If you are in need of an electrician in the Los Angeles area, you have probably picked up the yellow pages or headed to your favorite search engine to wade through the listings. It is hard to pick the right one. How do you know which Los Angeles electrician to choose? At The Electric Connection, you won’t have to worry about what you are going to get when you make that first phone call. Here are some things every homeowner or business owner should look for when they are trying to hire the right electrician.

Reputation

A solid reputation is important. Past customers will be able to tell the real story about a company. Look for reviews online and verify the business with the Better Business Bureau. Angie’s List is another great place to check out an electrician’s reputation.

Clean

You take pride in your home and are likely a little picky about who you let in. You want a company who employs people who will respect your home and clean up after themselves. Presentation of an employee is also important and says a lot about the company’s image. Clean, nice-looking uniforms are always a plus. This is especially important if the work is going to be in a business where customers will see the electrician.

Honest

When dealing with any Los Angeles electrical work you want to ensure you are dealing with somebody who is being honest and up front with you. You don’t want to be paying for work that is not completely necessary. An honest electrician will tell you what needs to be fixed and what is optional but recommended. This gives you the option to decide what is best for you or your business.

At The Electric Connection, we pride ourselves on all of the above qualities and would love to help you with your electrical needs.

We often forget how important it can be to call an electrician if a problem arises with a home’s electrical system. In fact, most homeowners are complacent that their wiring system is just fine and needs no care or maintenance. More often than not, the only time a licensed electrician is called to a house when something is going wrong. It’s important to understand how to recognize when you may need to be preemptive about electrical problems and subtle signs that your electrical system needs maintenance or repairs. Keep an eye out for the following issues that could arise, indicating a bigger electrical problem in your home.

If you’re a fan of power strips, that’s not necessarily a problem right away. The problem happens when you start to overload a specific circuit in your home. Attaching a power strip and then packing it full of energy-heavy devices can quickly cause circuit breakers to flip. In addition to that risk, they can quickly become a fire risk when used inappropriately. Opt for power strips with surge protectors and be careful concerning how much you plug into them. If you need more outlet availability in a space, that’s when you need to call a local electrician.

While the rugs themselves aren’t a sign of electrical problems, the wires and cords run under them are. More and more people are adapting older homes to their current needs, leaving exposed cords and cables throughout the house. You don’t need to run them under carpet and rugs. In fact, that can be a tripping hazard. An electrician can quickly run wires and cables through the walls to get the cables out of sight and out of mind.

If you own an older home, you may have noticed how your outlets don’t look quite like outlets in newer homes. For a long time, two prong outlets were the standard. No many appliances use a three prong plug style in order to provide a ground for the electricity. Don’t be someone who just cuts the third prong off of their appliances or bends it back to make it fit in the two prong outlet; upgrade your outlets instead. Properly grounded outlets can reduce the risk of electrical fires and other risks due to electricity.

It’s important to regularly check your home’s main service panel. Regular visual checks and professional checks by an electrician can help to prolong the life of the panel and help avert any problems from improper care. When you visually inspect the panel, check for any signs of problems, including potential rust. If your panel is rusting, it’s time to have an electrician install a new one for safety and performance.

If you’ve ever turned on a light switch and found that the plate was warm to the touch, then you should call an electrician. Points where power is utilized in the wall should never be warm, and definitely not hot. It’s a sign of a bigger electrical problem that could be a safety hazard.