News
Protect Your Family With Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Your home is a place of refuge and somewhere you should feel safe, but fire and carbon monoxide poisoning are two hazards that can destroy your sense of safety and put your life in danger. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, four out of five fire-related deaths occur in the home. Fortunately, installing fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your house is a simple way to keep yourself and your family safe from potentially deadly situations. Smoke detectors, also known as fire alarms, come in two forms. Ionization smoke detectors can detect open flames that produce heavy smoke, while photoelectric smoke alarms can detect smoldering fires that produce little smoke, such as electrical fires inside the walls. Some smoke detectors include both types of technology to cover all types of fire. Carbon monoxide detectors scan the air for CO, a colorless, odorless gas similar to the carbon dioxide your lungs produce but with a different, more deadly chemical structure. This gas is produced by any type of fuel that burns, including natural gas, heating oil and firewood burning in a fireplace. It can cause you to fall unconscious or even die if high levels build up in your home. If you have both a fire alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm, you can rest easy that you’ll be alerted to any potential problems in time to safeguard your life. Also make sure to keep an eye out for potential fire hazards in the home, such as damaged wiring or appliances that feel hotter than normal.
For more information about local electrical repairs in the Conejo Valley area, contact Fornoff Electric today. We’re also available to answer questions about electrical problems that could lead to fire.
Decorating with Recessed Lighting: The Better Look
Recessed lighting is perceived as the better look in decorating because without bulbs hanging down from the ceiling, the look is more streamlined. The amount of light is increased and this type of lighting helps to focus on a particular area such as hung artwork, or recessed lighting can make a room seem bigger. It is best to install this type of lighting when building a house.
The ideal time to install recessed lighting is when a home is being built. The lights are placed between the ceiling joists and are part of the original install. When updating an existing home, adding recessed lighting can be quite challenging and a licensed electrician should be consulted. It’s important to choose the right fixtures; for example, if used near insulation, the lighting fixtures should be rated (IC housing rated). There are safety factors to consider and it must be decided what size bulbs to use.
Recessed bulbs come in basic sizes of 4, 5, and 6 inches in diameter. The smaller sizes have a sleek, modern look, and are perfect for smaller spaces. The 6 inch size works best in entryways with a tall ceiling.
Recessed lighting is a great look for the home whether in the planning stages of building a home, or for an updated look in one room or many.
Contact Fornoff Electric for advice on your next decorating project. We are available to answer all your questions because we care about your results being stellar and safe. Electricity runs through our veins at Fornoff as we are three generations strong. A family of electricians, we have been serving the area of Conejo Valley and beyond since 1968 and have earned the reputation of being honest and able. Contact Fornoff Electric for your local residential and commercial needs.
Celebrate Mother Nature: Earth Day facts and energy saving tips
On April 22 billions will celebrate Mother Earth for Earth Day in 190 different countries around the globe. Earth day is a time to celebrate being green and preserving our natural resources, such as water, trees and the animals.
The start of Earth Day goes back to the protests during the Vietnam War in the 1960s, when the grassroots movement wanted to raise the awareness of environmental issues. It was not until April 22, 1970 when Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day and the world started to pay attention to environmental concerns. The increase in environmental awareness has many organizations and political projects have been created, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Endangered Species acts.
In addition to raising environmental awareness, Earth Day-related initiatives, including recycling, reusing and remanufacturing of items has created more than three million jobs in the United States. Plus, recycling saves three to five times the energy used to incinerate waste.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, there are multiple ways to save energy right in your own home. Some of these energy saving tips include:
- Unplug unused appliances
- Set computers to sleep
- Control temperatures
- Turn off lights
For answers to your electrical-related questions or for ways to conserve energy in the local Conejo Valley area, contact Fornoff Electric. We are available and ready to help you become more green this Earth Day.
This Weekend and Beyond: Local Events in Conejo Valley and Surrounding Areas
Conejo Valley has some great family friendly events that will get everyone excited about Spring. There is a Scandinavian Festival in Thousand Oaks, an event at the Teaching Zoo in Moorpark, and Free Craft Classes on Saturdays in Ventura.
The Scandinavian Festival will be held this weekend on April 5 and 6 at the CLU Campus in Thousand Oaks. There will be Scandinavian food, music and crafts, games for the kids, and even an authentic Viking Village. Children are free, but teens have a $4 entrance fee, and the adult price is $8. Enjoy the children’s theater, demonstrations, and lectures. There is something for everyone at this festival, so join the community this weekend for Scandinavian style family fun.
