The Most Common Reasons to Call a 24-Hour Electrician in Los Angeles

Unfortunately, accidents happen. Also, anything can just simply wear out because of long use. It is the same for your electrical system as any other of the conveniences that you rely on every day. The problem with electrical issues, if you don’t see to them at once they have the potential to be devastating. Fires and electrocution are the main dangers. Smoke inhalation for one can seriously damage your health. Damage done to your home and household goods by dousing flames is another. Because we at Hofer Electric don’t want things to get that far in your house, we would like to remind you of the circumstances in which you should call a 24-hour electrician in Los Angeles.

Power outages

If your lights suddenly go dark, you definitely have a problem with your electrical supply. First, check with your neighbors. If they have lights, then the problem is with your house. If nobody in the area has lights, it’s your power company’s problem.

Flickering lights

At some time your lights may flicker. This can be due to power surges or reduction of the supply. If your lights flicker on a frequent basis and your appliances keep cutting out, then you may have a short circuit, or it could be that your old wiring system just isn’t up to the job anymore.

Circuit breakers

When circuit breakers continually trip and fuses blow that’s a sure sign that you need an emergency electrician. This can be because of old and faulty wiring or an overloaded system. These should be replaced as soon as possible.

Sparks from outlets or switches

Sparks from your sockets when you plug something in or every time you flick a light switch means that you have a short circuit in your electrical system. This can only get worse if you leave it. It can lead to greater problems.

Insects you can’t see

Buzzing sounds, like an insect you can’t find, indicate that your wiring system can’t cope with the use you are putting it to. This is usually because of old wiring that hasn’t been updated or renewed. If this isn’t seen to there is the hazard of fires.

Bad smells

The smell of burning when using your electrical system shouldn’t be ignored. It is the smell of the plastic or rubber insulation covering the wires melting. If this is happening, the wires can burst into flames at any time. This requires a rewiring job for your safety.

Electric shocks

Any time you feel a mild electric shock when you touch a light switch or even an appliance means that you need to call an electrician immediately. The next shock may not be so mild and could be fatal.

Be safe, not sorry

Because we have been in the business for more than 40 years, we at Hoffer Electric can assure you that the reasons above should not be ignored. If you are having any of these problems don’t hesitate to call a 24-hour electrician in Los Angeles. You can easily contact us through our website.

Finding a Good Commercial Electrician in West Hills for Your Business

Whether you are just starting out with a new business or you have been at your current location for several years, you know that as a business owner your storefront, restaurant, or office needs to be a place where customers and clients feel welcome. This means you need to keep up with the everything about the atmosphere and be able to do your job well. Your electricity is an integral part of all this, and when things start to go wrong, it can have a negative effect on your business. Finding a good commercial electrician in West Hills for your business is crucial to you so you can keep business moving and have your place at its best.

Always Check the License of an Electrician

You never want to hire anyone to do electrical work for you that is not properly licensed by the state to do the work. An unlicensed person can leave you at risk of having faulty electrical work done that can be a hazard to your business, property, employees, and customers. You may end up with electrical workings that are not up to code, putting you at risk if an accident occurs and putting you in violation of the law. Always check for a license number when searching for an electrician and shy away from anyone reluctant to provide it to you.

Go with a Recommended Electrician

An excellent way to find a commercial electrician in West Hills is to go with a service that is recommended by other business owners in the area. Talk to local business owners like yourself and see who they have used for their electrical work. You will find that a service that gets mentioned frequently and with high regard is one that you want to contact and bring in to help you out when you need work done.

A Commercial Electrician to Help You

At Hoffer Electric, we can be the commercial electrician in West Hills that can assist you with all your electrical needs. We have worked with thousands of residential and commercial customers in the area over the years and have the experience you want on your side to make sure your electrical workings are at their best. Give us a call at (323) 922-5205 to schedule a service call with us so we can see what work you need to be done and give you a free estimate so you can see how affordable our services can be for you.

An Electrician in Los Angeles you Can Trust

Have you been looking for an electrician in Los Angeles but haven’t been all that impressed by what you’ve found? Does it seem like every electrician is the same? We know that when it comes to your electricity, you can’t afford to cut corners or settle for anything less than the best. Dale Hoffer, the master electrician in Los Angeles, has been helping folks just like you to get the most out of their electricity for decades. Now, he can do the same for you, no matter what your needs may be.

