In April 1999, Wayne Gretzky played his final game in the National Hockey League. Gretzky had played 20 seasons and was considered by many to be the greatest the sport had ever seen.

2) OMG, Myspace Is, Like, Totally Awesome!

Excitement spread like wildfire through American culture as the cable modem brought the promise of a faster future. In April 1999, we still had the strange robot music of the 56k dial-up modem ringing in our ears. This page would have taken a lot longer to load back then.

4) Do You Believe In Fame after Fame?

Cher’s April reign only lasted three days before TLC reached the apex of popularity, stealing the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list.

6) Goth Culture Gets a Careful Examination

For intentionally lying in court during a sexual harassment civil lawsuit, President Bill Clinton was cited with contempt of court. This was not a proud moment for anyone. By comparison, it has been a tame 15 years of presidential history!

8) Mind-Controlled Technology Hath Arrived…

On April 23rd, the BBC reported that newly discovered skull and tooth fragments may belong to a “human-like species” that lived 2.5 million years ago. There was a lot of controversy initially, but there has since been a general consensus that the Australopithecus garhi, as the species was named, is the most immediate ancestor to the human genus, Homo.

10) Eminem: Straight Blowin Up

The Hours by Michael Cunningham won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in April, 1999. The book would later be made into an Oscar-winning movie starring Meryl Streep.

12) Pulitzer Prize for Drama

In April, we got yet another indication that American culture was infatuated with the genre of romantic comedy as Never Been Kissed, starring Drew Barrymore and David Arquette, hit the box offices.

14) Billy Joel Retires…Psych!

Surely, tears were flowing on the faces of day-time TV enthusiasts when NBC announced the cancellation of the long-running, iconic soap opera Another World. Only a few months later, the final episode would air, and, instead of watching Another World, fans would have to watch something else. Maybe the actual world?

Anytime you find yourself wanting an electrical safety inspection, it’s important to know what kinds of questions you need to ask. A lot of the time people are stuck with hidden fees or things that they are unaware of due to the lack of curiosity. Even if it seems so simple, it’s always best to ask the right questions to an electrician especially when it comes down to your home’s safety and your family’s well-being. When you see the lights start to flicker or your outdated electrical system giving you trouble, it’s time to call for a repair or maintenance check. Having an electrical safety inspection by a professional contractor will help flag any warning signs that might arise in the future. So here are some questions that can prepare you so you know what to ask when it’s time to conduct an electrical safety inspection.

Usually, when we want to hire somebody we always like to know that who we’re hiring has had an education within that field. However, when it comes to hiring an electrician to conduct an electrical safety inspection, experience and how much of it is especially important. Experienced professionals not only have seen a lot and can provide effective solutions, but they also recognize the importance of high-quality performance and customer service. By asking about their experience, you’ll be able to determine how qualified that contractor is to handle your electrical safety inspection.

When it comes time for an electrical safety inspection, you want to make sure hire an electrician that has a valid electrical contractor’s license. This will make you feel more comfortable knowing that the person you’re hiring is educated and trained to perform a high-quality electrical safety inspection since they are being held to a high standard as a licensed professional.

During an electrical safety inspection, things may come up where the electrician might either want to fix or restore a certain business. So, asking about an estimate and whether additional work is covered is always a great question to ask.

Do you own electrical equipment that is overheating? If you’ve noticed any of your electrical devices, like a toaster or a radio, overheating you may have a serious electrical problem on your hands. Fortunately, at Kolb Electric, we have just the tools to diagnose and fix the problem.

Overheating of electrical devices can be caused by a number of problems. From faulty wiring to an outdated electrical system, it’s important to get to the bottom of an overheating electrical device.

At Kolb Electric, we offer thermographic inspections for your home or business. A thermographic electrical inspection will test the equipment’s temperature against the temperature of surrounding components. Significant variations in temperature indicate electrical problems in your appliances and equipment. Temperature abnormalities are often due to defective or failing components. By catching problems early on, they can be corrected before they can cause even greater damage later.

If you manage a home-based business that relies on several pieces of electrical equipment, it is especially important that you routinely schedule thermographic electrical inspections in MD, VA, or DC in order to prevent your important equipment from malfunctioning.

A thermographic inspection is completely non-contact and safe to perform on energized electrical systems. Thermographic electrical inspections can be conducted while your equipment is still in operation, which means you won’t lose time by having to shut down your equipment.

When combined with traditional home inspection techniques, the infrared thermography inspection method reveals considerably more about your house than can be seen with conventional inspection tools. Some things our infrared thermography inspections have detected include:

Water leaks: using an infrared camera to scan the inside of your home can reveal moisture leakage around plumbing systems, the roof, any windows, etc. We’ll be able to see them because areas with more moisture will appear darker than surrounding warmer, dry areas.

Insulation deficiencies: our scanners will reveal large temperature differences within your home where insulation is deficient or absent.

Roof leaks: we’ll be able to spot water and moisture intrusion and accumulation below the surface of your roof, which can help you pinpoint leaks and lessen their effects before they do major damage to your home.

Electrical system problems: one of the best things about an infrared thermography scan is that it helps you see any deficiencies in your electrical system, including loose connections that could cause certain appliances to run inefficiently (or to not run at all).

