It happened just like I hoped it would. I had found an electrician in Glendale who was not only efficient at his job, he knew a lot about the area. I was not familiar with Glendale, California, but I was pleased to be outside of busy downtown LA. House sitting for friend who was in Europe gave me the opportunity to help her and enjoy a warmer climate for a month in the winter. The day after I arrived, I began having issues with the electricity. I could not use the coffee maker if the toaster or microwave was on, and a lot of the interior lights flickered. The house was at least 60 years old, and my friend was planning to remodel next spring. Through an email she gave her approval for me to find a Glendale electrician to solve the problem, at least whatever was necessary to keep me safe and cozy.

Even though it was easy to locate many companies by typing “electrician in Glendale CA.” into an online search, I had no idea how to pick the best one. Probably because I love to play with words, I chose to call The Electric Connection in Glendale; anyone who makes the most out of words and their meanings is fine by me. It was the perfect choice. The local Glendale electrician showed up right on time ready to perform major electrical troubleshooting, and as a bonus I got to learn more about Glendale. He shared with me his favorite places to visit. He was still very excited that he had recently been treated to a hot air balloon ride, and that started us talking about balloons.

My hometown is Albuquerque, so I proceeded to tell him about the International Balloon Fiesta that happens there every year. Talk about a whole new kind of light bulb! There is nothing like the night lit up by 600 plus hot air balloons as they all power up the propane and make the balloons glow simultaneously at least two or three evenings at each year’s event. They have other spectacular events too: races to win a car, special shapes, fireworks and early morning ascents into the sky. It is one of the most photographed annual events in the world. Those balloons may be powered by propane, but the event itself is electrifying.

We settled up that afternoon, after this very knowledgeable Glendale electrician had completed some electrical rewiring and a panel upgrade. He also provided an electrical bid at the owners request for an electrical spa hook up, some outdoor lighting, having a chandelier replaced in the dining room, and having some smoke detectors installed where they were needed. On top of that, he gave me the name of the place that provided balloon rides since I told him I had enjoyed several but would love to take one that offered a new landscape to witness. I shared with him information about the next balloon event back home. He seemed pretty intent on making it happen next October. Just a thought — I wonder if The Electric Connection would let this Glendale electrician bring his electrical tools with him when he visits. In the meantime, with my electrical problems solved, I am off to see Glendale from a point above.

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Everyone is a victim of the monthly electrical bill, and nobody likes to pay it, however electricity is a necessity to our everyday lifestyle. One of the benefits of electricity is that we have the power to manage it efficiently. Taking the right actions can mean saving money every month. We like providing you with helpful reminders of how you can be saving electricity in your home to make energy wise choices and save money on your bill.

Upgrade home windows – As winter approaches, you will find yourself wanting to maintain a warm and comfortable home. A great way to keep the heat in the home from escaping outside is by upgrading to more efficient windows. Windows with more glazes/panes help to capture the heat and keep it in. While this could prove costly to replace all the windows in your home, in the long run it is a wise investment to reduce the monthly electrical bill.

Regular furnace maintenance – Just because your furnace is running does not mean that it is running properly. If you are neglecting your furnace it could be running inefficiently. A professional inspection of the home’s furnace can lead to the identification of a number of areas of potential improvement that when resolved can lead to increased energy efficiency.

Use portable heaters -We have previously spoken about the user of portable heaters in the past and it is always worth revisiting. When heating the home, it is more efficient to turn on a small heater in the room you are in, rather than turning up the thermostat. Heat only the areas that are in use and not rooms that are empty.

Use the right bulbs – Each light fixture has a specification for the bulbs that should be used. Matching the right bulbs to the fixture leads to higher efficiency as energy can be wasted powering an incompatible bulb. And, if you haven’t replaced your home light bulbs with LEDs or compact fluorescent bulbs its time to!

Smart Thermostat – We visited this topic in last week in detail – turning down the home thermostat when heat is not needed is the easiest way to save on energy. A smart thermostat will help your set better heating schedules and allow changes to be made remotely from a smart phone.

Unplug unnecessary electronics – Electronic devices that are not currently being used should be unplugged. Items such as phone chargers, kitchen appliances, and laptops can still consume electricity even if they are off.

Repair your roof – In addition to windows in a home, the roof is another area where heat can escape. Heating a home is not cheap, so each degree should be kept inside, not outside. A damaged, or improperly insulated roof can lead to heat loss. A professional will be able to inspect your attic and roof to identify areas of heat loss and repair them.

Home Electrical inspection – Old and outdated wiring is not only inefficient, but dangerous. Schedule one of your licensed electricians to inspect your home to identify areas your can take advantage of to improve electrical efficiency.

Making the right investments in your home can lead to saving thousands of dollars in the long run. Before the thermometer starts to drop this season, review your energy consumption habits and areas in the home that can be improved. For a home electrical inspection, contact your local Expert Electric.