Residential Electrical Services

You and your family will spend most of your time in your home. So, your electricity must work as it should. To that extent, our troubleshooting services can, quite literally, keep the lights on. Indeed, we can help you to make it so that you don’t have to pay as much for your electricity for owning your home. How can we help with that? By making sure that you’re taking advantage of all of the latest and greatest advancements. For example, upgrading your panels, putting in new breakers, circuits, and more, can help with your electricity today as well as in the long run.

Electrician for Your Business

In addition to helping homes, Hoffer Electric has many commercial clients, too. Throughout the entire process of the construction of your commercial building, our electrician can make certain that you’re getting everything out of your electricity and then some. To that end, we can help with new construction and remodeling as well as with retail electrical repairs, too. From phone and computer writing to lighting systems to even pool and spa wiring, we can help you to make your commercial establishment everything you want it to be.

Heavy-Duty Electrician Services for Heavy Duty Industry

For decades, we’ve helped some in the hardest industrial environments to have electricity that doesn’t fail them when they need it. For example, we’ve assisted with high voltage system installation, as well as control and automation equipment. From airport hangers to machine stops, cabinet shops to metal buildings, we’ve provided the kind of explosion-proof electrical equipment that dangerous, extreme environments demand. Moreover, we do this in such a way that you won’t need maintenance for a long while. We see it as one more way to help our clients.

Our Electrician in Los Angeles Can Help Right Now

You may not need explosion-proof electrical equipment in your home, but you might need help with yard lighting, bath remodeling, and something of that nature. If you’re looking for electrical services for new homes and additions, we can help there as well. We know that when it comes to electricity in the Southern California area, you don’t exactly lack options. That’s just one of the reasons why we do everything we can to stand out from the rest. You can get a free estimate at our site, or call us at (323) 329-6064.

Your Local Commercial Electrician in Santa Monica Helps Improve Your Business

No matter what type of business you own, having the best electrical systems at your location can have a significant impact on your business and your customers. The last thing you want is customers leaving your restaurant or bar because the lighting is so poor or losing customers because your phone systems are unreliable or you constantly have power issues that disrupt your ability to fill orders. To make sure that you have the best systems to keep your business running smoothly and successfully, you want the help of a local commercial electrician in Santa Monica like us at Hoffer Electric.

The Right Commercial Electrical Infrastructure

Having a quality electrical infrastructure is essential to your business. You need to know that you have the support you need to do your job well, whether it is running appliances to cook meals, operating cash registers, or having office equipment or machines critical to your processes. Hiring an electrician with commercial experience can help you make sure you have the infrastructure necessary to provide proper power in all the areas you need without the fear of shorts or outages all the time. With everything running well, you can keep your business moving ahead.

Lighting from a Commercial Electrician

The lighting you have in your office, store or other business can have a big impact on the satisfaction of your customers and the capability of your employees. Hiring a commercial electrician in Santa Monica like us at Hoffer Electric can help ensure that you have the lighting that works best for your needs and setting. You can have lighting that allows your employees to work comfortably without eye strain, or that sets the right mood and atmosphere for your customers, so they feel happy, at ease, and welcome.

A Commercial Electrician to Meet Your Needs

At Hoffer Electric, we are the commercial electrician in Santa Monica that can help give your business just the boost you need. Look at the various services we have listed here on our website to see what we can do for you, and then call us at (323) 922-5205 to speak with our office and arrange for a consultation with one of our experienced electricians. We can meet with you and discuss your needs, provide you with options, and perform quality work for you that will make the impact on your business that you want.

Electrician in Los Angeles? Tips from Dale Hoffer: Installing a Ceiling Fan

Aside from their main function of cooling down the air in summer, people choose to install ceiling fans today as a decorative piece. Installing one in your home can help you save on energy costs while affording you comfort all year round. Although you can plan the installation as a DIY project, it’s recommended that you hire a professional electrician in Los Angeles to install the ceiling fan, especially in the absence of an existing fixture.

