A More Attractive and Cost-Friendly Home Lighting Plan

One of the best accents of any home is the lighting. Inside, it highlights the walls, brings life to dark corners and prevents countless midnight toe-stubbing accidents every year. Outside, it shows off your home's best features and gives light where you need it most (such as the walkways and back doors). Proper lighting, however, can sometimes cost more than you would like. With a subtle touch and a smart plan, you can use your home lighting to its maximum in both looks and efficiency and save money along the way. To help you get started, we've put together our top four home lighting efficiency tips.

1. Inside, we recommend you replace at least five of your standard light bulbs with CFL, Energy Star-certified bulbs instead. Not only are they roughly five times more energy efficient, they can often last up to ten times longer.
2. Outside, you should consider installing light timers and motion activated sensors. It's too much hassle to plug outdoor lights in and out every night and morning, but it's too much money to keep them on all the time. A simple timer or motion sensitive device can ensure your lights are on when they need to be and off when they don't.
3. Decorative lighting can be tricky to get just right, but consider your approach. Lighting designer Randall Whitehead says, "Think of decorative lighting as architectural jewelry. It can dress up or dress down the look." Find a look that compliments the room but isn't overbearing.
4. Lastly, you can ensure your home lighting is extra efficient by installing dimmers. Not only will dimmers let you set the mood, they also offer a great degree of control over how much electricity certain lights are using.

There is certainly more to a smart home lighting plan than these four tips, but it's a good place to start. Whether you're a first time or longtime homeowner, you can always contact us for more tips, advice and guidance with your home lighting plan.

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The Importance Of An Annual Electrical Inspection

Few things are more worth your time than making sure your home is safe and secure. It seems like every year, electrical equipment fails at the worst this-can’t-be-happening-now time. Whether this has happened to you or not, call a Beco electrician for help any day or night. It will save you more money, and gray hairs, to do an annual electrical maintenance 20+ point safety check.

An annual checkup on your home’s electrical system can be just as beneficial as an annual physical or car tune-up, except you don’t even have to leave the house. A Beco electrician will check each system to ensure it’s operating at optimal levels. Not only can this kind of service save you money down the road, it can give you peace of mind and the knowledge that the wiring behind the scenes isn’t causing you any trouble. Here’s a list of three easy things you can look for today that might indicate something is up.

1. Circuit Breakers: Circuit breakers can trip when they’re overloaded, old, corroded, or otherwise. Using a working appliance, check each outlet in and outside of your house to make sure they’re functioning properly.
2. Light Switches: Along the same lines, take a minute to check each light switch. If you notice unexpected flickering, or a switch doesn’t work at all, take note. This could be due to faulty wiring, which can be hazardous if left unchecked.
3. Light Fixtures: Turn off the lights, reach up and feel the area around each light fixture in your home. If it feels warm, it could be under-insulated, or it’s possible the bulb is exceeding maximum wattage. If surrounding area is warm to the touch, this can run the risk of starting an electrical fire and causing serious damage.

An annual electrical maintenance check is a proactive way to keep your house’s energy and safety in order. A single sparking wire has the potential to be a much bigger problem, but it’s hard to fix what you don’t know about. Contact us to schedule an annual electrical 20+ point safety check today.

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