By Clarissa Allison | October 16th, 2015

Many of us get excited to decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving, but why should our homes miss out on the sheer delight and beauty of Fall colors for the rest of the season? If you love pumpkins, the warmth of gold and rust tones and ever-changing leaves, consider decorating with autumn-themed accessories this season. Some Halloween decor like brooms, scarecrows, and orange lights represent fall itself and can be extended beyond October decorations. If you’re looking for an understated alternative to ghostly props and frightful window clings, try dazzling your home and your guests with the following fall lighting ideas this year.

The cost to upgrade the electrical panel in your home will vary based on many factors, including the age of the home and its size. Yet, if your home needs this type of upgrade and replacement, it is always best to ensure it is done rather than putting it off. Repairs to this panel can impact the rest of your electrical system and, in the long term, it is necessary to keep your home safe from electrical fires and overloads.

It gives you a good feeling to take on do it yourself projects. You are saving money, and it is nice to know that you have a direct part in helping your home look its best and stay in good repair. While you may not want to take on large electrical projects—for those you would call your electrician Beverly Hills, Electric Connection—you can learn to handle the smaller, simpler electricity-related jobs yourself. If you plan to take on these jobs, it is important that you have a good understanding of the process and that you have the right tools to get the job done right. Consider adding these tools to your toolbox, if you plan to take on any electrical jobs.

Basic Hand Tools

Power Tools

Testing Equipment

Safety Equipment

As you can see, there are a lot of tools that are necessary for completing an electrical job. In many cases, it is actually more affordable, and certainly more convenient, to call an electrician in Beverly Hills. If you are unsure who to call, consider utilizing the services of the skilled electricians at Electric Connection. Our technicians are all properly certified and understand what it takes to get the job done right. There is no need to risk your safety or the electrical items in your home by taking on a job that you are not comfortable with completing. If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call and we will be happy to help you in any way we possibly can.

When winter temperatures dip below freezing, families across the country fire up their furnaces, boilers, space heaters, woodstoves and other heating devices to beat the cold and keep their homes warm and snug. Unfortunately, the very appliances that ward off the winter chill can put you in danger of a house fire. January is the leading month for residential home fires, accounting for 21 percent of the total, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, and home heating is the second leading cause of all fires, after cooking.

Don't let your home become a statistic. Take these steps to reduce your risk of a house fire:

Clean your chimney: Creosote can build up from normal fireplace usage and clog the chimney from below; the chimney can also be clogged from above if debris falls in or if the chimney itself starts to deteriorate. Either way, it's a danger. Make sure your chimney is cleaned each year before using it.

Get your HVAC equipment serviced: You should have a technician pay a visit once a year to make sure your furnace and other equipment is in good working order. Your service professional can perform routine maintenance, repair any issues and instruct you on how to maintain your unit. Some maintenance, like replacing air filters monthly, you can do yourself in compliance with manufacturer instructions.

Careful with that space heater: Space heaters can be a convenient way to heat a small area, but they come with several caveats. Be very wary of liquid-fueled heaters -- older models shouldn't be used indoors at all, although newer models can be safe as long as you diligently follow all instructions regarding fueling and operation. Even electric heaters can cause problems, because they draw a lot of power which can overload the circuits in older homes. If you decide to use a space heater, make sure it is in no danger of tipping over, and never leave it running unattended. Space heaters account for one third of all heating fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, so be careful.

Keep combustible material away from heat sources:  Leave a few feet of clearance between your stove, space heaters, vents, radiators and other heat sources combustibles like furniture, carpet or curtains.

Don't thaw pipes with a blowtorch: Frozen pipes are a serious problem, and thawing the ice is critical to avoiding a burst pipe and the expensive damage that can accompany it. You have a number of good options to heat the problem area -- a hair dryer, heat lamp, space heater, hot towel or specialized heat tape will do the trick. Avoid open flames, which create a fire hazard.

Test your smoke detectors: It just takes only a moment to ensure your smoke detectors work. If you do have a fire, they could save your life.

Mister Sparky electricians are always here to help. Call local Mister Sparky to have one of our professionals check to see you have an ample number of smoke detectors for the size of your home and ensure they are installed properly and in the correct location.