Determine the location

As any electrician in Los Angeles will tell you, start the installation by determining where you want to install the fan. Most people place it in the middle of the designated room. But there could be some problems with this.

Ceiling fans can weigh as much as 20 pounds. This means that you have to place it between two ceiling joists to provide support. Unless your ceiling has such support beams, you may have to think about where to put your fan.

Also, remember that the electrical box of a ceiling fan differs from a traditional box of a light fixture. Ceiling fan boxes include braces allowing you to attach it to the ceiling joists to support its weight and the vibration it makes when used.

Prepare the wiring

To prepare the wiring, make marks and cut out holes for the ceiling fan’s electrical box. However, you shouldn’t install the box until you have run the wires. Some boxes have templates – all you have to do is to follow them.

If your box doesn’t come with a template, trace around the edges of the electrical box using a pencil. Use a sheet-rock knife or keyhole saw to cut the holes.

Install the electrical box

Installing the box of the ceiling fan is quite easy. First, push the box and bracing through the hole you have made in your ceiling. This attaches them to the ceiling joists.

Before proceeding any further, remember the danger that comes with working on your home’s electrical system. Therefore, if you become uncomfortable with what you’re doing, just stop the project and call a professional electrician in Los Angeles.

If you plan to DIY the whole process, the first step you need to do before touching anything is to turn off the electrical breaker for the circuits that you’re working on.

Install the wires and switches

Pull all of the wires into the electrical box and mount the box into the ceiling or wall as per the instructions on the manual. Don’t run the power wire into the main electric power source or panel until you have accomplished everything else.

When preparing the switches in the absence of screws, you can tighten the switches all the way in. This minimizes the risk of short circuits from the screws getting in contact with another wire or the electrical box.

Call us for your installation needs

It’s easier to install a ceiling fan with an existing fixture. This can easily be a DIY project. However, in the absence of an existing fixture, the work becomes more complex. This time, you need the services of one of our experienced electricians at Hoffer Electric.

Our electricians will update wirings to make the installation of your ceiling fan much easier. Call us at (323) 922-5205 if you’re in need of an electrician in Los Angeles, from Culver City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Bel Air, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, and Manhattan Beach to get your project started.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Hiring an Electrical Contractor in Westwood

Knowing you need help with an electrical project in your existing home or in a home you are having built is one thing; finding the right person to do the work for you can be something completely different. We all want to make sure you have someone of quality doing good work for us, but how are you to know the person you select is truly the best person for the job? The only way for you to make sure today is to do your homework and know what to look for. Following a few simple suggestions can help you to better understand how to go about hiring an electrical contractor in Westwood that you can rely on.

Do Choose a Contractor That Responds Well

With all the contractor listings on the Internet, you may find yourself making lots of phone calls or sending email messages to find out about services. You may also find several of these contractors that are lax in responding or in customer service. You do not want to wait around for days on end, hoping for contractors to call you back or contact you. Even worse, you don’t want to make appointments with someone that never shows up. Look at contractors that give you immediate response and are courteous and respectful to you and of your time.

Don’t Choose an Unlicensed or Uninsured Contractor

The electrical contractor in Westwood that you ultimately select must be someone that is properly licensed and insured. Anyone that cannot provide you with their license number or proof of insurance should come off your list of those you are considering. There are too many risks involved if you hire someone that offers you a cheap rate because they do not have proper insurance. You want someone that does work by the book, follows local codes and gets proper permits.

One Contractor in Westwood to Call

To assure you get an electrical contractor in Westwood that will do the best job for you whether it is large or small, call us at Hoffer Electric. We always put the needs of our residential and commercial customers first, so you will always get a quick response and reliable work at a fair rate from us. Phone our office at (323) 922-5205 to speak with us and set up a meeting so we can discuss the electrical work you need to be done as well as how we can help you.

Hoffer Electric: Install Landscape Lighting and Increase Home Value

There are several ways you can increase the value of your property and adding landscape lighting is one of them. In addition, doing so not only makes your home beautiful, but it also creates a sight that your neighbors will admire. As a result, a home with a well-planned and executed landscape design can increase the value by up to 20%. Hiring a Los Angeles Hoffer electric electrician to install your landscape lighting makes your home safer, cozier, and more appealing. Here are some tips from professionals:

Plan your landscape lighting

Firstly, the first thing to do is to create a landscape lighting plan by creating an illustration of your own yard or garden. To make things easier, use a DIY landscape design template.

