4/27/2011
Is LED the new undercabinet lighting?

Pompano Beach, FL - With LED lights emerging rapidly on the market, more and more products are being manufactured in LED format. In the case of many household accent lighting, LED is becoming a fast favorite of many. Areas such as undercabinet lighting, cove lighting, up-lighting, and in lieu of a more traditional rope light. The versatility of the light, along with its long life span and energy-efficient operation are turning LED lighting into the frontrunner. For more information, visit www.connective-electric.com or call 954.782.7879 for a free, no obligation quotes.

There are positives as well as negatives to going the LED route compared to a more traditional light. Some positives, as mentioned above is the life span of the light. The life of an LED bulb can easily burn 100,000 hours without failure, compare that to the traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs lifespan of roughly 30,000 hours. In addition to a lifespan 3 times that of its competition, they also operate on a fraction of the power required to burn other forms of lighting.

Unfortunately, all that positive comes with some negative. The LED technology is still relatively new, and as products emerge they carry a higher price tag. For some of the more custom LED systems you can expect to pay 2-3 times what you would over Xenon/halogen, fluorescent or incandescent. Additionally the LED dimming technology is still somewhat developing. As a result depending on the quality of the fixture you purchase, the dimming capabilities may be inferior to that of it's halogen counterpart.

There is no right or wrong answer what accent lighting is right for you, but one thing is clear, LED lighting is here to stay.

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2/26/2011
5 Simple Tips For Selecting The Right Contractor

Pompano Beach, FL - As both a contractor, and a sub-contractor (a contractor hired by another contractor), I have experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly within the contracting world. My electrical contracting business has played a pivotal role in the successful delivery of many projects on time and on budget, but has also watched other projects fall to pieces at the hands of a dishonest contractor. Having seen firsthand the stress, agony, and loss of hard earned money that some very good people have gone through as a result of the latter, I pass along these five simple tips that will protect you, your property, and your wallet from an unscrupulous contractor. For more information, visit www.connective-electric.com.

1. Verify and do a check on their contracting license. In the state of Florida, checking the license of a contractor is as simple as logging in to www.myfloridalicense.com and clicking ‘verify a license’. Checking the status of the license will tell you a couple things. First it will tell you that the license is currently active and in good standing. Second it will tell you if there are any complaints against the license, and if there are take that as a sign to think twice about your prospective contractor.

2. In keeping with using the internet to research your contractors there are many consumer advocacy groups online that can be used to evaluate your contractor. Sites such as www.ripoffreport.com or www.complaintsboard.com are an excellent source to verify whether or not other consumers are reporting negative experiences with your potential contractor.

3. Check references. Are there any prior customers of theirs you can speak with or view the work done on their property? Ask your contractor for some photos of their work as many will keep a portfolio of some work they have accomplished for situations such as these. Does your contractor have a website? A website should be a good source of material and often will include previous project photos, testimonials, and other useful information to help you make a confident decision.

4. Don’t be sold on price alone. We’ve all heard the saying “If it’s too good to be true, it is”. This is a phrase that is often overlooked in the world of contracting. Many consumers want to believe that they have found that needle in a haystack contractor who can do the project for half of what the other 3 guys quoted. Don’t let these “too good to be true” prices be your decision driver on selecting a contractor. Be wary when that too good to be true price comes along, ask yourself “why are they so low?”, “why aren’t they in keeping with the reputable contractors prices?”. Not that finding a good deal isn’t something you should be looking for, we all want to feel good about the price we pay for services, but don’t ignore the red flags on account you think you’ve found a deal that’s just too good to be true.

5. Don’t pay in full at the start of the project. The number one way I have seen good people get into trouble with their contractors is because they pay in full at the start of the project, and the funds are misappropriated by the general contractor. Prepare a payment schedule with your contractor at the start of your project. Request “lien releases” from all sub-contractors when you make a payment to your contractor and he in turn pays the sub-contractors. A Lien Release from a sub-contractor is a notarized letter indicating that they have received “x” amount of dollars, which should collate to the percentage paid to the general contractor. This waives the sub-contractors right to lien your property for that amount of money. Maintaining proper lien releases is one of the best forms of protection to keep your liability to a minimum and ensure your payments to your contractor are handled properly.

About Connective Electric, Inc.
At Connective Electric Inc. we believe that the customer is the most important part of our business. This is why we strive to offer you the excellence in service you demand while giving you the personal attention you deserve.

