Hopefully, you have surge protectors set up in your house to protect your electronics from power surges, or voltage spikes, that can fry your devices. Unfortunately, surge protectors won't save you from the evil cousin of a power surge -- a low voltage event, or brownout. Dimming lights in your house are a sign that you're experiencing a brownout, which over time can cause major damage to your appliances. 

Since your air conditioner is one of your most powerful appliances, any brief outage means it takes a lot of electricity to power the unit back up. To combat the problem, Direct Energy and One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating® offer the Comfort Sentry Contactor, a switching device with totally sealed contacts that goes in your AC unit. If voltage goes below a safe point or "flickers," the Contactor will automatically and safely turn the unit off — and then back on once the right amount of power is back. "In multiple dwellings, it will stagger turning power back on, one in 30 seconds, another in 5 minutes, and so on — to avoid using too much electricity all at once. It's protection built right into your home," explains Dave Borowski, spokesperson for Direct Energy. A smart homeowner will recognize this as an "ounce of prevention."

If a ceiling fan has stopped working, has begun vibrating, or is not operating correctly, it may be wasting electricity; or worse, it may represent an electrical hazard. In this case, it is typically best to have a professional electrician install a replacement.

Sometimes a fan works fine, but a different model presents a more desirable appearance or more attractive features. While many homeowners are capable of installing a new fan themselves, we always recommend a professional installation by a qualified and experienced professional electrician. The reasons are many, but the most important reason is safety. Besides this, many homeowners installing their own fans damage the fans when dropping them, or fail to make sure their new fans are installed so the blades are balanced and operate smoothly, quietly, and efficiently. Other problems can occur when correct wiring connections are not made.

If you need a professional ceiling fan installation, please call Bryant Electric Service at 512-402-8587. Our licensed electricians are very experienced at installing ceiling fans, and are properly equipped for this type of service.

Do you have an electrical repair or a project you’re moving forward on, or you’re wanting to improve the look of your home or business?  Will you do it yourself, hire a handyman, or hire a qualified electrician?

Because of the rising costs of our island’s economic environment, many are looking for ways to cut costs when it comes to electrical repairs or additions. One way people are doing this is through their own attempts or choose someone who claims to be a qualified electrician working as a “handyman”. The current economy has left many skilled tradespersons unemployed and eager to offer their expertise as a handyman repair worker.

A “handyman” might be able to do the electrical job you have or they might not.  How are you to know?  Much of the work performed in an electrical project is covered up by walls, wire junction boxes, or in limited access locations.  I’ve  seen bad connections where the previous installer has connected wires using gift wrapping tape or paper clips or some other household items. Also, wires that carry high voltage were cut, pinched, and fully exposed to a shock or fire hazard (see above picture).  The owners knew nothing about this!  Following the electrical codes didn’t seem to be a priority in these attempts.  Codes need to be met or there’s a huge liability to persons and property.

Electrical wiring can be very dangerous! A handyman may have some electrical talent, but they are not recognized by the law as a licensed contractor. In other words, in Hawaii, they cannot pull permits on jobs where they are required or legally work on projects that earn $1000.00 or more for their services. The State knows the dangers of unlicensed work.  They are not just looking for other means for revenue.  If you hire someone who is unlicensed to save money, then you are taking a huge risk.  If something goes wrong,  you have  very little recourse.  You could end up paying more in the end.

Blue Sky Electric not only is licensed, but insured and bonded.  The State requires this for good reason….. The State of Hawaii has a fund for you that all licensed contractors pay into called the “Contractor’s Recovery Fund”. The purpose of the fund is to provide reimbursement to a consumer who has suffered a financial loss as a result of a licensed electrical contractor who has engaged in fraudulent, deceptive or dishonest practices, or failed to perform.  Injured parties my collect funds to recover damages.  Any unlicensed person can not offer you this protection.

To get the results that you expect, it is essential that you put appropriate effort behind finding an electrician matched to the specific requirements of your job – do not simply trust someone that puts you at ease or wins your confidence.  If a licensed contractor is hired one item to look into is their complaint record with the Hawaii Board of Contractors. Here’s a link to check the status of a person’s record: Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing Search Whoever you may hire, they should always come with word-of-mouth recommendations or testimonials of their peers.

Call us to discuss your project, and our expertise.  Let’s talk about doing it right the first time.

Finding a good electrician can be a challenge. The Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC area is filled with electrical contractors making big claims, but how do you know who you can trust? Whether you need your entire home rewired or just a relatively simple project completed like a new outlet for your clothes dryer, it’s important for your home and family’s safety to find a licensed electrician to do the work. The same is true of your workplace, where employee and client safety is a major concern.

If you’re on the search for a good electrician in the area, it’s essential to choose someone who has gone through the training, apprenticeship, and other steps necessary to be licensed by your state, whether it’s Maryland, Virginia, or the District. Working with electricity can be hazardous, both to the workers and to your home. Even a small short circuit can cause a home fire, endangering both your property and your family.

Answer that question of how do I find a good electrician by asking friends, neighbors, and colleagues for recommendations. If you’re a new homeowner or new to the area, online directories like Angie’s List can give you unbiased reviews of DC area electric contractors. The Yellow Pages can also be a good place to start.

If you’re asking yourself how to find a good electrician in the DC area, we hope you’ll consider Kolb Electric. We’ve been helping Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC homeowners like you with their electric needs for nearly 90 years. Kolb Electric is a full-service electrical contractor and all of our electricians are licensed to work in your area. We offer free, fair estimates as well as 24-hour emergency service, seven days a week. To learn how Kolb Electric can solve your electrical needs and/or to schedule an appointment, call us at 877 287-1179.