Few of us can imagine living without electricity. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it powers our lives, from our heating and cooling systems to our communications networks to our cooking appliances. But electricity can also be a dangerous friend. You don’t want to tackle any but the simplest electrical issues yourself. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 55,000 house fires are caused each year by electrical systems installed or worked on by someone who isn’t a licensed electrician.

The secret to keeping your home safe is knowing when to call an electrician and when you can do it yourself.

Even the most modern, well-maintained home or building can have electrical problems. If you’re wondering when to call an electrician, we recommend you pick up the phone when you encounter these issues:

New Electrical Installations

If you’re building a new house, garage, or home addition, it’s important to start with proper wiring. A good electrical contractor will safely wire your home according to local building codes and work with you to understand your needs and how you’ll be using the space—ensuring that the electrical system will address those needs.

If you’re adding a new laundry area to your new addition, for assistance, you’ll want special outlets installed for all of those appliances. Will you be installing wall sconces in your new house? Your electrician can help with that too.

When it’s time to call an electrician for your Montgomery County home or business, there’s only one name you need to know: Kolb Electric! All of our workers are licensed electricians, and we’ve been helping area homeowners like you with their electric needs for nearly 90 years.

Kolb Electric is a full-service electrical contractor, and we are happy to tackle any household or commercial electrical project, from installing a new outlet to rewiring an entire house. We cheerfully offer free, fair estimates as well as 24-hour emergency service, seven days a week. To learn more about how Kolb Electric can solve your electrical needs in the DC metro area, and/or to schedule an appointment for our services, call us at 877 287-1179.

Find yourself scratching your head over what kind of gifts to bring your friends, family or loved ones this holiday season? The experts at Kolb Electric may not have all of the answers you’re looking for, but we may have a few solid suggestions! Allow us the opportunity to take the sting out of gift giving this season with one of our personal favorites: Smart Home Technology. A smart technology gift is sure to put you at the top of the gifting pyramid.

Smart Tech is a very broad term that includes any electrical installation that improves your control over your home. This can be done with remotes, control panels, and even your phone! Smart technology gifts can be applied to virtually any electrical installation in your home. This means lights, sound, HVAC systems, security and even certain appliances (Smart coffee pots are a miracle).

So what does smart technology have to do with the exchanging of gifts? Well, what better gift than one that has a positive impact on the receiver’s everyday life? Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

A lot of these fancy gadgets and awesome device need expert installation to work properly. We can provide the very best in electrical installation and services, and the expertise of our certified specialists is second to none. Contact Kolb Electric today to learn more about our installation services!

Holiday season takes on a life of its’ own and we are in the thick of it.  One more gift to buy, one more light to shine, one more guest to add to the table…   Take precautions to make sure you know just who and what you are inviting into your home.

Illuminate your home to the fullest, but know your lighting facts and be safe.  Check all lighting products for safety and buy all lights and electrical supplies from a reputable dealer.

Look for lighting showrooms that are backed by the American Lighting Association (ALA).  Check for a certified UL-Mark on all lighting products.

Decorative strings of holiday lights, Christmas Lights and novelty lamps from Bulbrite are of the best quality…

Get to know your lamps and lighting for a Safely Illuminated Holiday Season.

1.  The item has been evaluated and tested by certified-UL engineers to meet all UL safety requirements.

2.  The product is ensured against the risk of fire and electric shock as long as all safety instructions are followed according to the package directions and proper usage.

3.  UL’s green holographic label indicates that a product is for indoor-use only.

4.  UL’s red holographic label indicates that the product may be used indoors or outdoors.

5.  UL evaluates decorative lighting strings in accordance with the requirements described in the UL/ANSI 588, the standard for Safety of Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Lighting.

The Wonderland of Christmas pier lamp from Meyda Lighting is UL-approved for both indoor and outdoor usage.

The ANSI designation indicates that the American National Standards Institute approves the UL Standard as the American National Standard.

Elegant crystal table lamps from Schonbek are enchanting.

Accent lamps in crystal from Schonbek bring exquisite colors and sparkling brilliance to the table.

Find the best light fixtures and lamps for your holiday celebration at Capitol Lighting showrooms or visit 1800lighting.com, an ALA member showroom and company.  Lighting showrooms that are affiliates of the American Lighting Association (ALA) will only carry lighting products that have been tested for safety and are certified with the UL-Mark.