An electrical emergency can cover a number of different situations. If the emergency is someone suffering from a severe electrical shock, you need to call 9-1-1 immediately for an ambulance. In this post we will deal with other types of electrical emergencies you may encounter in your home, such as sparking and power outages.

One piece of advice should stand atop everything else: call for the assistance of professional electricians when it comes to emergency repairs. You should never tamper with an electrical system on your own in an attempt to fix a problem, no matter how urgent it seems. The danger of electrocution or fire is high, and you cannot take the risk.

Electrical fires are one of the more common ways that house fires start. If exposed wires, an electrical short, or a malfunctioning appliance triggers a fire, do not throw water on the flames. If an appliance is on fire, disconnect it from its power source if possible or shut down the power. Use a fire extinguisher if you have one. (If you don’t currently have an extinguisher in the house, put it on your immediate “to-do” list.) Call 9-1-1 if the fire continues. You will need to call electricians after the immediate danger is over to track down the cause of the fire and discover what repairs and new installations are necessary to prevent it from reoccurring.

A power outage may come from the municipal grid, or it may be the result of issues with the electrical system in your home. If only your home is experiencing a black out, first check the circuit breaker panel to see if any tripped breakers are at fault. Then call for licensed electricians to look into the possible causes.

A power surge from a lightning strike or downed power line can cause damage to appliances, take out the power, or trigger an electrical fire. If this occurs in your home, you should consider contracting professional electricians to install a whole-house surge protector in the electrical panel so you will have few worries in the future.

Always remember, call emergency services first in the case of imminent danger such as fires or electricity. Once the immediate threat has ended, look to licensed electricians for repairs and other services that will prevent further problems and keep your home safe.

Pool lighting makes up a major part of your overall swimming pool costs, so it’s important that you figure out which type works best before you install them. The two major types of pool lighting are in ground lighting and above ground lighting, and your budget, needs, and preferences all factor largely into deciding which type to install. We’ll help you break down all types of pool lights to help you make the best choice for your Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC home—just keep reading!

One of the biggest benefits of in ground pool lighting is its streamlined look and even lighting. The two primary options for in ground pool lighting are LED lighting and fiber optic lighting (we’ll get into the pros and cons of each further down in this blog post).

Usually much cheaper than in ground pool lighting, above ground pool lighting is perfect for DC area homeowners looking to install a pool on a budget. There are a number of different ways to install above ground pool lighting, including:

Floating Pool Lighting

Floating pool lighting is exactly what it looks like. This type of pool lighting involves lights that bob up and down on the surface of your pool. It is available in a variety of colors and shapes, from orbs, cubes, and pods to more creative features like jellyfish shapes, flowers, and more. Floating lights can be solar powered and tend to use bright LEDs, but since they move around they don’t provide perfectly even lighting.

Magnetic Pool Lighting

If you have a soft-sided pool, magnetic pool lights are perfect for you. These two-part lights can be attached to the liner of your pool for an in ground pool lighting appearance with above ground ease.

The two major types of in ground pool lighting are LED and fiber optic, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages for homeowners in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Consider the following:

LED lighting – LED lights are housed in waterproof bulbs that can be removed to change the bulb. The bulb itself should last around 10,000 hours, however, so you won’t need to perform even this simple task very often. One to two bulbs should be enough to illuminate your entire swimming pool.

Fiber optic lighting – bulbs for fiber optic pool lights are located out of the water, making them even easier to access and replace than LED pool lights. To illuminate a whole pool, you’ll likely need more than one fiber optic light, though, which can get expensive.

LED lighting – LED lights range from $400 – $900 installed, and bulbs can last anywhere from 10 – 15 years. Replacement bulbs will run you about $200 – $400.

Fiber optic lighting – a fiber optic pool lighting system will require a fan to keep the light cool, meaning fiber optic pool lighting will be more expensive than LED lighting—think anywhere from $900 – $1,500 per bulb system. Bulbs typically last about 3 – 7 years, and replacing them will cost about $200 – $300.

LED lights – despite having the lighting components under water, LED lights are very safe and have a very low risk of failure. In addition, LED lights use very low voltage, which mitigates the risk further.

Fiber optic lighting – since there are no electrical components housed in the water, fiber optic lighting has close to zero risk of electric shock.

LED lights – LED lights can be used to fill your whole pool with light and illuminate the whole thing at once. They can also change colors to create a truly unique look for your backyard.

Fiber optic lighting – these types of pool lights aren’t as good at illuminating the whole pool at once, but they can create points of light to give your pool a sparkling, starry appearance.

In purely practical terms, LED lights have the edge over fiber optic lights—they are less expensive, easier to maintain, and provide much brighter illumination. But there are advantages to both types of pool lights, and Kolb Electric can help you find the perfect fit for you and your home. We can also provide you with further pool lighting tips here.

Electric cars are increasing in popularity as more people realize how economical the cars are. Gas prices are constantly on the rise and people are desperate to find a way to save money. Not to mention, electric cars are great options for those who are interested in preserving fossil fuels. If you have bought an electric car already or plan on purchasing one, you are probably interested in learning about how you can charge the car.

Your electrician in Glendale explains what you need if you are planning on charging your car at home. Depending on where you live, this may be a necessity. While public charging stations are becoming more popular, it is not always convenient to drive to a station and wait. At The Electric Connection, we understand the desire many people have to install a charger in order to charge the car overnight or whenever the car is not in use.

Electric car chargers are available in two main sizes. The smaller, slower charging station can be plugged in virtually anywhere. This station will not typically require an electrician’s help. The only time you would need to call a Glendale electrician is if you do not have enough outlets near where you park the car or you need an additional breaker to support the charging station.

If you are interested in the stations that charge the car in half the time, you will definitely need an electrician’s services. A new, higher voltage outlet will need to be installed. Depending on the current breaker panel in your home, you may also need an electric panel upgrade. A dedicated breaker will need to be installed that will be solely for the car charger.

If you are interested in learning more about your electric car charging options, please give The Electric Connection a call. We would love to assist you.

Hudson Valley designs and manufactures distinctive lighting with a full range of finishes and glass options to satisfy even the most discriminating customer. Hudson Valley lighting products are impeccably designed, featuring outstanding quality and value. Designs of distinction and manufacturing of the highest quality are synonymous with Hudson Valley lighting.

Found in interiors of many of the most exclusive residential and commercial environments, Hudson Valley lighting products are meticulous in design and manufactured to exacting standards. Lighting styles range from traditional and vintage reproductions to high-end contemporary designs.