More than 480,000 house fires were reported in the United States in 2013, according to the National Fire Protection Association, resulting in over 2,800 deaths and more than 14,000 injuries, not to mention more than $9.5 million in property damage. A house fire is reported on the average once every 85 seconds.

A fire can escalate from a spark to a raging blaze in just a matter of minutes. Since it can start behind the walls without being detected until it gets out of control, an electrical fire is especially dangerous.

Unlike storms or other emergencies, fires often leave families with little time to prepare and evacuate the building—so it’s important to stay protected against some of the most common causes. Some of the biggest reasons for household fires are related to electricity, including:

Fortunately, there are many measures you can take to protect yourself and your household or business from a catastrophic electrical fire. One of the most important tips we can give you is to be very careful about who you have work on your electrical circuits and wiring. To avoid an electrical fire, only allow a certified electrician to install new wiring and/or work on your outlets, circuits, or electrical appliances. During your day-to-day routine, stay weary of any open flames, whether on your gas stove, a candle, or a cigarette.

Of course, even the most careful household or building can face an electrical fire. It’s important to have a working smoke detector in place in the event of an emergency (we can help!). You should also devise an evacuation plan and make sure that each family member or employee knows what to do if you have a fire.

Another way to prevent an electrical fire is to stay current with electrical maintenance. At Kolb Electric, we employ only skilled, licensed electricians to work on your wiring. We want you, your home, and your office to stay safe, so we’re careful to send out the best electrician for your particular job.

For more tips on electrical fire prevention or to get top-notch electrical services for your home or building, call us at 877 287-1179. We’ve been providing top-notch installations and maintenance work to Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC home and building owners since 1925.

The warm weather has finally arrived and it looks like we have a good summer ahead of us. This is also the time when the electrical bills start to heat up as well. But keeping your house cool doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. Ceiling fans are an easy way to keep your thermostat up and your electrical bills down. Here are some summer maintenance tips for to get your ceiling fan moving its best.

Overtime a ceiling fan’s blades can collect dust. Once dust has accumulated on the blades, it can become airborne during use. This either spreads the dust through the air, which is not enjoyable for anyone in the room, or it can be sucked into the motor. If to much dust is drawn into the motor it can result in shaking and cause the motor to run hot. This can lead to an expensive repair bills down the road. Dust, vacuum, or use a damp rag to clean the blades every couple of weeks to prevent this build up and keep your fan clean.

Most machines with moving parts require lubrication on a regular basis. Older ceiling fans require lubrication while newer fans are self-lubricating. If you are unsure whether your fan requires lubrication, check the owner’s manual. If your fan is not properly lubricated the motor can become damaged and cause electrical fires.

When starting up your fan for the summer, there are several problems that can generate because of lack of maintenance:

Ceiling fans can be one of the most cost effect ways to keep your home cool this summer.

In the last few years, hybrid and electric vehicle technologies have grown by leaps and bounds. Rather than being a clunky, partially formed technology, it is now possible for many people to own an electric vehicle that is both energy efficient and good looking. One thing that is often overlooked when purchasing an electric vehicle, however, is whether or not your home needs special wiring for your new, highly efficient vehicle. In many cases, you will need to have an electrician Los Angeles come out to perform some relatively simple wiring upgrades to ensure that your vehicle charges safely and quickly.

Home Charging Stations

Depending on your commute, there may be a variety of charging stations between your home and your destination. That being said, every EV owner should have a home charging station so that they can plug their vehicles in at night and when they are not in use. These charging stations are available in two sizes, Level I and Level II. In most cases, both require a certain level of new wiring.

A level I charger is a standard 110 volt outlet that is placed on a dedicated circuit. If you already have an outlet on a dedicated circuit in your garage or carport, that’s great. If not, then you will need to have one installed. While a level I charger will get the job done, it can take much longer than a Level II charger. A level II charger is a specially installed 220-240 volt outlet that is placed on a dedicated circuit. This type of charger helps you make the best use of your cost and time. As opposed to the 8-12 hours required for a level I charger, a level II charger can fully charge your battery in 4-6 hours. This can be make a huge difference when it comes to how you use your electrical vehicle.

Whatever size the EV charger in your home, make sure that you have it installed by a professional electrician in Los Angeles.

John is a critical part of our residential service division.  John is a very experienced electrician, skilled in fishing in wires, and updating existing homes to bring them up to code or even install elaborate upgrades.  John is also a recent graduate of a service training program he attended last October in Palm Springs California were he brought back with him skills and various techniques to provide the best possible customer experience to our customers.  John takes pride in is work and takes his job serious.  He takes time to understand the customers needs and makes sure they fully understand the options they have available to them.  He is a dedicated team member always making sure our customer needs are meet first and is willing to help other team members with any issues they encounter.

John is a resident of Grimes Iowa and has two kids.  He is a former paramedic and also recently became engaged and has spring wedding plans in his future.  Congratulations John!  Thank You for being such a critical part of Custom Electrical Services!

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