Next, identify which locations where you want lighting based on your outdoor activities. Then, mark the locations where you need lighting after dark. Next is to determine the type of lighting you need.

For focal points, you may need spotlights or maybe lights with special architectural features for an aesthetic appeal. You can also use ambiance lighting for sitting areas or hardscape lights for structures like pools or pergola; then classify these lighting fixtures into categories.

Consider using multiple layers

Instead of grouping a lot of fixtures to create a bright spotlight, a professional electrician from Los Angeles recommend that you position a number of spotlights with varying angles towards the object you want to illuminate. This creates layers and silhouettes for a more dramatic effect.

Layout the components that you need

For light fixtures on your pathways light fixtures that you install on the ground, set them between 8 and 10 feet apart. Layout a low voltage cable along your concrete walkway making sure that you follow the line of the light fixtures.

If your lighting system consumes a total of 200-watt or less, use a 14-gauge cable or a 12-gauge cable for systems that use over 200 watts. If you encounter an obstacle in laying out the cable, string the cable around or under it.

Test the lighting

Finally, test each fixture for the voltage level using a digital voltage meter. An extremely low reading is an indication of a poor connection somewhere in your system or that there are too many lights in the circuit. You can do small voltage adjustments by using a transformer’s voltage controls.

Once you have tested all the lights and are all at proper readings, it’s time to clean up the area around each of the fixtures. Your job is now complete. For any issues you cannot resolve, it’s recommended to consult an professional electrician in Los Angeles to help you out.

We have what you need

Landscape lighting will instantly add to your home’s curb appeal. A few lights that are well-placed transforms a dark backyard into an inviting entertainment area. Additionally, landscape lighting accents the features in your garden or yard. As important, provide safety lighting around stairs, sitting areas, and paths.

To ensure that the installation of the lightings is both safe and professionally done, you need the services of our experts at Hoffer Electric. Call us now at (818) 999-4190 if you’re from Culver City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Bel Air, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Tarzana or Manhattan Beach to discuss your lighting needs.

The Troubleshooting Skills of an Electrician in Santa Monica

We all experience it as a homeowner – the light in the hallway that constantly goes out, the dim lighting in the bedroom, or the blown circuits you get every time your kid plugs in one of their video games. These nagging problems are part of owning a home for sure, but that does not mean you have to put up with them day after day. If you are having issues big or small with your appliances, electricity, or lighting, trying to figure them out on your own can be fruitless. You are much better off turning to someone with expert troubleshooting skills like us at Hoffer Electric, the electrician in Santa Monica you can trust.

An Electrician Who Knows What to Look For

When you have one of our electricians come to your home for a service call, you are getting someone that is expert in the work they do. Our electricians are all highly trained and experienced, and we work to make sure everyone on our staff is up-to-date on all the latest technology and wiring so that they can diagnose problems well. Whether it is an issue with your circuits, breakers, or wiring, we can figure out what is wrong for you.

Avoid Dangerous Situations with a Qualified Electrician

Hiring an electrician in Santa Monica can help you avoid potentially dangerous and harmful situations. Problems with electrical work in your home can lead to sparks and shorts that can begin fires, endangering you and your family. Trying to troubleshoot electrical problems on your own without proper knowledge will also put you in danger. You and the people you love could be exposed to situations where you can get shocked or burned. Getting a professional to look at problems is a much safer solution for you.

We Have an Electrician to Help You

The next time you need electrical troubleshooting, call for an expert electrician in Santa Monica here at Hoffer Electric. With over fifty years of experience helping customers, you know you will get an electrician that can analyze the situation correctly. Give us a call at (323) 922-5205 so you can set up a service call and take care of those electrical issues in your home once and for all. Alternatively, you can send us an email to dbhoffer@socal.rr.com or a message with your details using our online contact form.

