As you have likely noticed, Winter is well on its way in the Greater Vancouver area and Lower Mainland. With heavy snowfall and stormy weather predicted for this upcoming Winter season, it’s important for residents in these areas to brush up on all electrical safety procedures and best practices. The licensed electricians at Expert Electric have been providing Vancouver and the Lower Mainland with residential and commercial electrical services for many years. Check out our list of Winter electrical safety tips to keep you protected this Winter season.

Don’t get caught unprepared in a local power outage. Every year, residents of the Greater Vancouver area and Lower Mainland lose power due to local power outages. In recent years, some residents have been stuck without power for up to 72 hours. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you are fully prepared with an emergency kit that contains enough supplies to last up to 72 hours without power. Some of the supplies that your power outage emergency kit should include are batteries, candles, matches, flashlights, bottled water, non-perishable foods and more. For a full list of emergency kit supplies, please visit the BC Hydro website.

Winter storms can cause significant damage to trees outside your property. It is important to inspect any trees on or near your property that could result in damage to your home or building. Any loose branches should be removed to minimize the risk of falling. Large trees can also damage power lines and vehicles. If possible, park your vehicle in a safe area that is located away from any large trees that could fall on it. If you are unsure of whether a tree poses a significant threat to your property, call the licensed electricians at Expert Electric.

Snowfall and Winter storms mean an influx in the amount of water present on your property. Because water and electricity don’t mix, it is crucial to ensure that there are no loose wires or electrical cords present around your property. All electrical equipment should be stored safely away while not in use. Any large electrical equipment such as pools, hot tubs or outdoor lighting should be inspected to ensure that it is operating properly and the equipment’s cords and electrical wiring are hazard free.

If you would like further information about Winter electrical safety tips, please contact one of our licensed electricians at 604-681-8338. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Our team of licensed electricians has been servicing the Greater Vancouver area and Lower Mainland for many years. We offer various types of electrician services including electric water heaters, surge protectors, ceiling fan installation and more. Visit our website to book an appointment today.

Legrand has been operating in the U.S. since 1984 and continues to bring its unique products to the American market. In addition to a luxury look, the brand offers many useful features and benefits to your home. From innovative gesture recognition to cross-compatibility with different bulb types,

Traditional lighting offers few options for adjusting light levels from room to room or regulating how much energy your lights use. Legrand addresses this problem with its innovative designs and technology, providing switches and dimmers with unprecedented options for control. Instead of flipping a switch, you might tap a console, press a rocker or toggle or simply wave your hand in front of a panel to turn lights on and off. Each fixture is designed to be as flush with the wall as possible, creating a clean look in any room.

Legrand dimmers come in six designs, each with its own combination of switch and dimmer controls:

Flush or Semi Flush?

Flush mount and semi-flush mount lighting fixtures are integral components in lighting design, adding interest and depth while providing ambient illumination and decorative lighting effects to hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms.

The difference between a flush and semi-flush light fixture is that a flush fixture fits snugly to the ceiling, while a semi-flush fixture is suspended, leaving a small gap between the ceiling and fixture.  Opting for a flush or semi-flush light fixture is based upon taste and proportional considerations, but a few standard rules apply:

♦ Semi-flush—Somewhere in between the chandelier and standard ceiling fixture, the semi-flush fixture shines with distinction.  Taking up just the right amount of space with the power to attract desired attention, the latest semi-flush light fixtures provide superb illumination with artistic excellence.

♦  Semi-flush fixtures provide an added benefit: the small gap allows for double the illumination with indirect uplight rebounding off the ceiling and downlight emitted directly from the fixture.

♦  Flush fixtures—Most often employed in homes with standard 7-foot ceilings to provide general illumination for bedrooms, bathrooms, foyers and hallways.

Novel compositions and unique finishes are available at a variety of price points and are being featured from top lighting vendors around the world, making it easier than ever to find ceiling light fixtures in keeping with your budget and style requirements.

Corbett Lighting offers outstanding flush and semi-flush lighting designs:

-CQ33 “Cirque” Semi- Flush Fixture

-120-33 “Karma” Flushmount Fixture

There are some real benefits to owning a portable generator. Many people use them during a power outage. This allows the home to have some basic essentials like a few lights and maybe a refrigerator powered during the outage. Portable generators are ideal because they can be taken out when needed and quickly stored away when they are not.

There are plenty of different sizes of generators for you to choose from. Many people find the portable variety a better option over the hard-wired generators that are typically installed by an electrician. Pasadena residents can call The Electric Connection to find out more about the home generators that provide power within seconds of the power going out.

One of the benefits of the portable variety is the ability to take the generator with you on camping trips or on day outings. These tend to be the smaller wattage generators that will only produce enough power to run a couple of small appliances.

Although portable generators have the added mobility benefit, they can be cumbersome and in some cases, quite loud. Typically, the larger generators will have wheels to aid in movement, but they are still quite heavy and not very portable. Another benefit to the hard-wired generators is the fact they are enclosed in a box that muffles the sound. This is ideal when you are in a neighborhood or at night when you are trying to sleep.

Your electrician in Pasadena can help you weigh your options and provide you with the information you need to make the best generator choice. One of the deciding factors will be how much you want to spend. Portable generators are less expensive. If you have more questions and want to get an estimate for a generator installation, give The Electric Connection a call today to schedule an appointment.