The Mottern Institute for Mind-Body Wellness has now relocated to the Austin, Texas area!  After several years in Tennessee, we are back in the Lone Star state.  We are serving Austin and surrounding areas (including San Antonio, Bryan/College Station and DFW - by appointment).  We offer the same great services by the same professional staff.  Check us out, Texas, and see why the Mottern Institute for Mind-Body Wellness is the first choice for integrative wellness solutions. See our new promo! ...read more

While there are many electrical contractors in the San Jose area, not all of them are equal. The skills and reputation of an electrician should be carefully evaluated before hiring in order to prevent future problems that could wind up being devastating. In order to find a well-qualified provider, here are some things you should as a San Jose electrical contractor beforehand: 1. Do you guarantee the work you perform will be installed to code? The answer to this question should be a resounding “YES”. Even so, it can still be a good idea to get this in writing, so look for wording in a contract that specifies that work performed is guaranteed to comply with NEC and NEIS specifications. 2. Are you licensed and insured? This may seem like an unimportant question; however, the fact is that not all electricians carry the proper insurance. The only way you can know this for sure is to see a copy of the electrician’s insurance certificate yourself.  The same holds true for a licensing certificate-you may even want to double check with the California Contractors State Licensing Board in order to verify this license has not been suspended. 3. How are your workers screened before hiring? A reliable company will take its reputation seriously and not want to hire workers who could damage it. This can be done by performing rigorous background checks on all applicants before they are hired. Drug screening should not only be done before hiring, but at random intervals in order to ensure employees do not abuse illegal substances. This ensures they are not a safety hazard to themselves, their co-workers, or most importantly, the customer. 4. What type of training do you provide your workers? Regular training should be done in order to ensure employees are up to date with the latest changes in electrical codes. It can also be a good idea to retrain on basic procedures from time to time to keep an electrician’s skills fresh. Be cautious when hiring a contractor that only provides on-the-job training.  Your home could wind up being an avenue for testing one’s skills, which often brings about disastrous results. At Skilliez Electric, we specialize in commercial and residential wiring and lighting. We never compromise integrity, and have highly trained and professional electricians who will always provide you with exceptional workmanship. Whether you need minor repairs or a complete upgrade, you can rely on us to provide you with professional service time and time again.Contact us today to find out more. ...read more

If you’re remodeling a room or adding on to an existing home, the electrician in San Jose you call in to help with your wiring installation is one of those decisions your family cannot afford to take lightly. Having a licensed, knowledgeable, and experienced professional is a must if you want to avoid issues that could be life-threatening if done incorrectly. Janiece and Carl are one such couple who learned this lesson the hard way. Their story is not unusual. “Our home is about 30 years old, and we didn’t realize the washer pipes were spilling over in the back. Over time, the slow trickle led to rotting problems in our wood floor, and we ended up having to make huge repairs in the kitchen floor. During the repair, we decided to move the washer and dryer to our closed-in garage-turned-playroom and remodel the room to work as a nice family room. It required extensive remodeling,” explains Janiece. The couple’s repairman assured him he could do the job, and they had no reason to question him. He had already relocated the washer and dryer to the room and changed their electrical set-ups to accommodate the new placements. It wasn’t until he started botching other parts of the job that they realized he might not be as “experienced and knowledgeable” as he had claimed, despite his having shown them the necessary documents and permits. It wasn’t long before they, quite simply, fired him and called in a more reputable professional who, in their case, was also a friend. He felt their pain and made room for them in his already overbooked schedule. When commencing the job, he quickly discovered that the previous worker had vented their dryer into the floor and not into the hole they thought was properly venting the dryer. He had not known how to ease around an obstruction he encountered, and it was more convenient for him to hide the problem rather than correct it. The problem? A fire could result. Not only this, but their friend found black soot behind their existing fuse box that had not been there before. Already the electrical system had been overloaded, and the soot was the result of a spark that could have easily set the house on fire. “One place you do not want to trust to just anyone is with the electrical wiring,” says Carl. “We never should have trusted the guy in the first place. Our children’s lives, as well as our own, are not worth taking even a small risk.” Their oversight ended up costing them more in the long run because of the work that had to be redone. Still, they consider themselves lucky to have finally gotten with the right company for the job. Although Janiece and Carl do not live in the San Jose area, their story could easily have been repeated here. Do-it-yourself stories and wiring issues happen all the time, some of them with frightening outcomes. The contractors and electricians at Skilliez Electric are experienced, licensed, insured and bonded professionals. They are trained in all areas of both residential electrical and commercial wiring. To see how we can help you with any of your electrical designs, repairs, or remodeling needs, contact us or visit our website. We put safety first, and our safety record speaks for itself ...read more

