgeable as well as very demanding as to what he or she expects from you. Be prepared both physically and mentally for a challenging two year period as you complete your apprenticeship.

After a total of four years between trade school and apprenticeship training, you should be prepared to take the licensing exam for journeyman electrician. If you pass this exam, you will be certified as a competent journeyman electrician. However, in many states, a journeyman electrician must still work under the direction of a master electrician. It will take on average another three to four years to gain enough experience before applying for the license of master journeyman electrician, or more simply, a master electrician.

In the United States, most licensed master electricians can expect between $40,000 and $70,000 per year as an average wage. Though pay is currently lower on average than over the past few years, this is expected to improve as the economy recovers and homebuilding rebounds. Also, some master electricians decide to open their own electrical business or consulting firm and can expect in many cases to out-earn the average expectation in most states. With such a certification, you are only limited by your willingness to work on both residential and commercial sites.

When you think of home security you likely think of alarms to alert you to home invasions, or sensor lights to warn you of movement outside your property. While these are both very important components of home security, comprehensive and automated home security goes far beyond burglary monitoring systems. We can also alert you to—and protect your home from—natural elements such as flooding and extreme temperature changes with temperature and flood monitoring.

Flood monitoring is an alarm device that is integrated into your comprehensive home security system. Flood sensors can not only activate a local alarm, but can also notify a central station that is monitoring that residential alarm 24/7.

Flood damage is actually among the most common homeowner insurance claims, as well as one of the most expensive. A water sensor can not only detect water coming from a flood due to inclement weather, but also that from plumbing systems. In fact, there are flood sensors available that will automatically shut off your water if your pipes break open.

You can place flood sensors near all your major plumbing fixtures or even in your attic in order to detect a leaky roof. Undetected leaks, and floods, can lead to the development of mold, mildew, and other contaminants that can be harmful to your home and to your health. Additionally, flood damage can result in ruined carpets, warped wood floors and furniture, damaged cabinetry, and more.

Other areas of your home that can benefit from flood sensor placement include your basement, bathroom or laundry room. Most of these flood detectors include an external component and can operate as a temperature sensor as well. This allows them to function in cold environments.