With that major storm from a couple weeks ago still fresh in everyone’s minds, more and more people in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area are starting to think about the benefits of installing a standby generator. Generators are still fairly new, however, and a lot of people still have questions about them.

To put it simply, generators supply backup power to your home when the grid goes down. Most standby generators are powered by gas or propane and are connected to your home’s main distribution panel via an automatic transfer switch. The generator constantly monitors incoming voltage, activating automatically when it senses a power outage. When it turns on, it also closes the line from the power company and opens its own line so you don’t accidentally get power coming from two sources. When the power comes back on, the generator shuts off and reopens the line so you get power back as usual.

Once used more by farmers, businesses and construction companies, generators have evolved significantly over the past decade from their loud, large and expensive roots and are now well suited for use in homes. Standby generators are quickly becoming even more popular than portable generators thanks to their ease of use, quiet operation and aesthetically pleasing design.

One of the most common misconceptions about standby generators is that they’re not affordable to most people. Fortunately, this is not true! Standby generators have come down in price significantly over the years. In fact, these days there are generators available from as small as three kilowatts to as large as 45 kilowatts! Smaller units provide supplementary emergency power for general lighting, a refrigerator, or an air-conditioning unit alone, but large units can run multiple AC units and provide power for other household needs such as appliances or sump pumps. The money you’ll save in spoiled food is practically enough to cover the cost!

Standby generators are becoming increasingly popular as part of new home construction, and while this is obviously an easier job, retrofits are still more popular. At Kolb Electric, we install Generac generators. Generac generators have a number of additional benefits compared to others on the market. They:

Standby generators are safer, more reliable, and less expensive to run than portable generators, and require no input on your part – they start and stop automatically. If you live in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC and want to install a standby generator in your home, call Kolb Electric today!

There’s something exciting about making a large purchase: the rush of buying, the nagging fear that you can’t afford it, the anticipation of it making your life better or easier.  This feeling is especially true when it comes to a new appliance; it’s an investment in saving you time and effort. What if the investment you just made turns out to be a dud because of overlooking the impact it would have on your electrical system?

A lot of the work of an appliance happens within the machine, we tend to not think about the fact that an appliance is really a very complicated electrical machine. In addition, we ignore that they require a lot of electricity to operate. They can really strain your electrical system. This is especially true of modern appliances; it seems like they’ve found a way to computerize everything, and that only makes the power needs of an appliance grow even when they are “Energy Star” rated. Installation of these complex modern appliances seem as easy; some almost seem like they only need to be plugged in and forgotten. This approach neglects the fact that there are important things to keep in mind with regards to appliance installations that can cause serious problems for you down the line.

Obviously, you don’t always need to call an electrician whenever you install an appliance. With that being said, there’s nothing wrong with doing so if you’re not sure what you’re doing. The Best Dallas Electrician you can hire can help you avoid a lot of potential hazards and costs down the line. If you’re still planning on installing your new appliance yourself, keep in mind the following electrical safety do’s and don’ts:

Fixing the wiring in your home is not something that you want to trust to just anyone. The possibility of shocks and electrocution as well as the danger of electrical fire presented by a poor wiring job are too serious to risk doing your own electrical work, and an inexperienced electrician can provide shoddy work that impacts your safety and your wallet.

For all things electrical, from installing a new outlet to rewiring a new addition, you need the skills, training, and experience of a licensed electrician. There are many good reasons for narrowing your search to only include local electricians.

An electrician who works and lives in the area is most familiar with local building codes, material vendors, and the procedures necessary to get the required licenses. What’s more, electricians are licensed by individual states (and the District of Columbia) and are only permitted to work in those state(s) where they have passed the licensing exam and where they meet the continuing education requirements.

Another good reason for working with a local electrical contractor is that when you work with a local small business, the dollars you spend stay in the community rather than going to the corporate offices of a large company or big box retailer. Local electricians are your neighbors and will spend the dollars you give them at local restaurants, retailers, and community service programs.

Lastly, though possibly most importantly, local electricians rely on their reputation for their livelihood. They’d be out of business quickly if satisfied customers didn’t recommend them to their neighbors, co-workers, church members, and friends. For that reason, a local electrician has an extra incentive to do quality work on your project.

At Kolb Electric, we’ve been helping Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC homeowners with their electrical needs for more than 90 years. We live right here in the communities near you, shop in the same stores, and support the same businesses. We’re familiar with the houses in this area as well as the local building codes and licensing requirements. We also know where to get the best prices for you on quality electrical supplies.

To learn more about how Kolb Electric can help you with your next electrical project, large or small, call us at 877 287-1179 or contact us online today.

Now that winter is around the corner and the temperature is already dropping, the heating bills will start to increase. Here are a few ways you can keep down your expenses this season.

Using electrical space heaters will also help you control the heating expenses. Electrical space heaters are a cheap way to heat only the rooms that you are using. They will be more efficient then turning up the thermostat for the whole house, but don’t leave them running all day. Just make sure that you keep your heaters away from curtains and furniture, and keep any children or pets from burning themselves.

For more information or any questions contact your local Expert Electric.