In this blog, we talk a lot about potential dangers. From water damaged wires, to possible causes for power surges, we try to cover it all. Why do we spend so much time on this? Well, for one it makes for decent reading. Learning things is always kinda fun. For two, and the more important, is that electricity can be dangerous when misused or damaged.

At Kolb Electric, your safety is always the top priority. Second to superior service, of course. And today we’ll be covering something a little new (though we’ve mentioned it a bit here and there). Ever wondered exactly how safe outlets actually are? After all, they’re essentially tiny holes full of electrical potential located all over your home. Should you be worried? Well, it depends!

Contact Kolb today to get top-quality electrical outlet installation from our certified electricians!

It’s actually kind of a loaded question. How safe is a kitchen knife? It’s pointy and sharp. And there’s potential for injury there. But, if you use it right, there’s no real danger! It’s pretty much the same with outlets. When they are used properly, you shouldn’t have much to ever worry about. Oh, and the type is important, too.

What do you mean “type”?

Certain types of outlets should be used in certain ways for maximum safety and functionality. For instance:

Aside from these types and stipulations, there are some small things to consider. A damaged outlet is always dangerous. Even if it’s just a busted plastic cover. Skin, organic materials, or moisture coming into contact with an uncovered or damaged outlet can result in shock and electrocution. Never take chances with this.

We hope you learned some cool things today! And if you learned that some of your outlets might be somewhat unsafe, we hope you choose our experts to provide the electrical outlet installation services you need. Keep updated, and you should never have to worry about your outlets. Looking for service in your Rockville home? Contact us today!

Solar panels have numerous benefits. It is important to do research and understand how solar panels provide energy for your home. Understanding the process will allow you the benefit of realizing how unique and cost effective solar energy can truly be.

Since the sun’s light contains energy, when the rays hit an object, the energy emitted turns into heat. This is similar to feeling the warmth of the sun on your face. However, when it hits certain materials, instead of turning into heat, it turns into power that can be harnessed as an electrical current.

When using solar panels made up of these materials, your home can be powered by solar energy, while using your current electrical wiring to run it throughout your home. You also can stay on with your electrical company, so that when cloud covers and bad weather roll in, you will not notice any difference in your home’s power.

Now, since there is also the option of leasing solar panels, the cost of solar panels has decreased somewhat. One of the biggest setbacks for most people, in the past, have been the cost, but with the option to install solar panels by leasing them, combined with a significantly lowered electricity bill,  they have been able to be much more affordable.

There is also the benefit of using an energy source that doesn’t pollute like the current fossil fuels being used. The sun has an ample supply of energy, and a small percentage of one second of its energy being enough to power the entire world.

With so many benefits and understanding how the energy is transferred into power, you will be better equipped to make the decision to switch over to solar in your own home or business. If you have more questions, check out The Electric Connection’s website and blogs for more information about solar power information and solar panel installers.

Has it ever happened that you noticed an inexplicable rise in your electricity bill in spite of using the same appliances for the same amount of time that you generally do? No, the neighbor’s bill didn’t get delivered to you accidentally and neither is it the fault of your electrical services provider. There might be a number of other reasons behind a rise in your bill amount, which generally aren’t taken into account by a majority of people. Let’s take a look at them –

1. Faulty Appliances If your domestic appliances like washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, etc., are faulty, they will consume more energy than normal. Also, faulty wiring can damage the appliances in the long term, lead to electric fires or even get electrically charged, which may give you life-threatening shocks if you come in their direct contact.

Were you aware of the fact that your home electrical equipment is frequently bombarded by very brief spikes in electrical power called power surges? These surges can slowly burn up the inside of your electronic devices, leading to a shorter lifespan than you should normally have. Although the most dangerous type of power surge comes from outside of your home and could destroy your devices in one fell swoop, this type of surge only accounts for about 30% of all power surges. The other 70% of power surges are generated from within your home. These surges are caused by some of your larger appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners.

A large power surge causes very fast, widespread damage. This can cause your wiring to burn up, devices to short circuit and motors to seize. Whenever you think of power surges, this is typically what comes to mind. The majority of power surges, however, remain unnoticed until your device meets an early end. This type of incremental power surge slowly eats away at the components of your electronics until they no longer function.

While it may seem like there is not much that you can do to prevent this, there is. One of the best ways to prevent against both large and incremental power surges is with surge suppression systems. This includes a combination of both local and whole house surge protection. For the largest level of protection, you should have your local electrician in Beverly Hills install a whole house surge protector. You can then protect especially sensitive devices with their own individual surge protectors.

By protecting your home from power surges, you help to ensure that your devices have a long lifespan. This not only keeps everything running as it should, but also saves you money in the long run. If you have any questions about whole house surge suppression, or would like to schedule an appointment for installation, get in touch with any of our technicians at The Electric Connection. You can also learn more from the resources at The Electric Connection website .

There are times when a circuit breaker will trip, which results in no power to an outlet or specific circuit. This can be caused by a number of different things. In most situations, the circuit breaker can be turned completely off and flipped back on without any problem. The following steps are provided by an electrician. Beverly Hills homeowners can count on The Electric Connection for more information about this problem.

*When you suspect a circuit breaker has tripped, turn off, unplug or shut down any electrical equipment, like computers, that can be damaged when the power is abruptly turned off and on.

*Go to the breaker panel and find the breaker that is flipped. You will be able to identify it by an orange color showing in most cases. The switch may look like it is in the middle rather than the far right or left. If it isn’t obvious which breaker has tripped, start at the top and work your way down until the power returns to the outlet.

If the power was fixed and the outlet is working fine, it may have been overloaded. Having too many things plugged in is one reason this happens. The problem could have also been a faulty appliance being plugged in.

If the power is not restored, it is time to call an electrician. Beverly Hills residents will be interested to know that about 25 percent of tripped breaker issues can be fixed with these steps. The other 75 percent of the time will require an electrician to come in and troubleshoot the problem. One common fix is a breaker replacement. Over time, breakers can become worn and faulty.

To avoid any electrical fire hazards, it is best to get the breaker replaced before it becomes a serious problem. Give The Electric Connection a call today if you need help with tripping circuit breakers.