Electrical repairs are best left to the professionals, but you have to know what you’re looking for in an electrician to be sure you have the right person for the job. It can seem tricky, but here a few tips for making sure you’re hiring a professional you can trust.

A good electrician will be upfront about their licensing information and the type of work they are permitted to complete under that license. You could be held responsible for hiring the wrong type of electrician. Even if things appear to go smoothly, you can’t be sure you electrician was trained for the job he or she just completed.

It’s important to make certain your electrician is insured. You can always ask to review insurance policies to check that they are current and will cover the type of work you are asking to have done.

Make sure that the electrician you are hiring has experience with a similar assignment. If they have completed projects like yours, check to see they come recommended by former clients.

Often you can get an estimate from an electrician based on the job as you describe it. Invite them to see the space, and describe in the best detail you can what you would like to have happen. While some electricians do upcharge in the process, sometimes their legitimate estimates are too low because of how the job or location has been described during an estimate.

Ask for an estimate and a breakdown of the costs from more than one electrician. It will help you get a better understanding of what to expect from the process and you’ll be able to see which electrician is offering the fairest price for both parts and labor.

You have probably heard it time and again; we need to reduce the demand on our natural resources. We also know we should be saving a little more for our retirement, but it seems like there is no way around the basic monthly bills. No matter what you do, it may seem like you are still breaking even. You shut off lights and walk to work once a week, but the electric bill stays the same and your gas bill is the same. That is likely due to rising rates. Imagine if you didn’t make an effort to reduce your monthly bills? You would be paying more! Your Pasadena electrician is here to encourage you to learn about phantom power and to do your best to fight back against it. You can always call The Electric Connection if you have questions.

Phantom power is a very real thing! You can put a few extra dollars in your pocket every month by fighting back against this electricity sucking phenomena, but it will require your whole house to be on board. According to the Lawrence Berkley National Library, every home has about 40 appliances in the home that remain plugged in around the clock. The appliances may rarely be used, but we keep them plugged in because it is convenient. This is costing us money. In fact, it is estimated phantom power accounts for about 10 percent of an electricity bill. So, assuming your electric bill is $100 every month, $10 of that is all for naught. For the blinking light on the DVD player you haven’t used in a month or the cell phone charger that stays plugged in all day and night whether your phone is attached or not.

If you are not completely sure what phantom power is or have more questions about it, call your electrician. Pasadena residents can count on the team at The Electric Connection to provide the answers to your electric questions.

With summer weather driving you indoors where it is much cooler, you may be looking around the house and thinking you could change this or that to make it all a little better. Home remodels range from very minimal renovations to big changes that may include adding a room or completely removing walls. All of this will make your home a little more perfect for you and your family, but home remodels can be a lot of work. While small renovations are typically something the average homeowner will attempt to do on their own, an electrician in Santa Monica points out that even the smallest changes should be evaluated by an electrician. You can count on the team at The Electric Connection to send out an experienced electrician to handle the inspection for you.

When you hire a Santa Monica electrician to inspect the area you plan to remodel, you will get a good idea of the electrical work that is involved in the remodel. Often times, homeowners forget all about the electrical wiring that is needed with any renovation. During the inspection, you will be told what all is hiding behind the walls and what would need to happen to move the wiring. Things to consider are light fixtures, outlets and data lines. If you are planning on adding more outlets, your electrician will need to evaluate whether or not you have enough room in the breaker panel to do so.

Another important part of the inspection will be to determine the condition and age of your existing wiring. This is always a job for an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners who live in homes that are more than 30 years old will appreciate the information. Outdated wiring could be a fire hazard. Upgrading the wiring will make your home safer while potentially saving you money on your homeowner’s insurance. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your home inspection before you move forward with any remodeling plans.