Connective Electric has a full staff of experienced professionals well trained in many areas to offer you the best products and services. Our experienced team is prepared to handle any job - anything as simple as a one-hour service call to a comprehensive construction project.

With offices serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Connective Electric Inc. has the resources available to best serve your needs. Connective Electric is a Lighthouse Point Electrician, Electrician Plantation FL, Electrician Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale Electrician, Pompano Beach Electrician, Lauderdale By The Sea Electrician, Coral Springs FL Electrician, Electrician Plantation FL, Electrician Davie FL & more.

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12/21/2010
Electrician Boca Raton, Connective Electric, Helps You To Go Green

Pompano Beach, FL - Energy efficiency is a topic everyone is talking about. You hear about it on the news, the internet, and everywhere else, they’re talking about “Going Green”. There is not one particular way to accomplish going green, it can be expressed in many forms including; buying a hybrid car, re-using your own grocery bags, or by making energy efficient and energy reducing decisions when it comes to your home.

Focusing on electrically related energy efficiency there are a number of different things that you can do, and many of them are inexpensive and easy. For more information, visit www.connective-electric.com or call 954.782.7879 for a free, no obligation quote.

One: Compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFL’s, are a great and easy way to get instant savings on your monthly electric bill. Over the past couple years since the inception of the CFL bulb, they have become very affordable, and having long operating life-spans. A CFL type bulb is capable of putting out an equal light to an ordinary incandescent light bulb while using 1/4 the energy.

Two: Reducing the temperature of your water heater tank. A drum water heater will continually heat and re-heat water to maintain the temperature setting. By reducing the holding temperature on the water heater it will reduce the amount of heating required, saving you money on your electric bill.

If reducing the temperature on your drum water heater wasn’t enough savings for you, consider replacing your water heater with an electrically powered tankless water heater. A tankless water heater instantly creates hot water on demand only. This means you only pay for the hot water you use, and there is a limitless supply.

Three: Within your homes electrical system there are many openings within your ceilings and walls that could be costing you money. Voids around light fixture boxes, or around electrical outlet boxes, can allow a transfer of heat between the attic, or the outside world. By applying the proper foam around these openings, you will reduce energy loss and save money.

There are many ways of going green, helping the environment, and saving money, all without having to leave the house, except maybe for supplies. But please remember to turn off any power at the circuit breaker when in proximity of any exposed electrical wiring, or call a professional.

Connective Electric is a Lighthouse Point Electrician, Electrician Plantation FL, Electrician Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale Electrician, Pompano Beach Electrician, Lauderdale By The Sea Electrician, Coral Springs FL Electrician, Electrician Plantation FL, Electrician Davie FL & more.

About Connective Electric, Inc.
At Connective Electric Inc. we believe that the customer is the most important part of our business. This is why we strive to offer you the excellence in service you demand while giving you the personal attention you deserve.

Connective Electric has a full staff of experienced professionals well trained in many areas to offer you the best products and services. Our experienced team is prepared to handle any job - anything as simple as a one-hour service call to a comprehensive construction project.

With offices serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Connective Electric Inc. has the resources available to best serve your needs

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11/09/2010
With Hurricane season in full effect, it is vital to protect your family's interest in the event of a natural disaster.  At Connective Electric, Inc. we are offering the sale and installation of Generac generators.  Never again will you have to worry about being left in the dark, or without air conditioning in the hot summer heat.

Why buy from Connective Electric Inc.?  In today's age of availability and bargain hunting you might think it's more economical to simply purchase a generator locally on your own and make arrangements with local contractors to install it.  However, we at Connective Electric, Inc. have an established relationship as a distributor of Generac brand generators, and in fact buying from us can save you hundreds of dollars opposed to buying it retail.  In addition we will handle the receipt and deliver the generator directly to you so you won't have a generator sitting idle in your garage.  In addition to all this we can also make arrangements to bring out any supplemental contractors, gas for example, and do your legwork for you!

In closing there are many reasons to purchase a generator today from Connective Electric, Inc.;

• Provide safety and security to your family under any power outage situation.
• Save money and time on your purchase with factory-direct pricing.
• We will deliver and install your generator into place same day, no unnecessary storage.
• We will make all the arrangements necessary for the installation process.

Call today at (954) 782-7879 for all your electrical needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!    

Visit us on the web at www.connective-electric.com .