September is National Preparedness Month—just in time for peak hurricane season in Maryland. Severe thunderstorms and floods are also common to the area and with winter approaching, it’s always a good idea to prepare for the possibility of heavy snowstorms. National Preparedness Month is a time to educate yourself on how you can prepare for sever weather so that if an emergency does occur, you aren’t left in the dark.

Every home and business should have a plan in the event of an emergency. Do you know what to do if cell phone towers stop working or the electricity goes out? While no one can prevent a weather emergency from happening, there are a number of things you can do to get prepared for any disaster. National Preparedness Month is a great time to:

At Kolb Electric, we support National Preparedness Month and want to help you and your family be ready for whatever weather emergency Mother Nature can throw at us! We install standby generators and surge protectors to keep Maryland, Northern Virginia, Washington, DC home and businesses safe and running even during a storm. For help preparing your home or building for a weather emergency, call us at 877 287-1179 or contact us online today!

Twice a year (Spring and Fall), the High Point Market promises an array of new home furnishings, wall decor, lamps and lighting that define future trends and excite the imagination.  This year’s fall showing (October 18-23) did not disappoint!  Take a look at bright new styles, just in time for the holiday season.

More than 200 showrooms, filled with outstanding decor and illumination, offered a truly spectacular preview into the latest trends for the upcoming season.  Must-see items include modern table lamps from Van Teal, designer chandeliers from Crystorama and exclusive ceiling fixtures and outdoor lanterns “Made-in-America” from Framburg Lighting.

Van Teal’s “Burst” Collection

The “Burst” Collection from Van Teal features a must-see Gold Leaf and Artisteel finish.  See the entire collection from table lamps to island lights at 1800lighting.com.

Framburg Lighting’s “Brocatto” Collection

“Brocatto” from Framburg features lace and Italian glass for an exquisite presentation and dazzling illuminating effects.

Dynamic Collections from Libby Langdon Lighting for Crystorama

• The “Jennings” Collection

The “Jennings” collection features an artistic geometric in a Polished Nickel finish over White linen shades.

• The “Sylvan” Collection

The “Sylvan” collection features elegant chandeliers with a free-flowing design in Polished Nickel with linen shades.

Coming soon to 1800lighting.com…

“Timeless” table lamp from Currey and Company

Stay-tuned for more highlights from High Point coming soon to 1800lighting.com. Classic and modern table lamps, designer chandeliers and lighting fixtures made exclusively in America are this year’s big winners!

The days are getting shorter, the leaves are piling up higher and there’s a hint of pumpkin spice in the air. This can mean only one thing – Fall is near. This change in weather patterns and temperature will undoubtedly bring new challenges to electrical safety around the household. In order to stay safe and get the most out of your fall electrical services, please take advantage of the following 5 Expert Electric tips for Fall:

Although nobody enjoys the packing and storage of their Spring and Summer electrical household items, it’s a necessary chore that helps significantly protect the household from unnecessary electrical hazards. When packing up these electrical items, it’s imperative that they are stored safely and strategically in order to protect them from severe weather conditions. This includes warm weather tools such as lawn mowers, trimmers or any other electrical devices. It is also important to drain these household items of any leftover gas or fuel.

For outdoor projects that require electrical equipment, it is necessary to ensure that the equipment is weatherproof. Any lawn mowers, leaf blowers or other equipment should be able to withstand the cold weather, rain or snow that often comes with Fall. If you’re unsure whether or not your electrical tools are weatherproof, feel free to contact our team of electricians at Expert Electric.

Dry leaves are often overlooked as an electrical danger. To ensure your household’s safety in Fall, keep all dry leaves away from any electrical equipment including lighting, cords and outlets. Make this part of your household routine and get into the habit of cleaning up all the dry leaves.

It’s best to get an early start on this tip and get it out of the way before the cold weather and rain roll in. Set aside a couple of hours on the weekend to inspect all outdoor electrical wiring and cords to ensure they are damage-free. Even a small rip or tear in an electrical cord can make any devices susceptible to danger.

Since you will already be setting aside some time to inspect your electrical wiring and cords, take a few hours to also review all outdoor electrical equipment for any damage. This includes pools, hot tubs, saunas and more. Ensure that all of the equipment is operating properly and that any damage is fully addressed and handled before severe weather conditions roll through.

Have any questions about fall safety tips or electrical services? Expert Electric has all the answers! Please visit out contact page for a local number near you or fill out one of our online forms.  The Expert Electric team of licensed electricians is here to ensure all of your fall electrical projects are handled safely and efficiently.