What’s all the buzz about? Through smart-tech and general technology improvements, modern homes are getting safer and safer every year, which we can all be happy about. But that doesn’t mean we as homeowners should let our guard down! Electrical safety is still a big, big deal, and tons of fires are reported every year due to electrical failures or misuse. Some of the causes are even really odd, or something you might not expect. Do you know all of the dangers potentially lurking in your home?

At Kolb Electric, your safety and the electrical safety of your home is our absolute priority in all cases. Superior electrical service may be our pride, but safety will always come first and foremost! Today we’re here to talk about some hidden home threats, and what you can do to avoid them.

Looking for electrical services for your Bethesda home? Contact Kolb Electric today!

We all know that there are risks with say, outlets, or a damaged appliance. But there are plenty of problems that can come right out of the woodwork (sometimes literally!). Be aware of these potential problems, and prepare your home accordingly:

Need some trustworthy service from a certified electrician to shore up the defenses in your Maryland home? Contact Kolb Electric today! We’ve been putting the needs of our consumers first and foremost for nearly a century, and our experts are always ready to assist!

Confused or overwhelmed about the benefits and drawbacks of making your home a little more green? Your friendly neighborhood Mr. Electric® professionals are here, helping you understand the bigger picture in your quest for a greener life.

Energy consumption has more to do with having a green home than age. Newer homes with added square footage, vaulted ceilings and an array of high-tech electronics often consume a great deal of energy. Rather than upgrading, consider the size home that adequately fits your needs. With the help of an energy audit, air sealing and insulation, and efficient appliances, you’ll be well on your way to a green home, regardless of age.  

Simply plugging gaps, holes and other air leaks in your home and beneath insulation in your attic can reduce your demand for nonrenewable energy by up to 40 percent. Thinking about investing in a little new insulation? Don’t sweat it if the top-of-the-line insulation is out of your price range – all insulation is green. Go with what’s in your price range today and get those heating and cooling bills down tomorrow. There’s nothing greener than reducing energy consumption.

Don’t become brainwashed by greenwashing companies who put more thought into labeling their products to gain your purchase than into sustainability practices. Avoid deceitful marketing tactics by getting to know which labels are truly green in your local hardware store:

Replacing those old incandescents with CFLs or LEDs pays for itself over the lifespan of the bulbs, which not only use a fraction of the energy, but last far longer as well. Aren’t you tired of repeatedly replacing burnt out bulbs?

Huh? You heard right. Incandescents and halogens should ALWAYS be turned off when you leave the room. Why? They are less efficient. CFLs, however, are a bit more complicated. They cost 75 percent less to operate than an incandescent. However, turning them on and off reduces their operating life, which can cost you more in bulb replacements. The Department of Energy’s advice: If you’ll be out of the room for 15 minutes or less, leave it on.

Items with a power adapter, indicator light, standby function, or clock can suck up energy even when they’re turned off, draining you to the tune of 5 percent or more of your power bill. The typical cable box alone uses half the electricity of an Energy Star fridge. Multiply that times the number of these items in your house (TVs, computers, microwaves, cell phone chargers). To take a big bite out of your electric bill, plug these items into a power strip so they can be turned off when not in use. In addition, have wiring inspected to ensure poor connections and undersized wiring aren’t contributing to additional energy loss and higher bills.

Adjusting your thermostat 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours a day can save you 5-15 percent per year on heating and cooling costs – 1 percent for each degree it’s set back. Make the savings hassle-free with the installation of an inexpensive programmable or Wi-Fi home thermostat.

Are you thinking about redesigning your home? When you look at the 2012 top home trends, you will realize that you’re not alone. This year everyone seems to be jumping on the home renovation and remodel bandwagon. While some 2012 top home trends involve pure aesthetic components, this year’s trends are all about accessibility, functionality, and efficiency. From home renovation to home color trends, this year has something for everyone.

Take a look at this year’s home trends to choose which ones fit in with your plans for home renovation.

Rolling power outages can be a royal pain. It seems like they strike just when you have put dinner in the oven or sat down to watch your favorite television show. Typically, the blackout is over within a few hours and life goes back to normal. However, those few hours without power will require you to do a few things in order to ensure everything powers back on normally when the electricity is back on provided by your electrician. Santa Monica residents should consider writing this list down and keeping it handy. You can always call The Electric Connection if you would like a more detailed explanation about anything on the list.

First and foremost, ensure your family is safe. If anybody is in darkened rooms, calmly guide everybody into one area to wait out the power outage. This will help keep you occupied and hey, it can actually make for some excellent family time. No lights, no electronics means no distractions!

1-Unplug all of your small appliances and electronics. This will prevent damage from happening when the power does come back on. When electricity is restored, power surges through the lines and can damage to things like computers, game consoles and even televisions.

2-Tell everybody to stay out of the refrigerator and freezer. Leaving the doors closed will preserve the cool temperatures inside the spaces and keep your food safe. You can expect your refrigerated foods to stay fresh for 4 hours without electricity and up to 24 hours in the freezer.

3-Open the doors and windows to allow airflow through the home says your electrician. Santa Monica residents will appreciate a cool breeze to help keep the air from becoming stagnant during a power outage.

If you would like more information about what you should do when the power goes out, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Electrical safety is of utmost importance to keep your family and loved ones safe at home. You can be assured of electrical safety through GFCI outlets. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets have three holes: two of the holes are for neutral and hot wire and the third hole in the middle of the outlet serves as a ground wire. If it experiences any change in the electrical flow in the circuit, it will immediately cut off the flow of electricity.

GFCI outlets are important, especially when the electrical outlets are positioned close to water. Installing GFCI outlets in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc., is a good idea. Apart from being an essential preventive measure, the law also requires you to have GFCI outlets installed throughout your home. According to National Electric Code (NEC), all homes must be equipped with GFCI protection. Initially, it was only required for you to install GFCI outlets near water only but this requirement has been extended to cover all single phase outlets of 125 volts in recent years.

Let us now understand why GFCI outlets are essential in every household.

3 Reasons to Install GFCI Outlets

Electrical shocks and electrocution are the major risks that you can be exposed to through electrical devices at your home. This becomes a bigger concern if you have kids who can unknowingly touch the appliances and get a shock. A GFCI outlet helps in preventing shocks and electrocutions as it has a built-in sensor that monitors the inflow and outflow of the electricity from any appliance. If a live wire inside the appliance comes in contact with the metallic surface of the appliance, you will get a shock when you touch it.