Ace is the place after all.  You can buy your parts there or in your neighborhood hardware or any Lowes.  But electrical panel replacement requires knowledge, experience and the ability to pass a code inspection if you want to sell your house.  Not to mention the awareness to do the job safely. That’s why you hire a skilled professional.  To make the job easy. Go to your panel and you see the same box you pulled out of the cardboard from the store.  The circuit breakers all look alike.  The guy in the red vest told you what wire to get.  You decided to get a bunch of 20amp circuits so you don’t keep tripping them when you turn on the air conditioner.  You got it all covered. A modern home draws more power than when most homes’ electrical systems were installed.  Available technology changes every six months.  Your homes’ electrical design changes once an owner.  That all starts with your choice of panel and where you want to send the labyrinth of wire sourcing from it.  Before you turn off your first circuit, you need to have a plan.  You need to know how to execute that plan.  And you need to know what that plan will accomplish.  You need to know what you want that plan to accomplish when you pick up that new generation of television.  That’s why you hire a skilled professional.  To make the job easy. Replacing an electrical panel is to your home’s power grid what the blower unit is to your home’s Air conditioning.  It’s only the beginning.  Electrical panel replacement is all about what you want to power at the other end. Contact us to let a skilled professional make the job easy. ...read more

Most of us understand the importance of things like replacing our furnace filter and having the unit inspected and cleaned every year. The need to repair or replace a hot water heater is easy to detect when we take an involuntary cold shower. But one important component of a home’s inner workings that we tend to take for granted without performing much, if any, maintenance is the electrical system. The residential electrical system is analogous to our own nervous system. If it doesn’t work properly, most of the other important components of the home won’t work either.   Just like with an other system in the home, the electrical system is subject to wear and tear, and failure if it’s not adequately maintained. By paying closer attention to your electrical system and addressing minor issues as they arise, you can avoid many of the larger disasters, and the hassles that go with them. Items that are often overlooked by homeowners, but that can cause serious problems with an electrical system are: Power cords: Power cords should be checked regularly for missing, cracked, or melted insulation. If any of these are present, the appliance (lamp, alarm clock, etc) should be unplugged and the cord replaced. This can be a do-it-yourself project if you know how and have the proper tools. Otherwise, you should have it repaired by a professional.   Outlets and Plugs: The electrical outlets in our home should always be firmly in place. Loose outlets can eventually result in shorts and other problems, including electrical fires. If an outlet is loose, you should discontinue using it and safely replace it. If you don’t know how to do that, call an electrician. You should also replace outlets that do not accommodate a grounding pin. Plugs should fit securely into the outlet, and you should never remove a grounding pin to make a plug fit a two conductor outlet. Surge Protectors: You should use a surge protector for all computers, modems and other electronic equipment and appliances. Make sure the surge protector you use has a seal from Underwriters Laboratories. Circuit Breakers and Fuses: Be sure all circuit breakers and fuses in your home are the correct size. Consult a licensed electrician for the correct sizes for your circuit breakers and fuses. If you need professional help with your electrical system, or you just have questions about your home’s electrical health, contact us today. ...read more

