At Kolb Electric, we think it’s always interesting to see what types of calls come in each season. So with that in mind, we’ve put together a short list of the most common issues we take care of every winter, spring, summer, and fall. We hope you don’t have any of these problems any time of year, but if you do, call Kolb Electric!

Space heaters tripping circuit breakers – space heaters consume a huge amount of electricity, and if they are plugged into an outlet on an already overloaded circuit (one used to power holiday lights, for instance), they’re likely to cause it to trip. Circuits trip to prevent damage to the wiring of your electrical system, so knowing which outlets are on which circuits can prevent this from happening.

Kolb Electric offers circuit breaker repair »

Wet electrical connections shorting your GFCI – water and electricity don’t mix, and GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are designed to trip if they get wet. If any electrical device in or outside your home gets wet it could cause part of your home to short out. Knowing where your GFCIs are located and which outlets they control, can remedy this problem. If not, an electrician is your best bet for pinpointing and correcting the problem.

Broken down AC – if your air conditioner suddenly stops working during the summer, the first thing you should do is check the breaker. If it’s tripped, shut off the thermostat and reset the breaker. If it trips again after you turn the thermostat back on, call an electrician.

Window AC tripping circuit breakers – like space heaters in the winter, portable window air conditioners use a lot of electricity. Labeling the breaker connected to high energy-consuming appliances will remind people not to plug things into the same circuit.

Trees falling on meter boxes and risers – DC area springs and falls come with pretty unpredictable weather, which in rare cases can end up in downed trees on your property. Even a light touch from a tree limb can rip the electric meter base and riser off of the outer wall of your house.

Replacing ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets –people like to test their GFCIs as part of spring and fall cleaning. So if you find any that need to be replaced, call Kolb Electric!

If you have any electrical problems in Maryland, DC, or Virginia, at any time of year, there’s only one name you need to know: the DC electricians at Kolb Electric!

Emergency power systems traditionally use generators powered by gasoline, propane, or diesel fuel.  The purpose of investing in one is to provide your home or business with a way to generate electricity in case a power outage occurs.  This can be invaluable when it comes to maintaining a comfortable temperature during outages, protecting computers and other hardware, preventing food spoilage, and a myriad of other things you take for granted while electricity is readily available to power everything.  Fortunately, even better options have become available that don’t require noisy traditional generators.

Have you heard of something called an Indoor Generator™?  Instead of being powered by messy and pollution causing fuels, these battery-powered units can be set up conveniently inside your home or business.  There are many reasons why these kinds of backup power generators are preferred by so many home and business owners.

An Indoor Generator™ installed by Dallas electrician, ElectricMan Inc.

With all of these benefits and the obvious versatility of indoor generators, it is clear why many people prefer them over standard generators.  A reputable Dallas or Plano electrician can easily get one set up for you today.

We’re excited to announce that we now offer

Multi-panel light systems are designed to add a point of interest and liven up a room. They can be used for numerous applications, including dental office lighting, lobby lighting, hospital lighting, classroom lighting, waiting rooms, conference rooms, basements, and more. A choice of stock cloud images can be split into two-, three-, four-, or six-panel displays depending on the chosen panel size. Custom panels can include any image and number of panels, and they can be arranged in any way.

Each Even-Glow® LED panel light uses perimeter-mounted LEDs with an optical diffuser to emit natural white illumination without visible bulbs or hot spots.

Dimmable and non-dimmable panels are available for custom or static levels of light. Dimmable panels consume just 40 watts of power, and non-dimmable 2-by-4-foot and 2-by-2-foot panels consume 50 or 72 watts respectively—significantly less than fluorescent fixtures. The panels have sturdy white or black aluminum alloy frames. They operate within a 100-277V AC range and are designed to last three times longer than fluorescent troffers.

The history of electricity is a fascinating subject. When we see a light go on or an appliance fire up, it is hard to imagine the thought processes that went into making that possible. In this article, we will look at the history of electricity from its very beginnings to how it has evolved over the years.

Benjamin Franklin flying a kite during a thunder and lightning storm. Franklin tied a key to the end of the kite string. The electricity from the storm clouds flowed down the wet string and ended up giving him an electric shock. This would serve as the first form of evidence that electricity existed. But it would be a long time until people could actually figure out how to use electricity in a practical sense.

One of the first breakthroughs in the history of electricity occurred when British scientist Michael Faraday discovered its basic principles. He discovered he could create an electric current by moving magnets inside of coils of copper wire. This revolutionized how we use energy. Faraday’s basic theory still comes to play on how we produce power today. Although now, we have the capability of doing this on a much larger scale.

Rural Electric Administration that ensured the availability of electricity in rural areas. By 1939, the number of rural homes with electricity had risen by 25%. Farmers were able to access electrical appliances like stoves and washing machines which made life much easier for them.