It doesn’t feel like it yet, but fall is coming! Cooler weather and clearer nights are on the way; perfect time for some home hot tub relaxation. But when our electricians in Baltimore talk hot tubs, we have some concerns. These stem from various issues, but they can all mean one thing in the end: danger.

At Kolb Electric, your safety always comes first. Yes, even before our service (though you might argue that they go hand-in-hand; we would). If you’re considering a hot tub installation, or you’re just getting primed and ready to make use of the one you have, there are some factors we would like you to consider.

Looking for industry-leading electricians in Baltimore for your hot tub or home appliance wiring? Contact Kolb today!

The definition of the word faulty is “working badly or unreliably because of imperfections”, so when we’re talking wiring, faulty can mean old or damaged, or poorly installed. Both of these are equally dangerous and can lead to electric shock, electrocution, and fires! It’s serious business and we aim to help ensure you never deal with these potential threats.

So why are we so worried about hot tubs? Aside from the fact that they’re almost literally giant bathtubs with an electric current, once they’ve been installed many homeowners opt to never have the wiring inspected for water damage or replaced.

And even further beyond, some homeowners regard hot tub wiring as a DIY job. It’s really, really not. Wiring can get complex, and when you’re dealing with something as potentially volatile as electricity (especially when that electricity is surrounded you water!), even the tiniest mistake can become a harmful and even deadly issue.

So how do you get the glorious hot tub you’ve always dreamed of with none of the risks? Do these:

Hot tubs are made to be enjoyed, not worried over! When you’re ready for an installation, trust in the team at Kolb. Or if you’ve already got a hot tub, let our team make sure your system is working safely and effectively. Contact our experts today for the superior service and safety assurance you deserve!

If you buy an electric car now, you can benefit from rebates and tax credits. These financial incentives are time-sensitive and change from year to year. They are being offered to early adopters to “break the ice.” While this article focuses on Los Angeles, it can get you started on finding out about the rebates and tax credits available in your part of the country.

People are calling them “electric cars” or “Electric Vehicles” or “EVs.” I’ll use the terms interchangeably.

What financial incentives are available for purchase of electric cars? If you purchased an electric car in 2011, you may be able to reduce your federal tax bill by $2,500 to $7,500 with a tax credit. Other tax credits are also available. Converting your Prius or other non-plug-in hybrid to a plug-in can reduce your federal tax bill by 10% of the cost of the conversion. Purchase of an electric motorcycle or low-speed “around the neighborhood” electric cart can reduce your federal tax bill by up to $2,500.

Californians who buy an EV and act quickly enough can qualify for a rebate from the State of up to $5,000 on an electric car and up to $20,000 on a commercial vehicle. These rebates apply to many kinds of electric vehicles, including all-electric, hybrid, motorcycles, and low-speed “around the neighborhood” carts.

What rebates are available for installing an electric charger? Electric cars come equipped with a charging cord as standard equipment. This is called a “Level 1” charger. It charges an all-electric Nissan Leaf in about 20 hours and a hybrid Chevy Volt (which has an auxiliary gas-burning engine) in about 10 hours.

To charge your car faster, you need to buy and install a Level 2 charger in your garage or carport. A Level 2 charger works more than twice as fast as a Level 1 charger. With a Level 2 charger, you can easily take your electric vehicle from empty to full overnight. A homeowner who has a Los Angeles electrician install a Level 2 electric charger can receive a 2011 tax credit of 30% of the cost of the purchase and installation, with a cap of $1,000. This means that you can reduce your 2011 tax bill by 30% of what you spent on purchase and installation of a Level 2 charger, up to a $1,000 tax cut.

If you are a customer of the L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP), you may qualify for a $2,000 rebate on installation of your electric charger. To qualify, you need to also install a separate electric meter for your new electric car. Ask your Los Angeles electrician to see if you will save money with this approach.

Does EV charging receive any special break in electric rates? In Los Angeles and many areas of the country, yes. In L.A., both Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offer special reduced rate plans for charging EVs at night, during off-peak hours.

Both power companies encourage people thinking of buying an EV or installing a charger to contact them. Call DWP or call SCE for EV info. SCE has extensive information on its website. Both companies are particularly interested in customer plans regarding EVs because they need information for planning power demand.

Are there any other incentives for electric car owners? Some states, like California, provide a sticker to qualifying electric car owners so that they can drive in freeway carpool lanes regardless of the number of occupants.

Where can I get more information? EDTA is an industry organization for electric transportation. On their website you can find out more about incentives in L.A. and also check out incentives for electric cars in other zip codes.

