Are you having problems with some of the outlets in your home? While actually trying to repair an electrical outlet on your own can be dangerous, you can at least diagnose many of the most common electrical outlet problems. Before you call Kolb Electric, see if you can pinpoint the problem by trying the following steps.

If you were trying to plug something into the outlet and it wasn’t working, try plugging it in somewhere else. If it works, it’s likely a problem with the outlet. If it still doesn’t work, the problem is with the device itself.

Look for any wall switches and turn them on. If the appliance works after flipping the switch, you shouldn’t have any further problems.

Check other outlets near the dead one. If any more don’t work, mark them with tape.

Unplug everything from nearby outlets to eliminate the possibility of a short or overload.

Make sure the circuit breaker isn’t tripped. The circuit breaker will be located in the breaker box, usually in the garage, basement, or kitchen. To see if it is tripped, open the box and see if any of the breakers are in the RESET or OFF position. If they are, turn the appliance off, switch the breaker back into the ON position, then try to device again.

Check for blown fuses. To do this, turn off the main switch and use a flashlight to see if any of the fuses are burnt or blackened.

If the dead outlet is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter), try to find out if there’s any reason it may be tripping. GFCIs shut off power to outlets when they detect a leak in electrical current, so if they continue to trip after being reset, there could be a dangerous current leak that requires an electrician’s attention.

If you have dead outlets in your home, or if you need electrical troubleshooting in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, call Kolb Electric today!

For large projects, a simple notepad and pen are not sufficient to provide accurate and timely cost estimates to clients. The good news is that there are some pretty good estimating software programs now available that do the job. Both residential and commercial contractors can save time, money, and win more bids by providing professional job estimates. These programs also offer the ability to manage projects, bill clients, and keep track of change orders. They feature a wide range of options for any size of contractor.

TurboBid is one of the most well received and fully featured estimating programs on the market. It contains a user-friendly graphical interface and offers training courses through their website. The software can connect to national and local material supplier databases to keep pricing updated throughout the bidding process.

Change orders and revisions are simple. The software will generate automatic reports and professional presentations for clients. It also allows fine adjustment of man-hour estimations in different locations of the building. This includes ceilings. The program can account for different worker skill levels and upcoming wage increases for longer projects.

The built-in database includes tens of thousands of parts and full assemblies to allow for quick and easy estimation. The program incorporates national and local electrical code requirements to ensure bids are code compliant. In addition, it has a value engineering feature that suggests code-compliant changes to the customer’s blueprints. This can ultimately save money by adding, removing, or relocating devices.

Summer months are beautiful in Los Angeles. The weather is never too hot and tends to be mild, but there are days when things do heat up and things get a little uncomfortable. Your first reaction may be to go for that air conditioner thermostat and crank it down a few notches as you attempt to cool down your home. But, here is a scenario for you; everybody else has the same idea. That means the electrical grid is getting a real workout and it may even lead to sporadic outages. There is a better option, per your electrician. Los Angeles residents don’t have to run to the thermostat, instead look into a ceiling fan installation. The Electric Connection has been helping southern California residents for years and you can rely on them to help you as well.

Ceiling fans are energy efficient and effective. You don’t have to spike your electric bill because there is a heat wave. Fans installed in your living room, dining room and even in your bedroom can go a long way to keeping you comfortable when the temps are soaring outside. Installation is fairly easy, but should always be handled by an electrician.

Fans stir the air, creating a nice breeze. Combined with an air conditioner, you can easily maintain your comfort without touching the thermostat. The fan blades pull the warm air up and away from where you are sitting or laying. What’s even better, the fans are also beneficial in the cooler months as well. They push the warm air down to where you are.

Because there is some electrical work involved, a Los Angeles electrical professional should do the install. In many cases, electrical wires will need to be brought to the place in the ceiling you have decided you want the fan placed. To make sure your ceiling fan installation is completely safely, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Holidays are a known time for seeing friends and family, some of whom you may not be able to see often throughout the rest of the year. A hobby some people love during the holidays is to add decorative lighting to add a warm welcoming appeal to their homes. Whether your lighting is serious and somber to show your religious beliefs or fun and playful to reflect your personality, there are a few things to be aware of with the extra power draw your decorations put on your house.

Tech Specs and Electrical Engineering

When the public electric line reaches your house, it runs to a circuit breaker (or fuse box in older homes) to prevent dangerous levels of overload which could cause a shock, and the breaker is designed to automatically shut off if a dangerous level of electricity is reached with a surge or if too many appliances are run. There are exceptions, but most circuit breakers are designed to handle 15 amps, or a little over 1600 watts of power which is plenty for modern appliances.

The Simple Terms: When You Run Too Much Power

When you overload a circuit breaker, it becomes a nuisance as everything running on that line shuts down. It's not normally a daily occurrence, but usually only happens when something exceptional occurs. Running too many kitchen appliances at once, for example, can overload a circuit breaker, as can running a space heater or power tool on a line already being used. A common cause of circuit failure is when you've never had a problem running a hairdryer and curling iron until a guest in the guest bath turns on a second hairdryer. Holiday lighting usually runs on a low power supply but adds up when layered and can cause problems with a line which is already near its maximum usage levels.

The Layman's and the Professional's Solutions