My wife and I are the happy parents of a sixteen-month-old boy. Having a kid has turned out to be every bit as wonderful and exhausting as our family and friends told us it would be. We can see why everyone we knew with children, including our own parents, told us with that knowing smile, “Your life will never be the same.” They were right. There’s never a dull moment, is there? Every day presents new challenges and responsibilities.

For example, a couple hours ago, my son was screaming at his grandma for taking a bite of his banana. Nap time soon? Sheesh.

3. Use an In-Wall Night Light

Instead of that old incandescent night light just begging to be pulled out of the wall by your young one’s inquisitive hands, consider a safer and greener alternative. LED night lights will safen and cozy-up baby’s room in elegant and energy-smart fashion.

A whole-house generator offers you the chance to go about your daily routine in relative normality, even when the power from the electric grid is cut out. Unlike portable generators, into which you must plug chosen appliances directly, a whole-house generator is actually hardwired directly into your home’s electrical system. When the power goes out, you can either start up this generator or, if equipped with an automatic transfer switch, wait for it to start itself up within moments. Once it does, you’ll be able to run your appliances and HVAC systems, as well as your gadgets and electronics, with the same ease and convenience as if the power were on. The capabilities of your whole-house generator, and its capacity to support systems of various electrical needs, will depend upon its size and quality of installation. We’ll make sure that you have what you need to keep your home up and running.

A portable generator may run on gasoline, but this is not the right fuel for a whole-house generator. These larger generators may take diesel fuel or run on propane, both of which will have to be stored on site, or you can opt for a whole-house generator fueled by natural gas, which is piped directly to the system. Contact a member of our staff to discuss your options so that you can choose your generator with well-deserved confidence.

Spring brings with it a myriad of home repair and remodeling projects, many of which require electrical wiring or installations. Unfortunately, it is also a prime season for contractor scams, including those that involve so-called electricians. Learning how to spot these con-artists can help ensure you don’t get taken advantage of—keep reading to see our tips!

Knowing the tell-tale signs of electrical scams is key to recognizing these ne’er-do-wells early and sending them on their way without any of your money in their pockets. Below are just a few that should alert you of possible electrician scams:

At Kolb Electric, we employ only the most skilled and trust-worthy electricians. We’ve been helping Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC area homeowners for over 90 years and have built a reputation based on our honest, reliable service. We understand that electrical terms can be confusing to most homeowners, so we make sure we take the time to explain everything that’s needed for your project—and the cost—before we start any work.

Most homes today have the capacity to handle 220 volts in their electrical systems. Modern dryers, stoves, hot water heaters and other appliances all use the high voltage standard, which can deliver twice as much as the 110 volts used by computers, televisions, smaller appliances and other electronics. Chances are your house already has the ability to use 220 volts, but some older homes do not and therefore have no way of powering more heavy-duty equipment. Fortunately, with the help of an electrician, you can add 220 volt service to your home, or run more 220 circuits if you need to add extra outlets.

Bringing in Maximum Voltage

Modern homes hooked up to the electricity grid take in energy from the utility company at 220 volts, which is then split into two 110 volt lines. Those lines are what bring electricity to your conventional outlets, so you can plug in and use your devices without overloading them with power. Homes built in recent years can therefore accommodate 220 volt circuits as well, which can be distinguished in the circuit box because the switches they use are twice the size of those for 110 volt circuits.

Older homes, however, sometimes only have the capacity for 110 volts in total. If that is the case in your home, you will need to upgrade if you want to use many modern appliances, and certainly if you want to sell your home or bring it up to speed on local code issues. If you aren't sure if your home has 220 volt service, call up your utility company, or have an electrician come take a look.

Adding in Extra Circuits

If you don't have 220 volt service, the electric company will have to run a new line into your home, and an electrician will need to replace your circuit box and possibly all your internal wiring as well, particularly if it uses outdated technology like aluminum wires or knob and tube. The process will not be cheap – costing a few thousand dollars at the low end – but as a result, you will improve the safety of your home and may be able to qualify for lower homeowners insurance rates.

If you, like most people, already have 220 service in your home, but need to add more circuits at the higher capacity, the job will be a lot easier. An electrician can add extra circuits to your breaker box so you can power whatever equipment you need. Make sure you specify if you need 3-wire circuits, which are used for most electric water heaters and boilers, or 4-wire circuits, which are more common for stoves and dryers.

Making the Grade in Safety

Remember, upgrading the wiring in your home can be dangerous work with stringent local building code standards. Unless you are already a qualified contractor, you should have an experienced electrician complete the work for you to ensure that it is all done safely and correctly. If you need to upgrade your home to 220 volt service, call up an expert electrician today.