America’s Teaching Zoo in Moorpark is having its Spring Spectacular that has been running since March 22nd and concludes this weekend. Be sure to bring the family to this large fundraising event and be entertained with live animal shows and speak with trainers. Participate in the games, sample the variety of foods and have a good time learning about animals. Cost to enter is $7 for kids, and $10 for adults. Members have a discounted rate of $5 for kids and $8 for adults.
Lakeshore Learning in Ventura offers a plethora of classes on Saturdays that the whole family can appreciate. Each Saturday a different craft/theme is offered. For the full list and more details call Lakeshore Learning at: 805-289-1550.
Spring is a wonderful time to break out of the same old, same old routine of winter. With the Scandinavian Festival, the Teaching Zoo, and Free Craft Classes, there is enjoyment to be had for all ages. Conejo Valley and surrounding areas is known for their community events and this weekend is no exception.
Contact Fornoff Electric when you need local electric repairs or installations. Fornoff is family owned and operated with three generations of electricians. Since 1968, Fornoff Electric has been establishing trusted relationships with residential and commercial customers. Fornoff Electric is available to answer your electrical questions and resolve your issues.
Westlake Home Show: April 26 & 27
Every spring, hundreds of exhibitors head to the Conejo Valley area for the annual Westlake Home Show at the Hyatt. The home show brings in thousands of attendees who seek help with their home improvement, gardening, landscaping and contracting needs. With so many experts under a single roof, the home show gives attendees a chance to get all of their questions answered in a single weekend.
With the weather warming up, the spring show is the best one to attend, especially if you have a lot of outdoor projects this spring and summer. Bring your ideas with you and discuss your options with local contractors and get do-it-yourself tips from the experts.
The 37th Annual Westlake Home Show will be held on April 26 & 27 at the Westlake Hyatt located at 880 S. Westlake Blvd. Event times for Saturday are from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The food truck will be open outside the event from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday only.
For more information about your electrical needs in the Thousand Oaks area contact Fornoff Electric today.
Burning Odors and Sparks
Let us be abundantly clear–if you have burning odors and sparks at your home, this is an indication of a serious problem that requires immediate attention. Failing to do so can have catastrophic results.
Although there are various scenarios that can lead to burning odors, this is most often attributed to an electric appliance or wiring which has overheated. Damaged or poorly insulated circuits or even a sudden electrical surge can lead to an electrical spark. But both can contribute to fire damage at a home if they are not quickly and accurately corrected.
Fornoff Electric has assisted Conejo Valley and Thousand Oaks homeowners with all types of electrical repairs since 1968. These master electricians are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week and are available to respond to emergencies. In addition, Fornoff’s technicians can install light fixtures, perform electrical testing, conduct routine maintenance and install upgrades to make your home more energy efficient.
If your home in Conejo Valley or Thousand Oaks needs electric service or repair, trust the company your neighbors have turned to since 1968–Fornoff Electric. Fornoff offers both the quality and experience you need with the customer service you deserve. For a free estimate or to schedule an appointment, contact Fornoff Electric today!
Hot Ceiling Fixtures
Fornoff Electric has been serving the areas of Conejo Valley and Thousand Oaks since 1968. Specializing in lighting designs, installations, electrical upgrades, and service work, Fornoff Electric is the answer to a remodelers dream. Choose your design style, and they do the rest.
Lighting Designs
Reduce the temperature in your home with a decorative ceiling fan. Quiet blades offer a cool breeze and reduce the need for expensive central air. Some models are equipped with lights which provide more than just a light breeze. Ceiling fans range in cost with the lowest price beginning at $75.00 with additional parts and labor. If no electric is currently in place, Fornoff will supply a box or upgrade an existing electrical supply. Fornoff will install the chosen model(s) and when experts manage the installation, clients are provided peace of mind with glorious results.
Installation
Fornoff Electric safely installs the hardware of ceiling fans. Fornoff experts have put together and hooked up hundreds of models. It is vital that ceiling fans are mounted properly for the long-term safety of the unit. If a building does not have electric running to the designated area for the ceiling fan, Fornoff will run the wiring. Fornoff will also upgrade the existing box if that is necessary. Fornoff is capable of doing whatever the job entails to provide great results, which is why Fornoff Electric has such a powerful reputation.
