Outlets and switches in Fairfax, VA are often taken for granted. So much for granted, in fact, that it’s almost amazing to consider what life in your home would be like without them. Without outlets, you wouldn’t be able to charge your cell phone or laptop. Without switches, you wouldn’t have any lights for the rooms in your house. It sounds ridiculous to even consider, but it’s a real possibility if you don’t replace them periodically. While outlets and switches can provide you with power for years, there will come a point where they need to be replaced or else be a liability and, ultimately, a safety hazard.

If you’re not prepared for them, electrical repairs can be painful. And while certain things are obvious, sometimes it can be tricky to decide whether or not you need to call an electrician. Here are eight reasons people commonly call Kolb Electric:

Your circuits constantly trip – do your lights flicker every time you run the microwave? Can you not run more than a few electronic devices at a time? This may be a sign that your circuits are overloaded and are drawing more electrical current than they can provide. A heavy up should take care of the problem.

You have power strips everywhere – don’t have enough outlets? We can take care of that! Using too many power strips can overload your electrical system and can create a fairly serious fire risk. Call Kolb Electric to install additional circuits to keep your home safe.

You’re running extension cords under your carpets – running extension cords all over the house presents a couple different hazards. Not only are they easy to trip on, but they’re also not things you should be stepping on. Kolb Electric can install additional outlets so you’ll always have power where you need it.

Your light switches feel warm to the touch – warm or hot switches, or switches that shock you, should definitely be checked out. While it could mean your circuits are just overworked, it could also be a sign of something more dangerous.

You have aluminum wiring — according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, homes built before 1972 that have aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to create fire hazards than homes with copper wires.

Your lights flicker — do your lights seem to flicker or dim whenever your air conditioner, washing machine, or other large electrical device turns on? If so, call Kolb Electric! Our licensed electricians will assess your home’s circuits and make improvements to prevent these problems from continuing in the future.

You own a number of expensive electronics — you may already have surge protectors to take care of your expensive desktop computer or stereo system, did you know that an electrician can install a whole-house surge protection unit to make sure that all of your electronics are safe? Consider calling an expert and feel safe and sound at home.

You’ve never upgraded — if it’s been 25 years or more since you upgraded  your home’s electrical system, then you may be living with a sub-par one. Call an electrician so he or she can help move you into the modern era with a new system that will be more accommodating to the needs of today’s world.

If you need electrical troubleshooting in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, don’t wait—call Kolb Electric today!

Phil Neal, originally from Massachusetts is Custom Electrical Services new construction manager.  Phil has a variety of responsibilities including overseeing installations, scheduling, and quality control.  Phil is a very experienced electrician in areas such as residential electrical, commercial electrical, service and repair and has received his certification as a licensed Journeyman electrician.

Phil is a 4 year veteran of the U.S. Navy and a 4 year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.  Phil has been deployed to Iraq and has traveled the globe throughout is military career.  He has a wife Deanna a son and twin girls.  With his free time Phil enjoys spending time with his family and taking his kids to the park.

Thank you Phil for your service and being such a critical park of Custom Electrical Services!

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