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.

“Hi. I’m Craig Bryant with Bryant Electric Service, and I’ve been in business in Austin for almost 30 years now. I’ve been asked by many people a lot of different things about electrical work, and so I hope I can help with answering some of your questions as well.

OK. I’ve been asked many times about the difference between aluminum and copper wire, and the biggest difference is that copper is just a lot more stable metal than aluminum. And electricity, the biggest enemy to electricity is heat. The hotter it gets, the more important it is to have a stable metal. Aluminum is good but not as good in that in the long run over many years or decades because the instability of aluminum, when it heats up it contracts and expands. As it cools down, it contracts and heats, it expands.

So that happening over time over years and decades especially at your main service or wall plugs or something then that causes a loose connection and it starts arcing and the arc can create a fire over time. That just doesn’t occur in copper ever if it’s installed properly and it’s real tight at the beginning when it’s installed.

So the other problem with aluminum is oxidation. As they’re both exposed to air, copper oxidizes as you can see when it turns green, but it doesn’t affect the connection of the wire. Whereas aluminum, when it oxidize, it creates this crust that builds on it. And you’ve probably seen it before, but this crust can sometimes get as much as a quarter inch thick. And besides the fact that the metal is not as compatible to the heat and temperature problem. With that crust building up, it will also create a gap between the connections that can cause an arcing.

So copper is always better than aluminum and everything except price. And the main reason that it’s being used is because it’s so much cheaper.”

Do me a favor and imagine that you are in need of suggestions for a Fourth of July party. You head to via Wikipedia

Of course, I’m not talking about snap pops, black cats, m-80s, or even those cool little paper cars that gush sparks, travel four feet, and then burn to death in a microblaze reminiscent of a 1970s action film.

I am talking about the ones that explode up there, the ones you have to tilt your head back to see. That the fireworks explode in the night sky is important because the very act of looking up immediately takes you out of the mundanity that the rest of the holiday will surely deliver – the planning, the decorating, the complications. No more overflowing trashcan with wing sauce-smeared cocktail napkins. No more ordinary stuff.

At the heart of the Fourth of July is a spirit of independence that is, actually, a big deal. When your eyes are on what’s going on at ground level, it can be hard to realize how big a deal ideas like independence and sacrifice are. Once your attention is arrested by the spectacle of fireworks happening up there in the sky, you’re taken out of the everyday and able to reflect on these things, which is important, I think.

2. They are glorious.

“And the rockets’ red glare/ The bombs bursting in air,” goes the song. Did you know that the word “rocket,” in the sense of the combustion-fueled projectile, dates all the way back to 1566? The Oxford English Dictionary notes that rockets have historically been “used for signalling, in maritime rescue, for entertainment, and as a weapon.” Fireworks symbolize communication, violence, and entertainment: A strangely fitting mix for the complex human heart.

The red glare of the rockets in “The Star-Spangled Banner” refers to the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. That the fort was not taken during the battle is indeed glorious, and fireworks are a reminder of the fortitude of the people who fought and suffered to keep America independent in 1776 and again in 1812. Boom. (Literally: boom!)

3. They are beautiful.

So, those are my three reasons that fireworks are the most important part of any holiday festivity: They happen above you; they are glorious; and they are beautiful. I think these are pretty good reasons for making sure you see some fireworks this Fourth of July.

Take a moment out of the hectic festivities to reflect on the spirit of rebellion, creativity, and inspiration that is involved in claiming and defending independence from parties eager to exploit the vulnerable. This is about more than just us. This unites us across time and space. Fireworks reflect the beauty of standing together for what is right, even when it hurts.

Autumn is known as a good time to conduct maintenance and repairs on a home to fix damage caused by summer storms and prepare for winter. You may typically think in terms of roof and siding repair, but there is more to your house than exterior cosmetics. The fall is also a good time to inspect your electric systems and assure they are functioning properly according to the needs of you and your family.

Routine Maintenance and Electric Systems