Your electric bill may be completely manageable and affordable. However, wouldn’t you like to learn how to save a few extra dollars every month and do something good for the world at the same time? Just because you can afford your current electric bill, doesn’t mean you can’t make adjustments around your home that will reduce the amount of electricity you use. A Santa Monica electrician is here to tell you about a few things you can do around your house to reduce the amount of electricity you use. The folks at The Electric Connection would love to share their knowledge with you.

Of course you know about turning off the lights when you are not in the room and turning off appliances when you don’t need them, but there are even more things you can do that will certainly add up to big savings for you and less burden on the power grid. It is no secret, our booming population has put a serious burden on our current power grids and blackouts from time to time during peak usage times are not uncommon.

You can lessen your impact by changing out your old, energy hot incandescent light bulbs to the more energy-efficient CFLs or LEDs. The CFLs are the spiral shaped lights that can easily be exchanged in your existing light fixtures. If you have a light fixture that will not accommodate one of these environmentally friendly options, talk with your electrician. Santa Monica residents can update their home lighting by replacing old fixtures with new, more modern and energy efficient fixtures.

Placing LED lights under your kitchen counters gives you plenty of light to see what you are doing and is extremely inexpensive to use and the fixtures are relatively cheap as well. If you are interested in doing your part to make the world a better place, give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your light fixture upgrade.

Electric cars are very economical—if you use them right. Most people don’t and end up paying nearly as much as the owners of small, gas-powered cars. This is because the electric cars are often not charged as they should and the electric car owner is forced to rely on the gas in the tank to drive the car. You can change this by investing in a Level II charger. In order to use the charging station at home, you will need to give an electrician in Beverly Hills a call. You can always depend on the team at The Electric Connection to send out a reliable, professional electrician to get the job done.

The fast charging systems require a large 240-volt outlet. These are not typical in most garages and carports. If you have had your home custom built, you may have already had one installed. The outlets are the funny looking ones that your air conditioner or dryer plug into. Because the chargers require more electricity than a standard Level I charger, you will need a breaker dedicated solely to your Level II charger.

If you are not sure if your electric panel can support an additional breaker, don’t worry about it. An electrician will let you know during the Beverly Hills electrical inspection. It will be one of the first things the electrician checks for. If the panel doesn’t have the room, an upgrade will be necessary, which is something the electrician will handle.

The investment of the faster system and the electrical outlet is well worth the cost. You will be able to save a great deal of money on your weekly gas bill by relying on your charged electric car rather than gas. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your initial inspection for a Level II charging system installation.

By: Kellie Pearson

The future looks bright here at Mr. Electric®, and we hope the same for you! As you are mentally preparing for the New Year ahead, maybe you are planning your goals and resolutions for personal development and improvement. This video by our president, Joel Worthington, is sure to motivate you to achieve them. We also want to encourage you to consider your home’s development and improvement, too!

When you think about your home’s electrical system, what can be improved? What can be replaced and updated? We have put together five tips to help you get started on getting your home’s electrical system in tip-top shape for the New Year. 

Although they initially cost higher, LED Energy Star qualified bulbs end up paying for themselves in energy savings in about 10 years. They use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 35 to 50 times longer. Plus, they offer more peace of mind since they emit very little heat, decreasing the threat of an electrical fire, and are much more durable, so they won’t shatter all over the floor. They’re also guaranteed for three years minimum, which is above and beyond the industry standard, so you’ll save on maintenance costs as well as energy costs. Basically, there’s no excuse not to get them!

Did you know that you’re technically supposed to do this every month? Not many consumers actually do this, but a new year is a great time to put this to practice and schedule it along with your other monthly home maintenance routines. You’ll find these outlets in moisture-prone areas such as the kitchen and bathroom as the current National Electrical Code requires. Simply press the test/reset button and make sure the outlets trip and resent correctly. If they are malfunctioning, call your local Mr. Electric to have them replaced to reduce electrocution risk.

Replacing the batteries should be done at least once a year, and both of the detectors should be tested monthly to ensure proper functionality. And speaking of replacing, how old are your detectors? Remember that smoke detectors need to be replaced every 10 years. Depending upon the model, older model carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced every three years, and the newer ones, every 5-6 years. Make safety a priority for your home and get this done!

Power surges can enter your home unexpectedly during a stormy night, a random power company disruption or operation of a heavy-duty electrical appliance. They destroy electronic devices in their path and at times cause fires as well. It is unfortunate when your Mac or PC dies, but even more so when your photos, documents, music and other personal content are lost along with it as well. To reduce damage from power surges, have a whole house surge protector installed by your local Mr. Electric at the panel and additionally multi-outlet power strip surge protection for delicate circuitry, telephone and cable lines. This will ensure both main zone as well as secondary zone surge protection to absorb any excess power that seeps through the primary protection.

This can be done in a variety of ways: turning lights out after you leave a room, unplugging and turning off electrical devices when not in use and ensuring lighting and appliances are Energy Star qualified. Perhaps you can create a friendly family competition to see who can use the least amount of electricity, or even consider looking into installing a solar energy system for your home. Whatever you choose to do, remember that you can also call your local Mr. Electric to perform an energy audit for your home to ensure its electrical system is operating at maximum efficiency.

We hope you find these tips helpful to make your home’s electrical system the best and brightest it can be, and we wish you a Happy New Year from all of us at Mr. Electric!

Extension cords a quick tool that solves a lot of problems. Whenever we are at a lack of outlets, or need to use a device just a bit farther than the normal outlet can reach – extension cords are our best friends. But it is important to remember that extension cords were made for a specific reason, and using them incorrectly can lead to serious electrical hazards. Know the hazards and how to avoid them.

If you can identify with any of these hazards in your home it may be time to install additional electrical outlets to reduce dependence on extension cords. For assistance from a licenced electrician, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.

Your lights are beginning to flicker. Home appliances are losing power. You’re starting to rely on candlelight more and more. But don’t worry; it’s not a sign of some poltergeist haunting your home. What it means is that you need electrical repair in Fairfax, VA. Now that we’re in the midst of spring, thunderstorms are starting roll back in, ready to knock out all the electrical power in your home. You need to make sure your home’s electrical system is ready to go for the season ahead.

If you’re unsure when to call for repair, please observe the following 3 signs in your home: