You only need to type a few words into a search engine to pull up numerous DIY guides for repairing and replacing electrical lighting outlets in your home. Just grab a screwdriver, pliers, and wire cutters and you’re set.

But hold on—do you really know what you’re doing? These DIY guides can be notoriously sketchy, and some depend on you knowing far more about electrical repair than you probably do. Because of the risk of electrical shock and bad wiring that can lead to fires, you should leave the outlet repairs to trained electricians. Outlet shorts and faults are a common cause for household fires (the Electrical Safety Foundation estimates electrical troubles account for 55,000 fires a year), so you should never take such chances.

Decorating your home for the holidays is a time-honored tradition that many in the DMV area take part in each year. However, it’s important to be as safe as possible when putting up lights both inside and outside your home! When you string up lights in and around your home, you’re increasing your chances of an electrical malfunction. Make sure you follow these tips before and during your lighting setup!

If you have any questions, contact the electrical experts at Kolb Electric today!

Your lights—both interior and exterior—require some careful inspection prior to hooking them up. One of the most common causes of fires around the holidays are faulty string lightings. In order to avoid any potential electrical fires, it’s important to:

Need an electrician fast? Contact Kolb Electric today! We offer 24-hour service for your DMV home.

Every commercial space, whether it’s a hotel, restaurant, office, department store, small shop, school, or hospital, can benefit from switching to LED lighting. LEDs are energy-efficient alternatives to halogen, and Universal LED Bulb Finder to search by bulb type, or browse our site to see hundreds of lighting options.

There are many LED recessed lighting options for existing can lights, eyeball lights, or other recessed commercial applications. Traditionally, recessed fixtures contain either a PAR halogen bulb or a BR incandescent bulb. These bulbs are available in several different sizes, and each type has its own set of features. BR bulbs typically have wide flood beam patterns and allow for more of a gradual fade of light. LED replacement PAR and BR bulbs have those same features but with increased energy efficiency and longer life spans. Complete LED fixture replacements, such as downlights, are also an option.

When it comes to commercial lighting, one of the most popular fixtures is the fluorescent panel light with T8 tubes. These panels offer little in the way of quality lighting. Hot spots are visible even through their textured lenses, and the light that they emit has a yellow-green hue. CRI), which is the key to showing the true colors of objects and surroundings. They emit crisp, clear illumination with no visible hotspots, and you won’t have to worry about replacing them for a very long time.

It’s no secret that a well-lit sign will stand out more than one that is poorly lit. LED sign modules are available in many different intensities and colors to illuminate signs, light boxes, marquees, and channel letters. Because LED bulbs can last up to 25 times longer than incandescent or halogen alternatives or approximately five times longer than fluorescent tube lights, the need for replacements is few and far between.