Keeping Your Home Electrically Safe – Using an Electrician in Beverly Hills

Electricity was once a luxury to many, and now it’s a day-to-day necessity for all. Whether it’s hot or cold, you need proper heating and air conditioning functionality. In times of safety or trouble, you also need proper lighting. Aside from the basics, you need to be certain that your home is electrically safe at all times. Faulty electrical wiring is not only unsafe, but it’s unwise—should matters such as improper wiring not be checked, you could stand to lose your house. A licensed residential or commercial electrician in Beverly Hills CA and will be able to proactively discover and correct any electrical safety issues you need to be aware of.

Informal Inspection

Before you meet with a Beverly Hills electrician, do an informal electrical home inspection of your own.

GFCI Outlets Save Lives

Take a walk around your house and check all of your electrical outlets and appliances. You should not be able to see any exposed or visible electrical wires, and the wiring should be updated (cloth or exposed wiring is a major fire and safety hazard).

It is also recommended that you purchase and install GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets near any areas that are close to water. These would be appropriate for your kitchen area, bathrooms, the garage, and even outdoor areas. These types of outlets are relatively cheap to install and can protect you and your family from fatal electrical shocks.

Two-prong plugs for outlets are also relatively common, especially in older homes. This could possibly be a sign that your electrical system is not grounded. Even if you now have three-prong plugs, you may still need to have a ground wire added for optimal safety. This is something to add to your checklist and consult with a Beverly Hills electrician about.

Whole House Surge Protectors

Check to see how many surge protectors you have in use. Many people commonly use surge protectors for computers and other electronic devices. You may indeed need to use surge protectors for most other devices in your home, as well as a whole house surge protector. If a power surge ever occurs in your home, it could possibly damage your home entertainment center, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine, and so on. Purchasing and installing a whole house surge protector system could potentially save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the long run.

Lighting and Appliance Checklist

Go room by room and verify that all lighting and plugged in devices work properly. For instance, check your lamps and light bulbs, televisions, stereos, refrigerators, and anything with an electrical outlet for proper functionality. If anything does not work well or if anything is in poor condition, you should dispose of the items or unplug them until you can have them rewired. Rewiring lamps, appliances, or other electrical devices can be done inexpensively, and for electrical safety purposes it’s recommended that a professional should do so. Also, make sure that you have smoke detectors installed, that the batteries are relatively new, and that they function properly. All smoke detectors that are high-quality have a built-in testing function that you should be able to use. Anything beyond basic QA should be referred to an electrician. Beverly Hills-based electrical contractors can also take a tour around your home or business property and detect specific vulnerable areas that need to be tended to.

About Your Electrical Wiring

Currently, most houses come equipped with copper electrical wiring. Any home built before the 1970s, however, may very well have aluminum wiring installed, and this type of electrical wiring is a safety hazard. As time goes on, connectivity and splicing for aluminum wiring can fail, and this is a fire hazard as well as a possible cause of shock. You’ll need to consult with a professional about a wiring upgrade or retrofitting. Make sure you find a qualified electrician in Beverly Hills CA that knows about aluminum wiring replacement in particular.

Your Fuses and Circuit Breakers

Electricity overload can cause your wiring to melt, and cause electrical shocks and fire damage. If your circuit breakers and fuses are old, they will not work properly and your current won’t flow correctly. This too could prove to be a safety hazard. You’ll need an up to date circuit breaker installed. Older fuses may not be the proper size, either. These are things to add to your safety checklist and ask a Beverly Hills electrician about in order to ensure your property is up to current safety standards.

Recommended Assessments for Your Electrician In Beverly Hills

Once you’ve completed your informal inspection, it’s time to take your findings to your local electrical service and repair professional. They’ll have special testing equipment that can also help you to determine if your property is fully grounded. Other important things to inquire about include electrical rewires, wiring replacement, home landscape lighting, new electrical circuits and outlets, installation and replacement of fixtures, ceiling fans, panel upgrades, GFCI wiring, smoke detector installation, and general troubleshooting.

