When you think of landscape lighting for your yard, you may think of those little lights that stick in the ground and light up pathways or flower beds. While those are certainly an option and are very pretty, those are just one kind of light you could use in your landscaping.

Your Santa Monica electrician is here to tell you the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating a visually appealing yard during the nighttime hours. The Electric Connection has the staff needed to complete the smallest lighting job to the biggest. Let your imagination run wild. Lights can be strategically placed to highlight certain areas of your yard like a flower bed, garden, statues or water features.

Lights can be placed on timers to save you the trouble of turning them off and on. This also ensures your home is well-lit, even if you are away. Lights around your home are an excellent safety feature that homeowners truly appreciate. If you have lots of shrubbery, which is an excellent spot for people and animals to hide in, it is a good idea to illuminate the dark area with some kind of landscape lighting.

You can choose between soft, subtle lights that light up the area under a tree or shrub and will not invade your windows or brighter security lights aimed at driveways, doorways and pathways. An electrician in Santa Monica can install the lights as well as connect them to your home’s main source of power. This ensures you never have to worry about the switch accidentally being shut off or messy cords that can get unplugged or become tripping hazards. If you would like to learn more about how an electrician can help make your landscaping look beautiful as well as enhance safety, please call The Electric Connection today.

With that major storm from a couple weeks ago still fresh in everyone’s minds, more and more people in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area are starting to think about the benefits of installing a standby generator. Generators are still fairly new, however, and a lot of people still have questions about them.

To put it simply, generators supply backup power to your home when the grid goes down. Most standby generators are powered by gas or propane and are connected to your home’s main distribution panel via an automatic transfer switch. The generator constantly monitors incoming voltage, activating automatically when it senses a power outage. When it turns on, it also closes the line from the power company and opens its own line so you don’t accidentally get power coming from two sources. When the power comes back on, the generator shuts off and reopens the line so you get power back as usual.

Once used more by farmers, businesses and construction companies, generators have evolved significantly over the past decade from their loud, large and expensive roots and are now well suited for use in homes. Standby generators are quickly becoming even more popular than portable generators thanks to their ease of use, quiet operation and aesthetically pleasing design.

One of the most common misconceptions about standby generators is that they’re not affordable to most people. Fortunately, this is not true! Standby generators have come down in price significantly over the years. In fact, these days there are generators available from as small as three kilowatts to as large as 45 kilowatts! Smaller units provide supplementary emergency power for general lighting, a refrigerator, or an air-conditioning unit alone, but large units can run multiple AC units and provide power for other household needs such as appliances or sump pumps. The money you’ll save in spoiled food is practically enough to cover the cost!

Standby generators are becoming increasingly popular as part of new home construction, and while this is obviously an easier job, retrofits are still more popular. At Kolb Electric, we install Generac generators. Generac generators have a number of additional benefits compared to others on the market. They:

Standby generators are safer, more reliable, and less expensive to run than portable generators, and require no input on your part – they start and stop automatically. If you live in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC and want to install a standby generator in your home, call Kolb Electric today!

While many home improvements are well-suited for DIY projects, electrical work requires the skill and experience of a fully licensed electrician. The potential for injury and damage to your home from improperly-installed electrical circuits and fixtures is too great to risk doing the work yourself. In fact, we’ve written about the many dangers of DIY electrical wiring before.

To avoid issues and keep your home running properly, you’ll need to hire a qualified Maryland electrician. Experienced electrical contractors can help you properly install new outlets, wire a new addition or remodeled room, install a ceiling fan, and so much more.

Finding a qualified electrician among the large number of choices in the Maryland can seem daunting. However, there are several good places to look for Maryland electricians whose work you’ll be happy with.

Once you’ve found a few qualified electricians, you can narrow down your list by looking at only those who are licensed in the State of Maryland. You’ll also want to check out ratings on review sites, how many years the company has been in business, and available service offerings—such as 24-hour electrical service.

At Kolb Electric, we have a full staff of licensed Maryland electricians with experience in a variety of home repair and construction projects. To learn more about finding a qualified electrician in Maryland and/or to schedule an appointment with our experts, call us at 877 287-1179 or fill out an online contact form today. Check out our reviews to see what makes us a great choice for any project!

Safety

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 300,000 Americans receive non-fatal electrical shocks every year, and that’s not including the number of electricity-related deaths. Many of those incidents are caused by using outdated outlets. Using older outlets increases your risk of shock as well the chances of your home experiencing power outages and electrical fires. A licensed electrician in Fairfax, VA will protect your family from the dangers associated with outdated outlets, and it’s never too late to make the change.

