As summer sets in, along come the hot temperatures. Staying cool while having fun is going to be a necessity. How will you find ways to keep yourself cool, your house or office? It will be important to be aware of the ways you can save on energy while keeping temperatures down. Air conditioning units, while effective, can use up a lot of electricity, which will add up on the monthly bills. At Expert Electric we have compiled list of useful of ways that you can keep cool while you save on electricity in the summer.

While enjoying the summer heat, it’s important to keep cool but also to keep your electricity consumption in mind. Those bills could add up in a hurry and we are here to share more ways of saving on electricity this summer or improving your home’s efficiency. Contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. Our licensed electricians can identify where you can save your money the most in your home.

The cost of energy is something that everyone’s concerned about and with energy costs projected to continue rising for the foreseeable future, it should come as no surprise that an increasing number of people are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption and of course, their bills. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably heard about something called a smart meter. What you may not know about these devices, however, is exactly what they are and what makes them special.

Can installing a smart meter in your home help you to save on your energy bill? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this new generation of power meters? Keep reading for the answers to these questions.

Smart meters are designed to work with new smart power grid technologies which are being implemented in several countries and like the grids themselves, they are designed to help consumers to use energy more efficiently. These new meters can be read online, which will ultimately eliminate the need for utility company employees to go door to door reading power meters. However, there are advantages for consumers as well as for the utility companies.

The most important advantage of using smart meters as far as consumers are concerned is the ability to access much more detailed information about their energy consumption. Rather than simply providing information about the total level of power consumption, a smart meter allows consumers to see not only how much energy they’re using in their home, but how this energy is used. This is data which homeowners can act on to reduce their energy consumption, essentially putting control over their energy bills back into their hands.

These meters provide detailed information on usage by time of day, which allows consumers to identify their household’s peak usage times as well as the rates assessed during these hours. Better still, consumers can identify how much energy particular appliances are using, alerting them when appliances aren’t operating at optimal efficiency so that they can have these appliances serviced or replaced as needed. Software is now available for users which automatically send text messages with customized information on their energy usage, so there’s no need to be out of the loop as far as energy efficiency is concerned.

While consumers will need to hire an electrician to come out and install a smart meter in their home in areas where local utilities do not provide this service, the savings which the average household could realize from using these sophisticated power meters should make this a worthwhile investment. Smart meters are clearly a growing trend and in the near future, they will be even more useful as newer energy technologies like solar and wind power become more common, since they are ready to work with these power sources.

For instance, with a conventional electricity meter, it would be necessary to have an electrician come to your home to install a new meter if you were to install a wind turbine or solar panel on your home. A smart meter, however, is able to seamlessly integrate with the new power source; which is yet another reason that budget-conscious and environmentally minded consumers are starting to take a serious look at smart meters.

Thunderstorms pose a safety hazard in several ways. Lightning is the most dangerous part of a thunderstorm, and it kills more people than hurricanes and tornadoes combined. Thunderstorms produce heavy rain, which can cause flash flooding. The strong winds from a thunderstorm can also cause widespread damage. Each of these components requires specific precautions to minimize their danger.

A thunderstorm typically has a diameter of 15 miles and lasts for 30 minutes, which is much smaller than a hurricane or winter storm. The National Weather Service places specific criteria on a severe thunderstorm. These include thunderstorms that produce hail with a diameter of at least ¾ inch, wind gusts of at least 58 mph or a tornado. Severe thunderstorms comprise about 10 percent of all thunderstorms.

The NWS recommends that you stay indoors for 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder when you hear thunder less than 30 seconds after the lightning. This rule is known as the 30/30 lightning safety rule.

Avoid taking emergency shelter in structures that are vulnerable to high winds, such as a mobile home. Outdoors shelters such as sheds, pavilions and golf’s typically will not protect you from flying debris and lightning. Avoid and report downed power lines. Bring pets and livestock under shelter to protect them during hailstorms.

Few of us can imagine living without electricity. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it powers our lives, from our heating and cooling systems to our communications networks to our cooking appliances. But electricity can also be a dangerous friend. You don’t want to tackle any but the simplest electrical issues yourself. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 55,000 house fires are caused each year by electrical systems installed or worked on by someone who isn’t a licensed electrician.

The secret to keeping your home safe is knowing when to call an electrician and when you can do it yourself.

Even the most modern, well-maintained home or building can have electrical problems. If you’re wondering when to call an electrician, we recommend you pick up the phone when you encounter these issues:

New Electrical Installations

If you’re building a new house, garage, or home addition, it’s important to start with proper wiring. A good electrical contractor will safely wire your home according to local building codes and work with you to understand your needs and how you’ll be using the space—ensuring that the electrical system will address those needs.

If you’re adding a new laundry area to your new addition, for assistance, you’ll want special outlets installed for all of those appliances. Will you be installing wall sconces in your new house? Your electrician can help with that too.

When it’s time to call an electrician for your Montgomery County home or business, there’s only one name you need to know: Kolb Electric! All of our workers are licensed electricians, and we’ve been helping area homeowners like you with their electric needs for nearly 90 years.

Kolb Electric is a full-service electrical contractor, and we are happy to tackle any household or commercial electrical project, from installing a new outlet to rewiring an entire house. We cheerfully offer free, fair estimates as well as 24-hour emergency service, seven days a week. To learn more about how Kolb Electric can solve your electrical needs in the DC metro area, and/or to schedule an appointment for our services, call us at 877 287-1179.

We do a lot to protect our families when they are at home. We lock the doors at night, make sure there are no safety hazards like broken stair rails or exposed pools. Have you ever thought about your smoke detectors? Sure you probably have a couple in your house, but have you checked the batteries? It can be hard to remember to replace the batteries every six months. Fortunately, there is an option your electrician in Pasadena can help you out with.

The professionals at The Electric Connection can explain why hard-wired smoke detectors are so important. This type of device is connected directly to your home’s power so you don’t have to worry about regular battery changes. Plus, you don’t have to worry about somebody “borrowing” the batteries and not replacing them right away.

When the smoke detectors are wired into the home, they are interconnected. Meaning, when the smoke detector in the kitchen goes off, the one in the upstairs bedroom and garage also goes off. In the event of a fire, this can give occupants in the home several extra minutes to get out. Every minute counts when there is a house fire. Your Pasadena electrician can install the detectors in any room you request.

Along with hard-wired smoke detectors, a carbon-monoxide detector is also a good idea. One in the garage and on every floor of the house is typically the standard. These are especially important if you burn any fuel within the home or leave cars running in a garage. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and colorless. It is crucial to your family’s safety to have one of these valuable devices installed.

Add another layer of protection for your family and give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule an appointment to have your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed.