A home power outage can happen without warning and at the most inconvenient time. Really, there isn’t a convenient time to lose electricity. We often forget just how much we rely on power throughout the day until we lose it.

The loss of lights, refrigerators, washers and dryers, computers and electronic devices, and more make residential power outages both irritating and disruptive– there are a number of steps you can take to fix the situation.

Diagnose the Problem

There are many reasons you may have lost power.

First, something may have caused an interruption of power from your provider.  In addition, Colorado thunderstorms can cause a disruption , or it could be a problem with a circuit or other electrical system in your home. Loose connectors, device failures, ground movement, underground root growth, or improper wire installation can all cause shorts or overloads as well.

If you have lost power, check with your neighbors to see if the power outage is widespread. If they don’t have power either, the problem is with your power provider, not the electrical systems in your home. Your power company should be informed, and you will have to wait for them to address the issue.

If the power outage is limited to your home, check your main breaker to see if it’s tripped. Flip the switch back on if it is tripped, which may restore your power. If you are only experiencing a partial power outage, you can try to turn on your electric dryer or range as a test. If it doesn’t turn on, or if the main switch trips again at any point, you will need a professional electrician to come and diagnose the specific problem you are having.

A Trusted Emergency Electrician in Arvada

As a home or building owner in the DC area, no one expects you to have the same technical vocabulary as an electrical contractor. However, knowing a few basic electrical terms can help you communicate better with the electricians on your project, saving time and misunderstandings, and preventing you from getting ripped off by an unscrupulous contractor.

At Kolb Electric, we understand that you may not be familiar with some electrical terms. That’s why we take the time to answer your questions and explain in layman’s terms what your project needs and the pricing associated with each step. To hire one of our licensed electricians to work on your Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC home, call us at 877 287-1179. We’ve been helping area Mid-Atlantic home and building owners with their electrical needs since 1925.

Radiant heated driveways have become a very popular option for homeowners across the Midwest and east coast, where winter temperatures often present quite the challenge to homeowners with the snow and ice that they bring. Can you imagine never having to shovel snow off your driveway again?

Imagine the convenience! True, you won’t be able to claim a “snow day” to get out of going to work, but at least you can leave your house on a whim. But what exactly are heated driveways, and how do they work? Will you need to have maintenance done on them? Keep reading to learn more.

Driveway heating systems use radiant heating technology to warm concrete, asphalt, pavers, and various other floor materials—whatever your driveway is made of a heating system can benefit you. The difference is, the installation of a driveway heating system is much easier and less invasive than a typical radiant hydronic heating system.

You still certainly need a professional to install the system, and it does require the driveway to be laid down after the installation of the heating system, but we’re happy to talk to you about your options!

Also called snow melting systems, driveway heating systems uses a sensor to detect moisture, which signals a controller to supply power to the heating cable, which then warms the driveway. This prevents snow and ice from even beginning to accumulate, removing the inconvenience for you while you sleep or otherwise enjoy being indoors out of the elements!

Snow melting systems have very, very few components. It’s true that age and natural wear and tear may eventually necessitate a repair or eventual upgrade someday. However, these energy-efficient systems are relatively maintenance free. Still though, it would be wise to have our technicians check out your system on perhaps an annual basis—before winter—just to ensure everything is functioning as it should.