On average, over 350,000 home fires take place every year, claiming thousands of lives. How are your smoke detectors functioning? Don't make these mistakes with your smoke detectors:

Make sure your smoke detectors are installed correctly The U.S. Fire Administration recommends installing alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas. At a minimum, alarms should be located on all levels of your home, at least one near each sleeping area and preferably additional detectors in pathways between sleeping areas and exits out of your home. If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, smoke or use heat-producing appliances in or near your bedroom, or have noisy appliances in your bedroom that could block the sound of a smoke detector (TVs, stereos, air conditioners, and more), it is especially important to install one inside each bedroom. Always use a licensed electrician when installing hardwired smoke alarms. Alarms should be installed:

Smoke detectors save lives. Don’t fall victim to these common smoke detector problems or behind today’s recommended standards for protection. Contact Mr. Electric® today to ensure the proper installation and operation of these life-saving safety devices in your home.

Happy Halloween to all of our customers!

Programmable thermostats have become hugely popular this Fall and Winter and the reason is that they provide some very substantial energy saving benefits, improved comfort, convenience and cost – $$$ effective savings. These thermostats save energy and money on utility bills by allowing residents to set home temperatures according to various different factors.

Programmable thermostats supply personal comfort through pre-set temperature levels and are generally more convenient and accurate than manual thermostats.

Here is the best part: If you’re looking to cut back expenses, you will usually see the return on your programmable thermostat investment within one year. When used properly, this device can save residents about $150 annually. Programmable thermostats are also a plus for the environmentally conscious because they contain no mercury and are eco-friendly. Using less energy helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production.

If you are a homeowner who work s outside the home during the day and have a different schedule on the weekend, a programmable thermostat can offer many benefits.

Programmable thermostats can be set to adjust the temperature of a home according to a your schedule. Here is the best part about this: the temperature on programmable thermostats can be set to change based on whether or not the home is occupied or whether residents are asleep or awake. For example, in the morning before you wake up, the thermostat can be preset for a slightly warmer temperature. As well, the thermostat can be adjusted for both heating and cooling seasons.

Programmable thermostats can automatically store settings and repeat those settings each day. However, they can still be manually set, overriding the programming when desired. A programmable thermostat generally allows more precise temperature management and a wider range of selections, offering a number of programming choices.

Most conveniently, it provides daily programming that allows one schedule to be used each day. Additionally, you can program your thermostat with different settings for the weekend. In fact, most programmable thermostats have a full seven-day programming ability, allowing for a different temperature schedule for every day of the week.

Call Expert Electric and we will be happy to install a programmable thermostat for you!

Most electrical work requires the expertise of a professional electrician in order to be completed safely and effectively. Improper repairs or installations are not only frustrating but also potentially dangerous, leaving you vulnerable to shocks or even electrical fire. Unscrupulous electricians may also recommend unnecessary, costly repairs so it’s important to be weary of electrician scams during your search. That’s why we’ve come up with this guide to hiring an electrician for our Northern Virginia clients looking for the best solutions in the region.

We recommend you ask about the following on your search for the best Northern Virginia electricians:

Your neighbors throughout Northern Virginia have relied on us for all their electrical needs, including installations, replacements, repairs, and maintenance, since 1925. What makes us the best electricians for your project?

When you need reliable electricians in Northern Virginia, there’s only one name you need to know—Kolb Electric! Call 877-287-1179 or click here to schedule service online.

Most often, homeowners choose to have their flat screen TV mounted on a wall. Doing this requires finding studs, deciding on mount brackets, and in most cases adding new electrical outlets. That being said, this is not a job for an amateur or a DIY-enthusiast. Rather, it’s a job for a professional electrician. Keep reading to learn why.

Tilting mounts hold the TV flat against the wall and allows for downward tilting. This is ideal if the TV is going to be mounted up high—perhaps over a fireplace. For other homes, an articulating mount might be the better choice. This places the TV on a retractable arm that allows you to pull the TV out and swivel it.

What will be connected to the TV? You may have a cable box, or some other digital receiving device. Maybe you also have a gaming console. Many of these wires come with relative cables that will need a place.

As we just mentioned, you’ll have a lot of components that go along with your TV. Where will your cable box go? Will you need to have shelving installed as well? These questions will help determine where and how you’ll have the TV installed, and whether or not you’ll need specialized electrical services.

Your professional installer can help you decide this, however it’s a good idea to go into the installation with some sort of idea of where you’ll be most comfortable watching the TV.

Whether you have dry wall, stone, or brick, this will need to be taken into consideration when installing a flat screen TV.

High voltage cords, such as the plug for your TV, are not allowed to go behind walls, according to fire safety codes. This means that your installer may need to add an electrical outlet on the wall where you’re mounting the TV if one does not exist already.