It's safe to say that few people actually look forward to doing laundry, and when you have a poorly functioning washer and dryer, the process is only made all the more painful. This is especially true if you live in a space where you have to share your laundry machines with others and are forced to pay for every load you wash. Sending your clothes through a dryer twice is a waste of quarters that you could be saving for your next load - not only that, but running your dryer more times than you need to is sure to start taking a toll on your electric bill.

You have a few options that you can look into to address this issue. If your dryer isn't heating up as much as it should be to actually remove the moisture from your clothes, don't jump to the conclusion that you need to replace it. Many homeowners will make the mistake of buying new appliances, spending hundreds of dollars picking out a top-of-the-line model, only to find that it too isn't adequately drying your clothes.

A lot of serious contractor related problems can be averted by doing just a little research. After nineteen years in the trade, I have found that if both home and business owners follow these tips, they almost always have a pleasant experience:

1. Check the license. Never hire an unlicensed contractor or electrician in any capacity. It may look like a good deal, but it may end up costing you more than extra money in the end. Unlicensed contractors are not bonded and have not taken any kind of exam to be assured they have the knowledge to perform the type of work you may need done. Also, it is very unlikely they have liability insurance (more on that below).

2. Check for insurance coverage. By law, Hawaii licensed electrical contractors will have liability insurance coverage. The bond that is required for electrical contractors in Hawaii is generally $7000 – an extremely limited amount. Look for an insurance policy of at least $1 Million.

3. Ask for a Journeyman card for proof of license. All electricians are required by law to be a journeyman, having passed all Hawaii State requirements. Ask to see the card of anyone performing electrical work on your home or business. This is very important and makes sure you have qualified workers.  Your persons and property are at risk if they are unlicensed.

4. Ask what kind of work the electrician has done in the past. It is usually a pretty good indication of what you should expect in the future.

5. What is the electrician’s real concern as you speak with them about your project? Are they concerned about what you are trying to accomplish on your project? Are they up front and confident about pricing? Do they care about your needs and the needs of your property?

Following these tips will give you the ability to find the right electrician for you. Blue Sky Electric is happy to provide you with more information. Give us a call with any questions and we will be happy to assist you.

A bad circuit breaker is a major inconvenience, but there can be other issues at play when your power supply isn’t working the way it should. Breakers protect you and your home from current overloads and other electrical issues. If the circuit gets overloaded, the breaker will trip, cutting power to eliminate the risk of fire. Sometimes a breaker will trip even when there is no overload, but it can be tricky to figure out which situation applies.

If you think you have a bad circuit breaker, look out for the following signs so you can get the problem taken care of quickly.

If your breaker is tripping, it could mean there is a device on the circuit causing an overload. Identifying what circuit the breaker is protecting can help you figure out if the problem is with a device or with the breaker itself. There might be a label on the breaker panel that gives you this information, but if not, you can figure it out by testing your lights and devices. If you disconnect the devices connected to the circuit and try to reset the breaker again, the outcome will confirm whether you have a faulty breaker. If it still trips even without the devices connected to it, it is defective and needs replacement.

There are some jobs out there that you can very well do all on your own. But there are others that need the guidance and experience of a certified electrician in Gaithersburg. Considering a renovation or remodel for your home and not sure what you’ll need an expert for? Follow along with the team at Kolb Electric to find out!

It can be tempting to try your hand at electrical work, particularly if you think a job is simple. But at Kolb, our team would really, really recommend that you almost never attempt electrical work on your own.

Why? Primarily because of safety. It can be very easy to get an injury when doing electrical work, even for a professional. But also because a lot of work requires certain certification for the job to be within electrical code, which is a legal matter you don’t want to be on the wrong side of.

Here are our top “this needs an expert” picks:

Planning on doing a remodel and need the experience and skill of a certified electrician in Gaithersburg? We’re the team for you! Our experts are top-class when it comes to comprehensive electrical service, and we’re always happy to help. Contact us today to find out more about our services, or to plan your remodel with our electrical professionals!