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!

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 should alert you of possible electrician scams:

At Kolb Electric, we employ only the most skilled and trust-worthy electricians. We’ve been helping Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC area homeowners for over 90 years and have built a reputation based on our honest, reliable service. We understand that electrical terms can be confusing to most homeowners, so we make sure we take the time to explain everything that’s needed for your project—and the cost—before we start any work.

analysis released by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, from 2003 to 2015, New York spent an average of $1.9 million per inch of snow. The city’s average annual cost over the past 14 years has been $95.5 million. One way to cut costs is to invest in LED snow plow lights. While it might cost more initially to replace halogen or incandescent bulbs with LEDs, the long-term payoff is worth it. LED snow plow lights can last 25 times longer than standard bulbs and fixtures, which means a significant reduction in maintenance and replacement costs.

LED snow plow lights are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. From beacons, first state to use green lights on their snow plows, and they have also started using multiple color combinations, including amber, green, and white. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland, and the Yukon are using blue/amber combination lights to increase the visibility of their plows. All of these colors and color combinations are available in LED lights. The list below includes some of many LED lights that are perfect for snow plows in any part of the world.

Many homeowners assume that electrical fires always happen because of poor wiring within their house's walls. Believing that the fire had nothing to do with their actions. They tend to blame these events on the poor workmanship of those who built the house. However, many homes are consumed by flames that had perfectly adequate electrical systems where the wiring was completely up to code.

One extremely common cause of house fires are deficiencies in the items attached to outlets. Extension cords, for example, can be extremely dangerous to homeowners if they neglect to replace these items after they have exceeded their lifespan. These cords carry currents to secondary locations where they plug in with a remote appliance. If there is a weak connection where the two cords meet, this could mean an electrical current may be exposed, which is perfect fodder for fire. Once the connection between an extension cord and the male end of a cord that attaches to it has weakened, there is little that can be done to repair the damage.

Another issue is a frayed cord, which also exposes electrical currents to potentially flammable materials, like your home's carpeting. Many homeowners think that simply wrapping the exposed wiring in electrical tape is an adequate solution. However, even as a temporary remedy, this tape is insufficient, and will not guarantee adequate protection from exposure.

The warm weather has finally arrived and it looks like we have a good summer ahead of us. This is also the time when the electrical bills start to heat up as well. But keeping your house cool doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. Ceiling fans are an easy way to keep your thermostat up and your electrical bills down. Here are some summer maintenance tips for to get your ceiling fan moving its best.

Overtime a ceiling fan’s blades can collect dust. Once dust has accumulated on the blades, it can become airborne during use. This either spreads the dust through the air, which is not enjoyable for anyone in the room, or it can be sucked into the motor. If to much dust is drawn into the motor it can result in shaking and cause the motor to run hot. This can lead to an expensive repair bills down the road. Dust, vacuum, or use a damp rag to clean the blades every couple of weeks to prevent this build up and keep your fan clean.

Most machines with moving parts require lubrication on a regular basis. Older ceiling fans require lubrication while newer fans are self-lubricating. If you are unsure whether your fan requires lubrication, check the owner’s manual. If your fan is not properly lubricated the motor can become damaged and cause electrical fires.

When starting up your fan for the summer, there are several problems that can generate because of lack of maintenance:

Ceiling fans can be one of the most cost effect ways to keep your home cool this summer.

Across Nokesville and the rest of Virginia, parents and their kids anxiously await the arrival of Spring Break. The school year can be particularly stressful for everyone, both parents and kids, so we hope that you and your family are able to take full advantage of your downtime to relax. If you’re planning a getaway for your family, don’t forget to safeguard your home against potential threats. Getting adequate rest during this time is crucial for finishing out the school year strong. The last thing we want is for you to have to cut your vacation short because something went wrong at home. To get the most of your Spring Break holiday, follow these tips on keeping your home safe!

Whether you’re going to be gone for a few nights or the entire week, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to check on your home once or twice a day. Perhaps your neighbor can even keep a car parked there for the time being. You will also want to have your newspaper and mail picked up, as nothing says “I’m not home” like a driveway full of newspapers and a stuffed mailbox.

If you’re leaving pets behind, it’s especially crucial to have someone look after them. It’s always difficult determining just how much food and water your furry friend is going to need. For the safety of your pet – and for your peace of mind – make sure they’re properly taken care of!

Homeowners often make the mistake of leaving certain lights on at all times. While this may seem like an effective deterrent, it actually does quite the opposite. Wouldn’t you find it strange, too, if the same hallway and front room lights in a home were left on for several consecutive days? The goal is to make it appear as if someone is always home, so you want to follow a normal light pattern. You can do this by installing timers so that you can program your lights to turn on and off at designated times.

In addition to gaining control over your lights, by installing smart controls throughout your home, you can check to see if you remembered to lock the front door, close the garage, or turn the heat off. Even if you do have a friend or neighbor watching over your home, you might feel even better knowing that you can check on it too, even while hundreds of miles away.