Archive

Author Archive

When Is The Time Right To Upgrade Your Lights?

November 13th, 2009 No comments

Everyone who wants to save money and reduce energy consumption should inspect their home since many houses have old light fixtures which are in dire need of updating. However, many ask about when the best time to upgrade lights is. Actually, lighting needs to be brought up to date whenever something new is out and even if you have a newer home or one that meets the present day building code standards, you should still examine everything.

Everyone using incandescent lighting is wasting money and therefore it is important to replace all old bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. The main problem with regular light bulbs is that most of the energy they need is turned to heat instead of light and that is also the reason why they have to be off when replaced or they are too hot and will burn the skin.

CFL give off the same light, with less wattage than a regular bulb. While you are replacing them, you should be looking at the fixture itself. If they are old, or cracking or if they sound like their shorting out when you turn on a light, you should replace the whole fixture. Not only is it wasting money, chances are if it’s making sounds, there may be a short somewhere, which could cause a fire.

Fluorescent lights have a component inside which is known as a ballast. The function of the ballast in a tube light alters the electrical current activating the gas inside it. The older version one having a magnetic mechanism would buzz or flicker. Aside from that it had noisy parts which also made it less efficient. The new CFL lights do not have this problem since now the electronic ballasts are built in.

You should upgrade you lighting if you are still using incandescent lights and fixtures, or have the old ballast style fluorescent. You should have a professional come in and do an assessment, they can tell you exactly what you need. In many communities there are energy assistance programs that can help pay for these replacement costs. You should check with you local agencies for more information.

As far as upgrading your lights goes, it is probably best to keep up with the new technology as it becomes available and although you may not be able to afford it every time something new comes out you can keep informed on it till you can.

If you think it will be too expensive to replace everything then just start off with small things like replacing incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. These are more expensive to purchase, but you will soon feel the savings when it comes time to pay the electric bill.

You can find out more information on when and how to upgrade your lighting through many sources, both online and in your community. If you are not familiar with all these new technologies, you should really educate yourself. Get familiar with the terminology, study up on the different kinds of lights available, CFL’s, and even LED lights are available. One thing that is important for your safety, if any of your fixtures are acting like there is something wrong, replace them immediately, or you may have a fire on your hands.

For those in the market for puck lights one of the many locations to consider placing your lighting might be as wall lighting.

Under Cabinet Lighting And Your Kitchen

November 4th, 2009 No comments

Many who have watched home improvement shows on TV have wondered about how designers manage to create lighting effects in rooms. The answer is simple and it all has to do with right installation of under cabinet lighting. Although the name makes people believe it is only suitable for being used under a cabinet, that is not true and these lights are capable of much more. Than can actually be used anywhere that needs more illumination or where you just want to add a creative designing touch.

Depending on the type of light chosen, you may have an option of different colors. This is especially true with LED lighting. Colored lighting can be used to highlight unique features of your home or to simply provide ambient lighting. Take care that you do not mix brands, at least on a single lighting project. Even though both brands may call the light white, there can be a lot of difference. A significantly different shade can ruin the effect you are going for.

In the kitchen, you can do more than just light up shadowed counter tops. If you want your tile back splash to really pop, try installing some puck, or recessed, lighting with swivels. Angle the lights inward towards the wall. You will notice an immediate improvement in the appearance.

Does your kitchen look and feel small? If there is room between the cabinets and ceiling, add lighting strips to the tops of cabinets. It tricks the eye into believing the ceiling is higher, instantly making the room appear larger. If you are selling your home, this designer trick can be what cinches the sale for you.

If you have had problems finding things in cabinets, because it was too dark in the back, then you can solve this problem by adding this type of lighting. This way you can make use of deep cabinets which offer much more storage space, because you will be able to see everything that is in them with the extra light.

Do you have a curio cabinet that contains all your special pieces to show off but has no light? Although some come with lights built in they are more expensive so if you have one without there is an inexpensive simple fix. You can install LED strips to the underside of the shelves and you now have an illuminated curio cabinet to show off your collection!

If you have an entertainment center where you like to display photos and knick knacks on the shelves and perhaps on top of the entertainment center then you can make them all stand out with the placement of a few swivel lights or strip lighting. The strip one can be placed on top or if you want a more dramatic look place swivel lights on the top and then you can slide them forward. You can then angle back to display your objects.

It is obvious by now that under cabinet lighting finds uses all around the house and can fulfill many purposes. Anyone can find somewhere that could use some more lighting by just taking a look around the home. Once you know where you need more lighting, just go to a store that sells under cabinet lighting and choose the best option for what you have in mind. Even if you are not a designer, you can still easily add some great touches to your home.

When deciding which kitchen light fixtures might work best for your needs, shop lots of different places. One place that offers go here can be found here.