With the kind of Maryland weather we’ve been having this month, you’d think we live in a subtropical climate! And while steady rain can be relaxing and good for those of us who raise a garden, it can pose some risks as well. What risks? Well, there’s always the usual dangers of a storm, but what we specifically want to cover is water damaged wiring.

The certified electricians at Kolb Electric take your safety and the safety of your home seriously, so if you’re at risk for damaged wiring, we want you to know what to do! Suspect you may have water damaged wiring in your home or business? Contact Kolb today!

You hear us going on and on about the dangers of electrical equipment, but we do this for a reason. It only takes a split-second mistake and zap; you’re in some serious trouble! Left alone, water-damaged electrical wiring can:

If and only if you have had submerged wires that have since dried out, and these wires have been totally shut off (at the breaker in the electrical panel) you may be able to utilize heavy-duty work gloves to move the wires. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS. Only do this if leaving the wire poses an immediate risk that must be resolved. Otherwise, just let the experts do it. Never take chances that may harm you or someone else.

Having trouble with your wiring after the downpours we’ve been dealing with here in Maryland? Contact the specialists at Kolb to get the repair and replacement you need!

Radiant heating systems do not have a lot of moving parts, so it they aren’t as prone to breakdown as other systems can be. However, this doesn’t mean that you may not have to repair your radiant heating system. The type of radiant heating system you have – hydronic or electric – helps determine what kind of radiant heat repairs you may need. As with any kind of heating system, it’s always best to hire trained experts for repair. If you are experiencing problems with your radiant system in Brookline, MA, call for an FB Electrical Services expert today!

Electrical Radiant Repairs

Electrical radiant systems use electric cable to heat. The cable can be set into cement, installed to subflooring or be part of an electrically-conductive plastic mat that is installed to subflooring. A couple of common problems that can develop with electric radiant heating are:

Now is the time to consult with the lighting professionals at Capitol to prepare for the holiday season. With free shipping and the guaranteed lowest prices, this holiday season may be more brilliant than ever.

1.  Fulfill all your FANtasies! Indulge in comfort and superb air circulation with super savings on the latest indoor and outdoor ceiling fans.

“Dyno” Energy Smart fan from Minka-Aire with LED light kit

2.  Enjoy the sweet light with Swarovski and Schonbek.

“Jazz” recessed fixtures from Swarovski deliver a magnificent color array;  Be the first to showcase the future trend in illumination.

3.  Go Uptown with a New York designer and Quoizel Lighting.

Designer Sergio Orozco’s “Uptown” collection includes the “Sutton Place” chandelier, a timeless classic contemporary design.

4.  Personalize with handmade treasures and heirloom-worthy illumination from Lladró.

“Naturofantastic” candleholder features traditional golden highlights in signature handcrafted porcelain from Lladró.

“Lithophane” from Lladró offers LED Energy Smart illumination in a fashion-forward porcelain chandelier.

5.  Welcome the wall flowers with Currey and Company.

“Fairytale” wall sconces from Currey and Company offer a whimsical delicacy in Italian Gold Leaf-Pink finish with crystal drops.

6.  Be chic and dashing with pendant lighting from LBL and Tech Lighting.

“Rock Candy” from LBL Lighting features textured glass candle covers in a myriad of fashionable colors, including Blue Steel (pictured above).

“Modele” from Tech Lighting brings world-renowned EGIZIA lighting design from Italy.  Famous silkscreening on hand-blown Italian glass are available in a fantastic array of artistic combinations for an unforgettable illuminating presentation.

7.  Make a great first impression with new outdoor and landscape lighting from Kichler and Hinkley.

“Silver Coral” outdoor wall lights from Kichler Lighting will not go unnoticed.

“Sutcliffe” from Hinkley Lighting presents a perfect blend of old and new in this updated early American colonial lantern.

8.  Sing “Troy” to the World with new ceiling light fixtures.

“Canary Wharf” pendant light from Troy Lighting brings your illumination to new heights in more ways than one!

9.  Go swinging in Garden City with Hudson Valley.

“Garden City” wall swingers from Hudson Valley are fashionable and functional–a must-have in the well-decorated home or office environment.

 10.  Support your hometown heroes with Hubbardton Forge.

“Almost Infinity” table lamp bases from premier brand, Hubbardton Forge, are available in a choice of custom-designed finishes. Exclusively made-in-America from the finest craftsmen at the original iron forge in Vermont.

To view the latest in home lighting and accessories and for more designing ways to illuminate your Thanksgiving feast, visit with the lighting professionals at Capitol Lighting or 1800lighting.com.

Capitol Lighting Gives Thanks to Priceless Patrons with Promotional Savings All Season Long!

