Now that my wife has married an electrician, she insists that I take every possible measure to ensure that the electrical system of our Los Angeles home is safe. One important step was to ensure that it’s properly grounded.

What is electrical grounding, anyway? Grounding adds a safety factor for your family and your electronics. Here’s how it works. Electricity travels the path of least resistance. If an appliance like a toaster breaks, electricity can flow on the metal outside of the toaster. Touching it could result in a serious shock, causing injury or even death. But if the electrical system is grounded and the toaster is plugged in with three prongs, the electricity won’t flow to the outside of the toaster. Instead it will flow through the third prong back into the wires and harmlessly into Mother Earth. Thus, the term “grounding.”

An electrical system can be grounded with various types of devices. A “ground wire” is simply a wire attached to your electrical system that’s been pushed securely into the ground. Metal pipes (electricians call them “conduit”) that hold and protect your electrical wires can also act as a grounding device. Sometimes, grounding is provided by running a wire from your electrical system and attaching it to metal plumbing pipes that run into the earth.

Grounding protects not only people but also sensitive electronics. Without grounding, electrical charges build up in wiring and create slight but continuous damage to delicate electronics. This damage can shorten the lives of computers, phones, and any electrical appliance that has “smart” (computer) components — possibly your fridge or dryer.

How can I tell if my electrical system is grounded? Homes built before 1950 were sometimes grounded. Homes built after 1950 were usually grounded. Even if your system was originally grounded, wiring mistakes may have rendered the grounding ineffective. The only way to know for sure is to have a qualified electrician check out your electrical system with a special tester. My electrical company, The Electric Connection, offers this check as a complementary service. It’s part of our Free Home Safety Inspection when we do an electrical job for an L.A. resident or business. If you’re outside Los Angeles County, you may find an electrical contractor who offers testing as a free service or as a service call.

My electrical outlets have three prongs — are they grounded? If your home has electrical outlets which accept three prongs, it MAY have a grounded system. The third prong allows an appliance to be grounded IF it’s plugged into an electrical system that has a grounding device.

Sometimes three-pronged outlets have been installed in electrical systems that aren’t grounded. This can make it look like the system is grounded when it’s not. Do-it-yourselfers or handymen may install three-pronged outlets in an ungrounded system not realizing the hazard or that such a set-up violates the National Electrical Code.

Sleep sounder with a grounded electrical system If you’ll sleep sounder knowing that your family and electronics are safe, give your electrician a call. If you’re in L.A. County, we at The Electric Connection will be happy to provide you with a full safety check of your electrical system, including grounding. Give us a call at (800) 990-9490 between 8 and 5. If you have other electrical work that you want us to do, use this coupon for a Home Electrical Safety Check and we’ll add your safety check for free.

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Is your outdoor lighting helping or hurting your home? At Kolb Electric, we believe that outdoor lighting is an important part of the overall look and function of your Washington, DC area home. From adding to your home’s security to making it look its best no matter what the time of day, outdoor lighting is an important part of your home. If you’re considering installing outdoor lighting in your home, here are some thoughts you need to consider.

Ready to install outdoor lighting in Washington, DC? Contact the Kolb Electric team now!

Are you considering ways in which you can improve your home’s appearance and security? Outdoor landscape lighting in Washington, DC can do both. By combining beautiful outdoor lighting with your home’s landscaping and adding lighting to areas that are dimly lit, you can increase your home’s value and appeal while decreasing the risk of theft.

Outdoor lighting brings several benefits to your home. Some of these include:

Kolb Electric understands how to design lighting plans for your Washington, DC home that provide all three of these benefits. If you’re looking to improve the look, safety, and security of your home then outdoor lighting is the way to go.

Before installing landscape lighting you will need to know the different types available to you. Here are some common options to consider:

LED lights are low-voltage lights that can illuminate small areas, like individual stairs, garden plants or railings. They don’t use much electricity and last a long time, making them an economical investment. They are available as individual lights, spotlights and rope lighting.

For homes with a pool, pool lights improve nighttime swimming by illuminating the water from below the surface. They can also be installed in outdoor hot tubs.

Pathway lights dress up a path and help reduce tripping hazards. These are often low to the ground and can be solar powered, drawing energy from the sun during the day and then expending that energy with a subtle glow at night.

Security lights light up dark spots in the yard to protect against intruders. Some security lighting is triggered by motion, while other lighting stays on all night long.

Which type of outdoor lighting is right for your home? The answer will depend on your goals. Whether you’re looking for additional safety and security, want to spruce up the look of your outdoor space or simply want to highlight a part of your outdoor space, you can find a landscape lighting option that will fit those needs.

If you’re looking to improve your home with outdoor lighting, you are going to need to make some considerations before you invest. Choosing the right lighting starts with understanding how you want to use it. Here are some considerations you can make.

