Tag Archives: santa monica electrical

5 Ways to Beat the Heat by Electrician in Santa Monica

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It is hot outside! If you are sweltering in your own home, you need to read these tips to learn how to stay cool without running your electric bill up. Right now, everybody is doing what they can to keep their homes cool and many are lowering their thermostats hoping to beat the heat. That creates a massive demand on the power grid and could ultimately cause a blackout. The power grid is not always prepared to keep up with the demands of the city. You can do your part by using these tips provided by your electrician in Santa Monica. If you need more information, give H Electric a call.

1-Close your windows and doors. Opening the windows to allow “fresh air” in is ineffective at cooling your house when the outside air is significantly higher than the air inside your home. Open your windows at night and first thing in the morning, but close them around 10 when it starts to heat up.

2-Close the blinds and curtains. Use heavy curtains to effectively block the sun. This is especially important for those south facing windows. One handy trick that can help on the hottest days is to use an auto sun visor with the reflective backing on it placed in a window.

3-Get that ceiling fan going on high. You can set your thermostat 4 degrees higher and still feel as comfortable as you would with it lower when you have a nice breeze blowing on you. If you normally keep your thermostat at 76, turn it up to 80 to save on your Santa Monica electrical bill.

4-Don’t use the oven if at all possible. If you need to cook, do it on the BBQ or the stovetop.

5-Do not run the clothes dryer during the day. Run it first thing in the morning or late at night. Or, dry your clothes outside.

If you would like to learn more, give H Electric a call today.

Kitchen Facelift with Electrician in Santa Monica

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If you have ever watched those home makeover shows, you know the kitchen is one of the most common rooms in the house to get a facelift. Many realtors assert the kitchen is one of the most valuable rooms in the house and deserves the most attention. Well, if you want to give your kitchen a little makeover or a big makeover, it is a wise investment. You will need an electrician in Santa Monica to help you with some of the electrical work that is often a part of any remodel or upgrade job. The team at H Electric is familiar with what needs to happen to make your remodel a success.

Common jobs for a kitchen upgrade and remodel include giving the cupboards a fresh paint job. You can make the new paint really stand out by updating the hardware to give the room a fresh, new look. This is something you can do on a weekend without the help of a professional contractor. You can complement your new hardware with a brand new light fixture. This will need to be handled by a professional electrician who knows the ins and outs of Santa Monica electrical systems.

Your remodel may also include updating your appliances with new, more energy efficient appliances. This is a big job, but can really change the look and feel of your kitchen. You will be saving money on your monthly electric bill as well. If you want to change up where your appliances are placed in the kitchen or maybe you need new wiring to handle the electrical demands of the new appliances, you will need an electrician’s services. There are plenty of little things you can do on your own, but for the big, electrical jobs you will feel better knowing it was handled by somebody who knows what they are doing. Give H Electric a call today and schedule your kitchen upgrades.

Relax Outside in Comfort with Electrician in Santa Monica

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Do you love getting home from work and heading straight out the back door with your favorite icy beverage? Maybe you enjoy sitting outside in your favorite lawn chair or sitting at the picnic table. It isn’t long before you either decide it’s too hot or the bugs are a little too much for you and you can’t enjoy the fresh air. But, you can with an outdoor room outfitted to suit your every need with the help of an electrician in Santa Monica. The crew at H Electric is here to help you so you can enjoy the outdoors all year round, day or night.

An outdoor room is an extension of your home with screens for walls. You can make your outdoor room a sitting area or a full kitchen. The possibilities are endless with a little creativity and the help of an electrician familiar with Santa Monica electrical needs. Your outdoor sitting room can be as simple as three screened walls with a nice outdoor sofa or more elaborate with a television, lights and all the conveniences of your own living room.

If it is a kitchen you had in mind, you will need a little more electrical work. Your kitchen can be anything from the very basic things like a grill and a counter space to something much more elaborate. A full kitchen that includes a refrigerator and all the outlets you need to run your favorite appliances is a possibility. Ceiling fans are an excellent addition to your outdoor room and can help keep you comfortable when the temperatures are soaring. Take the time to browse through a few magazines and visit your home store to see just what you have to choose from. When you have chosen the features you want in your room, give H Electric a call and take the next step to having your own room outside.

Quick and Easy Ways to Save Electricity Says Electrician in Santa Monica

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Would you like to have an extra $20 to $40 in your bank account each month? Of course you would! You can add the money to your grocery fund or put it away for a rainy day. No matter what you decide to do with it, it just makes sense to reduce spending on things you are not using like wasted electricity. An electrician in Santa Monica has some advice on how to reduce your monthly electric bill and put a little more money in your pocket every month. You can always call H Electric to learn more about energy savings.

*Enforce the practice of shutting off lights, televisions, gaming systems and radios when not in use.
*If you are going to be gone for the day at work or school, unplug all of your small appliances, gadget chargers and computer equipment. This will reduce your use of phantom power.
*Have a Santa Monica electrical safety inspection to evaluate your home’s current wiring to determine whether you need upgrades to avoid costly damage to your appliances.
*Reduce the length of your current regular shower by a few minutes. When you add up 3 minutes 7 days a week, that is about 2 showers per week you can save and reduce the need for your water heater to heat water.
*Only wash full loads of clothes in the washer and use cold water whenever possible.
*Use the air dry cycle on the dishwasher.
*Consider using LED lights to reduce your lighting costs.
*Install a ceiling fan to cut down on the need for the air conditioner in the summer and the furnace in the winter.
*Line dry your clothing or invest in a drying rack to dry your clothes overnight or while you are at work.