Services
· Electrical Repair: Fornoff offers electric repairs for emergency situations. Lighting your situation is what Fornoff does best.
· Ceiling Fans: The Fornoff team understands the importance of hanging ceiling fans and providing proper installation of hardware and mounting for long-term safety.
· Home and Business: Fornoff provides repair services and electrical panel upgrades to both commercial and residential properties.
Contact Fornoff Electric to learn about the full range of hot ceiling fixtures in Conejo Valley and Thousand Oaks. Operating since 1968, Fornoff Electric has become the “go to” for installation of ceiling fans, electrical repairs and upgrades. Fornoff services both residential and commercial properties and looks forward to new and returning business!
Electrical Shock: How It Can Happen To You
Under normal circumstances, the last thing you expect when you turn on a lamp, a light switch or even open the refrigerator is an electrical shock. However, if the right circumstances occur, that could be exactly what happens and, if you’re truly unfortunate, could kill you. With a little knowledge and the right precautions and protections, electrical shocks can be something you never have to worry about.
Electricity in all its forms, from the huge lightning strikes to the power used in your home to light the kitchen wants to get from point A (where it originates) to point B (the ground). However it can get there the easiest, it will. Lightning will hit a tree to get to the ground which is why you never hide under a tree during a lightning storm and in your home, electricity flows through your circuit box, through whichever circuits have an open path to ground. This means it can be taken through lamps, video games, hair dryers and even (through a very circuitous route) the mouse on your computer. If there’s a fault in any of your home circuits, you could be in for an electrical shock and, if enough electricity flows through you, an injury or even death is possible.
If you live in the Conejo Valley area, contacting an electric company like Fornoff Electric in Thousand Oaks, California to have them inspect your home can provide the assurance you need that you won’t have to deal with electrical shocks. Replacing wall outlets near areas where water is used such as the kitchen and the bathroom with a special outlet called a GFCI outlet (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) can keep you from bodily harm if something were to happen. Fornoff Electric can take care of all your electrical needs to keep you safe!
Circuit Breakers: What You Should Know
For many decades, the only line of defense between the power grid and an electrical problem in the home was a fuse. Without these fuses, an electrical issue such as a short or other problem could easily degenerate into a fire. However, with fuses, if a short took place, the fuse would overload and burn out. Sometimes, a fuse would blow for no apparent reason, leaving the homeowner quite literally in the dark.
The drawbacks to fuses are they’re one-shot devices. Once it burns out, it has to be replaced with a good one. If you didn’t have one to replace it, this meant you had to make an emergency trip to the store to buy some. Another drawback is the fact that there are many different types of fuses. Each fuse was designed to support specific amperage. If you consider electricity like water, then the higher the amperage of the fuse, the more “water” can flow through it before it blows out.
This meant a homeowner had to keep track of 10, 20 and 30 amp fuses and, to add insult to injury, “stick” fuses for the main fuse block designed to control how much electricity would flow into each sub-block had to be kept on hand as well. Not only was this an added, often unwelcome, expense but was confusing as well. Even though the fuses were different amperages, they were all the same size which could cause even more blown fuses.
Today, with the proliferation of inexpensive circuit breakers, the fuse box is no longer the hassle it used to be. With the simple flick of a switch, you can reset your circuit breaker if the circuit “blows” which means no more trips to the store in the middle of the night. If you’re home still has the old fuse boxes, and you live in the Conejo Valley area, contact Fornoff Electric in Thousand Oaks, California and have it replaced with a modern breaker box. Breakers are more effective, easier to deal with and, in the long run, much cheaper than fuses.
CWC 2nd Annual Golf Tournament: It’s only a month away!
It is almost that time of year again. In less than a month, the members of Contractors with Conscience (CWC) will be hosting their 2nd Annual Golf Tournament to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. This year’s golf tournament will be held on Sunday, April 6, 2014. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the tournament will begin at 8 a.m.
The golf tournament is a family friendly event featuring a food banquet, silent auction, awards ceremony, the Longest Drive Contest, Closest to the Pin Contest, even more games, and of course a traditional golf tournament. Get a hole in one on the 16th hole and you might be the lucky winner and drive away in a brand new truck provided by Kemp Ford.
The CWC 2nd Annual Golf Tournament will be held this year at Los Robles Golf Course located at 299 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks, California.
Let us help you with all of your electrical needs in the Conejo Valley area. Contact Fornoff Electric today for a free quote.