Do your lights flicker regularly? When you turn on your dishwasher or any other heavy appliance, do your lights dim briefly? Not only is this frustrating, but it could be the sign of a more serious electrical issue. While most people simply tolerate flickering lights, it’s best to understand what can cause flickering lights and why it’s important to get it corrected as soon as possible!

If your lights are flickering, contact the electrical experts at Kolb today! We’ve been servicing the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area since 1925, so we have plenty of experience in fixing all of your electrical issues! 

A flickering light can simply be caused by a loose or defective bulb. This is about the only cause of flickering that a homeowner should attempt to fix on their own. With the light turned off (and fully cooled!), gently remove the bulb from the socket and inspect it. The glass bulb should be firmly affixed to the metal base—if it wiggles in the base at all, it’s defective and needs to be replaced. If the bulb is good, screw it firmly into the socket and test it for flickering. If it still flickers, another problem exists.

If the lights flicker at a certain time, or at a regular interval, pay attention to your other electrical demands during that time. An HVAC unit, clothes dryer, or other large appliance can put a heavy demand on your electrical service. If the lights flicker when other appliances kick on, there may be a problem with the appliance or service wiring. This is more than a nuisance—increased current draw can cause wiring, connectors, and breakers to heat up, presenting a real risk of fire. Even without the risk of fire, appliances that have to struggle to draw power can suffer damage to motors and other expensive components.

Defective wiring is another common cause of flickering lights. Undersized breakers, loose connectors, or damaged wires can all cause intermittent current losses. If your home has a mixture of copper and aluminum wires, special connectors must be used where the two types of wires meet. If the wrong connectors were used, they can corrode, causing flickering and other problems. Any defects in your home’s wiring can create a risk of fire or electrocution, and can render safety features like breakers and GFCIs ineffective.

If your lights are flickering, contact the electrical experts at Kolb today! We’ve been servicing the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area since 1925, so we have plenty of experience in fixing all of your electrical issues!

Wind power is electricity-generating technology that is very similar to hydroelectric power and burning fossil fuels. In all three cases, something is being used to spin a turbine, which then converts that energy into electricity. In the case of fossil fuels, the fuel is burned, which converts water to steam, which then spins the turbine. Hydroelectric power generators use the force of flowing or falling water to turn their turbines. Wind turbines are turned by the power of the wind, making them an ideal source of energy for places with high wind, such as the Great Plains. While the idea of wind power conjures up images of fields full of spinning turbines, it is not hard to find an electrician in Santa Monica who can help you to install one on your own land.

Wind Farms

The majority of all wind power is generated on huge wind farms. Each wind farm typically maintains and operates hundreds of wind turbines, which in turn connect to local electrical circuits that eventually funnel them into the main electricity pool. Your local utility company most often runs these energy operations as a secondary source of electricity. In fact, many companies give you the option to guarantee that some or all of the electricity that you use each month comes from their wind farm operations. In the event that you are unable to install your own wind turbine, this is a great way to contribute and further investment into wind power.

Residential Wind Turbines

As the call for more renewable electricity sources has grown more popular, so has the use of residential wind turbines. In conjunction with other small-scale energy sources such as geo-thermal and solar, wind turbines can be a great electrical upgrade to any home. One caveat is that you must have a small amount of land in order for it to be an ideal fit for you. Talk to a local electrician Santa Monica CA, The Electric Connection for example, to determine whether or not one will work for you.

Installing a Residential Wind Turbine

Although a wind turbine generates electricity for your home and community, its installation is not typically completed by a Santa Monica electrician alone. Because of the complexity of the installation, it is best to find a company that specializes in their application. In most cases, this company will complete the erection and initial setup of the turbine, and then turn it over to an electrician Santa Monica, such as The Electric Connection, to complete the tethering to your home and power grid. This ensures that both the turbine installation and the electrical work is done in the safest, most complete manner possible.

In addition to connecting your new turbine to your home, your electrician may also need to perform a panel upgrade, and small amount of home rewiring. While this is typically not extensive, it is slightly more involved than having electrical outlets replaced. For the best outcome, you should always have someone conduct his or her electrical estimates before the work is started so that you know what to expect.

In regards to small-scale renewable energy sources, wind and solar power are by far the most popular, approachable options. Although many see them as unsightly, most believe that the benefits outweigh the costs. After their initial installation, these electrical upgrades require very little maintenance, provide clean consistent energy and rely on a 100% renewable source. If you have any questions about whether or not you should look into wind power, or other alternative energy sources, don’t hesitate to call or visit our website at www.theelectricconnection.com.

You’ve packed the swimsuits and the sunscreen, the bug spray and the camera, but did you remember to properly lock up and secure your home? While making that long vacation “to-do” list, don’t forget to include the proper safeguarding of your home on your list before you head off on your summer getaway.

If you’ll be away from your home for an extended amount of time, you might want to consider hiring a house sitter. Someone actually living in your home can help keep it safe from thieves, and your house sitter can also water your plants, retrieve your mail and newspapers, mow your lawn, or even take care of your pets while you’re away. And because your home will continue to look lived-in, it can hold less of an appeal to burglars. Hiring a house sitter is not the cheapest option for home security, but it can solve many problems at once and it is likely to be a solution that will give you the most peace of mind while you are away from home.

Nothing says “I’m not home” more than yellowed newspapers on your doorstep and mail overcrowding your mailbox. If you’ll be leaving your home for an lengthy holiday and if you don’t have someone you can ask to retrieve your mail and newspapers each day, you can ask for a stop delivery on both. The United States Postal Service will stop delivery and will hold your mail for up to 30 days for free, and you can either cancel your newspaper subscription or choose a stop delivery on your newsprint for however long you’ll be away. All you have to do is ask, whether in person or possibly even online.

With social media and online networking an ever-present entity in modern times, it’s easy to want to brag about your upcoming cruise or your month long road trip across America to all your online friends and family. But you may be unwittingly letting criminals know when your home will be an empty and easy target. Keep in mind that online information can be read by anyone, often even if your accounts are private, and you probably don’t want the entire world knowing that your property and home will be unattended during your vacation.

Don’t make your home a tempting target for possible criminals. Remembering to secure your home while you’re away can help keep your home and property safe, as well as help relieve any possible worries you might have so that you can actually relax and enjoy that much-needed vacation.

You have probably heard about standby generators for homes. The generators are meant to keep a home powered during a power outage and have become quite popular over the years. More and more homeowners are making the investment to have a backup source of power as it becomes more obvious the power grid is not able to keep up with the demands. A generator installed by a Glendale electrician is an ideal option for those who rely on electricity and are not okay going without. Is your business any different? The team at The Electric Connection can help you add a safety net to your business operations with the installation of a standby generator.

When the power goes out, your business instantly starts losing money. If you can’t sell your wares or use computers to access accounts and meet deadlines, your business cannot function. There is no reason your business has to be vulnerable to power outages whether they are brief or extended. An electrician in Glendale can help you determine what your electric needs are and what size of generator you would need to stay up and running. You may need to scale back your operation, but you would still be able to have your doors open.

Having a generator for your business keeps your employees working and you are able to continue to serve your customers and clients. There is no need to be completely dependent on a shaky power grid. With a hot summer being predicted, there is a strong chance there will be rolling blackouts. Call an electrician. Glendale business owners need to start thinking about how they will keep their doors open this summer no matter how many power outages they are faced with. Give The Electric Connection a call today and talk with one of our professionals about a generator for your business.