Smoke detectors are wonderful devices. They save homes and property, prevent countless fire-related deaths, and alert people to potential fires before they are out of control. In fact, these alarms are so invaluable, many insurers offer discounts on homeowners coverage for homes equipped with working smoke detectors.

As a homeowner, you have to make certain that the various parts of your home are not only in good working order, but also safe. Electrical problems tend to occur from time to time, and the flickering light is one of the most common. But why does this happen? What should do about it? How can you prevent it from happening? Our electricians offer outstanding electrical repair for such problems, and we can make sure that your entire network of indoor and outdoor lights operates just as it should.

There are plenty of reasons why your light may be flickering, but the most important factor to consider is that there is a gap in the electrical current somewhere. For any wall or ceiling-mounted fixture, there is both a set of wires that link that light into the circuit as well as to the wiring within the wall switch box. There could be a loose connection in either of these two place. It could also be related to a faulty socket, wall switch, wiring or even the light bulb itself. It should go without saying that flickering lights are not something to be taken lightly (if you’ll excuse the pun). Even relatively small issues such as this can result in fire hazards.

You’ll want to stay far away from any live wiring, and we don’t ever recommend you attempting to fix the issue yourself. Not only might you put yourself in harm’s way, but you could also damage nearby wiring and your home itself. What you can do is to check the light bulb. It could be something as simple as that, but you won’t know if you don’t check. If that’s not the issue, then it’s always best to reach out to a professional electrician so that the problem can be addressed quickly and correctly.

As we've discussed before on this blog, spring brings with it a few weeks of abnormally wet weather here in the Mid-Atlantic, which is evidenced by the current storms that are barreling down on the region. Basements throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. are regularly flooded as a result, potentially costing homeowners thousands of dollars in damage if they didn't prepare accordingly.

While most residents know the importance of having a sump pump to keep the water out, there are other precautions that residents need to take to avoid catastrophe when their basements begin flooding.

Many older homes often feature electrical systems that are outdated and not up to current safety codes. One particularly sensitive kind of wiring is the "knob and tube" design, which leaves a complete grid of crisscrossing wires exposed along the ceiling of the basement. Its been decades since this kind of layout was considered acceptable in residential structures, and homes that have them are more than likely dealing with wires that have seen much better days.

During extreme weather conditions, any number of events could result in a deficiency in the system that may either spark a fire or down a wire in homes that feature knob and tube layouts. If the wires in the basement either fall or are damaged in the event of a flood, they have the potential to expose electrical currents to a growing pool of water. This is an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal safety hazard for homeowners to contend with.