Is your sensitive electronic equipment protected from the potentially devastating effects a power surge brought on by winter weather? Seventy percent of U.S. power outages are attributable to severe weather, with winter months producing a host of storms that can result in outages and subsequent surges. Power surges are now more troublesome than ever, as homeowners now own a much wider array of this sophisticated and expensive electronic equipment.

A surge protector offers your sensitive electronics protection in the event of power surge or spike. Those looking for additional support may want to consider an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) as well, which offers surge protection plus the added benefit of a battery backup, allowing for the safe shutdown of equipment and prevention of data loss in the event of an outage.

Multiple layers of surge protection coverage are required for complete protection. Even whole house surge protectors cannot handle 100 percent of surges. While all three levels are recommended, the combination of Type 2 and 3 devices will provide an adequate safeguard, however.

Without a properly grounded home and outlets, even the best surge protector will fail to protect your home. Why? Surge protectors shed all that excess voltage through ground. Have your home inspected for grounding issues prior to installation to ensure effective surge protection and prevent the need for replacing expensive electronics due to failure.

Adding surge protection to your home costs very little in comparison to the replacement cost of your electronics. Protection at outlets runs as little as $10, while whole house protections costs a few hundred. Sound like a lot? The cost of replacing a single large home appliance such as a washer, dryer, stove, or hot water heater will likely cost you double the investment in a surge protector. Start adding in iPhones, tablets, e-readers, laptops or other devices in your home that could be destroyed by a surge while charging and the numbers are nauseating. This is why the average insurance claim for power surge and lighting related damage is over $4,000, not to mention the inconvenience of living without those electronics until replacements are procured, making the costs of installing a surge protector a drop in the bucket.

Can you afford to live without surge protection? Trust in Mr. Electric® to keep your electronic essentials from getting zapped. Our professionals have the information you need to help you select the best surge protection for your home or business.

Halogen & LEDs

Halogen lamps are a type of incandescent, so the same restrictions apply to them. They can’t be recycled, so you can carefully dispose of them in your regular trash. Be sure to wrap them up so they won’t shatter! You can also try reusing them just like incandescents in various up-cycle craft projects.

Likewise, LED bulbs take a pretty long time to wear out, but eventually they will need to be replaced. LEDs don’t have mercury in them so they are safe to dispose in the normal trash, but depending on what your lamp looks like it might be great for crafts too! Anyone have a creative idea for LED recycling?

Holiday Lights

Electric cars are becoming very common. If you have visited a car lot lately, you will see the selection has increased dramatically and Prius is no longer the only game in town. It is the future of cars and there is no time like the present to start learning the ropes of using an electric car for your transportation needs. A Santa Monica electrician is here to help you make the most of your new electric car or make your old one a little better with the installation of a Level II charger at your home. The team at The Electric Connection can assist you in getting the most out of your gas-saving car.

One of the problems with electric cars is their inability to drive long stretches on the battery alone. They are great for commuters with short distances to travel. Most electric cars can go anywhere between 40 to 100 miles on a single charge. Unfortunately, it can take a full day for a car to get a full charge when using a Level I battery charger. An electrician in Santa Monica can install the 240-volt outlet you need to run the Level II or fast charger in your own garage. This means, every day you get home from work, you plug in the car and it is fully charged and ready to go the following morning.

The faster chargers are a bit more expensive up front, but when you factor in the gas savings, it is an investment that will pay off over time. It is also more convenient in general. Because the charger requires more electricity to run, you will need an electrician. Santa Monica homeowners can decide where they want to charge their car and have the outlet installed nearby. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your installation.