You may have heard the term GFCI from your electrician before. But what exactly does it mean? And is that type of outlet really necessary in your home or building?

We all know that water and electricity don’t mix. That’s what makes electrical outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms where water is used so tricky. To reduce the chance of electrocutions, burns, and shocks, virtually all North American building codes require that ground fault circuit interrupter outlets (GFCIs) be installed where there is water nearby. GFCI outlets have a built-in circuit breaker that instantly stops the flow of electricity when it senses a surge.

A GFCI outlet not only helps keep you and your family or building occupants from getting shocks and burns, but it helps prevent electrical fires. In the even that there is an electrical fire, it can lessen the severity and any damage.

A GFCI outlet is important not only to meeting local building code requirements, but also to help prevent potentially-fatal accidents.

GFCI outlets are designed with a red button that activates the outlet after the built-in breaker is tripped, and a black button that tests the outlet to make sure that the breaker is working properly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that all ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets be tested in the following intervals:

To test your ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets, plug a lamp into the outlet. Turn the lamp on and push the black test button. If the lamp goes out, the outlet is working properly. If the lamp remains lit, contact a licensed electrician to evaluate the problem. Electrical and wiring issues make poor DIY projects and are best left to electricians who are trained to safely handle electrical current and wiring.

At Kolb Electric, we want to help you keep your home or building safe in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC areas. We can save you time by inspecting and testing all of the ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets in your interior space and addressing any electrical issues we may discover during the tests. To learn more about electrical safety and GFCI outlets and/or to schedule a service appointment, call us at 877 287-1179. We’ve been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners like you with their electrical needs since 1925.

This is a prime example of the sort of problems that homeowners convince themselves are too minor to worry about very much. Yes, flickering lights are seriously annoying. However, they can also be indicative of fairly serious problems with your electrical system, such as degraded wiring. If you have lights in your home that always seem to be flickering, contact us to have the problem corrected immediately.

It does not matter how many devices you have plugged in, or how much energy you are using in your home; you should not be smelling burning odors in your house when you are using your electrical system. While the issue may be infrequent, or you may know precisely which outlet seems to be at fault, you cannot afford to convince yourself that the problem can just be ignored.

The convenience with which we can reset circuits in our homes these days is a bit of a double edged sword. It’s great for homeowners, but it can also lead us to overlook the potential for serious problems with our electrical systems, because it is so convenient to just flip the breaker back into position. You are going to trip circuits from time to time. If you find that this is a very regular occurrence in your home, though, allow us to take a look.

There are some home improvements we do simply because we like the look of a new light or are ready for something different. Maybe we paint the walls or replace the windows with ones that are a little more energy efficient. Each of these improvements is an investment into our homes. In many cases, the improvement will ultimately increase the value of our homes while saving us a few dollars while we live in it. One home improvement investment that can start saving you money today is the installation of a ceiling fan by a Glendale electrician. At The Electric Connection, you can count on trained electricians to do the job for you professionally and efficiently.

A ceiling fan can improve the overall look of a room as well as cut down on your electric bill at the same time. That is certainly a worthy investment! Most ceiling fans include lights. This is perfect for a living room or dining area where you need a light fixture, but want the benefit of a fan. A ceiling fan can be installed in place of an existing light fixture. This is the easiest method of installation, but an electrician in Glendale can certainly install a fan in an area that doesn’t have an existing electrical box.

Ceiling fans are an excellent way to reduce the need to run your air conditioner in warm weather and the furnace in cooler weather. The fan circulates the air in the room. In the summer, the cool air is often pushed down to the ground by the hot air. The fan will turn counter-clockwise and pull that cool air up into the room. In the winter, the fan pushes the hot air that rises back into the sitting area. If you would like to make an investment in your home with a ceiling fan installation, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Over the last several years, a variety of electric cars have come to market that provide consumers with an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to your standard gasoline powered vehicle. If all of this is true, why haven’t they caught on? One of the biggest reasons why electric cars have been accepted so slowly is because many people believe a wide variety of myths and misconceptions about how the vehicles work. Here are a few of the most common misconceptions that are encountered by your electrician in Santa Monica.

They Don’t Go Far

Most people view electric vehicles as a limited range, low-power option to their traditional vehicle. Although this could have once been true, it is not always the case today. With the current advancements in battery technologies, electric vehicles can go fairly far distances. Because most U.S. workers drive about 40 miles each day, an electric-only car can be a viable alternative for their driving.

They Aren’t Actually Green

Many people believe that electric cars are just as polluting as their gas-powerd competitors. Although electric vehicles will have a certain level of emissions, they are much lower than even the most efficient gasoline and diesel competitors.

Batteries Are Dangerous

Many people believe that the batteries used in electric cars are dangerous, toxic or just environmentally unfriendly. This is typically due to the fact that most people just aren’t all that familiar with electric vehicles and the batteries that they use within them. Although some battery chemicals can be hazardous, it is very rare that these chemicals ever escape into the environment. To make this even better, most newer batteries can be recycled at a rate of around 99 percent.

If you are considering an electric car, give us a call at The Electric Connection to talk about your options for electric vehicle charging stations and other power necessities to ensure that you can always charge your vehicle. You can also learn more at visit The Electric Connection (Click Here) .