When lights go out in one room that is a clue that something is wrong within the wiring of that particular room only. However, if the whole house goes out, this can be serious. Generally a homeowner will look out the front door to see if any of the neighbors have power. He sees the lights on everywhere and then asks the person in charge of bills if they paid the electric company. After those options have been confirmed, the next call should be to your local licensed and bonded electrician.

What kind of services do we provide?

We can investigate the problem and repair the wiring on contemporary as well as antique light fixtures. It doesn’t matter if the home is 100 or just 10 years old. Things can happen even to newer residences. It is no secret that certain critters can get between the interior and exterior walls of your home and make a feast of wiring. It is not unusual to find a deceased rodent that unintentionally bit into high voltage. This doesn’t mean your house is dirty or your housekeeping is below par. It just means these animals have been around for hundreds of years and have perfected their craft in order to feed themselves.

We can get to the root of your issues with chandeliers, wall sconces and generic ceiling lights. It does not matter if they are traditional or halogen.  You will be happy to know that we can also repair the lighting in your china cabinets, book cases, wall units and any piece of furniture that has a lighting feature. If one of these pieces has recently been moved to a new location or even for cleaning, wiring can become loose.

What about exterior lights?

No one wants to walk up to their home in the dark or enter a garage when the lights are out. While you might be a bit intimidated, the likelihood of someone stepping out of the shadows to attack you are slim. However, it is best not to tempt would-be muggers. Get those lights repaired right away.

Homeowners can count on us to complete, install or repair their landscape lighting. This adds value to a home and also gives the homeowners a sense of accomplishment. The same goes for the front lights. We can help you convert a gas lamp post into an electrical one. If you have one that runs on electricity and it no longer works, we can investigate and repair it.

If you’re planning on selling your home in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, it’s extremely important that you make sure everything is up to code. Some code violations are illegal, others can be dangerous—some are both!

Wiring mistakes – most wiring mistakes are made by handymen doing electrical work instead of certified electricians. Among the worst we’ve seen are electrical systems that were hooked up using extension cords instead of dedicated electrical wires!

Overcrowding with too many wires – overcrowding is another sign of a contractor who didn’t know quite what they were doing. Since poorly maintained wires can get hot, any place where there are masses of wires packed tightly together can create a major fire hazard.

Exposed wires or junction boxes – frayed or exposed wires can pose a major electrical safety hazard and should be either replaced or patched up. And while junction boxes should be within reach, they should not be so easily accessible that they can accidentally be touched.

Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI) outlets or breakers not working properly – GFI outlets are especially important for the kitchen, bathroom, and anywhere else where water or humidity could create an electric shock risk. If these outlets are not working properly, you could be in danger without even realizing it!

Mixing line- and low-voltage wires together – the National Electric Code (NEC) expressly forbids this, but we often see it, especially when dealing with HVAC installations.

Light fixture or ceiling fan installed without a junction box – junction boxes are required to be installed so they are always accessible and are used to run multiple conductors in two or more directors. The most common problem we see is junction boxes installed out of reach in a concealed wall or ceiling space.

Missing or damaged switch and outlet covers – plate covers on switches and outlets are important for preventing electric shocks. If you’ve recently painted or remodeled the room, you may have taken the covers off. Make sure you put them back on!

Damaged outlets – damaged outlets can cause appliances and anything plugged into the outlet to malfunction and can also create a major fire risk.

These days, many home sellers are seeing the value of having an electrical inspection prior to putting their home on the market. Having the ability to correct any electrical code violations ahead of time may help in avoiding delays in the negotiation and sales transaction.

If you’re planning on selling your home in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, call Kolb Electric! We can perform an electrical inspection and make any necessary electrical code corrections. Don’t wait—call us today!

Before you deck the halls and transform your Florida home into a festival of lights this holiday, consider how your lighting display will affect your winter electric bills. Monthly bills can be especially expensive when you and your neighbors beautifully decorate your homes with holiday ENERGY STAR® qualified LED light strands you will save on your utility bills this holiday. And that’s not their only advantage—Use a timer to automatically turn on your holiday lights at dusk and turn off in the middle of the night. By limiting the amount your lights are on to times when people can appreciate them, you will reduce your energy bills.

There are plenty of ways to decorate your home for the holidays—ways that don’t impact your electric bills! Make use of other decorations like tinsel, wreaths, and jingling bells! Instead of decorating the front of your St. Petersburg home with strands of lights, consider buying a solar powered spotlight with different color filters. There are many ways to enjoy the beauty of the holidays without raising your electric bills exponentially.