Solution on Circuit Breaker by Dale Hoffer, Electrician in Los Angeles

It could be quite annoying when your circuit breaker keeps tripping; leaving you to always having to go back to the panel to reset it. A circuit breaker is an essential safety mechanism that shuts off the electric current when there is an electrical problem. It is the safest way to protect your property from electrical fires. When your circuit breaker trips too often, it’s recommended to call an electrician in Los Angeles to find out the causes of the problem; but you can also do a little investigating to see if it’s something you can take care of.

For overloaded circuit breakers

When too many devices are plugged in, circuit breakers shut off the main panel box’s circuit. This prevents overheating; thus, reducing the risk of fire. You can avoid overloading by simply turning off some devices connected to the overloaded circuit. This eases the load.

You can also unplug electrical appliances that you’re not using to get rid of phantom loads. When using extension cords, never add the number of electrical devices you plug in.

The best way to deal with too many devices is to install new outlets in your home or add another circuit. You can have this solution handled by a licensed an electrician in Los Angeles.

Problem with short circuits?

If you observe that using a particular appliance causes your circuit breaker to trip, try plugging this into an outlet in another room. If the circuit breaker for that rooms still trips, then the problem lies in the device as it could have a short.

Have a repairman fix the appliance to avoid the risk of getting an electrical shock. A short circuit might also occur in an outlet or a wall switch. For instance, if the circuit breaker trips each time you turn on a certain light or plug a device into a specific outlet, this indicates where the issue is.

For your own safety, call a professional to inspect the problem and repair it. In the meantime, discontinue using the outlet or switch until you have resolved the problem.

Ground faults or outdated electrical systems

A short circuit also happens when a hot wire comes in contact with a grounding wire. This time, however, faulty or damaged equipment results in ground faults. If you think that there is a ground fault, call a professional electrician in Los Angeles to deal with the problem.

Professionals handle the inspection of the wirings and make the necessary repairs. It’s almost a certainty that the electrical wirings in older homes cannot handle the demands of modern conveniences. The most practical solution to circuit breakers that trip is to update the whole electrical system.

We have what you need

If you can’t pinpoint what is the problem, let one of our experts at Hoffer Electric deal with it. When it comes to electrical issues, it is recommended to not DIY; as the handling of electrical components in your home could be very dangerous.

We handle different kinds of electrical problems, especially the ones that cause tripping in your circuit breakers. Call us at (323) 922-5205 Our electrician in Los Angeles help clients from Culver City, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Bel Air, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, and Manhattan Beach fix electrical issues.

List of Services Every Licensed Electrician in Los Angeles Should Offer

All too often today you read reviews about contractors or workers that never return phone calls, texts, email messages, or fail to show up for the job you need them for. Every user wants to know that when they call an electrician, they will get a courteous response right away; or if they leave a message, it will be returned. Finding an electrician in Los Angeles is not necessarily a hard task; but finding one that gathers these and other positive traits is kind of tricky.

Any electrician you consider hiring needs to be a company that is certified by the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). They should also be licensed, insured, and bonded. You put yourself, your employees, your business at risk if you go with a company that is not properly licensed to do electrical work. Hiring a licensed company ensures that you have electricians on the premises that have the proper training and experience to do the job safely and correctly. A company that is insured is just as important as it helps to protect you in the event of any accidents.

Airport Hangars and Machine Shops are two particular examples of places that really can’t afford to have subpar electricity and cannot be handled by unlicensed electrician in Los Angeles. Machine shops rely on electricity for (practically) every aspect of their business. Airport hangars need electricity to manage their security as well as everything else that goes into a hangar. The same pros that work on an airplane hangar can bring that same level of craft to your home’s recessed and track lighting, aluminum repair, and so much more.

Only Certified Electricians can Install a Charging Station Properly

Owning one of the new Tesla electric vehicles that have become so popular lately is an incredible opportunity. You get to drive a beautiful, unique vehicle that relies solely on electric power. You’re also helping to save the environment while getting a high-quality ride. There are many public areas in the Los Angeles area that feature charging stations you can use. While you are at work or out running errands, you need to have the ability to charge your vehicle at home each day in order to maximize the batteries and get the best use of your vehicle. A home station is just what you need, and you want to make sure you get a certified electrician to help you with installation for a Tesla home charging station.

