Some electrical problems are harder to detect than others. That’s why, when trying to diagnose home problems, one of the best ways to quickly get to the bottom of the situation is with an infrared thermographic inspection. But what are the benefits of this inspection? Let the experts at Kolb Electric help!

When combined with traditional home inspection techniques, the infrared thermography inspection method reveals considerably more about your house than can be seen with conventional inspection tools. Some things our infrared thermography inspections have detected include:

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.

Because you don’t think of building a relationship with a Santa Monica electrician until you actually need one, most people have to do a little searching to find one that is exactly what they are looking for. Chances are, you have seen their trucks driving around town and/or advertisements on billboards and radio. Aside from their more obvious branding, however, most people know next to nothing about each electrical company. Because of the nature of the electrical business, there are many differences between each electrical contractor. Many electric contractors, for example, specialize in either commercial or residential electrical work. This is an important fact to consider. You wouldn’t want to hire a residential contractor for a commercial job, or a commercial contractor for a residential job. With a little looking, however, you are sure to find exactly the right electrician in Santa Monica for your needs.

Word of Mouth

As with most service-based professions, word of mouth is very powerful for electricians. In addition to providing top-notch electrical work, high quality electricians such as The Electric Connection also strive to provide the highest level of customer service. It is this customer service that will eventually gain them the referrals that drive their business. When you are looking to have electrical work done, such as having outlets replaced, ceiling fans installed or even a whole house rewire, start by asking your friends and family first. Many of them will have had first hand experience with at least one electrical contractor. Whether their experience with a particular electrician Santa Monica CA has to offer was good or bad, they will most likely be more than happy to share their story.

The Phone Book

The most traditional place to search for an electrician is in the phone book. Because the commercial section is conveniently divided into sections, you can very quickly obtain a huge list of electricians in your area. This is both good and bad. It is good, because you now have a pool of possible electrical contractors. It is bad, because there are so many to choose from. Start by narrowing down your search for a Santa Monica electrician by choosing only those within a certain distance. You can then do more research to find those that offer the type of services that you require.

The Internet

Another great place to find an electrical service company is the Internet. Because most electrical contracting companies have their own websites now, you can very quickly and easily do a large amount of your research quickly and efficiently just by starting with Santa Monica Electrician.” Your search results will typically bring you a list of the top contractors, such as The Electric Connection, in your area. You can then browse their website to learn more about their company.

What to Look For

Remember, there are a few things that you should look for. For example, make sure the contractor offers the types of electrical services that you are looking for. Any electrician that you hire to perform work on your property should also be properly certified, licensed and insured, as is The Electric Connection. This will ensure that the work done is safe and up to current regulations. You should also choose an electrician with a proven track record, references and examples of their work. A good electrician will be proud of their reputation, their previous jobs and the fact that they provide some of the best service in town. These technicians will be working on one of the most important components of your home or business, so don’t be afraid to expect the best from your Santa Monica electrician, The Electric Connection.

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At first glance, you might not notice much of a difference between your current electrical meter and your new Smart Meter. But inside, your Smart Meter is hard at work using advanced technology to identify and analyze data about your home’s energy consumption. These meters then communicate this data between your home and BGE via a secured network.

BGE began installing these advanced meters back in 2012, and they’re slated to finish rolling them out to every home and small business in their service area by 2015. Smart Meters can do some pretty amazing things, including:

You may already be used to your home’s existing electrical meter, which keeps an ongoing record of your home’s energy use and must be read by the power company each month so you can be billed appropriately. A Smart Meter, on the other hand, allows for two-way communication between the meter and BGE via a wireless network—a crucial point for building a reliable smart grid.

When you first get your new Smart Meter, you may notice that it seems to function just like your old one, without any of the supposed benefits of installation. This will be true at first, but over time, you’ll be able to experience everything the Smart Meter has to offer.

Best of all, Smart Meters have been thoroughly tested for safety and reliability. These meters are already in use across the country, and they have undergone extensive testing by other utility companies. Smart Meters operate at a level that is much lower (1.4%) than the maximum permissible exposure limits for radio frequency, as defined by the Federal Communications Commission. Smart Meters transmit for an average of about two minutes a day.

BGE will be installing Smart Meters throughout 2014. During that time, every BGE electric customer will receive one for their home. The utility provider will upgrade existing gas meters during this time period as well.

Several weeks before BGE begins installing Smart Meters in your community, you will begin seeing notifications in various forms, including ads in your local paper, materials at your neighborhood library or grocery store and booths at community festivals. A few weeks prior to installation, you will receive a letter in the mail informing you of when your new meter will be installed, or, if your meter is inside your home, providing you with instructions on how to schedule an appointment. For outdoor meters, you do not need to be present for installation. We’ll leave behind a door hanger to confirm that a new meter was installed.

Once your meter is installed, you’ll be granted access to BGE Smart Energy Manager, which will provide you with the tools necessary to better understand how you use your energy, and how to better save energy and reduce your bills.