With the cool nights upon us, you have probably pulled out the space heater already. Maybe you get chilled when you are at your desk or sitting in your favorite chair. Sometimes, you just need a little concentrated heat blowing on you to take that chill off. Space heaters are an excellent option when you need extra heat in a room or don’t want to turn on the furnace for a little bit. However, there are some things you should know about space heater safety. Your electrician in Pasadena has some tips to make sure you are using your space heater safely. If you have any more questions about what you should be doing, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Before you plug your heater in, give it a quick inspection. Make sure mice didn’t chew the cord while you had it stored away over the summer. Any type of damage to the cord is a problem that should be looked at by an electrician. Pasadena residents can skip the electrical repair and buy a new one, which is often more cost effective. Wrapping a damaged cord with electrical tape is not always a good idea. It is better to be safe than take chances.

When you are placing your heater for usage, make sure you leave at least 3 feet between the heater and any furniture, the walls or drapes. Run the cord along a wall and out of direct foot traffic. If you don’t have an outlet near the area you need the heater, consider having one installed by a Pasadena electrician. You can use an extension cord, but you will want to make sure the cord is not run across a pathway either. You don’t want the cord becoming loose and it possibly sparking against the carpet. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need an outlet installed or have any additional questions.

Here in the MD/DC/VA area, it’s not uncommon for us to lose power when a summer storm rips through. And while these outages sometimes last only a few hours, storms that have occurred over the past several summers have left people in the dark for several days at a time. At Kolb Electric, we’re big fans of Generac generators—they are among the most reliable systems available, and they’re the only ones we install. That said, there are a few things you should consider if you’re thinking about installing a standby generator:

You can’t stretch the amount of power that generators supply, so make sure you receive an NEC (National Electric Code) approved load calculation with each proposal. Kolb Electric will provide this calculation with our estimate.

Standby generators must be permitted prior to installation and inspected following installation. Kolb Electric will do the work of acquiring the necessary permits for you, and we want to remind everyone not to have your system installed by a contractor who says they can do it with no permit. HOA requirements and approval processes vary, but key concerns often come down to noise and location.

In the event that your standby generator installation does not require a permit, make sure to ask if it will be installed up to NEC code.

Some people install generators to keep the essential functions of their home running, such as the refrigerator and a few lights. Others install theirs to be able to carry on with life as if nothing had happened. Before you install a standby generator, decide what you’ll want to run and what you can do without. Remember—too much capacity will needlessly inflate the cost of your system, so try to be realistic when deciding.

At Kolb Electric, we’re committed to installing your generator efficiently and effectively. Even so, the generator installation process can get hung up at different phases, such as permitting, and may take up to a few weeks to complete—especially during the busy summer months. Don’t wait until a major storm has been forecast before you install your standby generator! Try to do it during the spring or fall, before you need it (and, more importantly, before everyone else needs it!).

What type of generator will you be installing? Air cooled or liquid cooled? Is it natural gas or propane? Will you be receiving a gas meter upgrade? At Kolb Electric, we’ll talk you through your options and help make sure your standby generator does everything you need it to.

Whenever you have any sort of electrical work done, you’re not just buying the system—you’re also buying the company doing the install. With this in mind, it’s important that you know their qualifications as well as those of the technicians who will be installing your generator. Ask the following questions:

Kolb Electric has been in business since 1925, and all of our staff is licensed and trained to install Generac generators.

Standby generators require on-going annual maintenance, which Kolb Electric will provide with a service agreement. Make sure you also register your Generac generator with the manufacturer for warranty claims.

The lowest bid may sound appealing, but the deepest discounts won’t offset the costs of correcting an improper installation. When you see a huge price difference from one company to the rest, you can be sure something is being left out: load calculations, size inspections, and gas meter upgradesare just some of the areas where some unscrupulous contractors may cut corners and leave you up the creek when the big one hits.

Standby generators are designed to protect your biggest investment: your home. Take the time to get accurate answers regarding your system to keep your family safe.

If you’re thinking about installing a Generac generator in your home, call Kolb Electric today!