Why are governments and utilities offering financial incentives for purchasing electric cars? Driving an electric car, rather than a gas burner, is one of the best ways to wean our country off oil and to help the environment. We Americans use 60% of the oil that we consume in our vehicles. That’s approximately the amount of oil that we import each year. So, if we stopped burning oil in our cars, we wouldn’t need to import foreign oil. Electric cars also give us the ability to transition to clean and renewable sources of electric energy like solar and wind.

Kim Hopkins has been a Los Angeles electrician since 1979. His company, The Electric Connection, is one of the foremost electrical contracting companies in the L.A. area. One of the specialties of The Electric Connection is installing chargers for electric cars. By doing a search on the web for: electrician Los Angeles CA you’ll easily find their company business listing on Google.

 Click here to visit our website.

Summer’s coming, which means it’s almost time to fire up the air conditioner if you want to stay comfortable in your home. But running an air conditioner can be expensive! Around this time, many people start looking for ways to save cooling costs. Some of the most popular methods include:

Other, more complicated ways people save money on their energy bills include adding insulation and planting trees. And while those are definitely effective and will save you money in the long term, there is an even easier way to save money on your energy bills that you might not have thought of—installing a ceiling fan!

You probably already know that warm air rises and cool air sinks. During the summer, running your ceiling fan counterclockwise will push air down, moving the cool air around and creating a breeze that will help you feel cooler, even if you turn the thermostat up a few degrees.  Some ceiling fans can make a room feel up to eight degrees cooler! During the summer, every degree you turn your thermostat up can save you from 3-5 percent on your cooling bills, so every bit helps.

Having multiple fans running at once can help even more by improving airflow through your entire home, so install them wherever you need them! Ceiling fans tend to be inexpensive and the comfort and savings they provide can’t be beat.

Don’t forget: running your air conditioner doesn’t actually cool your home—it only makes you ­feel­ cooler. Therefore, you should always shut the fan off before you leave the room!

You may already know that ceiling fans can help you cool off in the summer, but did you know they can also help keep you warmer in the winter? It’s true! Flip the switch on your ceiling fan so your fan will rotate clockwise. This creates a gentle updraft that pushes warm air up against the ceiling and down along the walls to the bottom of the room, making it feel warmer and helping you save up to 15 percent on your heating bills!

The same things apply to fans in the winter as the summer—multiple fans will increase the effect, but you should only run them when your home is occupied.

Ceiling fans are a great investment for anyone looking to save money and stay more comfortable in their homes all year long. If you’re looking for ceiling fan installation in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, call Kolb Electric today!

How to Choose the Right Residential Electrician Choosing a residential electrician in Chester County, PA  is a major decision. You want to make sure you get quality work done when you need and at a reasonable price. There are several things to consider when choosing an electrician to take care of your home.

Licensed, Bonded and Insured Probably the most important thing to check for when hiring an electrician is making sure they are licensed, bonded and insured. These things guarantee that the technicians have undergone the proper training, so the work will be done up to code and safely. Ask to see the documentation so you can ensure the electrician does have all of the proper documentation.

Pricing Make sure you ask for a quote before you authorize work. Ask for an itemized bill that breaks down the costs. It is also wise to get quotes from more than one electrician. You can then compare the charges and the qualifications.

Experience and Qualifications Just because an electrician is certified, it does not mean he or she has the same qualifications as other electricians. Some have additional experience or specialized training in specific areas of electrical work. There are some electricians who have accreditations. Master Electrician status guarantees, at least, three years of experience and the workmanship has a one-year warranty.

References Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Make a few calls to other customers so you can be sure that others are pleased with the work provided by this electrician or electrical team. Ask your friends and family for recommendations. You want to hire an electrician you can trust and work with for the long-term.

Work Performance and Customer Service After you have selected an electrician, take note of their behavior. You want to work long-term with an electrician who is punctual, professional and attentive. You also want him or her to be willing to communicate with you.

One of the most common electrical problems that faces homeowners is dead outlets. It doesn't matter if you live in an ancient home or your property was just built last year, dead outlets happen in almost every house and for a number of reasons.

Usually, an outlet will go out because the breaker or fuse that it is affiliated with it has been blown. Generally, this will occur because too much pressure is being put on the outlet for the power source to handle. The cause is usually a large appliance plugged in, like an air conditioner that is either an older model, meaning it probably uses extra electricity, or that is sharing the plug with another high-wattage appliance.

You'll need to go to either your fuse or breaker box to fix this problem. If your home uses breakers, flip the switch that corresponds with the outlet in question firmly into the off position, making sure it completely falls in place. Your breakers should be labeled, so identifying which one to switch should be relatively easy.

If you have a fuse box, make sure that your replacement fuse has the same wattage as the one that blew before twisting it into place.