Installing a backup generator can be a great benefit to many situations, but there are still people who think generators are more hassle than they are worth. The truth is there are a lot of myths and untruths out there about how backup generators work and run. Let’s take a few moments to debunk the three most common myths:

Truth: Installing a backup generator is a good idea if you want to ensure you have power during storm season and the cold winter months—times when the power has been known to go out due to high winds, lightening, or icy power lines. These generators can provide power for any family that needs to keep the electricity flowing; whether it’s to keep the food in the freezer from thawing, to keep the family comfortable during extreme temps, or just for convenience.

Truth: While you may remember the loud, noisy, and sometimes even smelly generators from years ago, the modern versions are not nearly as disruptive. If you use a diesel generator, you may still get some of that odor, but when it comes to noise it’s really not that loud. It’s more of a soft whirring sound than it is a loud motor sound. Your neighbors will likely not even know it’s running…that’s how quiet generators are these days.

Truth: If your only frame of reference for a backup generator was from 30 years ago, you may think the power you get will be unreliable. This can still be true for certain generator models, but you can turn to professional electricians to help you find the right generator to meet your needs. If you need the generator to be consistently reliable, you are sure to find a model that will fit the bill. You can also purchase surge protectors to help with this issue and protect more sensitive electronics like computers and important medical equipment.

Don’t let these common myths keep you from experiencing the peace of mind and protection a backup generator can bring to your home. Even when the power goes out, you can continue to use essential electronics in your home and keep your family comfortable when you have the right generator installed.

analysis released by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, from 2003 to 2015, New York spent an average of $1.9 million per inch of snow. The city’s average annual cost over the past 14 years has been $95.5 million. One way to cut costs is to invest in LED snow plow lights. While it might cost more initially to replace halogen or incandescent bulbs with LEDs, the long-term payoff is worth it. LED snow plow lights can last 25 times longer than standard bulbs and fixtures, which means a significant reduction in maintenance and replacement costs.

LED snow plow lights are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. From beacons, first state to use green lights on their snow plows, and they have also started using multiple color combinations, including amber, green, and white. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland, and the Yukon are using blue/amber combination lights to increase the visibility of their plows. All of these colors and color combinations are available in LED lights. The list below includes some of many LED lights that are perfect for snow plows in any part of the world.

Maybe it was the attire that tipped you off, or the unmarked van. Whatever it was, the truth remains: there are plenty of home service scammers, and false electricians aren’t an exception.

On the Kolb Electric blog, we’ve spent a lot of time talking about how to tell if various electrical appliances and processes in your home are bad or faulty. We’ve discussed outdoor lighting, breakers, outlets; we even did a bit on hot tubs! But what do you do if your electrician in Gaithersburg is bad? How can you even tell; and what separates the slouches from the professionals?

Looking for reliable electrical services from a certified electrician in Gaithersburg? Contact Kolb today!

Getting electrical work done in your Maryland home is already pretty stressful. So the very last thing you want is to call in an “expert” only to get bad work, poor results, and services that could barely even be called service. To make sure you get the good stuff when you’re looking for dependable electrical services, keep an eye out for these warning signs!

Ready to get the service and quality you deserve? Contact Kolb Electric today! When you work with our team, meeting your needs and bringing you the best in reliable quality is our primary goal, and we’ll never leave you confused, angry, or unhappy!

This is the time of year when home fires seem to be prevalent. The addition of heaters, burning in fireplaces or woodstoves and the additional holiday decorations can increase the risk of a fire in the home. It makes more sense than ever to give your home a little bump in the safety department by adding another layer of protection in case of a fire. A hard-wired smoke detector is an excellent option for those who are worried their battery-operated smoke detector won’t be working at a time that is most important. An electrician in Los Angeles, like those at The Electric Connection, can help you sleep a little better at night knowing your home has several functional smoke detectors.

Hard-wired smoke detectors respond the same as a typical detector, but instead of relying solely on batteries, they are wired directly into your home’s power. Another real benefit to the hard-wired detectors explains a Los Angeles electrician is the fact they are all connected. When one alerts they all alert. This means that no matter where the smoke is first detected in the house, the entire household and even in the garage will be alert to the potential fire. This can add minutes to your escape time or give you time to catch a small, manageable fire before it engulfs the entire home.

If you have a home security system, this is typically the type of smoke detector that is used. There are apps that allow you to connect the smoke detector to your smartphone to alert you something is wrong. All of these are things you can discuss with your electrician. Los Angeles homeowners who want to do a little more to ensure the safety of their home and the occupants can give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule a fire detector installation.