The MD, DC, and VA area is known for getting slammed with violent and powerful thunderstorms that produce severe lightning. Electrical surges, which are caused by lightning, can wreak havoc on your expensive electronics and appliances.

A lightning strike that hits a power line several miles away from your house can impact all your electronic items. Whole-house surge protection is the best option you have to protect your home electronics and wiring from the damage caused by lightning strikes.

Everyone from the National Fire Protection Association to the Institute for Business and Home Safety recommends the use of whole-house surge protection. As a homeowner, the good news for you is that protection is readily available, and even top-of-the-line solutions are affordable. The gold standard in whole-house surge protection is a two-tiered system—a whole-house surge protective device, or SPD, installed at the circuit breaker box, and plug-in SPDs on individual outlets. A whole-house SPD can protect against up to 40,000 amps of current flowing into your home from the outside; normal household power is between 200 to 300 amps. When an electrical surge occurs as a result of a lightning strike, the device detects the excess current and safely diverts it through the house’s grounding path. Whole-house surge protection provides homeowners in MD, DC, and VA peace of mind when a powerful thunderstorm passes the area.

Whole-house surge protection can typically be installed in a home for around $200—it’s an easy job for a top electrician. The cost of replacing electronic equipment in an average home is a whopping $8,000, and it may be even higher for homes in MD, DC, and VA. Whole-house surge protection is cheap insurance against electrical surges caused by lightning strikes. It provides a layer of protection to all the electronic items in your home.

To ensure complete safety, Kolb Electric recommends that you allow a qualified, experienced electrician to complete the wiring for whole-house surge protection—there are several steps involved that are best left to a professional.

If you require surge protection wiring or want a full whole-house surge protection installation, contact Kolb Electric.

As we've discussed in the past on this blog, spring is National Electrical Safety Month, and now is the perfect time to brush up on the best practices and preventative measures that homeowners should take to avoid an electrical disaster. Some of these tips and tricks are generally common sense - like keeping water away from any open current, or replacing a frayed wire to avoid any sparks or arcing - while others may not be so obvious.

For example, you may not realize it, but there could be underground wires surrounding your house that could easily be compromised when you are gardening. If you have a light post in your front yard, there is likely a wire that connects it to your home's main electrical hook up, or if you have a detached garage with power in your back yard, that connection too probably runs beneath your lawn. Even some pool owners power their filters through underground wiring set ups.

Whether you are simply laying down new sod or intend to plant some shrubbery along your driveway, before taking a shovel to dirt, you want to be sure you aren't severing a wire that could make you vulnerable to potential electrocution.

Creating that relaxing and efficient bathroom you’ve been dreaming of is a great project. Finally getting to pick out that perfect whirlpool tub or that delicate sconce lighting that you’ve always wanted can be fun and exciting, and it can also be the beginning of the end of years worth of wishful thinking and making do. But, don’t get too carried away with all that planning before the practical matters have been considered, such whether your electrical system is equipped to handle the changes you have in mind. Consulting an electrician to evaluate your system and your remodeling plans is an important first step.

Replacing older bathroom lighting fixtures with new, modern ones is a job that can be a bit more complicated than it may seem at first glance. Newer fixtures, like whirlpool tubs or modern lighting options are designed for new homes with modern electrical systems. Installing them in an older home can present some challenges as far as your wiring system is concerned, making it necessary for your to do some wiring or electrical panel upgrades. Or, you may need additional switches or outlets installed to make everything work. Knowing these details ahead of time can make your project a lot less complicated, so it makes sense to have your electrician Burbank specialist look over the situation before you begin.

No electrician will be more skillful and professional in evaluating the electrical needs of your remodeling project than The Electric Connection. Our well trained and dedicated staff places a high priority on exceptional customer service, which combined with their reputation for high quality work, has made them the highest rated electrician in the area. The Electric Connection can help you determine whether you’ll need electrical upgrades to make your remodeling plans practical.

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Today, many property owners opt for home automation systems. This is the “Internet of Things” and the manner in which various appliances, devices, and installations in your home are networked together; it provides you efficient control over various aspects of your home.

In terms of simple appliance control and lighting, this concept has been around for decades. It’s only in the recent years that there has been a sea change in this technology and you can now opt for systems that allow you complete control of your home from any remote location. Using home automation, you are able to control how a particular device will react, and why and when it should react.

Once the system has been installed, you only need to set the schedule. The rest of it is all automated and will be based on your personal preferences. This is why home automation can alert you about the events that you may want to immediately be aware of, such as unexpected access to your home, water leaks etc. All you have to do is grab your Android device or iPhone or any other remote control and alter the settings in your home. If this isn’t convenience, what is?

Let’s take a closer look at what the benefits of home automation systems are:

You are able to automate and control almost every single appliance and device in your home, regardless of where you are. You don’t really have to worry about getting up from your comfortable couch to dim the lights, draw the curtains or adjust the temperature of the room you are in, or in any other room of your house. You would be able to adjust the temperature in all the rooms in your house, just with the touch of a button on your phone.

Your CCTV cameras can be connected to the automation systems and in case there is any trespasser on your property, you would be immediately alerted to it. Your water sensors could be connected as well and you would immediately know if there was a leak, even if you aren’t at home; this gives you the chance to react and safeguard your home very effectively.

Home automation can help you switch on and off lights and sprinklers etc. when you want to, even when you aren’t actually at home. You can also switch on the air conditioning or water heater a few minutes before you are slated to reach home, and that helps save energy too as you wouldn’t have to keep the hot water system running all day. This kind of functionality helps you save on your utility bills.

When you have a home automation system installed on your property, you know you are using the latest technology. While the working of these systems is quite complex, the systems themselves are very user-friendly and this makes for a fun experience. You will find yourself impressing your guests with the various features of the system and enjoy using the automated systems.

If you are considering getting home automation products installed on your property, you would need to hire the services of a skilled and knowledgeable electrical company that will be able to understand your requirements and provide custom solutions. We at AllRound Electrical can provide you the solutions you need at extremely cost-effective pricing. Our experts will work closely with you and provide applications such as automated:

In addition to home automation, we can handle all other electrical requirements you may have. For more information, simply speak with the experts at AllRound Electrical and take their advice on various aspects of home automation installation solutions. The number to call is – 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address.

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