How To Fix A Light Socket?

Posted on April 17, 2012 by chandeliers

Fixing a bad light socket can be done by simply replacing the socket. Usually sockets are attached by one nut on the bottom or two screws down through the base of the socket. You’ll want to make sure the power is turned off to the fixture before taking it down, of course. After unscrewing it and taking it down, you can find a replacement at any local home improvement store. Reattach it the same way you took it down and put in a new bulb. You’re good to go!

Courtesy of: Sell2.com

Thanks to our sister site, UniqueVanities.com for this post. Visit them online to find a great selection of white bathroom vanities!

Posted in Questions for the Electrician | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Is A Routinely Blown Light Bulb The Result of A Short or A Bad Bulb?

Posted on April 14, 2012 by chandeliers

Recently, I’ve noticed that the light bulbs in my wagon wheel chandelier at the top of my stairs keep going out. Previously, I would have just guessed it as bad bulbs, but I’ve replaced them about 4 times in the past month. It seemed like a lot to me, so I shot the question past our in house Electrician for advice. He mentioned that the term “short” is used very loosely. By definition a short is the act of crossing a hot wire directly with a neutral or grounded conductor of a circuit. This will result in a tripped breaker, a blown fuse, or a fire. So, going through light bulbs quickly means either I’ve been purchasing cheap light bulbs or there is something wrong with the fixture I’ve been putting them in. This could be a bad socket or a loose connection in the junction box the fixture is connected to, which are both fixable problems!

2 Light Media Luna Flush Mount

Posted in Questions for the Electrician | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

DIY Light Fixtures Using Wine Bottles

Posted on April 12, 2012 by chandeliers

Wine bottles come in many different shapes and colors; when brought together with some simple lighting, you can create a unique lighting fixture for your home (and save hundreds of dollars while you’re at it). Whether you’re a casual drinker or a wine connoisseur and member of a monthly wine club, there are ways to turn one or many bottles into a unique light fixture.

One of the simplest ways to get started is to purchase an all-in-one kit which lets you mount a light bulb to the top of an empty wine bottle. Simply add a shade, and you’re done!

Or, you can create a light-filled wine bottle in just a few easy steps: all you need is a single bottle, some tape, a drill, and some Christmas lights. First, soak the bottle and remove the label (or, if you’d like, you can leave the label on). Next, to help when drilling, add a piece of masking tape to the bottle where you’re going to drill the hole. Now, drill through the tape and through the wine bottle. Don’t push on the bottle – let the drill do the work. Start at one end (using a set of lights that are not end-to-end works best) and feed the lights through the hole.

These would look great standing alone or in a set on a mantle. Try using colored bottles with white lights, or multi-colored lights in a clearer bottle.

When you’re ready to step up your wine bottle lighting project, you can make your own chandelier just like Brandon and Caitlin did over at That House on The Corner. They drilled holes through a stool top, which the necks of the wine bottles were inserted through, using rotor clips to hold the bottles in place. Then, a simple light kit was used to provide the actual light (in the center of the chandelier). When turned on, the light reflected through the wine bottles, creating a unique chandelier, and a wonderful conversation piece.

Chandelier

With varying glass colors and bottle shapes, wine bottles are excellent resources when tackling a DIY lighting fixture project.

About the author: Eric Nagel is a casual wine drinker, who recently discovered the joys of joining a wine club. Although he prefers Pinot Noirs, he believes a good wine is comprised not only of what’s in the bottle, but also who you’re with when you open the bottle.

Posted in General Electrical Home Improvement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How Much Wattage Should I Consider When Buying A Generator?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by chandeliers

When you are trying to figure out the amount of wattage you should get in a generator, there are a couple rules of thumb to follow. First, you’ll want to add up the wattage of all of the items you would want powered—should the power go out.  Next, you’ll want to double that number.  Generators have two ratings, one for continuous load and one for surge power.  Most appliances that have any kind of motor load will draw three times as much during start up as they will when up and running. Additionally, lighting, like your hand forged iron chandelier,  is usually a continuous draw when using a generator as a backup.  It is always best to oversize your back up power unit to ensure it works for you when you need it.

Courtesy of: generatordepot.us

Posted in Questions for the Electrician | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Is There A Best Place To Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs?

Posted on April 7, 2012 by chandeliers

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL’s) work well in most situations like overhead lights, wall sconces, or even wagon wheel chandeliers. They are eco-friendly (and kinder to your pocket book as well) because they use less electricity to light and don’t get as physically hot as a regular incandescent light bulb does. CFL’s work especially well in outdoor fixtures that you may leave on all night or when you are gone. The only downfall to them is that they take a few minutes to reach full brightness. So if you are using these bulbs for security reasons, you may want to go with halogen or incandescent as light to their full brightness as soon as you turn them on.

