Kitchens and Closets Brightened with LEDs by Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Esteban Gallego

Have you ever been working in your kitchen, maybe chopping vegetables and wished your counter space was lit up a little better? Often times as you lean over your cutting board, you block the overhead light casting a shadow on your workspace. You can remedy that problem with the installation of under counter LED lights by an electrician. Beverly Hills residents can count on H Electric to take care of the wiring and installation of these handy lights.

If you have seen LEDs, you have probably noticed they are very bright despite being very small. Another reason they are so desirable is because the lights are extremely energy efficient. Each bulb uses just a mere 36 watts, but produces such concentrated light it looks like much more. LED light strips can be bought in one long strip and cut down to size for placement under several cupboards. The strips are mounted directly to the bottom of the cupboard and will not take up any space at all.

You can also talk with your electrician in Beverly Hills about mounting the light strips in closets. It is helpful to have the strips mounted to a closet wall near the bottom. This will illuminate the area and allow you to clearly see your shoes. There is nothing worse than pulling shoes out of a dark closet that are similar shades, but not matching. The LEDs can be placed directly onto a headboard as well and will provide plenty of light to read by. The lights are extremely versatile and can be placed nearly anywhere. If you are worried the lights may be a little too bright, you don’t have to be. You can have a dimmer switch installed to adjust the brightness of the lights. This gives you the freedom to have a lot of light or just a little. Give H Electric a call today and schedule your LED light strip installation.

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Outdoor Kitchens Possible with Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Esteban Gallego

During the warm summer months, it is always nice to give the air conditioning a break and cook outdoors. Unfortunately, cooking on the barbecue every night gets pretty old. And not all dishes can be cooked on the barbecue. There is a solution to this problem that an electrician in Beverly Hills can help you with. Call H Electric to learn more about outdoor kitchens and outdoor sitting rooms. These are excellent ways to add more living space to your home while enjoying the outdoors.

You can have a full kitchen on your back patio complete with outlets for plugging in your appliances with the help of an electrician. Outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular as people recognize the cost savings of cooking outdoors during the heat of the summer. It is also a lot of fun to be a part of the social activities when you are cooking for company. A counter space, mini-fridge, and even a stovetop are all common elements of an outdoor kitchen.

A Beverly Hills electrician will need to install the necessary electrical components like outlets and additional breakers to run the appliances. If you are planning on doing your own construction, make sure you meet with an electrician early in the project to go over the specifics. It is easiest to let the electrician be involved from the beginning to prevent any extra work being needed to cut holes for wires and outlets. An electrician will also be able to install the lighting in the outdoor kitchen area. An outdoor ceiling fan installed in your outdoor kitchen is also a good idea to help break up the stifling heat. If you are excited about getting started on your outdoor living space, give H Electric a call today and schedule your consultation appointment with an electrician.

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Keeping Kids Safe Around Electricity by Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Esteban Gallego

It is never too early to teach children about the dangers of electricity. Nearly everything we do today, has something to do with electricity. Even our children’s toys tend to be electrical in nature. The tablets and iPads they play with must be charged as well as their cellphones, laptops and music players. We love our electrical gadgets, but we must make sure we are using them safely and teaching our children how to be safe around electricity. A Beverly Hills electrician has some advice for you and your children. You can rely on H Electric to keep you in the know and provide you with information about electricity.

Always teach children that electricity and water do not mix. Kids will often plug in their gadgets and place them near the sink while they get ready for school or wash dishes or what not. This is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. You can help prevent electric shock by having GFI outlets installed in the kitchen and bathroom by an electrician. Beverly Hills residents may not be able to watch the kids every second, but they can take steps to protect family members who don’t always listen.

Remind your kids that they should never climb trees or fly their remote control helicopters or airplanes in an area where power lines are running overhead. This same advice should be followed by parents who may be doing some work outside and need to use a ladder. Be aware of your surroundings. It isn’t only the air you have to look out for. If you are doing any digging, you will need to call as well to make sure you don’t run into any underground wiring.

Give H Electric a call today if you would like to learn more about electric safety or would like to have your home made safer with the installation of GFI outlets.

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Wiring Upgrades for Safer Homes by Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Esteban Gallego

If your home is older than 50 years, it could probably do with a wiring upgrade if it hasn’t been done since the home’s construction. Older homes are beautiful pieces of history and while we treasure them, we must keep them updated with the latest and greatest safety measures. Beverly Hills electrical standards have changed quite a bit in the past several decades and that old home may be a fire waiting to happen. The goal is to preserve the history and by making these older homes safer, that is exactly what is accomplished. At H Electric, we can help you make your treasure safer by performing a wiring upgrade.

