The holidays are a time of celebrating and spending time with family. They also tend to be a time when fires in the home increase due to improper use of lights and holiday décor. It is important you keep your home safe this season and follow proper lighting safety, especially when lighting up your tree. There are many people who prefer the traditional live Christmas tree. If you are one of those people, you need to take a few steps to ensure your holiday decoration does not become a fire hazard. An electrician in Los Angeles has some important safety guidelines to keep in mind when decorating your real tree this year. If you have any more questions, you can always call the team at The Electric Connection.

1-Keep your tree hydrated by ensuring there is plenty of water in the bowl. You may need to add one to two gallons a day when you first get it home.

2-Check your tree daily to determine if it is dry. Your Los Angeles electrician advises against lighting up a tree that is excessively dry. Brown needles or needles that fall to the ground when they are gently touched are a big indicator the tree is dry as tinder and the smallest heat source could spark a fire.

3-Extension cords are pretty common during the holiday season. You need extra outlets to light up the tree and any other décor you have set out. However, extension cords can be dangerous if they are not used correctly. Never overload a cord. If you are in need of additional outlets, call your electrician. Los Angeles homeowners will love the freedom a few extra wall outlets adds all year round.

4-Keep your tree away from heat sources like a space heater, woodstove or even the heater vent. The heat will dry out your tree much faster and can ultimately spark a fire. Do what you can to block the vent if you have to put your tree next to a vent.

Stay safe this season and give The Electric Connection a call if you need any new outlets installed to ease your holiday lighting.

It is a good time to consider updating the existing lighting in your home. It is one way to quickly update the look of a room without getting into a big project that involves remodeling, painting or even buying expensive furniture or new carpet. A new light fixture is a quick and fairly inexpensive fix to add new life to your home. A Santa Monica electrician will need to complete the installation of your new fixture. You can always count on the team at The Electric Connection to take care of your home lighting upgrade needs.

With the phasing out of incandescent bulbs in favor of CFLs, you may need to update your light fixture. There are some old lamps and ceiling lights that are not suitable for the CFL bulbs. And although you may need to spend a little money to get your home up to date, it will ultimately save you money in the long run on your electricity bills. There are plenty of different styles of light fixtures for you to choose from. You don’t have to worry about being stuck with the old standard, center of the ceiling light fixture that you will find in millions of houses. You will be amazed at how unique the designs of today truly are.

Because there is some wiring involved, it is best to leave the fixture change to your electrician. Santa Monica residents will want to make sure the fixture is installed up to code and by having an electrician complete the work you can feel confident knowing it is wired correctly. If you are ready to transform your dull lighting into something beautiful, head to your local home improvement store and pick up your new fixtures. Once you have your new lights, call The Electric Connection and schedule your installation.

Water and electricity make a dangerous combination. That's especially true in your bathroom, where you use water from the sink and shower to clean yourself, but also rely on electrical devices like shavers and hair dryers. That's why you need to take special care with your devices in the bathroom to protect yourself and your family from shock, electrocution or fire. Read on for tips on how to ensure safety when it comes to the electrical work in the bathroom.

Bathroom Electrical Safety is Paramount

Water is essential to human health and hygiene. Unfortunately, it's also a great conductor of electricity. That means that you could receive a severe shock when you are standing in water, and even wet skin allows electricity an easier path to pass into your body. Electrical shocks can cause burns, heart arrhythmia, nervous system damage and death, and bad wiring or improper grounding can also start a fire. That's why safety in your bathroom electrical work should be one of your primary concerns. Follow these tips to avoid an emergency:

Don't Leave the Quality of Your Electrical Work to Chance

In addition to these tips, certain requirements about the installation of electrical work in bathrooms are found in local municipal codes as well. For all the electrical work in your bathroom, make sure you hire a qualified electrician who can adhere to all of the applicable quality and safety standards.