“In 2011, an estimated 47,700 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires resulted in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage.” Nobody likes to think about the possibility of experiencing a home fire, but in light of the statistics quoted above it’s definitely worthwhile to take proactive steps toward electrical safety and fire prevention. –National Fire Protection Association, April 2013 Many factors can contribute to an electrical failure or malfunction that can lead to a fire. Some may be readily visible, such as overloaded extension cords or broken light fixtures, but others may require a professional inspection to discover: Frayed, bare or loose wiring inside walls, attics or crawl spaces Missing GFI or ARC fault protection Faulty A/C, furnace and appliance wiring Incorrectly-sized breakers or fuses Overloaded circuits Lack of necessary main or other disconnect switches No electrical panel surge suppression device Non-working smoke alarms and more… You may be surprised to see that entry about smoke detectors in a list of items to be addressed by a professional electrician during an inspection. But it’s actually quite appropriate to include here because statistics for a recent four-year period showed that there were no working smoke alarms in nearly two-thirds of fatal home fires and almost 25 percent of the time the alarms didn’t work due to dead batteries. Which is why we include it here…because a skilled, professional electrician can it affordable to outfit your home with smoke alarms that are correctly hard-wired into your electrical system, greatly increasing the odds that they will be properly working in the event that they are ever needed to protect your home and family. At Skilliez Electric, our fully-licensed, insured and bonded staff are available to provide a comprehensive electrical home safety inspection and will provide trustworthy recommendations, free estimates and fair pricing for any repairs, upgrades or new installations, including smoke alarms. If you are concerned about any elements of your electrical system, don’t delay tocontact us  – lives could depend on it ...read more

Checking to make sure electrical wires are safe and working properly is very important.  Inexperienced people messing with wires increase the chance of fires, electrical shock and wiping out electricity in their home.  An electrical home safety inspection is the best in the following situations: Older homes Older homes are not built with today’s electrtical requirenents, so an inspection is necessary. Electrical systems are undersized to serve their purpose, and as a result blown fuses or tripped breakers occur more often than not.  An inspection will determine the problem and offer solutions to make sure this problem doesn’t get worse. Some older homes may need an upgrade or a wire overhaul in the home. Buying a home Before purchasing any home it has to get past a home inspection.  It shows you the current state of the home underneath the extravagant details.  Part of the inspection, an electrical inspection, is about checking wires to see if it is working properly, protected from hazards and is safe.  The result of home inspections, including electrical ones, is included in a report.  It states in detail the electrical status of the home and if it’s a cause for concern.  Buyers can decide to bow out of the deal or continue with their purchase. Home  A home addition is adding extra space to the home.  Homeowners add it because it serves a purpose to them (such as a growing family or extra vehicle space).  Home additions require a contractor, applying for a permit, knocking down walls and building new one.  Know that some of those walls may have wires in-between or near it before you get started.  Those wires will have to be re-routed, and an electrical home inspector can give you options to move those wires. ...read more

Electricity is the foundation for our high standard of living in the United States—so much so, that we never give it a second thought, until something happens. How likely is it that “something” will happen? This 2012 article notes that, “According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission report, defective electrical wiring is responsible for over 40,000 fires and 350 deaths per year in the United States.” The problem is, even if you’ve owned your home for years, you may not be aware of unpermitted work done by previous owners. In this article on do-it-yourself electrical work, the resident expert discusses bone-chilling mistakes he has seen when do-it-yourselfers attempt electrical work. He says things like, “This next part always scares me.” “It makes me cringe every time I hear this.” “What is he thinking?” “Here’s another bonehead electrical move that is as dangerous as they come.” “No, no, no! Never do this!” It gets worse. The author of this article on “Reasons for an Insurance Company to Deny a House Fire” says, “If a fire is deemed to be caused by electrical issues in a home where the electrical work was not permitted by the county in which the home is located, the insurance company can deny a claim.” This report on a survey by an insurance agency says, “Out of more than 75 million American homeowners, one out of four never checks for electrical hazards and thus is vulnerable to electrical home-structure fires and other incidents that can cause significant personal and financial loss.” Don’t be a statistic. It’s quick and easy to schedule an electrical home safety inspection with Skilliez Electric. Serving all the Bay area, we offer free estimates and fair pricing. Our licensed, insured technicians are available for same-day and emergency service. Contact us for a consultation today, and rest easy tonight. ...read more