The first thing you will need to do is have an electrician in Beverly Hills complete an electrical safety inspection. The electrician will check the condition of the wiring and determine whether or not it needs upgrading. Homes built before 1950 were not usually grounded like they are with today’s standards. Another common issue is the use of cloth wiring. The cloth is wrapped around the wires to insulate them. Over time, the cloth becomes brittle and breaks away leaving the wires exposed. This can become a serious fire hazard.

You may be able to see cloth wiring by looking at the electric panel or if you have an attic or basement where the wiring is exposed. If you can see cloth wiring, you will know it is time to have an upgrade. During the upgrade process, an electrician can update outlets and switches in the home as well as the electric panel if needed. Updated wiring can save you money on your homeowner’s insurance making the investment well worth it. If you are ready to schedule your wiring upgrade or need an inspection, give H Electric a call today.

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Dream Home Made Possible with Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Esteban Gallego

Sometimes it just makes sense to do a small remodel rather than look for a new home when your existing home no longer meets your needs. Updating the kitchen or bathroom or adding a home office or transforming a basement into living space are all common remodel projects homeowners take on. It is fun and exciting to create a space specifically with your designs and tastes in mind. To do this, you will need the help of a Beverly Hills Electrician like those at H Electric.

One of the key elements to any upgrade is the electrical needs. If you are adding new appliances or changing where the current large appliances are going to be located, you will definitely need an electrician. Another major benefit to having an electrician on hand for your remodel is the thrill of choosing how many outlets you will have and where they are placed. Prior to your remodel, you will need to have an electrician do an inspection to determine the current status of your electric panel. Depending on how much you are adding, you may need an electric panel upgrade.

Office additions are typically a time when you would need an additional breaker installed to handle the additional outlets you will likely need. Computer equipment is sensitive and requires more electricity than the average appliance. In order to prevent a breaker tripping and possibly ruining your sensitive equipment, it is best to have the extra power available. Along with the wiring in a new addition, you may want to consider having updated light fixtures installed. These are all jobs for your electrician. Beverly Hills residents will appreciate the thrill of transforming their home into the home of their dreams with an upgrade or remodel. Give H Electric a call today to begin your home transformation.

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Reduce Phantom Power, Electrician in Beverly Hills Explains

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Esteban Gallego

Did you know that no matter if you sat in a completely dark house, with all of your appliances turned off, you would still be using electricity? Of course your refrigerator, water heater and freezer will be drawing electricity, but what about the rest of the little things? Does your toaster, cell phone charger or television draw power when it isn’t turned on? YES! An electrician in Beverly Hills is here to explain phantom power and how it is costing you money every day. If you want more details, give H Electric a call.

Basically, phantom power is the current that is pulled from an outlet by anything that is plugged in. This means everything, even if it is turned off or not in use, is drawing power. All of those things on the kitchen counter that you only use on occasion, like your toaster, mixer, can opener and so on are using electricity. You can stop the phantom power by unplugging these appliances when they are not in use.

Another way to save on your Beverly Hills electrical power bill is to unplug all of those chargers you use for your phone, laptops, tablets or other technical gadgets. These chargers are drawing electricity, even if there is no phone or other device on the other end. This applies to your television or entertainment systems as well as you desktop computer. To save money, you want to cut power to these devices. It can be a royal pain to try and unplug every little thing, but you can achieve the same thing by using power strips for areas where a lot of items will be plugged in.

Although phantom power is fairly minimal, it still adds up. When you are trying to save every dollar you can, reducing phantom power is just one option. If you would like to hear more energy savings tips, give H Electric a call today.

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Preparing for Power Outages with Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Esteban Gallego

There are those fortunately rare occasions when the power is knocked out for one reason or another. It could be caused by something as serious as an accident that has taken out a pole or transformer or something minor that can be fixed within a matter of minutes or an hour at the most. Most of the time, it is no big deal and you just have to wait it out. However, wouldn’t it be nice to be prepared for even the shortest power outage? Having a kit prepared and ready to go when you need it will give you peace of mind and eliminate the stress and panic. Your Beverly Hills electrician has a few suggestions to help get your kit together. You can call H Electric for more guidance.

One of the most important, and probably most obvious power outage kit supplies are flashlights. You need at least two, but it is nice to have one for each person in the household. Along with flashlights, you will want to have at least one set of spare batteries. If your power outage are few and far between, it is a good idea to have one flashlight ready to turn on and leave the batteries out of the rest so there is no risk of corrosion.

