If you understand how drastic a serious electrical emergency can be, then you won’t take this post for granted. A lot of people ignore common factors that could start a serious problem, and our job is to remind you to keep a look out. You can reduce the odds of injury and property damage when you’re more aware of your electrical system. Those who take the time to identify any potential threats not only are able to save their home from an electrical fire but are also more prompt to stopping the problem before it even becomes a concern. Never hesitate for energy eating appliances and other devices throughout your home. Do not just assume that your neighbors are also experiencing similar outages and instead take action. If the problem continues, ask an electrician to come in to check your electrical system.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a top-tier electrician in Columbia, Maryland? Maybe you’re looking for a new, exciting and rewarding career. Or maybe you just want to know what it is that makes Kolb Electric’s certified electricians so darn good at what they do! In either case, the answer to this question is a two-parter.

There is, of course, a practical aspect. Education, training and all of the necessities of being a bona fide electrician. But there are some personality and professionalism requirements, as well.

An electrician has to become highly versed in a ton of information. You may think it’s a lot of “this plug goes here”, and yes, there are some pretty simple connections to make. But electricians actually learn way, way more than just basics. A successful electrician must learn:

As an aside, we would like to point out that if you ever consider undergoing training to be a certified electrician, do not ignore safety and first aid training. A lot of our job is about how to avoid setting ourselves, or others on fire.

Where Do I Start?

There are a few methods of receiving electrician training. Kolb reccomends trade schools or a community college, as there are plenty of them that offer excellent courses in Maryland. Training will involve years of classroom study, practical applications and apprenticeship before you can acquire certification. Sound like a lot? It is, but it is entirely worth it, and everyone needs to know that you’re completely trained!

So aside from the extensive training, what makes a Kolb electrician great at what they do? A lot of it comes down to attitude, willingness to serve well, and professionalism. A successful electrician in Columbia is:

Another important thing to keep in mind as an electrician is that training never ends! Technology is always changing (often very rapidly), and staying on top of all of the latest technology, trends and techniques is one of the primary goals of a successful electrician. Besides, learning new things is fun, and keeps the job interesting!

Our teams at Kolb are extensively trained, highly effective and very skilled at what they do. If you need electrical services including repair, installation, replacement, rewiring or anything else, you can call on Kolb!

At Kolb Electric, some of our favorite projects we do involve lighting design and installation. Well done outdoor lighting design is one of the most impressive projects you can undertake, and when done properly, it can add curb appeal and value as well as safety and utility to your home. There are a number of important design considerations to make to ensure your outdoor lighting is as effective as possible, including:

Think about your indoor living – outdoor lighting should graze your home’s exterior and go up—not in. When installing outdoor lighting, it’s important to make sure none of your lights shine directly into any windows in your home, creating an annoying and disruptive spotlight effect.

Keep entranceways visible – you especially don’t want spotlights in any entranceways in your home. Spotlights shine directly into your and your guests’ eyes, and can cause them to miss steps while approaching. You don’t want your lighting to interfere with anyone trying to walk through your front door. If it does, the lighting isn’t making your space any safer—it’s making it worse!

Maintain balance with coach lights – coach lights, which are wall sconce lights you see outdoors in many homes, should be incorporated into outdoor lighting in a way that enhances the whole light scheme’s design. This may involve dimming the coach lights so the whole design looks elegant and balanced and the elements don’t compete.

Maximize the spread of light – one of the most important things to consider when designing an outdoor lighting scheme is making sure the light is evenly spread across the exterior of your home. You don’t want any dark spots that will look awkward and may present a security risk. The right outdoor lighting designers can even help get around issues such as decks and porch overhangs blocking light to a second floor.

Light walkways correctly – path lighting is one area where outdoor lighting can go very right or very wrong. If you use high quality path lights with a large light spread, it’s easy to get the perfect look with just a few fixtures. One mistake many people make is using too many fixtures, which can end up creating a walkway that looks like an airport runway!

Use lighting to enhance your landscaping – using outdoor lighting effectively involves finding ways to highlight specific features of your home, from low-growing flowers and bushes to trees and anything else you want to showcase.

The outdoor lighting designers at Kolb Electric will take these and many other considerations into account when designing the perfect outdoor lighting setup for your home. If you’re ready to get started, call us today!

Today, most property owners look for ways and means to make their properties more energy-efficient. It’s why people insulate their homes using the latest materials, are choosing appliances with a high WELS rating and opt for green building materials when they are constructing their homes. One more effective way to improve the energy efficiency of your home or commercial establishment is to opt for LED lighting systems.

Many people avoid replacing their older CFL bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs because they feel the latter are too expensive. While it’s true that the up-front cost of LED bulbs is 5-6 times higher than standard bulbs, the cost factors can’t be looked at in isolation. Here are some other facts that will help you make a more well-informed choice about the type of lighting to use.

Unlike conventional bulbs, LEDs don’t have any filament that can burn out and they emit a very cool light which goes a long way in reducing residential and commercial air- conditioning bills. These bulbs get illuminated when the electrons move through a semi-conductor and release visible light.

Though the initial costs of LED lights are higher than other conventional types of lighting, you end up saving a significant amount of money in the long term. Regardless of whether you need commercial or residential LED lighting, transitioning to LED light bulbs is a smart choice. Today, a large number of homeowners and commercial establishments are switching to LED lighting.

Many people wonder whether LED bulbs are able to provide as much illumination as incandescent bulbs or CFL bulbs do. In order to understand this, it’s important to understand a little more about how the light intensity of a bulb is measured. Lumen (a measure of the light intensity) is the simplest (though not perfect) measure of lighting efficiency that any lighting sources produce for every watt.

A traditional incandescent bulb provides 13 lumens per watt to light a room. A fluorescent globe provides around 60 lumens per watt. In comparison, an LED bulb provides 80 lumens per watt. As you can see, even when it comes to illumination, LED bulbs stand a head above the rest of the lighting options.

Apart from the illumination and energy-efficiency factors, there are some other distinct advantages to using LEDs on your commercial or residential property.

The need of the hour is for energy-efficient alternatives and LED lighting is a revolution in lighting. No matter which way you look at it, you stand to benefit from switching to LED lighting. For any more information about LED lighting and for any type of commercial or residential electrical jobs, call Allround Electrical’s friendly team today at this number – 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address or by filling out this contact form.

Thanks for reading,1300 169 263

By Clarissa Allison | June 3rd, 2016

The lighting industry grows and changes, and many common misconceptions have arisen. New technology sees the movement towards energy conscious lighting alternatives. There are even some myths regarding our old standby, the incandescent bulb, that may surprise you! Read on for some enlightening facts on illumination:

Myth: LED’s can cause optical light damage and interfere with the human circadian rhythm, causing abnormal sleep cycles .