If anyone living in your home has allergies, asthma, or respiratory issues of any kind, then they will not be able to live comfortably when airborne pollutants make their way into your home. While the air filter in your HVAC system may trap some pollutants, it is really designed to protect your system itself, not to boost indoor air quality. Devices such as electronic air purifiers, though, are. By removing pollutants from the air, they help residents live more comfortably.

Biological pollutants, including viruses, mold, and bacteria may also be present in the air in your home. These can lead to illness, with sick, elderly, and very young family members at increased risk of health problems. While you cannot really just filter these pollutants out of the air, as they can still reproduce on filters or in air cleaners, you can destroy them with the use of a UV air purifier.

We tend to think of the impact that airborne pollutants have on our bodies when considering the benefits of air purifiers, but air purification systems can positively impact your HVAC systems as well. If your air filters, for instance, are full of pollutants, or if dust and dirt build up on sensitive components in the system, the efficiency of that system operates will suffer. This is just one more reason for considering the use of an air purifier in your home.

You have seen the news and have heard about the government’s move to make those cheap light bulbs a thing of the past. You are probably wondering why this is necessary and what is all the fuss about these CFLs you have seen in place of those other incandescent bulbs? Your Los Angeles electrician is here to explain why this is one trend you want to be a part of. The team at The Electric Connection can help you make the transition from the outdated bulbs to the new, more energy efficient CFLs.

One of the major complaints about the CFLs is the expense. Yes, they are more expensive. You can expect to pay anywhere from $3 to $5 for a single bulb. Before you let that deter you from jumping aboard the CFL bandwagon, read on. You have probably noticed the bulbs are sold in singles more often than the 4-pack we have become accustomed to buying. When you start using CFLs, you will understand why. The bulbs last 10 times longer than one of the incandescent bulbs. That means instead of changing a bulb every couple of months, you will go a year or more in between bulb changes.

The initial expense is also not so bad when you factor in the savings on your electric bill every month. Assuming $20 of every $100 of your electric bill is for lighting alone, you could save about $15 each month on lighting costs. CFLs use 75 percent electricity than the almost obsolete incandescent bulbs. This also translates to a reduction on energy, which is always a bonus for the environment. If you have an outdate fixture that does not work with CFLs, call an electrician. Los Angeles homeowners can update the lighting in their home and ultimately save money. Give The Electric Connection a call today and start saving money on your monthly electric bill.

Fixtures with less blue light emission have less of an effect on circadian rhythm and contribute less to glare, light trespass, and light pollution in the night sky. These warm white LED street lights emit from 17,000 to 23,700 lumens depending on the fixture, and they consume less than half the energy that an HID fixture would use. The durable LED lights have weatherproof die cast aluminum housings that are powder coated for rust resistance. Each fixture also comes with a removable cover for easy access to the driver. These street lights come with either an adjustable bracket or a mounting arm that’s designed to slip-fit onto round poles. All of the fixtures can be mounted onto the side of square and round poles with our Round-Mount and Square-Mount Fixed Arm Kits (sold separately). An attachment is also available for wall mounting.

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We’ve recently added a new explosion-proof light for use in granaries, paint booths, mills, mines, oil refineries, auto shops, marine vessels, shipyards, and other hazardous locations.

This LED light is listed as UL1598 for wet locations and UL1598A for outdoor marine applications. It is classified as UL844 and meets National Electric Code—NFPA 70, article 500—requirements in the U.S. for Class 1 Division 1 (groups C and D), Class 1 Division 2 (groups A, B, C, and D), and Class 2 Division 2 (groups F and G) hazardous locations. The light fixture meets IECEx Zone 1, 2, 21, and 22 requirements for safe operation around combustible gas and dust.

Designed to replace 320-watt metal-halide (MH) fixtures with comparable output—the 100-watt LED explosion-proof light emits 13,000 lumens of natural white illumination. This weatherproof LED fixture operates within a 100-277V AC range and is built to last five times longer than MH lights.

The durably constructed light has a vibration-resistant anodized aluminum housing that prevents the release of sparks from internal components. The die cast housing is also powder coated for corrosion resistance and has a removable back plate for access to the constant-current driver, which is sealed with a silicone gasket. LEDs are protected by a tempered glass lens.

A conduit is required for installation, and the fixture has two openings for input and output connections. The LED explosion-proof light can be pole mounted or mounted to a wall, floor, or ceiling with its included bracket. A five-year warranty protects against any manufacturer defects or malfunctions.

A significant number of homes in Baltimore and Bethesda, MD, Alexandria, VA, and Washington, DC built between the mid-1960s and the first half of the 1970s have hazardous aluminum wiring rather than copper. During that time, aluminum wiring was considered safe to use and viewed as a cost-saving measure. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) now believes aluminum wiring poses a safety hazard in homes that still have this type of wiring.

The biggest danger associated with aluminum wiring is that unanticipated fire hazards arise from the oxidation and deterioration caused at the points where aluminum wiring is connected at outlets, light fixtures, and splices. While this can cause overheating and arching that won’t trip a circuit breaker, it can cause a fire. Aluminum wiring was used in an estimated 2 million homes between 1965 and 1973—and many of these homes are located in the MD, VA, and DC area.

If you’re concerned about dangerous aluminum wiring, pay attention to the following warning signs:

All of these signs indicate a potential fire hazard for standard aluminum wiring.

Aluminum wiring should be thoroughly evaluated by a qualified electrician who is experienced in inspecting and correcting wiring problems. The CPSC recommends a few methods for correction. The first is to rewire the home with copper wire, an expensive option that really only makes sense if the homeowner is already in the process of completely remodeling or doing deep renovations. The second option is to use the Copalum crimp method to correct the problem. This involves attaching a piece of copper wire to the existing aluminum wire with a specially designed metal sleeve and powered crimping tool. It is a permanent repair option that will eliminate the dangers posed by aluminum wiring. A third option is to use a UL listed copper to aluminum connector to attach a copper wire to the existing aluminum wire.

Only an experienced electrician can accurately determine the level of danger a home with aluminum wiring faces, and then fix the problem in an efficient, timely manner.

If your home has aluminum wiring, we recommend that you call Kolb Electric or contact us online. We will send one of our expert electricians out to evaluate the aluminum wiring in your home to determine the best option to make your home as safe as possible. We’ve been serving Baltimore and Bethesda, MD as well as Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC since 1925. You can count on our experienced electricians to get the job done right the first time.