There are many things for a homeowner to consider when faced with electrical panel replacement. Whether you are rewiring yourhome or have a damaged unit, it is always the best decision to stick with a qualified expert when undertaking such an important task. Here are some things to consider when replacing your electrical panel. •Make sure you have the proper amount of outlets. There is nothing worse than realizing you will not have the correct service in order to power all of your appliances and gadgets. A professional can assess your specific needs and install equipment that can handle your home‘s electrical demands.•Safety is number one. When installing a major electrical component such as anelectrical panel, it is imperative to do so with great care. A professional has the understanding of home electrics many homeowners do not. It is never worth risking you and your family’s safety by trying to run electrical service alone.•Problems always pop up down the road. By hiring a professional, you have the peace of mind knowing your electrical panel is installed correctly. This also saves you many headaches and dollars down the line by having the work done right the first time. If your panel is installed incorrectly, it will damage your appliances and cause other devices to not work properly. By hiring a reputable team of electrical panel installers, such as those at Skilliez Electric, you can rest assured the job is done correctly and efficiently the first time. The installers will inspect your home, determine your specific need, and safely install yourpanel. By assessing your unique situation, the installers can also inspect your home for any other electrical problems that may occur. Don’t let faulty wiring in your home come as a shock, for more information on electrical panel replacement, please contact us. ...read more

As concerned citizens all of us must make a concerted effort to be conscious citizens and save electricity. Electricity has become integral to life but imagine having to live without power. Conservation of electricity benefits you personally as you will pay lower bills. Consider: 1. Doing an energy audit. This will tell you how and when you use energy and where the wastage lies. You will be able to make an “energy savings plan” by pinpointing exactly how you can cut back on energy consumption. Some ideas may be as simple as don’t leave the coffee machine on at all times. 2. Think about resetting the thermostat ten degrees lower during the night. If you can do this for say approximately eight hours a day you will save 10% on electricity without sacrificing comfort. Insulate the home in winter by drawing shut the drapes.   3. Check all insulation in the house. If you increase attic insulation to around 12 inches the electricityconsumption will reduce by 20 percent.   4. Plant more trees around the house these will cool the house in summer and insulate the house in winter. Studies show that a green cover benefits in many ways.     5. Fluorescent light and LED bulbs are energy efficient. They use 75% less energy than ordinary light bulbs. These have a longer life and contribute to great savings.   6. Use energy efficient appliances. These use less energy and believe it or not a high efficiency refrigerator uses less electricity than a light bulb.   7. When you are away even for a few hours or days you should turn off and unplug all electrical appliances and turn settings on the thermostat, water heater, and refrigerator to the lowest setting.   8. Ensure that you use a water-saving shower head. Water heating costs for a family can be lowered by at least US$ 250 a year.   9. Weatherize your home. This helps reduce heating bills by 20% and cooling by at least 10 percent. Even when building a home or decorating it use weather friendly materials—those that are not good conductors of heat and cold. Install windows and glass panes in the roof in such away that you use sunlight to light up the rooms during day light hours. Make an effort to switch off lights and fans when leaving a room. Ensure that the filters in air conditioners and heaters are always cleaned and free of clog and dust.   10. If you live an energy efficient lifestyle you will see the numbers on the energy bill actually reducing. The power to cut energy costs is well within your control. It is as simple as only washing full loads and that to in cold water. Use the hot wash option only for very dirty clothes. Cook food only just before you are ready to eat that way you can save reheating costs as well as refrigerating costs of storing the food. Turn the thermostat of the refrigerator to minimum in cold or cool weather. Switch off freezers if they are not in use. Small contributions can all add up to significant amounts of power saved. And, power saved means money in the bank. Energy Efficient Home Tips   ...read more

Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injured 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords. The U. S. Fire Administration (USFA) would like consumers to know that there are simple steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property resulting fromelectrical fires. THE PROBLEM During a typical year, home electricalproblems account for 67,800 fires, 485 deaths, and $868 million in property losses. Home electrical wiring causes twice as many fires as electrical appliances. THE FACTS December is the most dangerous month for electrical fires. Fire deaths are highest in winter months which call for more indoor activities and increase in lighting, heating, and appliance use. Most electrical wiring fires start in the bedroom. THE CAUSE Electrical Wiring • Most electrical fires result from problems with “fixed wiring” such as faulty  electrical outlets and old wiring. Problems with cords and plugs, such as extension and appliance cords, also cause many home electrical fires. • In urban areas, faulty wiring accounts for 33% of residential electrical fires. • Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance and running the cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.                           ...read more

Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “It’s just a matter of stringing a few wires from here to there!” But, then, that’s where the best of intentions can go seriously sideways. Hopefully, the ongoing do-it-yourself craze (DIY) in home remodeling stops at theelectrical panel, or adding new circuits to the home or garage: For sure, an experienced electrician should be called in to make sure any updates are done right and according to code. For one thing, a licensed electrician is familiar with the permit process, whether he’s taking them out for new construction, or upgrading a homeowner’s panel from 100 to 200 amp service. In the case of running wire, say, across a sheet-rocked garage ceiling, the homeowner may not understand the need for … “Conduit” Does the homeowner know why kind of conduit, fittings and terminal boxes he should be using, for example, if he’s hooking up new receptacles in his shop—exposed wiring running across a shop or garage ceiling presents a host of unsafe situations…not to mention electrical code violations. And think of the questions that will be asked by a prospective buyer when he looks at the numerous DIY electrical jobs you completed on your own: “Did you get the right permits to do all of this?” they may ask. Ouch!! Upgrading the panel… Today’s 200-amp panel installations most definitely require the expertise of a San Jose Electrical Contractor. Skilliez Electric knows how to buy the best material and reasonable prices to make sure your upgraded electrical panel meets all the codes and regulations. Plus, they handle all the logistics of coordinating with thepower company to make sure the power to your home is disconnected properly while we complete your installation. Contact us for an estimate on your remodel, new construction or even those seemingly too-small-to-bother-us-with electrical improvements. ...read more

For the majority of people getting started on a  electrical project is a complete nightmare. There are things that you can do to help ease the pain of getting started though. Aside from hiring a quality San Jose electrical contractor, you need to also take the time to fully prepare yourself for the job that you expect to be done. This should include having clear expectations of what you want done, a full contact and all materials worked out in advance. Many people think that buying materials themselves will save time and money; however, this is generally false because of the complications that it can involve. Avoiding these problems is quite simple and you are going to learn exactly how to do it. Your first line of defense against problems is a clear contract. It should spell out exactly what you are going to be paying, and exactly what you can expect to receive in return. You should also look to ensure that contact information is included in the contract as well as information on how you can go about getting in touch with the company in the event of a dispute. The contact should also spell out clearly all payment terms. This would include any periodic payments due upon completion of specific stages of the job, the approximate date of those completions and any other specific details that will impact the contract and payment terms. You should also discuss materials very carefully. If you are looking to have lightsand such installed then you are likely to have some very specific ideas in mind about what you want. While these specific ideas are great, it is best to just discuss them with the electrician and allow them to actually purchase materials. They can often get discounts, as well as they carry the burden of ensuring that all of the parts are included. Any materials that you purchase are your responsibility to ensure that all parts are present. Avoiding this by just allowing them to purchase the materials is best. Provide a detailed list if you have specific items that you are interested in though since this can make it much easier to ensure you get exactly what you want. Avoiding these problems is quick and simple, but will require thinking ahead. Taking the time to cover all of these aspects before the job actually begins will allow you to get the results that you want, without any major problems or complications. Just remember, things do sometimes take longer to complete than expected, if you find yourself in this position, you should feel free to take your time and carefully adjust your expectations and discuss all problems with the San Jose electrician that you choose to avoid confrontations and unresolved misunderstandings. ...read more

Now is the perfect time to get your Spring cleaning done.  We know how much of a hassle it can be, so let us take care of it for you!  Chem-Dry of Georgetown specializes in carpet&upholstery cleaning, carpet stain removal, carpet stain protectant, and allergen & dust removal.   Request a free estimate today @ http://www.chem-dry.net/georgetown.tx/get-an-estimate ...read more

A new article in Prevention (Ecklekamp, 2013, p. 13) states that Baylor University's Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory has used self-hypnosis to help women with hot flashes.  According to the article, "After 12 weeks, the women, on average, reported about 75% fewer hot flashes." This is a great example of how effective hypnosis is and illustrates why hypnosis is a mind-body modality.  It also highlights the importance of continuing practice of self-hypnosis. If you are having hot flashes, or any other body issues, please give us a call and let us help you!  Part of our four session beginning program is three weeks of self-hypnosis training.  It will give you a mind-body tool for life! Dr. Ron  ...read more