Over the past few years tropical storms and major weather have become much more common, and have put many Tampa area homeowners on guard. Which is very good—caution and preparation are the keys to a safe home, and at Hoffman Electrical we like to do all we can to help our clients be ready for anything.

We’ve touched a bit on the subject of Do It Yourself solutions in the past. Mostly making mention here or there of when it is, and is not, a good idea. But at Kolb Electric, your safety is always our absolute primary goal. So rather than leave it at a mention, we wanted to take some time to tell you some important points. 

We support all kinds of on-your-own projects. It’s a great way to get a new skill set, or polish one you already have. Plus, nothing beats that feeling of accomplishment you get from creating or building something all on your own. But when it comes to DIY electrical work, we would firmly call it a really bad idea.

It really comes down to one major point: harm. It is entirely too easy to cause harm to yourself, to others, or to your personal property. If you follow along with our blog, you may remember a point we made in the article about “What It Takes To Become An Electrician”. In that post, we mentioned that anyone pursuing an education in electrical work pay very close attention to the safety aspects of learning.

This is because electricity, by nature, is highly volatile, and can be hard to predict without training. It only takes one, single misstep and suddenly you, or your home, is on fire. There are plenty of articles out there on how to wire an outlet, or replace a ceiling fan, but please be aware that 1) these articles are rarely comprehensive and 2) reading something and doing it are two very different things.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that roughly 400 domestic electrocutions occur every year. And of the estimated 360,900 residential building fires reported, the leading cause is electrical issues and mistakes. We really want to nail home the point that this kind of work takes training and experience to work well. Without these two things, you risk:

Fires that result in catastrophic property loss can even be caused by incorrect bulb wattage, so please keep in mind that something as intense as rewiring should be handled by a trained and certified professional.

Next time you need electrical work, trust in the certified professionals at Kolb to get the job done right! Don’t risk yourself, and your investments on a personal side project. Contact certified electricians today to learn more about our comprehensive electrical services.

On average, over 350,000 home fires take place every year, claiming thousands of lives. How are your smoke detectors functioning? Don't make these mistakes with your smoke detectors:

Make sure your smoke detectors are installed correctly The U.S. Fire Administration recommends installing alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas. At a minimum, alarms should be located on all levels of your home, at least one near each sleeping area and preferably additional detectors in pathways between sleeping areas and exits out of your home. If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, smoke or use heat-producing appliances in or near your bedroom, or have noisy appliances in your bedroom that could block the sound of a smoke detector (TVs, stereos, air conditioners, and more), it is especially important to install one inside each bedroom. Always use a licensed electrician when installing hardwired smoke alarms. Alarms should be installed:

Smoke detectors save lives. Don’t fall victim to these common smoke detector problems or behind today’s recommended standards for protection. Contact Mr. Electric® today to ensure the proper installation and operation of these life-saving safety devices in your home.

Many people have an old and unreliable electric service panel installed in their residence or office. You might be interested in getting a new panel installed but are concerned about the cost or time required. However, the process is quite simple; which means it won’t inconvenience you or cost lots of money. In this article, we will give you an overview of the installation process so that you know what to expect when you have us put in a new electric service panel.