Homeowners insurance is an often-overlooked but significant cost in owning a home. Your insurance policy protects you against major losses in the event of a disaster, but you need to invest in premiums each month, which can be tricky for any family on a budget. However, you do have a measure of control. Your home electrical work in particular plays a big role in calculating your insurance payments, because outdated or faulty wiring can increase the risk of a fire. Read on to learn about what types of wiring can drive up insurance rates and how you can mitigate the costs.

The Insurance Company Makes the Call

If you don't know what kind of wiring you have in your house, you should have an electrician evaluate your system as soon as possible. Since the risk of bad wiring is so catastrophic, it might be hard to even insure a house that is too far out of date. “Some insurers will not insure you at all, some will require an inspection, and some will classify you as high-risk,” CEO of insurance-services company InsurEye Alexey Saltykov told the Financial Post.

Any of these features could raise your premiums:

Upgrade Your Wiring and Save

If you are facing high insurance premiums because of outdated wiring, it means that your house is also at a greater risk of fire. It's well worth your while to ask an electrician about what it would cost to replace your wiring system with a whole new setup to protect your home and family. Cheaper insurance is just the icing on the cake.

Give the electricians at your local Mister Sparky® for any electrical repairs or upgrades. We're always here to help!

As a homeowner, you tend to notice electrical issues like flickers, breaker flips and outages. But keeping an eye on your electrical meter is important too! Without the occasional peek, you could find yourself with higher than average bills, or even a completely unexpected shut off.

The certified electricians at Kolb Electric naturally have spent loads of time with electrical meters, and we’ve got plenty of good information to share this week. Follow along to learn about issues that may arise with your meter, what they mean, and whether or not they indicate a faulty electric meter.

Hard to find a problem if you can’t find the meter, right? Electric meters are most commonly located on an outer wall; usually near where your power line runs. In some homes, particularly older ones, the meter might be found in the basement or a utility closet.

If you live in an apartment, the meter is almost always found near your building (or on it) in a cluster. The cluster houses meters for every unit, and all of them should be clearly labelled with the apartment number on them.

Do be aware that the chances of your meter being outright faulty are fairly low. The machines have exceptionally long lifespans, and are built to endure. It’s more likely you have one of many other electrical concerns, however, it is always best to check with a certified professional electrician if you have any questions or problems. While uncommon, a faulty meter is a pretty big issue, and you don’t want to leave it to chance. Just don’t be surprised if the issue turns out to be something else!

Whether you’re worried about your meter, or you’ve got any number of other electrical problems, the experts at Kolb can help! We provide our consumers with only the absolute best, both in service and skill, and we’re confident in our ability to meet your unique needs. Contact Kolb today to learn more!

Kitchens are used more often, and are more versatile, than any other room in the home. In years past, they were used solely for meal preparation, typically illuminated by a single, inefficient ceiling fixture, but the kitchen of today is also used for entertaining, homework, dining, and making memories. With such an impressive resume, this hard working room deserves to shine a little brighter, with lighting that makes a statement, helps to get the job done, and creates a feeling of warmth.