A home fire is one of the most terrifying, disastrous events that can happen to a homeowner. Losing everything is a fear that many of us have. We take steps to insure our family members can escape a home should the unthinkable happen by installing smoke detectors. While it is no secret a home fire can be devastating, some may not be aware of how preventable a home fire truly is. An electrician in Burbank can help you prevent a fire in your home. If you would like to learn more, the team at The Electric Connection can help.

Holiday Lighting

Sadly, at a time when homeowners are trying to be festive, they are putting their homes at risk with holiday lighting. The problem is overloaded circuits can create heat and/or a spark. For those that use real trees, the trees can dry out and become tinder. The smallest spark can set off a fire. Light strands that are in poor condition are another huge risk. Always inspect your lights before stringing them up. If you need to upgrade circuit breakers to accommodate your lighting needs, call a Burbank electrician.

Cooking Fires

Everybody has experienced a stove top fire at least once. Unfortunately, some of those minor fires can quickly turn into huge fires. It is important you practice caution while cooking. Having a smoke detector installed can alert you to any pans that may start smoking, giving you the chance to extinguish a fire before it becomes a big one.

Electrical Wiring

Faulty wiring is a huge issue and is almost always going to end badly. If you suspect your wiring is outdated or possibly substandard, call an electrician. Burbank homeowners can call to have an electrical inspection to identify any potential hazards. This is your chance to head off any issues before they become a major, potentially life-threatening problem.

Call The Electric Connection today and schedule your electrical inspection to give yourself peace of mind about the safety of your home’s wiring.

Many homeowners ignore the precautionary measures that have been detailed in different governmental policies, for different electrical installations. There will be times when you will be boggled as to why the inspector has failed your electrical inspection. There are many reasons for a failed inspection, which are very common and generally ignored by the house owners.

To understand the various electrical loopholes that are left by contractors, it is extremely important and necessary to learn about electrical inspection in general.

What is an Electrical Inspection?

An electrical inspection refers to the thorough checkup of the electrical connections and wiring installed in your home.

Who is an Electrical Inspector?

An electrical inspector is an authorized person from the government and municipality who is responsible for checking the electrical connections to ensure they comply with the law codes and requirements in the area.

Why is Electrical Inspection Important?

There are many reasons behind the necessity of getting an electrical inspection done. Some of the most common ones are:

How to Prevent Different Problems during Electrical Inspection?

Your mind just might be full of questions as to why you failed an electrical inspection. While the reasons may vary, it is always better to know what to do before an inspection to avoid failure. Some of the main points are:

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.

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With the evolution of energy-efficient LED lighting came an endless source of creative costume ideas. Small, cool & colorful lights now come in portable, battery-operated packages where the only thing stopping you is your imagination! This Halloween season, we’ve rounded up a handful of our favorite costume creations using a variety of light sources.

Mutant Cyborg Halloween Pumpkin

Part robot, part pumpkin, this crafty mutation is all ingenuity.

Glowy Zoey 

When Royce Hutain filmed and published this short clip of his daughter in her new home-made costume, it was an overnight sensation, even generating a call from the Jimmy Kimmel show. Hutain didn’t invent the LED light costume, so why the sudden fame? Maybe it’s the toddler waddle, all lit up in it’s glory. Or maybe it’s the chuckle of the gratified parents trying to keep the camera steady that just makes us crack up. Whatever it is, it’s absolutely brilliant. You can So Sew Easy

Any little girl can feel like a Princess with this delightful little light-up dress by light-up fairy wings! 

Jawa Costume

The poor Jawa, always back burner to the cool Jedi costume with LED Lightsabers, finally gets his turn in the spotlight in an adorable get-up complete with glowing eyes made out of orange LEDs. Make your own with this via via string lights.

Littlest Firefly

The average household in Virginia pays $125 per month for electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Association. In Maryland, that number is $136 per month and in DC, it’s around $90. For commercial properties, the figure is even higher. But at Kolb Electric, we know that there are simple steps you can take to lower your electric bill—and we’re going to share a few key tips.

1. Check for gaps in windows and doors. Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to reduce your energy usage, and thus your electric bill, is to check your home at the beginning of each season for gaps around the windows and doors. It’s important to do this every six months or so, since your home can settle and shift slightly over time. It only takes a small gap for energy to escape.

2. Turn down your water heater. The standard setting on most electric water heaters is 140 degrees. Turning the heat down to 120 degrees can save you $60 or more each year in water heating costs. Save more by replacing your water tank with a tankless system.

3. Repair leaky ducts. If your ducts have holes in them or if they have come partially unattached, then you’re paying to cool and heat air that is never getting to your living spaces.

4. Have your HVAC and electrical systems serviced annually. Keeping all electrical systems, as well as HVAC products, well-maintained can not only extend their lifespans and help ensure your safety, but can save you money on your electric (and gas) bill too. Your system has to work harder and use more energy to push through an accumulation of dirt and debris. Regular electrical maintenance can also prevent the need for costly repairs.

5. Check your electric meter against your monthly statement. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your electric usage on the meter and comparing it to your statement. This allows you to easily determine whether your monthly energy bill is accurate and provides you with the information you need to monitor your usage so you can use electricity smarter in the future. Click here to learn how to read an electric meter.

At Kolb Electric, we don’t want you to pay any more than necessary for your electric usage. For more tips on how to reduce your electric bill and/or to schedule you annual service appointment today, call us at 877 287-1179. Our licensed electricians have been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners with their electrical needs since 1925.