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.

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.

In the winter months, having a standby generator is important for your business. But is it right for you? Not all businesses benefit from a standby generator, but for the ones that need one, a standby generator is almost essential!

If you’re in need of a standby generator in the Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia area, contact Kolb Electric today! Our expert electricians can get your business set up and ready for any bad weather that could come your way.

Ready, an initiative launched in 2004 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), focuses on business preparedness. Ready helps owners and managers of small- to medium-sized businesses prepare their employees, operations, and assets in the event of an emergency. If you own or operate a business in MD, DC, or VA, it’s important you understand some of the potential consequences that can result due to extended power outages, as outlined by Ready. These include:

Here at Kolb Electric, we can install a standby generator for your business that automatically kicks on within 10 seconds of power loss—which can give you complete peace of mind during a violent storm. We have years of experience installing standby generators for businesses in MD, DC, and VA, and we can tell you that installing a standby generator is a simple, affordable process—we’re one of the top electricians in the area, after all! Why wouldn’t you want cheap insurance against the threat of extended power outages? The standby generators we carry even conduct ultra-quiet weekly self-tests to test operation and performance.

If you’re ready for a standby generator, contact Kolb Electric today!

Nothing is quite so exciting as building a new home, especially when you're building your dream home to custom designs to suit every need your family could ever hope for. The rooms are placed the way you want them and the traffic flow is paced the way you want it. One aspect which is often overlooked but should be planned is the electric system for your new house. The electric system is more intricate than simply providing an outlet wherever you think you may want a light, but instead requires forethought and planning.