We’re here to help you and keep your home and business property up to code, safe, and sound. Make sure to contact us to help you find the best electrician in Beverly Hills CA.

 

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Hank the Handyman Vs. Ed the Electrician: Is There Really A Difference? (Your Beverly Hills Electrician Weighs In.)

Everybody knows that song called “Handyman,” and it might even bring to mind a few positive and nostalgic feelings. For instance, you might want to call a handyman when it comes to needing electrical work, electrical service or electrical repair, or all things electrical.  Beverly Hills, CA consumers deserve much more than “a just okay electrician in Beverly Hills CA.”  Our trustworthy team at H Electric wants to inform you about the differences between using a handyman and a licensed, professional electrical contractor for all your general electrician, electrical maintenance, electrical services or repair needs.

A General Definition: What Is A Handyman / Electrician? – Wikipedia defines a handyman as: “A person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home.” This type of a definition is just what it says: the duties involved are vague, and a handyman typically only takes care of odd jobs around the house. Even if he does indeed present you with a list of his so-called qualifications, you don’t know if he really has the tools of the trade on hand. Even if he did have electrical tools, how would you be able to know enough about his real knowledge and experience when it comes to electrician-related or electrical jobs specifically? A licensed electrician most definitely comes in handy when it comes to electrical work around your home or place of business.

A qualified and licensed electrician can work in both home and residential spaces, and is knowledgeable about all legalities, proper electrical tools, due diligence, and tools of the trade involved. Professionals with a specialization in all things electrical are people you should seek out specifically so that you know you’re provided with the right worker for all of your electrical service and electrical repair needs.

Things you should expect from an experienced and licensed electrician include: bath fan replacement, ceiling fan installation, cloth wire replacement, custom lighting service and repair, proper electrical estimates, proper installation regarding electric vehicle chargers, electrical conduit assessment, full house rewires, landscape lighting, new electrical circuits, outlet replacements, panel upgrades, smoke detector and surge protector installations, and other highly specific electrical work that a novice might only dabble in. Novices bring negligible safety, cleanup practices, and knowledge to the table. A licensed Beverly Hills electrician knows the lay of the land, and keeps your safety in mind above all.

Consistency: Quality vs. Quantity – All told, there is no true definition of what a handyman is, as this is a catch-all job title that has more to do with a person’s experience and skills than any licensing, certifications, or industry standard regulations. It sounds general and random, because it is. There’s no guarantee of services provided. You’ll find no quality, availability, or consistency beyond a verbal agreement or a possible handshake. In contrast, an electrician by definition is often professionally certified and licensed. With this comes legally-binding work ethics, standards of electrical service and pricing, and professionalism that you won’t find with Hank the Handyman, no matter what the person may tell you or promise to do for you. You might save a few bucks in the short run, but if Hank the Handyman isn’t properly qualified at the onset for electrical-specific services and repairs, cleaning up after his mess is an extremely cost-prohibitive venture. Hire a professional electrician who gets it done right the first time: an electrician in Beverly Hills CA who provides a high quantity of quality work, every single time.

When A Handyman Might Not Come In Handy – Hank the Handyman may very well be a local. However, this is a “buyer beware” type of a situation: handymen are often what’s called “Local…for Now” service providers. Everyone can have business cards made fairly inexpensively these days. What happens when your electrical problem isn’t solved and you need to locate a handyman for a follow up? Does the handyman have a brick-and-mortar business address? Not likely. Even if he’s been in town for more than just a few weeks or a couple of months, the nature of the handyman’s business is first-come, first-serve, and as he’s not an electrical service and repair specialist. He will not be able to provide you with the quick electrical diagnosis and ultra-professional level of electrical work that an electrical contracting professional will. Local and professional electricians are well aware of all current city and state electrical safety regulations and provide electrician services with this information at top of mind. Even if the handyman made a mess of his electrical work beforehand with incorrect wiring or other electrical problems, a qualified electrician can fix it properly, legally, and permanently.

