The weather outside bas been quite hot as the temperature has been reaching and exceeding the 30’s lately. Your electrical bill is probably rising with the temperature as well. Now is the time that many people start visiting stores in search of an air conditioning unit. This is a great way to cool down your home, but if your home’s electrical system is not prepared for the electrical load or you purchase the wrong unit, you could be left sweating more money than you expected.

Window-mounted air conditioning units are quite common to see in bedrooms or living rooms. These can be purchased from any local home appliance store. These units are mounted in the window and secured. These units pump in cold air and exhaust hot air to the outside – great for rooms that are frequented and difficult to keep cool.

The small units can also be purchased from your local appliance store. These smaller units cannot cool the same amount of area as a window-mounted unit, but can do the trick for small areas that you want to keep cool. The advantage of these is that you can move them from room to room quickly with little setup and takedown. One disadvantage of these units is that they tend to be quite noisy.

You may be fortunate enough to have one of these installed in your home. Central air units can be connected by ducts throughout the house and regulate the temperature set in the home. A central air unit is great for getting a consistently cool temperature in any room in the home while also keeping the noise to a minimum. One trick when it comes to central air is to ensure that you get a unit that matches the square footage for your home. If your air conditioning unit is too large for your home it may not properly dehumidify your home and run on short cycles.

When purchasing an A/C unit you want to ensure that you have a timer and energy-saver option. This will help keep your monthly electrical bills down. Energy efficient units will use less electricity and timer options can prevent the units from running when they are not needed. You also want to make sure that the unit is the appropriate size for your room or home. If the unit is too large it will cycle off quickly and can freeze air moisture without removing it, which can lead to a higher electrical bill.

If you are in the market for a new air conditioning unit for your home, make sure you do adequate research to ensure you are purchasing the right unit at the right size. Read the package for the required voltage and wattage. If you are adding an A/C unit in your home you could overload electrical circuits that are no prepared. If you have questions about your home’s electrical efficiency in the summer, call Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.

If you are doing work on your yard over the weekend, you can now get away with doing everything using only electricity. Lawnmowers, pressure washers, and other tools that commonly used gas can now be purchased in models powered by electricity. If you are using these electrical powered tools you need to ensure that you have electrical coverage around your home to plug them in. Here are some tips for having outdoor GFCI outlets installed in your home’s exterior.

Most homes come standard with a couple of outdoors outlets. Sometimes this is not enough and you will be restricted because the cable for your lawnmower or pressure washer can’t reach around the side of the home or to the back of your yard. When preparing to have an outdoor GFCI outlet installed, measure the length of your cables and the maximum distance you will need to go. You can then create the radius of coverage you will need and pin point the correct locations for the outlets. If you do not choose the optimal location you could end up installing more outlets then you need and will have to unplug during tasks to move outlets. This is inconvenient, so lets do it efficiently!

With a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), the outlet can detect if there a problem in the circuit such as contact with water or a person, and then the circuit will shut off. This is especially important outside, as the outlet is more susceptible to water, from rain and snow, car washing, and interaction from animals and children. It is also wise to have covers installed overtop of the outlet as well. This adds an extra layer of protection. The covers will need to be manually opened by yourself before use and prevent unwanted interaction.

As we usually recommend, double check that your existing wires and circuits can handle the additional outlets. The tools and equipment that make use of these outlets can demand a lot of power and if the outlet is installed on circuit that is already heavily loaded, you will be experiencing trips and electrical hazards to your home. An Expert Electrician will be able to identify the proper circuits to have the outlets installed on.

Using electricity offers convenience and efficiency. Make the most of it and be safe by having a professional, certified electrician install outdoor GFCI outlets on your home.

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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Under cabinet lighting has become very popular recently, especially in kitchen remodels. There are many benefits to having this type of task lighting. In addition to adding functionality to your counters, it can also add depth and highlight your backsplash, giving your kitchen a great look throughout the day. There are a variety of different lights that can be installed by an electrician in Los Angeles, each with its own benefits.

One of the top choices for under cabinet lighting is LED lighting. LED lights do not use as much electricity as standard light bulbs. This means that the bulbs will use less electricity and generate less heat. You don’t want very much heat to build up under your wooden cabinets, so this is a very important feature. LED bulbs are also very durable, and not filled with a glass like fluorescent bulbs, or a thin fragile filament like incandescent. LED lightings can withstand the beating that they may get in your kitchen. One of the greatest things about LED lights is that they are long-lasting. LED lights have a much longer lifespan than any of the other alternatives.

Xenon bulbs are another popular option for under cabinet lighting. They are great when compared with halogen. They create less heat than halogen bulbs, last longer and you can handle them without gloves (unlike their halogen counterparts). Xenon bulbs are also dimmable, which makes them great for kitchen lightings. If your kitchen currently has halogen light bulbs, it is recommended that you switch them with xenon as soon as they start to burn out.

These two options are two of the most popular types of under cabinet lighting installed by your local Los Angeles electrician. To talk about installing under cabinet lighting or any other electrical issue, give The Electric Connection a call. You can find all of our contact information and further resources (Click Here).

As a homeowner, you tend to notice electrical issues like flickers, breaker flips and outages. But keeping an eye on your electrical meter is important too! Without the occasional peek, you could find yourself with higher than average bills, or even a completely unexpected shut off.

The certified electricians at Kolb Electric naturally have spent loads of time with electrical meters, and we’ve got plenty of good information to share this week. Follow along to learn about issues that may arise with your meter, what they mean, and whether or not they indicate a faulty electric meter.

Hard to find a problem if you can’t find the meter, right? Electric meters are most commonly located on an outer wall; usually near where your power line runs. In some homes, particularly older ones, the meter might be found in the basement or a utility closet.

If you live in an apartment, the meter is almost always found near your building (or on it) in a cluster. The cluster houses meters for every unit, and all of them should be clearly labelled with the apartment number on them.

Do be aware that the chances of your meter being outright faulty are fairly low. The machines have exceptionally long lifespans, and are built to endure. It’s more likely you have one of many other electrical concerns, however, it is always best to check with a certified professional electrician if you have any questions or problems. While uncommon, a faulty meter is a pretty big issue, and you don’t want to leave it to chance. Just don’t be surprised if the issue turns out to be something else!

Whether you’re worried about your meter, or you’ve got any number of other electrical problems, the experts at Kolb can help! We provide our consumers with only the absolute best, both in service and skill, and we’re confident in our ability to meet your unique needs. Contact Kolb today to learn more!