Structural issues: finally, infrared thermography scans will help locate structural issues within your home, including poor heat transfer, bad conductivity, and more. We may even be able to detect missing or damaged structural components.

For all your infrared thermography needs in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, contact the electricians at Kolb Electric today—877-287-1179877-287-1179 or click here!

Even though our weather has been unseasonably warm as of lately, that doesn’t mean that fall tasks should be ignored. Fall is the perfect time to review whether your heating system needs replacement, prep your home for the cooler weather eventually to come, and install systems that can help make winter a bit more bearable when it does hit. One of these systems is a driveway heating system.

Basically, a heated driveway keeps your pavement warm enough to melt snow as it falls onto the surface, rather than letting the snow pile up. There are two basic types of snow melting systems used for your heated driveway. The first is an electric system that uses electric cables installed into your driveway. With this method, electrical resistance is used to generate heat and an activation device is used to tell your system when to kick into gear.

Another option we offer is the hydronic snow melting system. This utilizes a closed-loop tubing system which is installed in the concrete or asphalt of the area that the system will treat. A water/antifreeze solution is heated and circulated throughout this tubing, thus melting the snow.

Some of the benefits of heated driveways may seem pretty apparent, such as the elimination of the need to shovel snow from your driveway! There are more benefits than just that though. Driveways that are heated prevents ice accumulation during freezing rain, making the act of walking to your car safer. There’s also no need for the use of salt or other snow-removal chemicals, which means your driveway won’t be exposed to the amount of damage these things can do.

Fun Fact: His obsession with a chandelier led Italian astronomer, mathematician and physicist, Galileo to discover the law of pendulum motion.

While, we cannot guarantee that you will understand the laws of physics, we can guarantee that you will be captivated by the brilliance of a chandelier.

More than ever, we are experimenting with home lighting design to display our individuality, and nothing conveys unique style more than a fabulous chandelier.

Professional lighting consultants at Capitol Lighting can help you to illuminate your sense of style and find the perfect chandelier(s) to complete your decorative interior design.  A few simple laws of lighting and trusting your own good taste will get you there…

Chandelier Application and Design Tips from Capitol Lighting

Outstanding Applications:  From powder rooms to dining rooms, the chandelier enhances the appeal of your home environment. Chosen above all else for their aesthetic rewards, chandeliers also provide needed general ambient illumination.

Power in Proportion: To enjoy the full benefits of a chandelier, you must choose a fixture that is the correct size.  A chandelier that is too big will overpower; one that is too small will look out of place.  Finding the right chandelier size is easy:  Add the length and width of the room in feet, and then convert that number to inches (i.e. a room that is 12 feet by 16 feet would require a chandelier that is approximately 28 inches wide). When in doubt between available chandelier sizes, size up to achieve a more balanced presentation.

Special Considerations for Over Dining Tables:  When hanging a chandelier over a dining table, the total chandelier width should be about a foot smaller than the table width to allow approximately a 6-inch clearance for those seated around the table.

The Long and Short of It:  Over a dining table, the bottom of the chandelier should hang about 30 inches over the tabletop. The height of the fixture should measure about three inches for each foot of ceiling height, so for standard 8 foot ceilings choose a chandelier with an approximate height of 24 inches.

In a one-story foyer or in rooms with standard 8-foot ceilings, a chandelier should hang no less than 7 feet from the floor.  In a two-story foyer or in rooms with higher ceilings, the chandelier should hang approximately 8-10 feet from the floor. If your foyer fixture is to be viewed through a picture window, select a chandelier that will fill this space and center the fixture accordingly.  Note:  A two or three-tiered chandelier works best for rooms with higher ceilings.

Installation Awareness:  Be sure to employ a qualified electrician and follow National Electrical codes when installing fixtures.  It is especially important to consider the proper mounting procedures for hanging a heavier chandelier.  Usually fixtures weighing 50 pounds or more must be secured to the home’s permanent structure.

Maintaining the Glamour:  Keeping your chandelier in pristine condition requires proper cleaning and attention to specific instructions pertaining to certain finishes.  Generally, crystal and glass elements are kept clean with a basic soap and water combination.  Nonabrasive cleansers for most finishes are required.  Drying fixture components completely will help protect their luster.

Best Accessories:  Ceiling medallions, chandelier shades, decorative chain and cord covers may add to the ambience of the chandelier.  These items may be special ordered to give your chandelier a unique flair.

Imperative Additions:  Be sure to use the correct bulbs for your chandelier.  Where you have a choice between frosted or clear, choose the bulb that goes best with the fixtures finish.  Always employ dimmer controls with your chandelier.

Get High and Mighty with a Mini: The mini chandelier has become an increasingly popular lighting fixture around the home due to the versatility of its small size. Many designers are opting for mini chandeliers, rather than pendant or island lights, over long dining room tables and kitchen islands. Mini chandeliers are also gracing powder rooms and master bathrooms, as well as bedside tables.

Accent the Positive:  Although the chandelier should be the main lighting attraction, low-voltage spot lights, a matching torchiere floor lamp, +/or coordinating wall sconces make great designing additions to supplement lighting needs and complete the room’s décor.

The lighting experts at Capitol guarantee that you will captivate guests and enjoy your home to the fullest with the most illuminating fashions in home lighting and accessories.  Capitol Lighting’s lighting consultants can help you find the perfect chandelier for your home and give you tips on hanging a chandelier.