Many homeowners know the pride and satisfaction that results from completing DIY repairs and improvements. But when it comes to electrical work, the stakes of making a rookie mistake can be high.

There are several common electrical projects that aren’t complicated or extensive, but even the simplest jobs can result in serious injury or property damage if they’re performed improperly. Before making any plans to engage in a DIY electrical project, it’s important to know the risks.

What Can Go Wrong

Electricians undergo an enormous amount of training in order to earn the licenses and certifications they need to do their work. That’s because mistakes could not only be dangerous for them, but also for anyone in the homes or buildings they’re working on. Even if you know your way around the circuit box, here’s what an electrical mishap can bring:

Hiring Electricians Saves Money

One of the most common reasons why electrical novices attempt this sort of work is to save money. But that plan can easily backfire even if no one gets hurt in the process.

Poorly performed electrical work can spark destructive fires. It can also fry circuits, destroy fixtures and even damage major appliances. When things go wrong, the cost of repairs is usually several times what it would cost to hire an electrician in the first place.

Making matters much worse, homeowners insurance companies will typically ask for confirmation that electrical work was performed by a licensed electrician before covering any damage from a related event. If your insurance carrier learns that you did the work on your own to save a few dollars, you could lose your claim or even invalidate your policy. Be sure you understand your full policy details before engaging in DIY work.

Know the Code?

When you hire an electrician, you’re not just passing the risk along to a professional -- you’re hiring someone who has knowledge you don't even realize your lacking.

Electrical work is constantly getting safer and more reliable through updates to the electrical code. Licensed electricians are required to keep up with this code as it evolves, so when you work with a professional, you can count on receiving the safest electrical work possible. When you go it alone, you may follow outdated methods because you weren’t aware of the code update.

Don’t take a chance. Your life and home are too valuable. When you need electrical work performed safely and properly, call upon your knowledgeable, licensed, local electricians.

LED lights are also measured in two different ways; by their color temperature and the lumens they produce. Because they use significantly less power and are gaining in efficiency with each generation, whereas older bulbs are consistent in their wattage being representative of the amount of light put out, LED bulbs can vary in efficiency a bit more. What this means is that the bulbs are now rated by their Lumen rating, or how much light they put out, versus how much power they draw. Understanding how LEDs work and the opportunities that they present to you as a homeowner are key to helping you make a decision as to how you light your home.

Winter is slowly taking over here in Maryland. And after the summer we had, no one’s complaining (just yet)! But while the holidays offer up lots of fun, and the cool of winter is currently quite welcome, the season has its fair share of electrical worries unique to itself. Want to be prepared for anything winter might toss your way? We can arm you with some common winter electrical problems in Baltimore. Read on with the electricians at Kolb Electric!

Need the services of a dependable Baltimore electrician? Contact Kolb today for any electrical repair, installation, or service you need!

Keep wary of these concerns, and you’ll find yourself comfortably enjoying the finer points of the season this year:

Is your home prepared and equipped for all of your burgeoning winter electrical needs? If not, contact a Baltimore electrician from Kolb Electric today to get the dependable services you need!

Father’s Day is this weekend and that almost always means rushing to find a last-minute gift card or toolset for your dad. Dads tend to be a little difficult to shop for. They always shrug their shoulders when you ask what they want to do or what they want as a gift. Dads just enjoy spending time with their family. So, for this Father’s Day weekend, try hosting a nice cookout in his honor! Everyone here in Virginia loves some good quality grilling!

Grilling is a great way to bring family together and do something for your dad. He gets the opportunity to spend quality time with you and you get the benefit of doing something for him. And, honestly, is there anything that isn’t made better by the smoke and sear of a grill? If so, we want no part of it.

From ribs and shrimp to steak, clams and even cheese, you can grill all sorts of delicious concoctions that will impress your family and make sit on your rightful throne as the favorite child. Gain some serious family cred and the love of your father with these amazing summer grilling recipes!

Grilled Salsa Roja