First, decide if you plan to illuminate a dark area of your yard constantly or if you want to turn the lights off after enjoying them. If you’re going to leave the lights on all night long you may wish to invest in an energy efficient lighting option. The more efficient the bulb is, the less you will be spending on energy bills. Remember that you won’t need much light at night so low-voltage and efficient lighting is a great way to keep the energy bills in check.

If you feel that the high energy cost of leaving the lights on is a bad idea for your budget, consider using motion sensors in areas where you need lights for security or safety. Motion sensors will light up the space when someone is present, adding the safety you’re looking for in your home.

Finally, consider what you’re looking to illuminate. This will help you choose between the two main types of outdoor lights – uplighting lights and downlighting lights.

Uplighting lights shine from the ground up on a surface, like a landscaping feature or a tree. Downlighting lights shine down onto the ground, which can illuminate an unsafe area or highlight a plant you wish to show off. Both can be incorporated into your design as you work to illuminate your yard.

When you have a basic idea of what you want in your outdoor lighting, then the real fun can begin. The Kolb Electric team is ready to help you with the design process, so you can be certain your final project will do exactly what you want and need it to do. As you consider your design options, make sure you take these factors into consideration:

If you are ready to transform your home with beautiful outdoor lighting, Kolb Electric is here to help. Our design team and licensed electricians can help you with the entire process, from choosing the lighting that best fits your needs and tastes to installing it expertly. Let us help you create an attractive outdoor lighting scheme in your Maryland, Northern Virginia or DC area home. Give us a call at 877-287-1179 today, or you can contact us online.

One of the questions we’re frequently asked is, “How do I know if I have to replace a light switch in Fairfax, VA?” And that’s a very good question, because most of us don’t think twice about flipping a switch on or off. However, it’s critical that you make sure your light switches are in good working order, because not doing so is likely to end in injury, especially because flipping a switch is an automatic action.

Just think about it: you come home in the dark, and the first thing you do is switch on the light. Or if you wake up in the middle of the night and need to go to the bathroom. That’s three light switches you have to navigate while being barely awake (the one in your bedroom; in the hallway; and in the bathroom). Same thing if you enter your garage on a winter morning: you’re focused on getting in your car and getting to work safely—not on the possibility of getting an electric shock from a faulty light switch.

Signs You Need to Replace a Light Switch in Fairfax, VA

So how can you tell if your light switch needs replacing? Pay attention to the following signs:

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to call us! The sooner you call, the better, because a faulty light switch can cause electrical shocks (which can in the worst case be fatal!) and electrical fires that can destroy your home and injure your family or worse—cost them their lives. So be responsible, and call Beacon right away!

Lighting fixtures can be a great addition to your household especially if you’re looking to improve your home’s appeal. Dim or flickering lights can be frustrating to deal with and can cause a real headache. Turning the lights on to only find yourself surprised with weak light bulbs can be inconvenient. And when it comes to your kitchen and bathroom, lighting fixtures are so beneficial since they see the most usage in your home. With poor lighting efficiency, you will see a decline in functionality for either room. Lighting is always going to be a key component for your home and that is why it is important to take care of lighting issues. When you’re looking make upgrades for your home, lighting fixtures should be at the top of the list.

Track lighting is a great option for homeowners who are looking to increase both the appeal and visibility of their bathroom or kitchen. Since track lighting is fairly easy to install, it can become an immediate update to increase the degree of illumination for your home. Track lighting will also allow you to point lamps in any direction, increasing the level of customization of lighting fixtures that you can take advantage of.

One of the lesser lit areas of your bathroom or kitchen is probably around your cabinets. It can be frustrating trying to find spices or even towels without enough lighting surrounding it. A helpful lighting installation is adding one under the cabinets. This is the best solution to this problem and in the meantime, adds an ambiance to the kitchen and bathroom areas of your home.

Feeling classy? Finding unrivaled lighting fixture.

We’re excited to announce that we now offer Printed LED Panel Lights for custom backlit signs, trade show and exhibition displays, product advertisements and branding, mobile displays, logos, and so much more! Our user-friendly panel building tool lets you configure a panel in four easy steps. Simply choose your ideal panel size, upload or select an image, edit your image, and choose a frame. You’ll be able to see your panel as a finished product with all chosen options. Compatible accessories will be listed before you reach the checkout page.

There are many aspects of our Printed LED Panel Lights that make them unique. Check out the information below to see why they’re so special.

We offer three types of panels: wall-mount, stand-alone, and 12-volt. These LED panel lights are available in a variety of sizes and are designed specifically for their intended applications.

Stand-alone panels come with a plug and a wire enclosure box. They can be used almost anywhere for any purpose from backlit signs for product showcasing and branding to window signage and custom logo displays on desks and shelves. These panels are available in 2′ x 2′, 2′ x 4′, and 1′ x 4′ sizes.