Every home needs upkeep and maintenance, especially older ones. The electrical switches and outlets are often overlooked. Although any particular outlet may not be important, if it isn’t working it’s likely a sign of a larger problem. Switches usually aren’t replaced when they should be but rather as an afterthought when they stop working altogether. Even if an electric outlet or switch is still working, there are times when you should go ahead and have them replaced.

Modern Standards

In some instances the existing switches and outlets simply aren’t up to code for what is considered adequate and safe. Older outlets may not have a ground plug but only two holes. There are adaptors available for such a problem, but they really don’t provide a proper ground like your outlet should have. With a switch, if you have to jiggle it or flip it on and off a few times for it to work, it has a bad connection and isn’t safe.

Better Quality

Simply put, newer switches and plugs are better quality than old ones and continue to develop and become even better. As long as everything is working you may not need to go out of your way to start making replacements, but when you make remodels or more extensive repairs it’s a good idea to have your electrician go ahead and replace the switches and outlets for the area he’s working in.

Ugly

Sometimes old outlets get to the point that they show their age. They can develop deep stains that won’t come clean, or perhaps they’ve been painted over the years. Worse yet are chips, scratches and cracks in the outlet or switch. Although these things are typically nothing but an eyesore, they can be a dangerous fire hazard if the damage goes into the structural aspect of the unit.

Conveniences

LED, or light -emitting diode, bulbs are far more energy efficient than incandescent and even CFL bulbs. In fact, whereas the efficacy (in lumens per watt) of CFLs stands around 50-70, that of LEDs is in the 60-90 range. If you think that’s impressive, just consider the fact that  incandescent bulbs are only in the 10-17 lumens per watt range! Clearly, using that much electricity is going to add up when compared to that used by LEDs.

Have you ever noticed how light bulbs always seem to burn out when you don’t have any reserves around? Well, there is no such thing as a light bulb that will last forever. However, LEDs do boast an incredibly long lifespan, offering up at least 30,000 hours of use in most cases. CFLs will only get you around 10,000 hours, with incandescent topping out at a measly 750-1,000 hours. Save your money and time spent running to the hardware store – opt for LEDs for  a longer lighting lifespan.

If outstanding energy efficiency and remarkably long lifespans are not enough to sell you on LED lighting, consider too the fact that LEDs are dimmable, and that they don’t heat up the way that other bulbs do. Ultimately, the way in which you illuminate your home is entirely up to you. Just keep these benefits in mind when deciding if paying for LED lights is the right option for your home.

Interested in generator installation for your Annapolis home? It’s an excellent idea! In areas like ours, where the weather can get out of hand in a hurry, and electricity isn’t always guaranteed to be readily available, a backup plan is nearly necessary. But when you look into generators, suddenly you have options you didn’t know existed! Do you want a standby generator, a manual transfer generator; what size do you need? It can get pretty confusing!

Our Annapolis electricians have all of the necessary skill and expertise needed to ensure you get a generator installation that is sure to have you covered in your time of need!

When you have a generator that suits your home perfectly, you can expect:

There are essentially two types of generator: Manual transfer and standby. Which one you choose is partially up to personal taste, but there are some specific aspects of each you’ll want to consider before choosing:

Are you ready to prepare your Annapolis home for the worst? Contact Kolb today, for the best in peerless service and top quality installation!