With the cool nights upon us, you have probably pulled out the space heater already. Maybe you get chilled when you are at your desk or sitting in your favorite chair. Sometimes, you just need a little concentrated heat blowing on you to take that chill off. Space heaters are an excellent option when you need extra heat in a room or don’t want to turn on the furnace for a little bit. However, there are some things you should know about space heater safety. Your electrician in Pasadena has some tips to make sure you are using your space heater safely. If you have any more questions about what you should be doing, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Before you plug your heater in, give it a quick inspection. Make sure mice didn’t chew the cord while you had it stored away over the summer. Any type of damage to the cord is a problem that should be looked at by an electrician. Pasadena residents can skip the electrical repair and buy a new one, which is often more cost effective. Wrapping a damaged cord with electrical tape is not always a good idea. It is better to be safe than take chances.

When you are placing your heater for usage, make sure you leave at least 3 feet between the heater and any furniture, the walls or drapes. Run the cord along a wall and out of direct foot traffic. If you don’t have an outlet near the area you need the heater, consider having one installed by a Pasadena electrician. You can use an extension cord, but you will want to make sure the cord is not run across a pathway either. You don’t want the cord becoming loose and it possibly sparking against the carpet. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need an outlet installed or have any additional questions.

With the right lights and accessories, LED landscape lighting is a breeze to install. Our plug-and-play different brand of lights in a G-LUX system. There are installation options and accessories for LED pond lights/fountain lights, spotlights, path lights, hardscape lights, well lights, and more. Check out the photos below for some landscape lighting ideas and layout options. With easy-to-use G-LUX accessories, such as extension cables, splitters, power supplies, dusk-to-dawn sensors, and waterproof junction boxes, any setup is possible.

Installation Accessories:

Waterproof Junction Box

You can use extension cables to lengthen the reach of or increase the number of lights in your LED landscape lighting system. Splitters are available in 3-way and 5-way options, and extension cables come in 6.56-foot, 16.4-foot, and 32.81-foot lengths. Use any combination of these plug-and-play accessories to add LED landscape lights where you need them. Make sure that the power supply you choose can handle the combined wattage of all your LED lights.

For this type of installation, you’ll need a G-LUX LED landscape light. Connect the female end of the pigtail power cable to your LED light, and connect the pigtail wires to the main line that runs to your other lights and existing power supply. You can also wire your G-LUX LED landscape light directly to your power supply.

You can create a G-LUX landscape lighting system using G-LUX LED lights and G-LUX dusk-to-dawn sensor will turn your landscape lights on at dusk and off at dawn. A sensor with an automatic timer is also available to keep landscape lights on for two, four, or six hours after dusk. The sensor must be plugged into your G-LUX power supply, and anything that you want it to control must be plugged into it. If you want the sensor to control multiple lights, plug your splitter or extension cable that is plugged into the splitter into it.

If you’re using waterproof G-LUX LED well lights or spotlights in ponds or fountains, there are a couple waterproof accessories that you might need. Use a G-LUX waterproof wire connector to do so.

For technical questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.

We’ve all heard it before—the incessant “beep beep beeping” of the smoke detector. It’s even more frustrating when you’re not even cooking something! While there are a few easy fixes for this, we often get asked if there’s a way to stop the smoke detector from beeping except for when it’s actually warning you about something. Let the electrical experts at Kolb help.

If you need smoke detector maintenance or assistance, contact Kolb Electric in DC, MD, or VA today.

The first thing you can do is to determine what type of beeps your smoke detector is making. If you’re like most people, you hear the smoke detector beeping and begin to panic, wondering where the smoke is coming from; however, if there is no smoke, and you hear a “chirping” sound, there could be an electrical problem with your detector or if the electricity goes out, a back-up battery may signal its presence.

If you haven’t replaced your battery annually, beeping every few minutes or so means that the battery is dying and needs to be replaced. Remember that rechargeable batteries don’t work nearly as well as traditional ones. A good rule of thumb is to change the battery either during the New Year or Daylight Saving Time, if applicable.

Smoke detectors usually come with a warranty. Some last five years, while others may last longer. There are a few things to look out for as far as smoke detector replacement is concerned. If it works on and off, chirps intermittently, or just plain quits working, it’s time to replace it. Also, if you’re moving into a new home but the home itself isn’t new, replace the unit, since you have no idea how old the detector may be.

Overall, if your smoke detector is beeping, it’s requiring your attention. Just be sure to stick to replacing batteries. If you need to replace your smoke detector, contact Kolb Electric today!

Skip all the site hopping and countless hours in department stores; finding the perfect gift doesn’t have to be a hassle. We’ve put together a list of the best LED Christmas gifts for mom, dad, brother, sister, and any friend or family member. From custom-printed LED panel lights to rechargeable LED flashlights—we’ve got a great mix of LED lighting products that are sure to be a hit.

This LED strip light kit is great for cabinet lighting, under-cabinet lighting, cove lighting, bookshelf lighting, and any other hard-to-light space. The weatherproof kit comes with everything needed for installation: a 16 1/2″ plug-and-play LED light strip, push-button dimmer, remote, UL-Listed 12V power supply, and connection accessories. Designed to last 30,000 hours, the LED light strip is available in cool white, natural white, or warm white colors.

Perfect for students or late-night workaholics, this long-lasting LED desk lamp offers a lot in the way of customization. Four dimming levels (up to 170 lumens) are available at the tap of its touch-activated button, and the sleek LED lamp is fully adjustable for the perfect amount of light right where it’s needed.

This REDLINE® RC™ Rechargeable LED Flashlight is a gift that keeps on giving. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the compact flashlight emits up to nine hours of powerful illumination, and its MagDock magnetic docking station provides a full charge in just two hours. Four different light intensities are available along with a strobe mode and 4x adjustable zoom. This durable little light is water and impact resistant with a non-slip grip, magnetic base, and an attached lanyard.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.