An inexpensive way to help ventilate your bathroom is with the installation of a bathroom fan. If you already have one, is it adequate? Homeowners have probably realized an improperly operating or nonexistent bath fan results in excess moisture in the bathroom. This leads to numerous problems including mold growth. An electrician in Los Angeles can take care of the installation or replacement of your bath fan.

Why You Need a Bath Fan

Bath fans are essential tools needed to keep the humidity level down in the bathroom during hot showers. Without a way to pull the hot air out, condensation builds up on every surface in the bathroom, including the toilet paper! This is clearly not something you want to experience. Mold growth can become problematic and leave the bathroom with an unpleasant mildew smell.

DIY or Electrician?

If you have an existing bath fan that needs replaced, it is typically a fairly simple swap. You will need to handle some electric wires as you disconnect the old and wire in the new one. If you are familiar with electrical work this is a pretty easy task. If you have never dealt with wiring, it is advisable you contact your Los Angeles electrician to handle the job for you. You will need to consider your personal safety before embarking on this task.

If there is not a current fan, you have a little more work to do. You will need to properly vent the pipe, cut a hole in the ceiling and bring in an electrical connection to hook the fan up to. This is definitely a job you will want to leave to the professionals. A switch to turn the fan off and on will also need to be installed.

If you are ready to keep your bathroom dry and mildew free, give The Electric Connection a call.

Smoke detectors are very crucial pieces of safety equipment in your home and it is now also mandatory in NSW that residential properties have at least one smoke alarm on every storey. Not many people are aware of this, but a large percentage of fires in homes cause massive destruction because the smoke detectors didn’t function the way they should have.

The unfortunate fact is that we almost always take these fixtures for granted; we get them installed and rarely even notice they are there on the ceiling until they get set off accidently or when their batteries go dead. Improperly installed smoke detectors or even poorly-maintained ones will only end up letting you down exactly when you need them.

It’s important that you make smoke detector maintenance a part and parcel of your regular home maintenance routine. There two main types of smoke alarms used on residential properties:

These have minuscule quantities of radioactive material that reacts to the particles that are emitted when a fire breaks out, and that sets-off the alarm. These alarms are extremely effective in the detection of fast-flaming fires in which there isn’t too much of visible smoke.

These have photocells with a light beam that shines away from the cell. If smoke enters its test chamber, the smoke particles scatter some of the light; this hits the cell and triggers the alarm. These types of smoke detectors are ideal for detecting smouldering/smoky fires, which is how residential fires typically are.

Regardless of the types of alarms installed on your property, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes annually to ensure that these devices are in a working order at all times. The few steps you should take are:

Aside from the regular maintenance, it’s also very important that you consider how many smoke detectors you have and how they are powered. The best way to increase the effectiveness and safety of these devices is to upgrade your home’s smoke detection setup. The things to focus on are:

Nothing is more important than your family's safety. That's why you need to make every effort to identify and eliminate fire risks in and around your home, particularly in your electrical work. Faulty wiring, delayed maintenance or carelessness can lead to a disaster that can cost you your home and endanger your life. Read on to learn more about the most common causes of electrical fires and how you can prevent them.

Power in Percentages

Electrical failures contributed to about 47,700 home structural fires in 2011, according to a report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Those fires resulted in 418 deaths and $1.4 billion in damage. Clearly, the stakes are high in making sure that the electrical work is safely installed in your home.

According to the NFPA's report, 48 percent of home fires caused by electrical failure were started by the electrical distribution and/or lighting systems. Of that 48 percent, 63 percent were started by wiring, 20 percent by lighting, 11 percent by cords and plugs, and 6 percent by transformers and power supplies.

Fans caused an additional 6 percent of electrical fires, washers and dryers another 6 percent, space heaters 4 percent, air conditioning 4 percent, water heaters 3 percent and stovetop ranges 3 percent.

Don't Become a Statistic

The good news is that electrical fires have declined steadily since the 1980s. Modern technologies and building techniques have lowered the risk of fire and kept everyone safer. However, there's no reason to be complacent when it comes to safety. To decrease your risk of falling victim to a fire caused by your electrical system, follow these tips:

Keeping Your Family Secure

Stay vigilant about maintaining your electrical equipment and follow all safety recommendations to reduce your risk to a minimum. If you are concerned that your home is at risk of fire, have a qualified electrician inspect your electrical work and point out any danger areas without delay.

Have you ever been worried that your Washington, DC electrician might be scamming you? It’s certainly not one of our favorite topics, but the fact remains that it does happen. There are people out there posing as trained professionals that would love nothing more than to take your money, and give nothing at all in return.

At Kolb Electric, our experts are the real deal, and we’ve learned a thing or two about spotting shysters. We never want any of our consumers to encounter a situation where they have to deal with a scammer. So we’ve built a list of the most common signs that you might be getting cheated!

Need a reputable Washington, DC electrician? Contact us! We’re fully licensed, insured, and have more than 90 years of experience!

Washington, DC electrician scams often follow specific patterns. They’re awful, because they exist. But at least they’re predictable! Here are some telltale signs of a scam:

When it comes to getting reliable, effective service, communication is absolutely key. You need all information on clear, understandable terms. This means get everything in writing, and ensure you understand all aspects of the project. It doesn’t matter if it’s as small as a minor outlet replacement, or as large as home rewiring, be sure you’re working with a pro!

Kolb has been offering dependable, guaranteed service to the Maryland and DC areas for years. We never want to hear that one of our valued patrons has had to deal with a rogue element when seeking electrical assistance!

If you need the fast, effective service of a professional, certified Washington, DC electrician, contact Kolb!