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Avatar for Kolb Electric Inc

Kolb Electric Inc

8530 Cinder Bed Rd
4.38(
200
)

Kolb Electric Inc

8530 Cinder Bed Rd
4.38(
200
)
Customers say: Super punctual
100 years of experience

We are a family owned and operated business that has been serving the Baltimore, Washington Metropolitan area since 1925. We are committed to providing superior electrical services. The valuable advantages we can offer you are great service, high quality and experienced workers at a competitive price.

"Do not use this company. They will rip you off. The contract was for eight 300W LED 40 ft pole lights, but I caught them redhanded installing 240W. Who does that? Then, they broke my lock and broke into my sprinkler room which I saw on my video which they admitted. Then, Kolb sued me for not paying the bill which I disputed due to lost tools as result of the break-in. Who does that breaking into a customer's sprinkler room and not informing that they did. I had to catch them on my video. Not only that it took over one year to the work proposed work. TOTAL FRAUD. I will be going to court...."

John A on November 2023

We are a family owned and operated business that has been serving the Baltimore, Washington Metropolitan area since 1925. We are committed to providing superior electrical services. The valuable advantages we can offer you are great service, high quality and experienced workers at a competitive price.

"Do not use this company. They will rip you off. The contract was for eight 300W LED 40 ft pole lights, but I caught them redhanded installing 240W. Who does that? Then, they broke my lock and broke into my sprinkler room which I saw on my video which they admitted. Then, Kolb sued me for not paying the bill which I disputed due to lost tools as result of the break-in. Who does that breaking into a customer's sprinkler room and not informing that they did. I had to catch them on my video. Not only that it took over one year to the work proposed work. TOTAL FRAUD. I will be going to court...."

John A on November 2023

Earthquake Retrofitting questions, answered by experts

Earthquake gas shut-off valves, or seismic gas shut-off valves, are safety devices that attach to your natural gas line. When an earthquake hits, the valve automatically turns off the flow of gas. Earthquake gas shut-off valves can prevent gas leaks, which are especially dangerous after a quake due to the risk of fire and explosion.

A home with proper earthquake retrofitting can sustain minimal damage in earthquakes of up to 7.0 magnitude, although risks are higher based on how close and deep the earthquake is. A home closer to the earthquake epicenter will sustain greater damage, especially if the earthquake is closer to the surface of the Earth, but retrofitting can help minimize the risk of injuries.

First, you can expect the project to be loud. If you have pets, you might want to take them to a friend's house during the day so they are not disturbed by any of the loud noises. In addition, you’ll need to provide the retrofit team access to areas of the house that will need to be worked on, meaning you’ll need to relocate personal items, clear clutter, and make pathways for the crew. Once the project is complete, a local building inspector will conduct a final inspection to ensure that the retrofitting is up to code.

An earthquake retrofit is essential for safety in an earthquake-prone area. Without proper retrofitting, your home is at risk of sliding off the foundation, shifting, or collapsing.

You may also require a retrofit if your home was built before 1980 when building codes began requiring reinforcing, bracing, and bolting for new construction. You may not be eligible for insurance to help pay for earthquake-related damages without a retrofit.

Grounding is a great first step to prevent electrical shock, but you can take it further with GFCI outlets and AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters). In particular, AFCIs help protect against the type of electrical arcs that cause fires, like if a mouse chews on a wire or your laptop starts overheating at the wall. These are required in some areas of your home.

The Sharpsburg, MD homeowners’ guide to earthquake retrofitting services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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