There are different methods you can use to charge your vehicle at your home. The first choice is to basically use your vehicle as a “plug-in” and charge the car simply by using the existing electricity of your home in your garage or outdoor areas. This method can charge your vehicle, but it can take a long time to achieve the level of charge you want each day. A better alternative is to purchase a charging station you can use at your home that is designed specifically for the Tesla. This will provide you with a faster and more effective charging method.

If you are spending the money on a special vehicle and then on the appropriate charging station for your Tesla, you want to make sure the charging station is installed correctly at your home. You would hate to try to do the work yourself or get someone that is not familiar with the stations to install it for you and find it is done incorrectly, so it does not work properly. Improper installation can put your equipment at risk and even pose a potential electrical hazard to you and your home, creating safety issues.

Do You Need a Backup Generator?

The weather patterns across the country today seem vastly different than what they were years ago. All areas of the country now experience more extreme weather at different times of the year, leaving you more vulnerable than ever to potential power outages in the summer and winter months. When this happens to you, you can find yourself without power for several hours or even several days. All of the events that you see and hear about today may lead you to ask if back up generators can be a wise investment for you and your home or business.

When you lose power because of things like floods, heavy rain storms or high winds, you know that there are going to be others in your area that experience the same problems. As hard as the local utility companies may work, it may take them some time to get to your area and restore power. This can mean going without things like electricity, water and gas for a while. With backup generators, you are able to keep your household running so that you can power your important appliances to keep food fresh and have water running.

While having the proper power to keep your home safely functioning is very important, for a business that is going through a power outage it can be a devastating time. Every day you are unable to open because you are without power means you are losing money. If you own and operate a business that relies on things like refrigeration, it can end up costing you a great deal as you will have to throw away goods. A recent NBC article portrayed how many business building affected by hurricane Florence used generators to power essential functions and stay operational.

The Importance of a 24 Hour service

You may never expect to have problems with your electricity or electrical work, but issues are bound to crop up, and often at the most inopportune times. It could happen on a Sunday morning when you are just getting to start that special dinner with dozens of guests coming over. Maybe it is in the middle of the night, interrupting the use of important medical equipment you have for a sick family member or newborn. At times like this, you need to know there is accompany available to help you at a moment’s notice. You want a 24-hour electrician in los Angeles to help you.

Many services are only available from 9 to 5 or have answering services take calls and then do not get back to you for many hours, causing delays that can be difficult for you. You want a service you know you can call at any time and get the advice and assistance that matters.

An emergency electrician in Los Angeles is a necessary service. In such big city, you want to contact a pro when you have big electrical problems at home. It could be that you have lost power to your home for an unexplained reason. Perhaps you heard disturbing sounds coming from your electrical panel, and you have concerns about a potential fire. While calling 911 in the event of smoke or a fire is always the best decision to make, if there is something wrong with your utility you want the problem addressed as quickly as possible. An emergency electrician can get out to you as soon as possible, even in the middle of the night.

The Electrician in Los Angeles That Stood the Test of Time

1967 – That’s when Ben Hoffer founded Hoffer Electric. In the last 40 plus years, electricity has changed in ways that most people couldn’t even have begun to dream of. What looked like science fiction in 1967 is just a common part of life these days. In that time, Hoffer Electric has seen electric services change, but their commitment to doing right by their customers hasn’t, as Ben’s son Dale Hoffer keeps on running the family business to this day.

Hoffer Electric is a family owned company. They don’t just work on the electricity of companies around Southern California; they live there, too. According to their positive reviews on Yelp, they are known for treating everyone’s electricity job like they were doing it for friends or family. Thus, they’ve managed to foster a real sense of community with their clients.

Many electricians say they’ll give free estimates, but then they end up proving anything but. A “free estimate” isn’t really free if you have to put some money down or spend some before the electrician gives it to you. By that same token, a free estimate is worthless if the electrician springs surprise fees on the homeowner when it comes time to complete the bill. Hoffer Electric offers a true free estimate and also makes it easy to fill out. All you have to do is type in your email, name, phone number, and a brief description of what you need or call (323) 922-5205 and (818) 999-4190.