These are just a few things you can do today to save a little money every month. If you would like more tips or would like to have a ceiling fan installed, give H Electric a call today.

Electricity Safety Tips by Electrician in Santa Monica

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Because we depend so heavily on electricity, we need to be aware of the dangers it poses. For the most part, electricity has been made relatively safe through a variety of safety features and standards designed to protect us. However, there are still some precautions we must take to avoid an electric shock. It is just as important we talk to children about the dangers of being electrocuted as well. An electrician in Santa Monica has a few tips for you as well as the young ones. If you would like to learn more about electric safety, give H Electric a call.

*Use extension cords sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. The cords are meant to be temporary and should never be a permanent solution. If you must use an extension cord, ensure it is designed for what you are using it for. Never overload the cord by plugging in additional extension cords or several appliances. Do not use an indoor cord outside either.

*Protect outlets with outlet covers to keep young children from poking anything in the holes. Instruct children that the outlets are dangerous and should never be played with.

*Any appliance that has a damaged cord should be tossed out or taken for repair. Never attempt to tape up the problem and use it anyways. This can result in a Santa Monica electrical fire or even electric shock.

*Any outlets that have black streaks around the outside or spark when something is plugged in require an electrician. Do not use the outlet. If it is smoking or you smell electric wires burning, immediately call an electrician.

*Consider having an electrician replace older outlets in the kitchen and bathroom with GFI outlets. These are much safer in areas where water is more prone to come into contact with an electric appliance.

Give H Electric a call today and have your GFI outlets installed.

Home Remodels Require Expert in Santa Monica Electrical Requirements

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There are plenty of things you can do around your home to make it look a little better as well as updated and more modern. Just because you live in an older home, it doesn’t mean you have to deal with outdated appliances and décor. You can rely on an electrician in Santa Monica, like those at H Electric, to help bring your home into the modern world with all of the conveniences that affords. Kitchen, bathroom, office and basement remodels will all require somebody who is familiar with electricity and is capable of installing and wiring light fixtures, outlets and light switches.

The remodeling process will need to be permitted through your local county. In most cases, a certified electrician will need to complete the Santa Monica electrical work to ensure it is up to code. Wasting an inspector’s time is never a good idea and it will cost you more in the long run to redo the wiring if it doesn’t pass inspection the first time. For this reason, you will want to hire an electrician who knows how to do the job the right way, the first time.

Some of the things you will want to discuss with the electrician you hire are your electrical needs. If you are transforming a bedroom into an office space, you will need plenty of outlets and likely more professional lighting. Kitchen remodels may also include new lighting as well as the movement of some of the key appliances like your refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. Make sure you talk with your electrician early on about the number of outlets you will need in your kitchen. An electric panel inspection will need to be conducted to determine if an additional breaker will be needed to accommodate the additional outlets. If you are ready to take the remodeling plunge, give H Electric a call today.

Maximize Your Electric Car–Electrician in Santa Monica Explains

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Electric cars are quickly growing in popularity as gas prices jump all over the board. Commuters are looking for options that will not cost them an arm and a leg. Electric cars are economical and environmentally friendly. One of the biggest issues people have with electric cars is charging them up to a point the charge will last throughout the day. If you are somebody who is constantly on the go, it may be nearly impossible to leave your car plugged in for a full 24 hours so it can get completely charged. An electrician in Santa Monica has a solution to that problem. H Electric has a team of electricians who can put the solution to work for you.

A Level II electric car charger is more expensive than the typical Level I, but the first is a much faster charger. Instead of waiting around for a full 24 hours, your electric car is fully charged overnight. The Level II charger is a fast charging system, while the Level I is a trickle charger. In order for the Level II system to work, it needs more electricity to operate than its counterpart.

This is why you need an electrician who is familiar with Santa Monica electrical work. The fast charger will need to be plugged into a 240-volt outlet. This is the kind of outlet you would plug your air conditioner or dryer into. Most houses do not have an extra 240-volt outlet in the garage. Your electrician will need to put one in for you. Before that can happen, the electrician will need to evaluate your electrical panel to make sure it can support an additional breaker. If you are ready to make your life a little easier, give H Electric a call today and schedule your appointment.

Power Outage 101 by Electrician in Santa Monica

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Oh no! The power is out! Right in the middle of your favorite television show and in the middle of dinner being cooked. Argh! What do you do? Your electrician in Santa Monica can’t make you dinner or tell you what happened on your show, but there is some other valuable information to be passed along. The staff at H Electric can also give you some pointers. In most cases, the loss of power is not going to extend much past a couple of hours. In this day and age, our electric companies are on top of things and manage to get it restored fairly quickly. However, you still need to take care of a few things when the power goes out to ensure your electronics are protected and you don’t waste food.

Santa Monica electrical companies advise you to immediately unplug your computer, laptop charger, game consoles and televisions from the wall. When the power does come back, there will be a surge as it comes rushing into your home. These electronics are sensitive to even the smallest power surges and can be ruined if they are plugged in when the power kicks on.

Don’t head to the refrigerator and start scrounging around for something to eat. Opening and closing the fridge door lets the cool air escape. If your power outage extends past a couple of hours, it will lose the cool air and you risk your food being spoiled. If you can leave your door shut, you have about a 4 hour grace period on your refrigerator and 24 hours for your freezer.

If it is chilly out, grab a blanket and your coat to stay warm. It helps if you close the doors to any rooms you are not using. Keep everybody in one room to trap the body heat generated. Grab a deck of cards or your favorite board game and enjoy some time with the family. If you have any other questions about what to do in a power outage, give H Electric a call.