Summer months are notorious for power surges and outages due to the high demand for power air conditioning units place on the grid. Outages are definitely inconvenient, but they can also be very costly to you. If you are not home during an outage and cannot unplug sensitive electrical equipment like your computer before the power comes back on, a surge could destroy the computer. Surges are common when the power is restored. Surges can also occur during a thunder storm. Again, storms happen anytime and you know to unplug items during a storm, but what if you are not there?

Your electrician in Beverly Hills can help you protect your appliances and sensitive equipment by installing a whole-home surge protector. The staff at The Electric Connection These devices are installed on the outside of the home at the breaker panel and help regulate the electricity that comes into the home. When a surge hits, the devices deflect it away from your expensive appliances. As a second line of defense, it is strongly recommended computers and video equipment be plugged into a surge protector inside the home. These are the long strips with several outlets, which you can install yourself.

Another option to consider is the equipment on the outside of your home. Things like your air conditioner unit, hot tub or pool pump are all at risk of electrical surge Your Beverly Hills electrician can talk with you more about how you can protect the costly equipment with exterior surge protectors.

Surge protectors are an investment that can ultimately save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in replacement costs. You never know when a power surge will hit. It just makes sense to be protected all the time. Call The Electric Connection to schedule your appointment for whole-home surge protection today.

A functional, up to date electrical panel in your Tampa home is one of the most important aspects of strong electrical access. You could call the electrical panel (also known as the breaker panel, electrical access box, etc.) the heart of your home’s electricity. Or the brain. Neither is far off. And when a new one is installed or you get a heavy-up, there are some very specific requirements that will come into play.

If you have had your electric car for a while you have probably enjoyed saving on your weekly gas bill. Of course that is if your car is charged and ready to go when you are. If it is always on low-charge, you are relying on gasoline and the savings you could be experiencing is nowhere near what it should be. This is usually because people are trying to use a Level I charger to keep up with their busy lives. If you want to have a car that can keep up with you and your busy schedule, give your electrician in Beverly Hills a call. At The Electric Connection, we have experienced electricians who can help you get what you need to make your car more economical.

If you are ready to make your work for you, look into buying a Level II electric car charger. These chargers require less than half the time to get your car fully charged. The slower trickle charger typically needs a full 24 hours to get your car charged. The faster charger only needs 6 to 8 hours. Because it is a faster system, it requires more juice. This means you need a 240-volt outlet. A Beverly Hills electrician will need to install this outlet. They are not standard in the garage or carport.

Before the outlet can be installed the electrician will need to do an inspection of your electric panel to make sure there is room for the additional breaker needed to power the outlet. Most new houses will have the room. If your home is older, an electric panel upgrade will be needed. This is something your electrician will discuss with you. If you would like to take the first step in getting your home ready for your new Level II electric car charging station, give The Electric Connection a call today.

With the start of the school year and the holiday season approaching, it seems as though the mound of expenses just keep piling up. You’re budgeting for school shopping, lunches, holiday shopping and making sure your lights stay turned on. This season tends to be the most expensive for many home owners.

Luckily, we have a few ideas on how to cut back on utility bills and lower your electric bill. We also provide home inspections for everyone in the Northern Virginia area and look at ways you can utilize the most out of your electrical appliances. You may be heading into a time filled with many expenses but you can pad your pocket with money saved from lowering your utility bill. Check out these tips that will help you with your utility bills and give you peace of mind during this hectic season!

Install Dimmer Switches

When you install dimmer switches, you can use only as much light as you need. With a traditional light switch, the only settings are on and off, meaning you are either using 0% electricity or 100%. With a dimmer, you have an entire spectrum of settings in between. Being able to decrease the amount of light you use inevitably results in lower energy bills. Install dimmers in the rooms you use the most like the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and bedrooms; this will allow you to take advantage of the greatest savings possible.

Keep Your Fridge and Freezer Full

Everyone always tells you to keep the fridge closed. But did you know that keeping your fridge and freezer full can also save money? Food acts as insulation and lessens the amount of time that the fridge has to run to stay cool. This will be easy to do with all of those lunches your family will have to pack for school and for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Install Ceiling Fans

Keep the air circulating in your home, and your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard. Ceiling fans can help lower your electric bill by up to 30 to 40 percent. While a ceiling fan doesn’t actually decrease the temperature of a room, the draft makes the room feel cooler – allowing you to raise the thermostat and be just as comfortable. You can even use your ceiling fans in the winter months! Many people are unaware that ceiling fans can be used to circulate warm air during cooler months of the year. By running the blades clockwise, ceiling fans push warm air down from the ceiling without creating a draft.

Get Rid of “Phantom Loads”

A shocking 75 percent of the energy used by home electronics is consumed when they’re turned off. These “phantom” users include: televisions, videogame consoles, stereos, computers and many kitchen appliances—basically anything that holds a time or other settings. A simple solution? Plug all of these items into power strips; then, get in the habit of turning off the strips between uses.  This will cut back on utility bills and will help combat overloading fuses.

Switch to LEDs

LED light bulbs use 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. Switch out the most widely used bulbs in your home. Then, replace the rest as they burn out. LED lights tend to last much longer than traditional bulbs so you won’t have to replace them as often – saving you money.