What’s more important than reliable access to electricity? Safe and reliable access to electricity! We use tools and appliances every day. Heck every hour. And in some instances, every minute. But generally speaking, we don’t really pay much mind to how safe we’re being with it. But you should. Accidents happen all the time (and if you like statistics, boy we’ve got ‘em right here!), and whether you think it could happen to you or not, the fact of the matter is we put ourselves at risk all the time.

This is why it is outright critical that we ensure we’re taking all of the steps we can to protect ourselves, our homes, and our loved ones. Luckily, safety isn’t all that hard, and really takes a minimal time investment. Here at Kolb Electric, your safety is the top priority to our Alexandria electricians. So take a moment to read up! You might learn something new.

Regarding Electrical Supply

First off, to use any appliance safely, you should always keep in mind the right places to use them relative to your home’s safe supply. We’re talking, of course, about dedicated circuits. We’ve spoken of them many times, but it’s important because ensuring the proper appliances get the proper setup is key to operating them safely. Appliances that should be on dedicated circuits include:

Also, if your appliance is going to be near water sources (kitchen/bathroom appliances), be sure they are plugged into a GFCI outlet. Don’t have GFCI outlets? Looks like it’s time for some installation!

Using Power Strips for Your Appliances

Don’t “daisy-chain”, be sure you’re using indoor for indoor, outdoor for outdoor, never cover your cords (generates dangerous heat), and don’t exceed the safe capacity. Also never use power strips or extension cords to power heaters or other high-wattage appliances. They weren’t designed to handle that much power, and they may overheat/catch on fire.

General Appliance Safety Tips from Our Alexandria Electricians

Rules of thumb that promote safety are a great idea, and our Alexandria electricians are here to give you the rundown!

Need the services of a certified electrician to beef up your home safety? From outlet installation to wire repair, our experts have you covered! Contact Kolb to learn about our services, or to set your appointment today!

We work with any type of electric wiring, old to new; from replacing an outlet to complete rewiring for both residential and commercial.

When you’re looking for an electrical company that you can feel confident working with you can turn to family-owned and operated Hoffman Electrical. We have been offering residents in the Tampa areaelectrical services since 1989 and have built up a spotless reputation in the process. When you need qualified electrical services with reasonable pricing you’ll always be sure to find it with our company.

No matter what type of service we are working on we will always use the operating methods that are the most cost effective without compromising quality. We offer competitive pricing that’s charged by the job and not by the hour so that you know exactly what to expect in terms of billing. We understand as a family-owned business that electrical emergency repairs and services may come up at the most inopportune times and that’s why we always offer fair pricing guidelines for each and every one of our valued customers.

Our Tampa electricians all have the qualifications and experience necessary to complete all projects to a safe and effective final result. Whether you need an emergency repair done immediately, are working on renovations or are looking for electrical upgrades, you can count on our team to provide it.

If you’re planning on building a new home we are the trusted choice in Tampa for electrical wiring for new housing. We understand the need to get the home completed on time and we are able to synchronize our services with those of other contractors that are on the site as well.

If you’re working on renovations in your home you’ll want to have a trustworthy electrician by your side that can work with you within your budget. Every Florida renovation project is different so you’ll need an electrician that has worked with various types of projects in the past and understands the flexibility that’s required of them. When you’re working within a specific budget we’ll provide an estimate for the job done so that you’ll know right away what the pricing will be upfront.

We also work with Tampa Bay homeowners and commercial establishments that need to set up a generator system in order to prepare for a power outage. You’ll never have to worry about having an electricity outage again once you get hooked up with a backup generator system. Our company can provide you with all the wiring you’d need for either a manual or an automatic transfer switch when the lights go out.

Whether you’re a homeowner, active in the construction industry or own a commercial property in the Tampa area, we know that you are looking for an electrical company that you can fully trust with your electrical contracting needs. You can trust Hoffman Electrical to provide competent and reliable services with qualified and experienced personnel. We’re a friendly bunch of people and through the mutual respect that we have built up with our customers we have established a solid reputation in the Tampa Bay community. We look forward to helping you with any and all of your electrical needs this year. Contact us today for more information, or to set up an appointment.

According to recent reports from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home sales have risen markedly over the past few months. The latest figures from January 2013 showed the number of closings on new properties have jumped markedly from the year prior. As a result, home builders have amped up construction of new properties as the existing housing stock  shrinks amid a burst in home sales.

Around this time of year, the market gets increasingly robust as people seem to be more optimistic with the warmer weather approaching and winter finally drawing to a close. If analysts from the NAR are correct, this means an even larger uptick of new home construction is bound to come about in response to buyer interest.

When you purchase a newly constructed property, you may assume that the house is free of plumbing or electrical problems as all of the appliances, wiring and pipes have been recently installed. However, even new homes are far from perfect, as shoddy construction could be underlying otherwise pristine-looking walls and floors.