Electrical systems, regardless of how advanced the technology is or how well they are installed, can fail and require repairs from time to time. Now, the average Joe knows how to change a bulb or even check a fuse but beyond that, it’s best to leave the job to the professionals. Safety is a major reason, as you never know the risk involved in any electrical problem around the house. It is best to let a trained technician deal with the matter on hand than taking a chance by attempting it yourself. However, you might be confused when selecting an electrician to hire.

This one is a no-brainer. The local electrician will be able to reach you quicker as he has to travel a shorter distance and this can come in handy if you an electrical emergency on hand. On the other hand, any electrical service located at a distance might take a few hours to send over their personnel to you by which time the damage would have exacerbated and you could be left with a large repair bill. Regardless of the extent of the problem, having it dealt with without delay is a good idea and this is where hiring a local electrician is the best option. And you won’t have to explain the route to him either!

As mentioned above, the shorter commute and the less time taken to get to your home means the electrician will charge you less money. Generally, professional electricians charge by the hour and they include the time of travel in that bill. By opting for a local electrical service, you can lower this cost and only pay for the labor and material. Not to mention, it can be a hassle for an electrician to have to travel a long distance to get to you, especially if the project is going to take a number of days.

You might have done a fine job of explaining the problem over the phone but the real extent of the damage will only be discovered once the electrician is on your premises and examining the damage. Now, this could mean he needs supplies or tools that he doesn’t have on hand. This isn’t a concern with a local electrician as he can get the materials he need delivered right away or even go and get them himself without wasting much time. Also, he would know the area which means he knows where to buy any stuff required to get the job done. This means the work will be finished quicker.

A local electrician will do his best to impress you with the quality of work to convince you to refer him to your friends and relatives. This is one advantage of hiring a local electrician not many people consider. This also means you can ask the people in your neighborhood if they have availed his services and whether or not they are satisfied with them. Just because he is located near you doesn’t mean he will not do a competent job. His bread and butter depend on the quality of service he provides, so you can expect no problems in terms of quality.

With electrical projects, you never know when a project ends up taking more time than budgeted for due to some reason. Now, professional electricians generally don’t like to stay beyond the time they had decided for when they came over initially. With a local electrician, you have some wiggle room because of his shorter commute and the fact that he is likely to get referrals from you. So, if the work ends up taking more time than anticipated, it is likely he would stay back and finish the job without any extra charges.

So, the next time you encounter an electrical problem you feel requires a professional to deal with, call in a local electrician!

The celebration continues! Pegasus Lighting is 15 this year, and to commemorate our anniversary we’re creating monthly blog posts about popular culture 15 years ago. You know, just to remember where we came from. July 1999 was a tumultuous month. There were some inspirational moments, tragic moments, and just plain bizarre moments, like when we intentionally crashed a spacecraft into the moon. Enjoy this walk down memory lane. Don’t forget your baggy pants, hair gel, and Christina Aguilera CDs.

1. Moon Boom

via Wikipedia

Mercury-Redstone 4, the second U.S. spaceflight, which launched in July 1961, resulted in the near-death of astronaut Virgil I. Grissom and the sinking of the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft. The vessel was rescued from the depths of the Atlantic in July 1999.

 3. Lance Does a Victory Dance (Possibly Drug-Induced)

Good old Lance Armstrong of LIVESTRONG and doping fame won his first Tour de France in July 1999. It was the beginning of an Armstrong era that would later be tainted by the fact that Armstrong was doing unethical things to give him the edge to win. Live Strong? Even if it means cheating? Thanks a lot, Lance. Great role model. Pshh.

4. Crash in Martha’s Vineyard

Off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, a plane piloted by John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed, killing him and his wife Caroyln Bessette Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette. Very sad. Sorry for depressing you. But this is what was – phew! – I almost said “This is what was going down.” That would have been indelicate phrasing. This is what was HAPPENING in July 1999.

5. HARRY POTTAH!

In July 1999, the third novel in the HARRY POTTER series, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, was published in the UK. It sold 68,000 copies in the first three days and won a bunch of prestigious literary awards. Cha-ching!

6. A Blur of a Man

In a bizarre event, a Japanese man named Yuji Nishizawa hijacked an All Nippon Airways Boeing 747 and stabbed one of the pilots with a 8″ kitchen knife before being subdued by the crew. The pilot died shortly after the emergency landing, and the perpetrator was apprehended. Because he was diagnosed with mental illness, he was given a sentence of life in prison. Weirdly, he had discovered a way to smuggle weapons on planes, and, shortly before the incident, he had written to the airline alerting them to the security flaw and asking for a job in airport security. No one listened, until the hijacking. Then, the security flaw was fixed in all Japanese airports. Some people, man. Makes you want to go back in time and slap some sense into him.

8. Woodstock Again… Again

They tried to recreate the Woodstock music festival in 1994. What happened? Violence and destruction. So they figured, hey! Let’s give it another go! So, in July 1999, Woodstock 99 was held in Rome, NY. What happened? Violence and destruction. And sexual assault. Sorry Limp Bizkit fans, this is not going to work out. There were no more Woodstocks. (Or Limp Bizkit fans, incidentally.)

9. Andre Is Wimble DONE!

On the Fourth of July, in Wimbledon, England, under a blazing sun, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were battling it on the grass out for glory and riches. And a real big trophy. Pete Sampras defeated Agassi in three sets and called the match the “best tennis of [his] life.”

10. It’s Electric! (I know. Sorry.)

Florida commits its last act of execution by electric chair. The convict? Allen Lee Davis. I won’t go into detail about his heinous crimes. Or his execution. But it was shocking enough – oops I did it again! – I mean APPALLING enough for death by electric chair to be considered cruel and unusual punishment from then on in the state of Florida.

11. Hello Safeco

The inaugural baseball game was held at the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field in July, 1999. The field looked great. But the Mariners lost to the San Diego Padres, 2-3. Womp womp.

12. American Why? Just Why?

Stanley Kubrick’s latest film EYES WIDE SHUT was released in the middle of the month. Mask party, anyone?

14. Teenie Genie in a Bottle

With summer just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about those weekend barbecues and all the outdoor entertaining you will want to do. Outdoor cooking is a tradition we love and cherish. It is something we will remember fondly for years to come. There is just something exciting and relaxing about eating a meal outdoors with friends and family. What if you could enjoy an outdoor meal all year? Or, what if you, the host, could join in the conversation while preparing a delicious meal for your guests? You can do both with the help of an electrician in Burbank. The Electric Connection can help you achieve your dreams of cooking outdoors in your own outdoor kitchen.

Outdoor kitchens give you the chance to take the party outside while you are cooking a meal. The kitchens can be a barbecue with a single countertop or a full kitchen complete with center islands, a sink and grill suitable for making an entire meal. A roof over the kitchen area protects your equipment. The walls are left open to allow the fresh air to circulate through the room. Some homeowners choose to have screening material installed to reduce the amount of bugs coming to check out the food.

An outdoor fan is also an ideal fixture for your outdoor kitchen. On hot days, a cool breeze will go a long way to keeping you comfortable while you enjoy your outdoor kitchen. The fan also helps cut down on the bug population. A Burbank electrician will work with you to set up your dream kitchen outside. Electrical outlets are a common addition to the kitchens so you can use some of your favorite appliances outdoors as well. If you are ready to take advantage of the beautiful weather, give The Electric Connection a call today and get started on your outdoor kitchen plans.