Add to your Thanksgiving holiday with the latest lighting designs from Quoizel, Lladró, Swarovski and Currey and Company.  Capitol Lighting invites you to take advantage of promotional pricing on masterful works of art, including grand chandeliers, elegant bath lighting, fans for all seasons, as well as mirrors and home accessories. Visit a Capitol Lighting showroom or shop on-line at 1800lighting.com to custom design your holiday illumination.

If you are planning on renovating or sprucing-up your kitchen, it’s probably a good idea to map out a detailed lighting plan as well. Most people find this a little strange as they feel that lighting in a kitchen isn’t something that needs too much of consideration or planning. It’s just a place where you cook and probably where you have an informal meal after all.

However, the fact is that it’s important to plan kitchen illumination well if you want to make optimal use of your kitchen spaces. Here, we would like to share some basic lighting ideas to create the right balance of functionality and aesthetics.

If you want to get a better idea about what type of lighting would work best for your kitchen, it’s vital to understand how your kitchen spaces relate to the different type of lighting. Let’s start off with understanding what type of bulbs you can use for the best effects:

These bulbs emit a yellowish light and you will now find many artistic versions of these on the market today.

These bulbs throw off a flat, cold light that has a bluish tinge, which lends a very harsh effect to the room.

These have a warm light that makes the place look very inviting and comfortable

These are the latest in light bulb technology and are available in a range of effects including white, cool daylight, warm light, yellow and a range of other colours and hues. Aside from this, LED bulbs are also 80% more energy-efficient than standard bulbs; and most property owners are now opting for these fixtures.

In addition to the types of bulbs used, the style of lighting or the lighting effects are what impact the ambience and appearance of a room. With this in view, here we discuss the different lighting effects that can be used in your kitchen:

This is one of the simplest ways to create the right lighting effect in your kitchen. This type of lighting is designed to help you move comfortably around the room. In most instances this type of lighting comes from grid-style can lighting, widely-spaced, wall and ceiling lamps, semi-translucent skylights or even the natural light that streams in through glass windows and doors. This is the base layer of any lighting plan.

In your kitchen, task lighting would be required to illuminate kitchen counters and food preparation spaces. Since you will be cooking in your kitchen every day, it’s important that the task lighting be planned and installed well. If you have only recessed lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will feel the lack of focused light when you are cleaning, cooking or prepping in that space.

If you install one-dimensional lighting in the kitchen, it creates unsightly shadows in different areas of the room, while ceiling lighting is ineffective in illuminating spaces like sinks, under counter or cabinet areas etc. On the other hand, if you add special pendant lamps over the counters or even your kitchen island it can prove to be a more practical solution. Under-cabinet lighting can also help in illuminating the cabinets that are positioned there.

This effect doesn’t seem as necessary as ambient or task lighting does in a kitchen space, as the illumination it provides isn’t as functional as the first two. However, it can have a significant impact on the way your kitchen spaces look. If you want to enhance the appeal of your kitchen (regardless of whether you are getting it entirely renovated or are opting for a lighting upgrade), it’s important that you plan your accent lighting well.

It is a cold October evening and you are preparing dinner. You are in full motion with all your appliances working overtime to get the meal done as soon as possible – and the power shuts off. Not only are you frustrated because you are set behind schedule but now you have to try to fix the problem. This happens to people on a daily basis and is a nuisance that can be avoided with the right electrical usage and correct setup. Lets walk where you should go from here.

As we have discussed in the past, the electrical panel (or breaker) is an integral part of the home’s electrical system. It regulates all incoming electricity and manages it throughout your house. When a breaker shuts a circuit off, or it “trips”, it is protecting you and your home from a potentially dangerous situation. The breaker will shut off that circuit because it has detected high voltage, high temperature, or another internal problem. If the breaker does not trip the circuit that is affected can overload and create an electrical shock or electrical fire.

To get your electrical breaker back on, identify the circuit that is in the off position and flip in back to the on position. With a properly labeled electrical panel it can be easy to quickly identify the affected circuit. If the breaker feels hot the touch or the circuit immediately trips again, do not attempt to turn it back on and call an expert electrician. Sometimes a circuit could trip due to a high amount of usage and may only be a minor problem with no repercussions. But if the breaker immediately trips when turned backed on or it trips regularly, there is a larger cause and the problem should be addressed as soon as possible.

There are a number of reasons why breakers could trip. The circuit that is being turned off could potentially have too much load and being overloaded. There could also be a problem in the wiring itself that is causing electrical surges and shorts that the breaker is detecting. It could also be a problem with the breaker itself. The panel may be old and reaching the end of its functionality. It may be time for the panel to be replaced.

It is not a good idea to keep turning on your breaker if it continuously trips. If you cannot identify a pattern in your routine that is causing the trip you should contact an Expert Electrician. They will be able to tell you if the problem is originating from the wiring or within the panel and even fix the problem for good.

Don’t put up with tripping breakers, it will become more than just an inconvenience. Get the right help and have peace of mind that your home is safe and dinner will get finished on time.