The light fittings in your home can do a lot to dictate the atmosphere and mood of any space – not to mention how much your monthly electrical bill will cost you! With all of this to consider, it makes a lot of sense why homeowners are so careful in choosing the light fittings that will go into their homes. Here is a guide that can help you to make the right choices the first time around:

What to Consider

 Remember, the lighting in your home has a lot of power to dictate the atmosphere and mood throughout your different rooms. These things can even impact your sleep and energy levels! So, whenever you pick out new light fittings, keep these things in mind.

In this guide of tips to help you choose proper light fittings in your home, we have focused on options that will make inhabitants of your home feel bright, cheerful, and happy.

Install Recessed Down at Every Opportunity

 Have you ever felt like a room looks smaller than it truly is? The reason could be that the light fitting is protruding from the ceiling, which can result in the room feeling smaller. It also results in shadows and creates a gloomy vibe overall. Instead of doing this, use recessed downlights in your home wherever you can to reduce shadows being cast and increased the perceived size of your room!

Install Feature Pendant Light Fittings

Installing pendant light in your home’s breakfast bar, dining room table, or your bedside table increases the aesthetics of your home. With a lower temperature globe, you can give off warmer hues, like yellow, amber and red. These hues have been proven to stimulate your eyes less and improve your sleep, too! To contrast, cooler lights are used in workplace atmospheres to stimulate your eyes and keep you alert while working.

Install LED Globes and Light Fittings

LED Globes are the best option when it comes to light fittings in the home. They last longer than CFL, incandescent, and halogen lights, and they consume less power!

However, if you’re going to switch your current light fittings to new, LED bulbs, it is recommended that you call upon a licensed electrician to take care of the installation of your new light fittings. Old halogen light fittings come with a lot of risks, so if you try to DIY it, this is a decision you might regret. Instead, replace and install newer fittings with the help of an electrician – you won’t regret it because they will last longer and produce better quality light for you to enjoy in your home!

The Verdict

 As you can see, there is a lot to consider when upgrading the light fittings in your home. However, these tips should have helped to lead you in the right direction to get the best results that make your home feel bright, happy, and cheerful while keeping your energy bills low! To get started today, contact an electrician with any questions you might have!

by Michael Gray

There are a lot of reasons to want energy efficient lights for your home! It’s kind to the planet, and it also reduces your energy bills, allowing your wallet to breathe a sigh of relief. But saying you want energy efficient lights for your home is a lot easier said than done!

Let us help you understand what to look for in your search for the right lights for your home!

Watt Does All This Mean?

When looking for the right energy efficient light fittings to complement your home, you’ll likely encounter a whole host of jargons you don’t understand. What do all of these terms and words mean? How does it affect your choice and your light fittings? Let’s dive right into answering those questions now!

Watt: Watts are a measure of energy

Lumen: Lumens are a measure of brightness

A lower wattage will help you lower your energy bill, while a higher brightness comes from more lumens. Ask yourself whether you want blinding brightness or soft mellowness. This is where your lumens will matter. Expect around 400 lumens for a bedside lamp, and 1500-3000 lumens total for your living room (these don’t all need to come from the same light source).

Colour Rendering Index: Colour rendering index or CRI refers to how accurately your light source represents various colours. Remember “The Dress” that became a viral sensation back in 2015? This all has to do with lighting, or CRI. A good score is anything above 80, but 90-100 is the preferred range.

Annual Cost: Annual cost is, of course, what you’ll be paying yearly. Energy efficient bulbs should save you money in the long run.

Energy Star Qualified: If you want an energy efficient LED bulb, we recommend Energy Star qualified bulbs – this means they’ve gone through numerous quality tests and have been proven to last longer and have been built to be better.

Kelvin: Kelvin refers to the colour temperature of your energy efficient lightbulbs. The higher your Kelvin is, the cooler your energy efficient light will be. Lights over 5,000K tend to give off white or blue colours (cool colours) whereas those under 3,000K tend to give off warmer hues like yellow or red. Consider the atmosphere of the room these lights will be installed in to decide the Kelvin you want to go for. Warmer lights give off a cosier ambiance, meaning they fit well in bedrooms. Higher Kelvin value lights help promote alertness, making them ideal for offices or study rooms.

If the Bulb Fits…

 If you’re looking to replace your current bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives, make sure that the fittings match! The shape of the light matters because this dictates the spread of light. Take note of the bulb you need before heading to the store to ensure you don’t waste your time and money.

Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency Today!

 And there you have it – the basics of choosing energy efficient lighting fixtures for your home! For more help on maximising your home’s energy efficiency, get in touch with a local electrician today!

by Michael Gray

Is there something going on with the electricity in your home? Do you wish you could ask an expert electrician a question about your home’s electricity?

If so, you’re in luck! Here are the 5 most common questions that people ask about electricity and their answers. Maybe this will help to answer the question about electricity that has been plaguing you and help you determine whether or not you need the help of a professional on the scene!

Without further ado, here are the 5 electrical questions that electricians most frequently hear!

Why Won’t My Tripped Circuit Breaker Turn Back On?

 If you are looking to reset a circuit breaker that has tripped, you will need to ensure that the switch is completely in the “off” position first. If you are able to return it back to the “on” position without it tripping again, your circuit breaker will have been successfully reset.

If it won’t reset or if it trips again when you turn it on, you might have an overload on the circuit or a short circuit. Make sure there aren’t too many things going into a single circuit and if that doesn’t work, it’s time to call in an electrician!

Do I Need to Be Concerned About Outlets that Don’t Work?

 It seems like a very simple thing, but it is easy to overlook wall switches – especially if you’re new to the home you’re living in.

Try plugging in a lamp into a functional outlet and unplug it while it’s still in the “on” position. Then plug it into an outlet that doesn’t appear to be working and flip wall switches nearby. If the lamp comes on, that means your outlet is controlled by a wall switch!

If this isn’t the problem, though, and you have no circuits in your breaker box that have tripped, you might want to call an electrician to look for a short in your electrical system.

I’ve Changed the Lightbulb in My Yard but It Still Doesn’t Work. Is This a Short?

If you have changed the lightbulb in a light mount in your yard but it’s still not lighting up, you might have a short circuit. It’s possible that the person who installed your light didn’t protect the wiring well enough or could it could have been accidentally cut by a person mowing or digging in the yard, or the photocell may have worn out and needs replacing.

Do I Need to Worry If the Dimmer on My Dining Room Light Is Hot to the Touch?

Unless the light is uncomfortably hot or you can hear a buzzing sound, this isn’t something to worry about. However, if that is the case or if you smell plastic burning or you notice that your lights are flickering, then this is a sign that you should call in a specialist to take a look.

Why Does My Circuit Trip When I Turn on My Microwave?

 Many cabinet-mounted microwaves that have been added to the house after it was initially built use between 1100 and 1800 watts. Builders will often install the range hood above your oven/range in order to exhaust the kitchen’s cooking fumes only. A 15-amp lighting circuit works for the exhaust fan alone, but if it shares the circuit with other outlets or lights, that is too much power being drawn. Installing a new 20-amp 120 volt dedicated circuit should fix the problem!

by Michael Gray