As winter approaches, there’s a lot homeowners can do to help get their homes ready for the cold season. As you make your list, it’s important to put your home’s electrical system on it. Making sure your home’s electrical system is prepared for the colder months is critical. With over 95 years of experience, the team at Kolb Electric is here to give you expert advice on how to keep your electrical systems running smoothly through the winter. Following this checklist from our experts will ensure you have an electrical system you can count on. Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Winte ..read more

Each year, between 45,000 and 55,000 house fires occur in the United States due to faulty electrical work or old wiring. Today’s homeowner puts much more demands on the home’s electrical systems than was anticipated when they were created. If you’re using computer systems, gaming systems, large appliance, and even “smart home” components on a system that’s designed for much less, your home’s safety is at risk. This is just one of the many reasons you may need to update your home’s electrical system. Knowing when to replace electrical wiring is important as a homeowner, because your family’s s ..read more

Your home’s electrical system is a crucial part of your comfort and daily routine, powering everything from lights to appliances to cell phone chargers. One of the most important parts of this system is the circuit breaker, a device designed to protect your home from electrical overloads and fires. Over time, circuit breakers can wear out or become faulty, which can be dangerous. That’s why it’s important to know when you need to replace your breaker. Keep an eye out for the following signs that a circuit breaker replacement is due: Frequent Tripping One of the most noticeable signs that your ..read more

Modern demands for electricity often exceed what the original builders of your home envisioned. It’s not unusual for older rooms, even kitchens, to have just one or two electric outlets, but that can put an unsafe strain on your wiring system. In addition, older homes (those 50 years or older) may have outdated aluminum and/or knob and tube wiring. If you frequently trip the circuit breakers in your home and/or notice discoloring around the outlets, this could be a sign that your wiring needs to be replaced. Old wiring is nothing to ignore. More than 26,000 residential fires are ..read more

Does Your Home Need a Heavy Up? How old is your home? If your home is 30 years or older, or if your electrical system has not been updated within the last five to 10 years, it’s probably time to examine your options. What a heavy up does is raise the amperage entering your house through its electrical service panel to enable your system to handle a larger electrical load. Some older homes will also need an electrical system upgrade to meet modern demands. Older homes with older electrical systems aren’t typically able to handle the stress of modern electrical appliances. So what can you do to ..read more

It’s football season, which means every Saturday and Sunday, your home’s TV becomes an essential gathering point in your home. Sadly, in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area, autumn is also thunderstorm season. So how can you protect your expensive TV from electrical surges and storms? The electrical experts at Kolb Electric have the answer. What Do I Need To Protect My Television From Electrical Surges? Electrical surges, whether from lightning strikes or otherwise, are easy to prepare for with proper equipment. And if you’ve spent four figures on a television, it might ju ..read more

Regular electrical preventive maintenance is critical for any home or commercial building in the DC area. When you have routine service done, it will keep your important electrical systems running longer and help you avoid costly repairs. In the event that there is an issue with your wiring, your electrician can uncover it during this routine visit so that repairs can be done before the problem becomes bigger — reducing downtime and repair expenses. Electrical preventive maintenance is also critical to ensuring your safety at home and in the workplace. Why? Because certain failures in your ele ..read more

Do you have an outlet in your home with only two prong holes? This is not just a manufacturing or builder error. Two-hole outlets are a sign of an ungrounded outlet. Here’s a closer look at what these are and what they may mean for your home. What is an Ungrounded Outlet? Ungrounded outlets are outlets that do not have a third prong for grounding (i.e., just the two slits and not the circle). Grounding redirects any hazardous electrical current to prevent damage to the home. For homes built before the 1960s, ungrounded outlets remain a potential problem that you will need to address. You may b ..read more

Spring brings with it a myriad of home repair and remodeling projects, many of which require electrical wiring or installations. Unfortunately, it is also a prime season for contractor scams, including those that involve so-called electricians. Learning how to spot these con-artists can help ensure you don’t get taken advantage of—keep reading to see our tips! The Most Common Electrician Scams Knowing the tell-tale signs of electrical scams is key to recognizing these ne’er-do-wells early and sending them on their way without any of your money in their pockets. Below are just a few that s ..read more

Maybe it was the attire that tipped you off, or the unmarked van. Whatever it was, the truth remains: there are plenty of home service scammers, and false electricians aren’t an exception. On the Kolb Electric blog, we’ve spent a lot of time talking about how to tell if various electrical appliances and processes in your home are bad or faulty. We’ve discussed outdoor lighting, breakers, outlets; we even did a bit on hot tubs! But what do you do if your electrician in Gaithersburg is bad? How can you even tell; and what separates the slouches from the professionals? Looking for reliable elect ..read more