Spring is notorious for some wild thunderstorms that have been known to knock out the power for several hours and in some cases, several days. When the storm is especially large and the outage is widespread, you are going to struggle to get basic necessities like batteries for the flashlights, canned food and stuff for sandwiches. You are also going to be relegated to cold showers until the power is restored. It paints a pretty grim picture. You can prepare for a power outage and avoid all of the issues caused by not having electricity by having a generator installed by an electrician. Glendale homeowners can rely on The Electric Connection to take care of the installation and answer any questions they may have about standby generators.

Standby generators are an ideal option for anybody who is not keen to go even a few hours without electricity. If you have somebody in the home that relies on electric medical equipment, you work from home or you have small children, having a backup electricity plan is an excellent idea. Standby generators are different from the portable kind and are installed as a permanent fixture to the home by a licensed electrician in Glendale.

The generators are extremely easy to use and don’t require you to do anything but add fuel from time to time. A switch will be installed by a Glendale electrician that automatically turns the generator on when the power goes out. You won’t have to run extension cords or deal with difficult to start engines. You will need to determine how much power your home needs to stay functioning so you can purchase the right generator. If you are not sure, you can always give the team at The Electric Connection a call to learn more about standby generators and how they can help you ride out a storm.

Whole-home surge protectors are designed to protect your home from dangerous lightning strikes that could knock out power or fry your electronics, potentially resulting in thousands of dollars in damages.  Recently, however, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding whole-home surge protectors, claiming they’re a waste of money and don’t do what they claim to be able to do. So what’s the real story here? Are whole home surge protectors worth it?

We’ll start by talking about what surge protectors are not designed for: protecting your home from all sources of increased voltage. Power surges most commonly originate inside your home as a result of different appliances turning on and off. Depending on your home’s electrical service (100amp vs 200amp or whatever you may have), you’ve probably seen this in the form of flickering lights when your air conditioner cycles on.

Whole-home surge protectors do protect your home from power surges that originate outside, commonly caused by lightning strikes but also resulting from any interruptions to the power: downed wires or utility poles, wind damage, utility repairs, etc.

There are a few different ways power surges can occur. Lightning strikes, which people tend to be most worried about, are actually pretty uncommon—conditions need to be perfect, and the strike needs to occur less than one mile away from your home. Despite their rarity, lightning strikes can send a 200,000-amp jolt through your home and are definitely not to be taken lightly.

The majority of external power surges occur when the magnetic field created by wires conducting electricity collapses, which sends large voltages down the wires and eventually, into homes and buildings.

Effectively defending your home from power surges requires a two-step approach: first, outfitting it with a whole-home surge protector, then using surge-protected outlets and power strips indoors. Both types of surge protectors act essentially like pressure relief valves, diverting excess energy away and restoring normal operation once levels regulate.

Whole-home surge protectors are usually wired to a service panel and are designed to stop surges of at least 40,000 amps, though larger ones can be installed. Pairing them with individual plug-in surge protectors should do a good job of catching any potentially damaging energy that may get into your home.

Like many safety-related things, whole-home surge protectors are appliances you buy and hope to never actually use. But all it takes is a single downed line or big lightning strike to cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to your home—not worth the risk!

If you want to protect your home from dangerous jolts of electricity by installing a whole-home surge protector, call Kolb Electric today!

Christmas, Hanukkah, Valentine’s Day, Independence Day and even Halloween … No holiday is immune to the spell of twinkling of lights. Since July 2009, we’ve written over 600 blog posts. It comes as no surprise that a large majority of them have centered around a holiday. If you are one of the many folks hauling out holiday lights this weekend, you’ll appreciate this round-up of 6 Popular Holiday Lighting How-To Blog Posts that we’ve accumulated throughout the years.

1.

energy-efficient LEDs. If that’s not enough to convince you, this blog post from 2011 gives even more statistics on the benefits of upgrading your holiday string lights. (Update 2015: This blog post is now part of Winning the Battle on Christmas Lights: Artificial Trees

4. Lights for a Holiday-Ready Home

6. Follow Pegasus Lighting’s board Inspiration | Holiday Lighting on Pinterest.

Show off your style and freedom of choice with superb outdoor hanging lanterns and light fixtures from “All American” home lighting and furnishing vendors.

Hanover Lantern, Hubbardton Forge and Northeast Lantern feature outstanding designs manufactured exclusively in the USA and infused with American pride.

HANOVER LANTERN

Hanover Lantern with roots near historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania brings in the endearing elements of small town USA.  Trusted Old World values live on in their custom made-to-order outdoor lighting compositions.

Hanover Lantern’s commitment to creating an American-made, quality product is highlighted in their cast aluminum outdoor lighting products and accompanied by superb accessories, including mailboxes and address signs. Featured on the finest homes, businesses and resorts throughout the United States and Canada, Hanover Lantern is now a Philips Company.

Philips Company, the largest lighting manufacturer in the world, has put their name behind Hanover Lantern and lives up to their slogan: “Tailor Made to Fit Your Style.”

HUBBARDTON FORGE

Hubbardton Forge Lighting fosters an environment infused with collaborative energy as designers, engineers and craftspeople work side by side free to connect, explore and create.

Housing “The Modern American Blacksmiths,” Hubbardton Forge is the oldest and largest commercial forge in the country with a team of over 200 people creating hand-forged compositions infused with timeless beauty and artistry.

A company that is accessible and always responsive to special design requests and individual decorating requirements, Hubbardton’s strong commitment to outstanding design and the development of energy-efficient lighting solutions is showcased in every piece.

Structural integrity in heavy gauge steel, durable finishes, hand-welded arms and shafts, and premium grade internal components ensure products last for generations.

Pioneers of environmental cleanliness and innovative manufacturing processes, Hubbardton light fixtures are composed of raw steel from a high percentage of recycled materials and a state-of-the-art powder coating finish free of hazardous waste and toxic chemicals associated with liquid finishes.

Resistant to rust and corrosive elements, creative works from Hubbardton Forge Lighting lend splendid illumination to your indoor and outdoor lighting design.

In addition to awe-inspiring outdoor hanging lanterns and light fixture designs, skilled artisans at Hubbardton Forge also create unique home décor items, including mirrors and bathroom accessories.

When you own a Hubbardton Forge pendant, lamp, chandelier or outdoor hanging lantern, you own a piece of Vermont-made art of enduring value.

NORTHEAST LANTERN

Handcrafted light fixture compositions from Northeast Lantern come to light right in the state of New Hampshire.  Light fixture designers and craftsmen are trained by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to present a finished product in a clean and green manner.

From the classic “Colonial” collection to the modernistic “Midtown” collection, light fixture designs from Northeast Lantern represent the enduring spirit of American life.

Enjoy reasonably priced outdoor lighting fixtures made of solid brass and copper from Northeast Lantern.  Northeast Lantern products are custom designed with unique variations in hand-applied natural finishes.  Outdoor hanging lanterns and light fixtures will darken and weather over time; retaining their beauty, they will never rust, peel or chip.

With the exception of glass, Northeast Lantern guarantees all products for life.

Enjoy the best of America; check out new “Boston” and “Concord” collections from Northeast Lantern.

From Generation to Generation, Hanover Lantern, Hubbardton Forge and Northeast Lantern Continue to Provide the Best

Keep your stars and stripes shining true with top quality outdoor hanging lanterns and outdoor light fixture designs.

Celebrate July Fourth Weekend with these American Beauties…

New from Northeast Lantern

The “Independence” outdoor lighting collection.

New from Hubbardton Forge

The “Modern Prairie” collection 36-5710

New from Hanover Lantern

B9976 “Four Sided Series” outdoor hanging lanterns

Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or shop 1800lighting.com to view the finest in home lighting and accessories.  Celebrate your American pride and enjoy spirited new designs from Hanover Lantern, Hubbardton Forge and Northeast Lantern!