When you own a home, it’s easy for household expenses to spiral out of control. Every year, the average homeowner is in the unenviable position of spending thousands of dollars on owning and maintaining a home- and that’s just when everything is going well! If an emergency hits, many homeowners have to make sacrifices they can ill afford just to keep the home up and running. The best strategy to avoid disaster is to work on cutting down the everyday household expenses associated with owning a home.

So where does the money really go? On average, American homeowners spend about 34 percent of their income on home expenses. Paying for the house itself, of course, is the largest chunk of that expenditure, but does it surprise you to know that utilities make up the next largest amount? Most Americans spend about seven percent of their income on utilities; that’s more than what they spend on entertainment, clothing for the family and even health care! Obviously, that’s an area where it makes sense to find ways to scale back. If you live in Texas, it’s even more important than it is for people in other states as Texas electricity rates are 30 percent higher than rates elsewhere.

To save money on electricity, you need to understand it. Electric companies measure energy usage in kWh, which is a measurement of the hours you spend using 1000 watts. By lowering your kWh, you will, of course, lower your electricity cost, but where do all those kilowatt-hours go? Appliances can be huge energy hogs but so can game systems, televisions and computers. Older homes are often ill-equipped to handle the energy demands of a modern lifestyle, and this can be not only costly but dangerous, as faulty electrical systems can lead to house fires. Modernizing your home can save on more than just household expenses- it might also save your life.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to save on energy (and its associated costs). If your home is more than 20 years old, get your electrical system checked out by a professional to determine if you need any upgrades. Buy ENERGY STAR compliant appliances whenever possible, and turn off anything you’re not using, from lights and appliances to your Xbox 360.

Are you in need of an electrician serving the Pleasant Hill Iowa area?  Look no further.  Custom Electrical Services, central Iowa’s residential and light commercial experts has electricians in Pleasant Hill.  There electricians are available for all your Pleasant Hill electrical emergencies no matter the time of day or night.

From the simplest of electrical projects to the most lavish.  Custom Electrical Services will provide top notch electrical service for your next Pleasant Hill electrical project.  There electricians are serving Pleasant Hill around the clock.  From replacing a light bulb to rewiring your entire home there electricians in Pleasant Hill can handle the task!

Have a older breaker box, fuse box, or electrical panel in your home?  Have one of the electricians in Pleasant Hill come out to inspect it to insure everything is in working order.  Brands like FPE or Federal Pacific Electric have been know to cause fires.  Custom Electrical Services replaces dozens of FPE breaker boxes each year in Pleasant Hill, Des Moines, and surrounding communities.  If you have an FPE panel we recommend you call an licensed and insured electrician to have it replaced.  Not sure what brand your electrical panel is?  Call us today to set up a time to have your electrical panel inspected by a trusted professional.

With residential homes and commercial buildings demanding more and more electrical power to run todays electronics its no wonder your tired, overloaded, or weak circuit breakers trip.  Have an electrician come out to your Pleasant Hill home to run new circuits and dedicated circuits to your heavier appliance loads.  We can even install a whole house surge arrestor or surge protector in your electrical box to help protect your entire home or business from electrical surges.

Homes built prior to 2008 did not come with tamper resistant or child proof outlets installed.  Today current code requires that all outlets or receptacles in a dwelling come with tamper resistant plugs installed.  Some other businesses such as child care facilities, and some health care facilities require these life saving child proof outlets installed as well.  If you do not have these new style receptacles installed in your Pleasant Hill home please call today to have an electrician in Pleasant Hill provide you with an upfront cost to replace them.

We all know that lowering the thermostat a degree or two in the winter will also lower our energy bills, and that turning off the lights when you leave a room conserves energy. There's a lot more you can do to protect your wallet from high utility bills. The U.S. Department of Energy shares eight ways to help you get more bang for your energy buck.

The refrigerator may arguably be the most critical appliance in your home. We rely on them all day, every day to preserve foods and keep them fresh. And they aren’t exactly the quietest appliances out there, either, usually emitting a tonal drone when in operation. But occasionally that standard hum may become a rattle, or worse. Having trouble with a noisy fridge? If so, our electricians in Upper Marlboro might be able to help.

First thing first: is your refrigerator on a dedicated circuit? If not, noises are the least of your problems. Need help installing and wiring a new appliance for your home? Contact the team at Kolb Electric! We can bring you the service and quality care you deserve, and our electricians in Upper Marlboro are unmatched in skill and knowledge!

There are scant few things that can actually contribute to an unusually noisy refrigerator, which is technically a good thing, since troubleshooting the problem doesn’t tend to take too long. You could be dealing with:

Fun (Not Actually Fun) With Refrigerator Fans

The majority of undue fridge noise comes as a result of a dirty or damaged fan. There are a few fans that could be at fault here, somewhat depending on the type of refrigerator you have. If your issue is indeed a fan, it could be the:

Strange Sounds at the Base of Your Refrigerator

A consistent rattling noise coming from somewhere near the bottom outside of your refrigerator is almost certainly a loose drain pan. This is a really obnoxious noise, but actually a very simple fix, since it usually only needs a quick tightening using the appropriate tool (screwdriver, hex key).

A Troublesome Refrigerator Compressor

Your compressor can be found on the back of your refrigerator. It is almost always a big black metal fixture; looks sort of like a funky space helmet. But if the sound is your compressor, you’re in for some fairly bad news, since it’ll need to be replaced. In some situations, it’s a better idea to just replace the refrigerator in total.

Looking for an electrician in Upper Marlboro that can bring you superior service to meet your electrical appliance installation needs? If so, you can count on our electricians in Upper Marlboro! Our team has been proudly serving up the best in service for decades, and we’re just a quick click away!