Do you have an electrical repair or a project you’re moving forward on, or you’re wanting to improve the look of your home or business?  Will you do it yourself, hire a handyman, or hire a qualified electrician?

Because of the rising costs of our island’s economic environment, many are looking for ways to cut costs when it comes to electrical repairs or additions. One way people are doing this is through their own attempts or choose someone who claims to be a qualified electrician working as a “handyman”. The current economy has left many skilled tradespersons unemployed and eager to offer their expertise as a handyman repair worker.

A “handyman” might be able to do the electrical job you have or they might not.  How are you to know?  Much of the work performed in an electrical project is covered up by walls, wire junction boxes, or in limited access locations.  I’ve  seen bad connections where the previous installer has connected wires using gift wrapping tape or paper clips or some other household items. Also, wires that carry high voltage were cut, pinched, and fully exposed to a shock or fire hazard (see above picture).  The owners knew nothing about this!  Following the electrical codes didn’t seem to be a priority in these attempts.  Codes need to be met or there’s a huge liability to persons and property.

Electrical wiring can be very dangerous! A handyman may have some electrical talent, but they are not recognized by the law as a licensed contractor. In other words, in Hawaii, they cannot pull permits on jobs where they are required or legally work on projects that earn $1000.00 or more for their services. The State knows the dangers of unlicensed work.  They are not just looking for other means for revenue.  If you hire someone who is unlicensed to save money, then you are taking a huge risk.  If something goes wrong,  you have  very little recourse.  You could end up paying more in the end.

Blue Sky Electric not only is licensed, but insured and bonded.  The State requires this for good reason….. The State of Hawaii has a fund for you that all licensed contractors pay into called the “Contractor’s Recovery Fund”. The purpose of the fund is to provide reimbursement to a consumer who has suffered a financial loss as a result of a licensed electrical contractor who has engaged in fraudulent, deceptive or dishonest practices, or failed to perform.  Injured parties my collect funds to recover damages.  Any unlicensed person can not offer you this protection.

To get the results that you expect, it is essential that you put appropriate effort behind finding an electrician matched to the specific requirements of your job – do not simply trust someone that puts you at ease or wins your confidence.  If a licensed contractor is hired one item to look into is their complaint record with the Hawaii Board of Contractors. Here’s a link to check the status of a person’s record: Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing Search Whoever you may hire, they should always come with word-of-mouth recommendations or testimonials of their peers.

Call us to discuss your project, and our expertise.  Let’s talk about doing it right the first time.

Saving on electricity is always the smart way to go, and you’ll find that you can keep monthly bills way down if you just do a few smart things to cut back on your electric power consumption:

Use Fans instead of AC – Winters in Texas may be warm, but the summers are comparable to sitting in the desert. You’ll find that using your AC is the only thing keeping you alive, so the thought of turning them down may be making you sweat. Turn down the AC a few degrees, and turn on some fans around the house. The breeze will cool off the home, and it will blow the cool air around nicely.

Switch Out Light Bulbs – One great way to save on electricity around your home is to use energy saving bulbs. An 18W power saver will produce as much light as a 60W regular bulb, but only use 18W. It will be a steep initial investment to replace all of the light bulbs – the power saver ones are costly – but it will cut your electric bill dramatically.

Use Power Strips – Your TV, DVD player, radio, Xbox, and other devices all use power when they’re turned off, as they’re in standby mode. You should consider plugging all of these devices into a power strip, and just turn off the power strip at night. It will cut down the amount of energy that’s used, and you’ll never know the difference.

Reduce Appliances — Do you really need a toaster, microwave, dishwasher, blender, food processor, juicer, two coffee machines, an espresso maker, and a coffee grinder? You probably need some of these appliances, but you can probably eliminate a few of the ones mentioned above. Use more gas-powered appliances, as gas is cheaper than electricity.

Replace Old Appliances – Did you know that older appliances tend to use a lot more electricity than newer ones? Newer appliances are made according to Energy Star regulations and standards, so they’ll be cheaper in terms of energy consumption. Replacing them will cost you a bit, but you’ll recoup your investment within a year or two.

Turn Down the Heater – If you are using an electric boiler to heat your water, chances are you’ve got it set too high. You probably want to enjoy a nice shower in scalding water, but most people have to turn on the cold water when they shower. If you want to save on electricity, turn down the heater until it’s just nicely hot instead of scalding. You won’t have to turn on the cold water to shower, and you’ll still be able to enjoy a nice hot shower!

Saving electricity isn’t just smart – it’s cost-effective and wallet-friendly as well!

The weather is starting to get cooler, and as summer rolls into fall, we thought we’d remind everyone of ways they can keep their homes safe from fires!

Check your smoke detectors—you should test your smoke detectors twice a year—once in the spring, once in the fall. In addition, remember that smoke detectors are designed to last 10 years. If yours is older than that, it’s highly recommended that you install a new one. New smoke detector laws that went into effect earlier this year require all new smoke detectors to have 10-year batteries, so you don’t have to worry about replacing the batteries along the way.

Check carbon monoxide (CO) detectors—having a smoke detector isn’t enough anymore; if you want to keep your family totally safe, you need to also install a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and highly toxic gas that can be deadly even in small amounts and can be released by any faulty gas appliance, including furnaces and fireplaces. Your best bet? Install a combination smoke alarm/carbon monoxide alarm for maximum protection.

Inspect your extension cords—with the holidays coming up, you’re going to want to make sure your extension cords are in good shape and not damaged or frayed. Any extension cords you’re planning on using outdoors should be weather-rated. Inside, make sure you use surge protectors and power strips with internal overload protection, and make sure you minimize the amount of adapters plugged into a single outlet.

Be careful with space heaters—space heaters are convenient, but can be a major fire hazard if you’re not careful with them. Make sure there is nothing flammable within three feet of the space heater, and never plug it into an extension cord.

Protect your outdoor electrical systems—any outdoor electrical outlets should be GFCI outlets and covered by a “bubble cover” to keep the elements out. If your electrical service cable is exposed, make sure it’s not damaged. During the holidays, don’t hang any decorations on or near the cable.

Install arc fault circuit interrupters—these are not required by building codes, but they offer a higher level of protection for your electrical system and are generally highly recommended. Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) are designed to detect an unintended electrical arc and disconnect the power before an electrical fire can start.  They are the safest way to protect a home from the risk of electrical fire.

If you’re at all concerned with your home’s electrical safety this year, don’t take chances—call Kolb Electric! We can upgrade your home’s electrical service in any way you need, from installing smoke detectors and adding outlets to a full-on heavy up. Don’t gamble on fire safety—call Kolb Electric today!