Why Certified Professionals Matter – Make sure that the person doing electrical service work for you is affiliated with a local, easily reachable electrical contracting company. Make sure this individual—and his company—is licensed, properly certified, and insured. Don’t be fooled by Hank the Handyman’s fly-by-night, shoddy service or seemingly cut-rate electrical prices. Getting it done right the first time with Ed the Electrician is less expensive in the long run. You’ll find that it’s safer, more solid, and provides you with peace of mind and quality-centric, lasting electrical repairs.

Ultimately, you make the call: so make sure you call the best electricians in the business! Contact us at H Electric, your Beverly Hills electrician, for more tips and checklists to use when consulting with electrical service professionals.

 

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When Your Local Beverly Hills CA Electrician Arrives: What You Should Expect

The last thing you want to experience on your new electrician’s first visit is a leftover, half-worked over, shoddy job. Sure, he may even be local to Beverly Hills, CA. Still, you don’t want to have to ask him to come back and finish what he started, or to negotiate what the job will turn out like. The best way to make sure that never happens is to hire the best local Beverly Hills electrician the first time. Prior to hiring your local electrical service repairman, you need to have at least a general idea of what to expect. As you’re making your hiring decision, envision what the most ideal electrical service will look like, and make sure it gets done exactly that way. Stay on site for the duration of your electrical services and repairs to observe the work if at all possible. Then, once you have hired your electrical contractor and he arrives, you’ll know in an instant the type of electrical service provider you’re dealing with.

Transparent Licensure – Your local Beverly Hills electrician should have a license and carry insurance in order to provide you with the best electrical service. This contractor’s license should be prominently displayed on his business card and/or in or on his truck. It should always be current. Also, ask him what the nature of the electrical contracting license is (is he certified in low voltage repairs such as alarm wiring or phone work? Is he a Class I or Class II electrical contractor?).

Clear Communication and ETA  – Your electrician in Beverly Hills should give you no more than a 1-3 hour time window for his arrival, and he or his office should call you if any scheduling changes come up. Also, expect him to arrive within the time frame promised.

Taking Good Care of Your Property  – Your electrician should be careful with every single one of your possessions and treat them with the respect and care they deserve (see: “the opposite of a bull in a china shop”). He should also do a thorough and thoughtful post-service electrical cleanup job.

Speed and Efficiency  – Whether you need ballast or conduit service, light to heavy electric-related construction, safety-conscious electricity assessment or QA, a full scale remodel, or even proper light bulb wiring, rewiring, or electrical replacement, your electrician should not dawdle, dilly-dally, or stall. No matter if the electrical job is big or small, his quality of speed and efficiency should be the same.  Your electrician in Beverly Hills CA should provide efficient electrical service, period. You want someone who will not fritter away your time with the meter running, and won’t waste your time with an inaccurate or incomplete electrical estimate.

No Bait and Switch – Your local contractor should be conscious of your budget and time, which is the mark of a top notch, professional electrician. Beverly Hills CA is a place where people can be taken advantage of, just like any other. Your electrician in Beverly Hills CA should be your estimator and do the work, rather than calling in a crew to do the work he’s promised to do himself.  (No need to wait for brand new faces to show up and take over the job while the meter’s running). He should assess the electrical problem quickly, write your quote immediately, and 9 times out of 10, complete the entire electrical job in one trip without leaving your place of business or residence.

Guarantee and Follow Up – Last but not least, your electrical work should be guaranteed in writing, and follow-up should be a part of your electrician’s 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you discover that the work done is incomplete or not up to par for any reason, your electrician Beverly Hills and his company should be on call for any and all follow-up questions or  needs, whether it’s an emergency or not.

Keep in touch with your friendly Beverly Hills electrician here at H Electric. We’re happy to provide you with up-to-date information about electrical service and electrical repairs, as well as everything you need to know about quick, affordable, and reliable electrical service providers.

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