Emergency candles are also a good idea along with holders. The emergency candle variety burns brighter and sheds more light than the standard decorative candles. Make sure you have proper holders to avoid a candle being tipped over and starting a fire. Don’t forget to include matches or a lighter in the kit.

These items are there to give you light, which is probably the most missed thing when the power goes out. You can also consider having a generator installed by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can contact H Electric to learn more about standby generators and how they can ease the frustration during a power outage.

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Preparing for Winter Weather with Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Esteban Gallego

It is that time of year when you need to prepare for winter weather and whatever may come our way. Although the area isn’t prone to many extreme weather conditions, it doesn’t hurt to be ready for a cold snap. You will want to make a call to your electrician in Beverly Hills to do some prep work to make sure your home is ready. Homeowners can rely on H Electric to take care of these winter-readiness checks in a professional manner.

If you are planning on using space heaters to stay warm, it is important you check a few things before plugging them in and firing them up. Space heaters are a common cause of home fires because they are not used correctly.

1-Check the electrical cord for any damage before plugging it in. If you notice any breaks in the cord or the plug has any exposed wires, do not use the heater. Take it in for repair or get rid of it if there is any visible damage.

2-When using the heater, make sure there is nothing pressed up against it. The space heater should be kept away from furniture, drapes and any other item that could start fire. It is best to put the heater in the center of the room when possible.

3-Never plug a space heater into an extension cord. This creates a tripping hazard. If the cord is continuously pulled on, it could end up getting pulled against something flammable and end up starting a fire.

4-It doesn’t hurt to have outlets that will be used for the space heater to be checked by an electrician familiar with Beverly Hills electrical codes.

It is better to be safe than sorry. Take the time to make sure your space heater is ready for you to use now, before it gets too cold. If you have any more questions about space heater safety, give H Electric a call today.

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Dimmer Switches Save Money Says Beverly Hills Electrician

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Esteban Gallego

Have you ever walked into a room and needed just a little light but didn’t really intend to light up the area like it was a landing strip for airplanes? Brilliant light is great, but it has a time and a place. Late in the evening when you are trying to unwind is not one of those times. First thing in the morning isn’t exactly when you want to see stars after being blinded by a 100-watt bulb. But, then there are times you do need the light so you are in a bit of a conundrum. Or are you? Your Beverly Hills electrician has a solution for you that will have you jumping for joy. Dimmer switches installed by an electrician like those at H Electric can give you the best of both worlds.

Dimmer switches give you the freedom to control just how much light comes out of a bulb. For times when you want a low light, like an intimate dinner and those times when you need every bit of light you can get, like when you are preparing said dinner, are made easy with the installation of a dimmer switch. Because of the electricity involved, this is a job that will need to be left to an electrician. Beverly Hills residents will appreciate knowing dimmer switches can actually save money on the electric bill as well. If you don’t need a fully-lit bulb, there is no reason to pay for excess light.

Using a dimmer switch to create a soft glow of light emanating from the bulb is one small way to cut back on lighting costs. The less light emitted, the less electricity used. You can have it all and save money. If you would like to schedule your appointment for a dimmer switch installation, give H Electric a call today.

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Electric Car Chargers Installed by Electrician in Beverly Hills

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Esteban Gallego

Before you head out and buy that electric car that will save you a ton of money on gas, take a walk out to your garage first. Do you have the electrical system needed to run an electric car charger? If not, will you rely on chargers in the city and if so, will the amount of time you have to use those chargers benefit you in the long run? Getting a car fully charged can take anywhere from 8 to 24 hours depending on the make and model and the type of charging system. If you are planning on buying a charger for your home, you may need some Beverly Hills electrical work first. H Electric has been taking care of customers for years and can certainly help you in this situation.

If your garage or carport does not have a free outlet that you can dedicate solely to the electric car charging station, you need to call an electrician in Beverly Hills. Adding an additional outlet to the area is usually a fairly simple task. If you are planning on parking your car in a driveway, you probably need another outdoor outlet installed. However, this solution is only meant to appease the needs of a Level 1 charging station.

If you are looking to buy the faster charging system known as the Level 2, you will need an entirely different outlet. A 240-volt outlet is needed to power these stations. This is the same kind of outlet you would plug your dryer or air conditioner into. It is very unlikely you would have a spare 240-volt outlet anywhere in your home. You will definitely need to call an electrician out to do an inspection of your electric panel and then go about installing the new outlet designated specifically for your charging station. Once you decide which outlet you need, give H Electric a call to schedule your installation.

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