Tips from Wilcox Electric

2021 is now behind us and 2022 stretches out ahead. A fresh start is always welcome and here at Wilcox Electric, we're ready to go! 

If there is ever a season to remind us of the need for effective outdoor lighting, it's wintertime here in D.C. However, if you're like most homeowners, you want your outdoor lighting to add atmosphere and ambiance. So, what would "just the right" lighting for walkways and pathways look like at your home? Here are some ideas.

Are you a resolution kind of person? If so, we've come up with a few electrical resolutions that are good ideas to keep your home safe and sound. So this year, instead of making a bunch of resolutions you’ll give up on by February, take a look at these smart ideas to start 2022 off safely.

The holiday season is here! For many people, holiday lighting is an integral part of the celebration. Here are some smart tips to enhance your home with festive lighting that won’t jeopardize your safety or your wallet.

Many homeowners want to learn the nuts and bolts of how their houses and the systems within are put together. Some folks are avid DIYers and like to tackle many projects themselves; others simply want to know what warning signs to look for and how to assess the safety and quality of workmanship. When it comes to a home's electrical system, junction boxes play a role that every good homeowner should understand.

Old homes, such as many in DC's historic neighborhoods, have their charms to be sure. We love them! But the purpose of any home is to provide a safe and comfortable shelter and living space for your family. Outdated electrical wiring is a particular concern to new owners of old houses.

Your electrical service panel is the brain of your home’s electrical system. It is the dedicated place where the hardware of your electrical circuits is located. The electrical service panel is most often found in a basement or a laundry room, convenient but not primary living space. The service panel is always located on an outside wall. A proper assessment of your electrical service panel for capacity and proper function can save problems and aggravation in the future.

When it comes to trends in residential lighting, the number one thing we see is that more and more homeowners are moving to smart technology. While styles and fashions come and go, the trend toward automating the lighting in your home is particularly popular. Technology is only going to continue to improve, so the best electricians are plugged in and getting it done.

Quick question – how many devices that charge with a USB drive live in your home right now? 4, 10, 25? It’s crazy how fast those smartphones, tablets, earbuds, and other devices start to add up, right? Next question: How much time do you spend running around looking for an adapter for the outlet so you can plug in your USB device? We can’t do much about how many devices your family loves, but we can stop the scramble for the chargers. It’s time to upgrade your outlets to include USB chargers.

Every electrician knows you need to keep up with the power demand safely and affordably. However, there is no doubt that 20th-century electrical systems - as dreamy and modern as they seemed back then - are no match for the 21st-century homes we want to live in today. Allen Gallant, who does electrical work on This Old House TV projects, says this: “The circuits in these older homes weren't designed to power the many gadgets of modern life.”