You may have heard the term GFCI from your electrician before. But what exactly does it mean? And is that type of outlet really necessary in your home or building?

We all know that water and electricity don’t mix. That’s what makes electrical outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms where water is used so tricky. To reduce the chance of electrocutions, burns, and shocks, virtually all North American building codes require that ground fault circuit interrupter outlets (GFCIs) be installed where there is water nearby. GFCI outlets have a built-in circuit breaker that instantly stops the flow of electricity when it senses a surge.

A GFCI outlet not only helps keep you and your family or building occupants from getting shocks and burns, but it helps prevent electrical fires. In the even that there is an electrical fire, it can lessen the severity and any damage.

A GFCI outlet is important not only to meeting local building code requirements, but also to help prevent potentially-fatal accidents.

GFCI outlets are designed with a red button that activates the outlet after the built-in breaker is tripped, and a black button that tests the outlet to make sure that the breaker is working properly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that all ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets be tested in the following intervals:

To test your ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets, plug a lamp into the outlet. Turn the lamp on and push the black test button. If the lamp goes out, the outlet is working properly. If the lamp remains lit, contact a licensed electrician to evaluate the problem. Electrical and wiring issues make poor DIY projects and are best left to electricians who are trained to safely handle electrical current and wiring.

At Kolb Electric, we want to help you keep your home or building safe in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC areas. We can save you time by inspecting and testing all of the ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets in your interior space and addressing any electrical issues we may discover during the tests. To learn more about electrical safety and GFCI outlets and/or to schedule a service appointment, call us at 877 287-1179. We’ve been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners like you with their electrical needs since 1925.

Buying a new car can present some challenges for sure. Do I want a used one or a new one, a foreign model or a domestic, a compact or a mid-sized? Now, as it often does, technology is offering even more choices. We can get the normal fuel guzzling type, a hybrid or even an electric car. Hmmm… an electric car – does that mean you hire an electrician for an electrical service call instead of a mechanic? More on that in a minute, since I have more pressing questions. I live in Pasadena. Are there any “charging stations” nearby? If you run out of “charge” on Interstate 10, can you bring it back to your car in a can? After doing a bit of online research, I am getting closer to having a few of my questions answered.

So, let’s start with the pros.

And, then we have the cons.

While I was on the internet, I decided to pursue this a little further. When I searched for “electrician, Pasadena” I found a company called The Electric Connection. I’ll be darned, they actually do electric vehicle charge installs. I guess an electrical service call will be in order if I choose an EV, along with other electrical troubleshooting that needs to be done since my house is old and probably needs a total electrical upgrade.

Well, I am still driving my car that uses too much gas, but I certainly know more than I did about my options. I am also pleased to tell you that I found the best electrician in Pasadena while on my electric car journey. If I choose an EV in the future, I now know who to call to make it feel right at home.

Click here to visit our website.

It used to be that energy-efficient green housing was once not only rare, but extremely expensive, as appliances and non-conventional layouts that are characteristic of such properties could only be acquired at a premium. However, that trend has changed, and now environmentally friendly and energy-efficient are descriptors at the top of many home buyers' checklists when shopping for a new residence.

According to a study conducted by industry research firm McGraw Hill Construction, green housing accounts for roughly 20 percent of all new residential buildings across the country. Even during the Great Recession, the industry for energy-efficient housing was worth roughly $25 billion in the United States, and analysts indicate that this figure will only grow as green goes mainstream.

"The green building market has evolved beyond the crunchy-granola, Boulder types," David Johnston, a Colorado consultant and co-author of "Toward a Zero Energy Home," told the Wall Street Journal in a story on this more-popular-than-ever kind of residence. "We have mainstream builders doing this."

The source reported that here in the Mid Atlantic, residents are helping to lead the way in lowering utility bills and lessening their dependence on the energy grid. One home profiled in the story looked at a net-zero house in Frederick, Maryland, that costs the residents nothing on electric and water bills at the end of the year thanks to upgrades to their traditional brick house.