It’s back to school time here in Arlington! Finally we get that cooler weather and lower humidity we’ve been begging for all season long. But with winter on our heels, there’s about to be a greater need for electricity use in the home. Is your home prepared to meet your increased electrical needs safely?

At Kolb Electric, we’re always about solutions. Whether you need wiring, electric outlet replacement, or even a heavy-up, we’re there to help! Let’s take a look at some of the most-used appliances and electrical sources in the home for winter, and how you can be sure you’ve got safe access to power.

With summer fun over, we have to find a lot of new ways to enjoy our homes, and many of these require access to electricity. Mostly this is totally fine, but there are some cases where you might run into some safety snafoos and snags (particularly in older homes).

At Kolb Electric, we eat, sleep, and breathe electricity. Well, not literally, but you catch the meaning. No one knows the industry like our certified electricians, and patrons have been depending on Kolb for superior service for decades! Contact us today to learn more about electrical services in Arlington, or to set an appointment for your back-to-school electrical service needs!

Valentine’s Day, 2016 is really just around the corner. You wouldn’t want to wait until the last minute before procuring a gift for a loved one, would you? Of course not. That is why we are encouraging you to take advantage of yet another great promotion from our team. Read on to learn about how you can take advantage of this offer that will help you to get your Valentine’s Day gift giving off on the right foot.

When you think of a romantic Valentine’s Day, you may think of soft candlelight before, say, high efficiency LED lighting or other electrical options. That doesn’t mean that the two need to be mutually exclusive, though, does it? By the time that Valentine’s Day rolls around, most of use are going to be looking forward to the onset of spring. One of the best parts about spring is the opportunity to get some projects done around the house, electrical work included.

If you have any further questions about our Valentine’s Day Gift Card Promotion, feel free to give us a call. A member of our staff will gladly provide you with any further information that you may need. With our help, you can get a head start on your electrical and HVAC services for the spring, along with your Valentine’s Day Shopping.

When you need electric work done, you may be wondering what the first step is and what you can expect. There are plenty of businesses in the phonebook, but choosing the right one can be a bit of a guessing game. You can rest assured when you call The Electric Connection for service. You will want an electrician in Burbank that you can count on to show up on time. Knowledgeable and honest are also very important factors to consider. You have a busy schedule and will need a company with a record of showing up on time and getting the work done promptly.

When you call for a service call, you likely have a problem, but are not exactly sure what it is. You will be forced to rely on what an electrician tells you is the problem. In order to properly troubleshoot an electrical problem, various tools and equipment will be needed. Hiring an electrician that has a fully equipped work vehicle can help save a lot of time. At times, repairing electrical problems can be expensive. If you are on a budget, you will likely only want to pay for what you need to get your home up and running safely. You will need a Burbank electrician who will provide you with an honest quote about what is necessary and what is optional, but recommended.

An electrical safety inspection is always a good idea. If the electrician is at your home, it just makes sense to have the inspection done then. When it comes to your home’s electric safety, it is imperative you choose a company who only hires electricians who know what they are doing and can give you honest quotes about any work that needs to be done.

Many people believe that the only time they need to call an electrician is when something is wrong in their home. That’s not true! There are a number of quick and easy jobs you can call an electrician for that can make you more comfortable and make your home safer and more efficient—changes you can make without breaking the bank!

Light fixtures – want to remodel a bedroom, family room, or den? Before you start knocking down walls, think of what a difference new lighting will make! With so many designs and styles of lighting, including recessed lighting and track lighting, you can create a truly new look without even changing the paint!

Ceiling fans – there’s not a lot that a new ceiling fan can’t do. Adding a ceiling fan to your bedroom or living room can help lower your heating and cooling costs, improve airflow in the room, and even add a touch of style. There are a huge number of ceiling fan designs and styles to choose from, including those that double as lights. Fans circulate air and keep things from getting stuffy and hot in the summer months, and stuffy and cold in the winter months!

Click here to learn more about ceiling and attic fan installation »

Bathroom fans – adding or upgrading exhaust fans is an oft-overlooked home improvement job that can actually make your home much safer and more comfortable. Bathroom fans pull in moisture from the bathroom when you take a shower (or from steam in the kitchen when cooking), which prevents water damage and inhibits the growth of mold and mildew. There are now bath fans available that include lights and heaters to add some warmth and light to your bathroom as well.

Upgrading your electrical system doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul of your home’s wiring or something equally major—a few minor tweaks can get you saving money and living more comfortably, day in and day out! If you’re interested in any electrical upgrades in your home, call Kolb Electric today!

If you have a lot of appliances running at once,  you can actually increase your chance of having a surge. When high-powered electrical devices such as AC units and refrigerators are working at peak capacity, it takes a lot of energy to keep their motors and compressors going. This high demand can upset the steady voltage flow through your electrical system.

You should also unplug your important appliances during a power outage. There is often a surge when the electricity comes back on.

Additionally, consider a surge protection device which goes in the electric panel where the circuit breakers or fuses are located. The suppressor will channel the extra electricity during the power surge and prevent it from getting into your main system. If you live in an area that experiences a lot of storms, a lightning rod might be a good idea to mitigate the damage of a direct strike. Finally, make sure your homeowner's policy insures you in case a surge does knock out your devices, despite your best efforts to protect them.

Your local Mister Sparky® electrician can help protect your electronics and appliances with whole-home surge protection. Give us a call and we'll explain the options and help you make the right choice for you.