Energy Efficiency

As with safety, older outlets simply can’t compare to the kind of energy efficiency provided by modern three-prong outlets. Two-prong outlets often need more electricity to power appliances, and they simply weren’t made to handle the demands of today’s high-powered electrical devices. All that extra energy means your energy bills are higher than they need to be. Updating your outlets is an effective way to lower your monthly electric bill and save money in the long run.

Better Compatibility

Good luck plugging your laptop charger or plasma screen TV into your old two-prong outlets. Two-prong outlets are a thing of the past, and most of today’s electrical devices can’t even use them. There’s nothing more annoying than having to search the house for an appropriate outlet or buying adapters every time you need to plug something in. Upgrading your outlets will make your life instantly less complicated.

The changing seasons, like the changing characteristics of matter, present dichotomies and the challenge in life is learning to find a successful balance.  Cultivating the right lighting design is all about a successful balance. Our outdoor lighting how-to guide will help you to establish and maintain a splendid outdoor oasis to be enjoyed year-round.

Capitol Lighting Respects the Night with Champion Illumination

The trend toward outdoor living continues with expanding decks and patios and customizing outdoor kitchens for outdoor entertainment.  Also, fireplaces, fire pits, and space heaters are being added to extend outdoor living well beyond the spring and summer months.  To make these areas as comfortable, safe, and maintenance-free as possible, great lighting is key.

Capitol Lighting’s Expert Advice for Lighting Up Outdoors

The conditions are perfect for outdoor lighting installations. Learn how-to customize the perfect outdoor lighting design and : Follow along with our

1.  Consider the areas to be illuminated:

•General lighting for decks, porches and patios.

•Accent lighting for gardens, fountains, statues and unique architectural elements.

•Security lighting for walkways and driveways.

•Decorative lighting for home entry zones.

2.  Choose your power supply and be sure that all outdoor and landscape lighting fixtures are compatible with the system.

3.  Choose landscape lighting fixtures more for their lighting effects rather than their aesthetic appeal.  The decorative features of landscape lights should be secondary to the objects they illuminate. With a good lighting design, landscape fixtures will provide understated elegance to the outdoor environment during the day, as well as at night.

4.  Decide which system works best for you:  Low voltage lighting provides softer more luxurious illumination, while LED is extremely energy-efficient, low-maintenance and most durable.  Incandescent bulbs typically last 1,000-2,000 hours; fluorescent bulbs may last 10,000-15,000 hours; and, LED bulbs may last 35,000-50,000 hours.

5.  Make sure to power your lighting with the appropriate transformers and wiring. If you are thinking about adding to your outside lighting system, choose power sources that will accommodate the additional fixtures.

6.  Automated timers and motion- or heat-sensitive controls make your home appear occupied during the night and save on energy costs. Locate timers and controls in areas where they are easily accessible.

7.  All outside lighting fixtures and accessories must be selected to withstand the elements, including sun, humidity, rain, ice and snow.  Check that all items are waterproof and UL-approved for outdoor use. Copper, brass and composite fixtures are excellent for homes near the seashore where salty air may be a factor.

8.  Think about landscape lighting as part of your planning and construction in a new home environment.  Outdoor lighting designers should coordinate with landscape architects and electricians.

9.  Traditional wall lights such as wall lanterns bracketing main entryway doors help you to identify visitors and ensure their safety.  They are also appropriate for rear and side entrances and over garage doors. Be sure to select post lanterns and wall brackets that are proportional to your home.  When in doubt, size up.  Fixtures appear smaller from curbside viewing than most people would imagine. * *

10.  Take care to avoid glare and pointing fixtures into your neighbor’s property. Curb “light pollution” with shielded fixtures that focus illumination downward.  Most outdoor fixtures may be easily focused to light the environment for safety, security and aesthetics while protecting other areas from unwanted glare and profuse light. * * *

**Rule of thumb for sizing outdoor wall lanterns:  The height of the lantern should be based on the height of the door.  If brackets are to be installed on either side of the door, they should measure about one-fourth the height of the door.  If using only one lantern, size up to about one-third the height of the door.

***“Dark Sky” Compliancy and light pollution:  A man-made culprit, due mainly to poor lighting design, is a phenomenon called “light pollution.”  Light pollution is any adverse effect of artificial light, including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste.  Many of Capitol Lighting’s trusted manufacturers offer “Dark Sky” versions of their outdoor lighting products, which “collar” the light bulb around its base to block superfluous upward emissions of light.

Capitol Lighting’s professional lighting consultants will help you in selecting everything from timers and outdoor hanging pendants to path lights and post lanterns.  Work with the experts to devise fabulous landscape lighting designs and prepare your outdoor environment with quality security lighting customized to enhance the beauty of your home.