Do your lights flicker regularly? When you turn on your dishwasher or any other heavy appliance, do your lights dim briefly? Not only is this frustrating, but it could be the sign of a more serious electrical issue. While most people simply tolerate flickering lights, it’s best to understand what can cause flickering lights and why it’s important to get it corrected as soon as possible!

If your lights are flickering, contact the electrical experts at Kolb today! We’ve been servicing the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area since 1925, so we have plenty of experience in fixing all of your electrical issues! 

A flickering light can simply be caused by a loose or defective bulb. This is about the only cause of flickering that a homeowner should attempt to fix on their own. With the light turned off (and fully cooled!), gently remove the bulb from the socket and inspect it. The glass bulb should be firmly affixed to the metal base—if it wiggles in the base at all, it’s defective and needs to be replaced. If the bulb is good, screw it firmly into the socket and test it for flickering. If it still flickers, another problem exists.

If the lights flicker at a certain time, or at a regular interval, pay attention to your other electrical demands during that time. An HVAC unit, clothes dryer, or other large appliance can put a heavy demand on your electrical service. If the lights flicker when other appliances kick on, there may be a problem with the appliance or service wiring. This is more than a nuisance—increased current draw can cause wiring, connectors, and breakers to heat up, presenting a real risk of fire. Even without the risk of fire, appliances that have to struggle to draw power can suffer damage to motors and other expensive components.

Defective wiring is another common cause of flickering lights. Undersized breakers, loose connectors, or damaged wires can all cause intermittent current losses. If your home has a mixture of copper and aluminum wires, special connectors must be used where the two types of wires meet. If the wrong connectors were used, they can corrode, causing flickering and other problems. Any defects in your home’s wiring can create a risk of fire or electrocution, and can render safety features like breakers and GFCIs ineffective.

If your lights are flickering, contact the electrical experts at Kolb today! We’ve been servicing the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area since 1925, so we have plenty of experience in fixing all of your electrical issues!

his LinkedIn profile), an energy expert at Titan Energy and the author of today’s blog post, you have more control than you think over your home or building’s energy supply. Whether you want lower bills, more reliable service, or a better approach to the environment, you need to know your rights…

Since the Federal Energy Deregulation Act passed in 1999, many business and homeowners still haven’t exercised their right to choose their energy supplier. The ability for consumers to lower their energy costs, protect against rising rates, and, if interested, make an environmentally friendly choice, are all benefits of Deregulation. 3rd Parties help accomplish this by strategically purchasing the energy you use, in the same way the utility previously did, in the open market.  Depending on your state and the utility which serves you, the benefits will vary.

Deregulation dictates that your local utility can’t “Profit” on the supply of energy. Therefore, they don’t compete with 3rd parties, and shouldn’t care that you choose a supplier. However, you can still see this happen in states like Ohio (in certain markets), when they choose a supplier for you if you don’t choose yourself. Your local utility still delivers, services, and bills your account, as well as responds to any emergencies. This is where the utilities earn their profits.

By taking action, you can significantly improve your cash flow. Whether you own a home, a small office, or manage a nationwide organization, speaking to an energy professional can produce immediate and lasting results. First an energy consultant will analyze your billing and usage history. Next, the appropriate, licensed suppliers in your area will vie to be your energy supplier. Finally, your consultant will present you with options that meet your individual needs, whether they’re financial, environmental, or both.

If you’re looking for something that will yield a good ROI for your home, then why not schedule an electrical safety inspection in Fairfax, VA?

Why Investing in an Electrical Safety Inspection in Fairfax, VA Is Wise

When the subject of investing in your home comes up, a lot of people think about living room makeovers, installing a hot tub, or upgrading to a smart kitchen. However, what too many homeowners overlook is a relatively small investment that can both help keep you and your family safe while simultaneously increasing the value of your home.

Interesting, right?

The investment we’re referring to is an electrical safety inspection. This is a careful, methodical, and comprehensive inspection of your home’s complete electrical system by our Master Electricians. It includes:

Once the entire electrical system has been inspected, we prepare a report for you with our findings. This can include things that need to be upgraded or repaired, as well as recommendations for increasing the capacity of your system to meet the demands of a modern lifestyle.

Of course, you’re probably wondering why all of this is so important? There are a number of reasons:

Is your utility company planning on installing a smart meter on your home? You're not alone. These meters have been implemented in a number of regions across the United States, as well as in other countries in North America, Europe and Oceania. Read on to find out more about why these smart devices are growing in popularity and what you need to know about them.

Three Advantages for You

Smart meters have several big advantages over your traditional electricity meter. For one thing, they send their data to the utility company automatically, so there's no need for a meter reader to come by once a month. That also means they can turn your service on and off remotely, so you don't have to sit around and wait all day to get the power switched on after you move into a new home.

To take advantage of the remote reading capability, smart meters calculate your usage frequently, between every fifteen minutes and one hour, so you get a much better idea of when you use the most electricity. Additionally, most smart meters let you access a granular breakdown of all the data they collect about your energy usage, so you can make informed decisions about how and when to use your appliances. If you notice a big spike during the daytime, for example, you can turn the air conditioner down a notch or two, or cut down on the number of televisions you have on. It's easy to save electricity if you break down your consumption device by device, and a smart meter gives you the ability to get started.

Real Time Feedback

The smart meter also helps your utility company respond quickly to any outages and fine-tune its production. Since the company gets feedback about your consumption within an hour, it will know automatically if your power goes out and can see what other houses are having problems. That way, the company can get a jump-start on addressing the outage and act quickly to alleviate any accompanying safety concerns, like a downed wire.

What's more, the meter tells the company exactly when people are using power, so it can adjust its supply accordingly. From there, utilities have the option of instituting time-of-day pricing, selling electricity at cheaper rates during nights and weekends. This allows utilities to balance out their production schedules and use fewer auxiliary plants during the day, which reduces fossil fuel consumption and helps keep prices lower overall.

Spreading Across the Country

As more people discover the benefits of smart meters, their adoption is poised to increase across the country. Next time your utility provider upgrades its equipment, chances are you will get a smart meter installed if you don't have one already. If you have further questions about smart meters, how they work and what information they collect, contact your local electrician today.