Electricians exist because of problems with your electrical system. But not every problem requires an electrician to come to your house for a service visit. Often, a simple phone call and a few questions can fix the problem!  Troubleshooting common power problems like this not only lets you get on with your life, but it saves time and money! Not every electrician is willing to tell you this, of course. Too many electricians, even legitimate ones, are motivated only by the money they can get from piling on charges from a service call, instead of being interested in helping their customers. Customer service and caring for families’ situations is more important than money. Remember that gets you better friends, employees, and customers.  I really do wish more electricians remembered that.  Having said that, here are some of the most common problems I solve without scheduling a service appointment and have successfully helped repair over the phone:

You may not believe this, but my time machine is over fifty years old and I have never needed to repair it. Built in the 1900’s it is one of the electric models. My great uncle, who died about twenty years ago, built it right here in Pasadena during WWII, and not only was he one of the best electricians in Pasadena, he built things to last. When I stepped inside this morning with the intention of heading back to 1967, something made a funny click and then everything went dead. I should have visited Uncle Frank, my trusted Pasadena electrician, last week for an evaluation when I was doing some errands that I neglected in 1979.

Because I could not use the machine to fast forward to 2030, when requests are as easy as wishing them done, I had to resort to using my laptop and a search engine that could respond to “electrician Pasadena CA,” a slow but fairly accurate method. After looking over my choices, I decided to take a chance and call a company called The Electric Connection. I could hear a bit of hesitation over the phone when I mentioned time machine, and they asked be if I meant a an electric timer, or if it was for a modern security lighting system, or if I needed an electrical rewire to bring my home wiring up-to-date, but after explaining that it wasn’t any of those, they went ahead and made my service call appointment. I am pretty sure they thought that I didn’t know what I was talking about, and that they figured they would sort it out after they arrived. I did confirm with them that the problem was definitely an electrical issue, though, and that it would most likely need some skilled electrical troubleshooting.

The Pasadena electrician arrived promptly for his scheduled appointment. He tried to cover up his surprise, but I was sure he had never worked on this kind of electrical project before. After he looked it over, he forgot all the intrigue and discovered that it needed an electrical conduit replaced. Well, that was easy enough. We also discussed the possibility of renovating it to function like an electric car. He told me they were the electrician in Pasadena that was doing most of the electric vehicle charger installs these days. That just might work for trips into the future, but for the ones heading back in time, there would be no electric charging stations.

Then he asked the big question: would he allow me to let him test it? He looked like a capable fellow with exceptional integrity, so I agreed. After much thought as to whether he wanted to visit Benjamin Franklin in the mid 1700’s to learning about electricity through lightning or Thomas Edison to see him inventing the phonograph and light bulb in the 1870’s, he chose Ben, and this electrician in Pasadena took off with excitement. We even set the timer to get him back without missing a beat for his next electrical service call appointment; I love that feature.

I was able to enjoy two cups of tea and a pastry before my Pasadena electrician returned. It would be insufficient to describe the look on his face as he stepped out of the machine. He could not put into words the incredible meeting with old Ben Franklin himself. Besides having an educational one on one, he was also asked to participate in a few of the famous kite experiences. This young Pasadena electrician would never be the same!

As we parted for the day, he asked if he could come back sometime and fly off to meet Thomas Edison. He looked like he could keep a secret, so I agreed as long as he told the office that he had replaced the electrical conduit and all of my clocks were working just fine now. I knew my search for electrician Pasadena CA was over, and that I finally found an electrician that I could trust at The Electric Connection in Pasadena CA.

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A Look Back At 2011

Texas residents suffered damaging and costly electrical problems in 2011. Three major blackout incidents, two of which happened in the winter months of February and December respectively, left residents without heat and without power for hours and, in some cases, days at a time. Equally distressing was the 71-day drought that had Texans begging their local Dallas electrician for relief, as 100-plus degree heat waves weakened the power grid once again and left residents without air conditioning or electricity.

2012: Not Much Better

Unfortunately, 2012 does not seem to be the year for relief. Experts warn that several factors point to an even more severe blackout and power grid problem in the state of Texas for 2012.

 These factors translate into miserable, costly blackouts and power grid failures throughout North Texas.

Dallas Electrician Company Provides Solutions

There are some solutions for customers looking stay ahead of the game when it comes to protecting their home and appliances from the inconvenient and sometimes dangerous conditions that stem from power grid failures. With the help of a knowledgeable electrician, Dallas residents can acquire an indoor generator, which can serve as an effective emergency power source for your home or business in the event of a blackout.

One of the most convenient features of these indoor generators is that there is no need to use electricity to recharge the battery bank that runs the generator. Without the mess of a fuel-powered engine generator, customers can count on reliable and steady power output and a quiet supply of power for your appliances. Furthermore, the convenience of a solar-power or wind-power battery charge ensures that customers need not worry about using electricity to recharge generator batteries.

With the cool nights upon us, you have probably pulled out the space heater already. Maybe you get chilled when you are at your desk or sitting in your favorite chair. Sometimes, you just need a little concentrated heat blowing on you to take that chill off. Space heaters are an excellent option when you need extra heat in a room or don’t want to turn on the furnace for a little bit. However, there are some things you should know about space heater safety. Your electrician in Pasadena has some tips to make sure you are using your space heater safely. If you have any more questions about what you should be doing, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Before you plug your heater in, give it a quick inspection. Make sure mice didn’t chew the cord while you had it stored away over the summer. Any type of damage to the cord is a problem that should be looked at by an electrician. Pasadena residents can skip the electrical repair and buy a new one, which is often more cost effective. Wrapping a damaged cord with electrical tape is not always a good idea. It is better to be safe than take chances.

When you are placing your heater for usage, make sure you leave at least 3 feet between the heater and any furniture, the walls or drapes. Run the cord along a wall and out of direct foot traffic. If you don’t have an outlet near the area you need the heater, consider having one installed by a Pasadena electrician. You can use an extension cord, but you will want to make sure the cord is not run across a pathway either. You don’t want the cord becoming loose and it possibly sparking against the carpet. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need an outlet installed or have any additional questions.