Courtesy of: Wikipedia

Posted in General Electrical Home Improvement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mood Lighting For Every Room Of Your House

Posted on April 5, 2012 by chandeliers

Choosing the lighting around your home can dramatically change your perception of the space around you. Lighting doesn’t just affect how light or dark a room is, but combined with different colors and decorations can also affect how you feel.

Starting with the kitchen, even and bright lighting is needed in functional work spaces and over the stove so consider a wall mounted light in areas where you are preparing vegetables or reading recipe books. If your kitchen has a dining area within it, having some form of up lighting in this area of the kitchen can bring a warm glow without being too intrusive, unique chandeliers are great for this and can be as simple or intricate as you like.

Moving on to your living room, it really depends on how you use it. For a cozy feel just to relax and enjoy peace and quiet, low lighting with lamps on tables for reading the newspaper or a book is just what you need. Alternatively, floor lamps require less space and they are much easier to move around than a table! If your living room is more of a lively hangout where you host parties and the floor takes a lot of spills, we suggest keeping unfixed lighting to a minimum. Embedded ceiling lighting is popular due to being nearly impossible to destroy from being walked into, and LED ceiling bulbs usually guarantee a bright and lively ambience. Installing lighting dimmers however can set the mood for when you just want to relax in your living room, whether you’re curling up in the evening or just resting your eyes from those bright office lights.

For bathroom lighting you want to feel good about yourself when the dressing gown is off, but you still want to have good lighting when putting on your face or shaving away that stubble for a big night out. Having an encased tube light over your oval bathroom mirror will optimize your facial assets, and your make up routine will not be affected by sideway shadows when the lights are dim. Avoid having any lighting directly over the bath as it will be blindingly bright as you lie back and try and relax. Instead, have all lighting fixtures in the sink region to give optimal brightness in the areas where it’s needed most.

Corridors and hallways- Your hallway needs to be particularly bright as it makes your house look particularly bright and welcoming especially when you are entertaining guests. Corridor lighting needs to be consistent so that shadows are cast into corners. Ideally you will have switches at both ends of corridors and at the bottom of the stairs (if you have them) to make it easier to maneuver and not be groping in the darkness to make it back to your room! There’s a lot of choice in corridor lighting, as long as it’s evenly space and accessible you can’t really go too far wrong, whether you go for a hanging lamp, wall lamps or chandeliers, the choice is endless.

Finally the bedroom, we all know it’s not just for sleeping in and clever lighting will make all the difference to your room as it has so many functionalities. Particular focus and bright lighting needs to be used on areas used for vanity, reading, writing or computing, whilst softer and shaded lighting will aid areas for sleeping or with softer furnishings. We recommend a ceiling mounted fixture for a grand central presence and then the use of wall sconces and lamps to light individual corners and work spaces. Make sure that the switches are within easy reach of your bed or your desk so that you don’t have to tiptoe to and from the door to get to your bed at night.

Emma writes about interior design and remodeling homes, after moving into a new house in York, she has completely remodeled and changed the old lighting into something that suits her tastes.

4 Light Hand Forged Iron & Rawhide Chandelier

Posted in General Electrical Home Improvement | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Creative Wall Candle Sconces for Your Home

Posted on April 3, 2012 by chandeliers

Creating an enjoyable living space shouldn’t have to include breaking the bank and with a little imagination you can create a beautiful and inviting space that you and your family will surely love.

Accessories can give your room a finishing touch and can be created quite inexpensively. To spruce up an otherwise ordinary plain wall the use of wall candle sconces will add beauty and drama.

There are many styles of wall candle sconces, depending on your individual taste and style. For a traditional look you could pair a set of gold sconces along with a flower portrait framed in gold.

 For a more country style there are wooden sconces as well as wrought iron sconces that you could hang on a wall as a set or alongside a country style wooden shelf. Contemporary looks such as mirrored wall candle sconces will enhance the ambiance of your room and cast a beautiful glow.

There are many places to shop for sconces that will fit the style of the room you are shopping for. Online stores can sometimes offer the best selection from the comfort of your home and you can compare prices and shipping options.

Great stores to shop for out of the ordinary sconces are thrift shops, flea markets and even garage sales for the thrifty who do not mind searching for a great deal. Large craft stores usually carry a nice selection and can sometimes carry items you would not find at traditional home stores. You can even purchase wooden and ceramic sconces to stain or paint in your own style and color palate.

Prices for sconces can range from a few dollars to a hundred dollars depending on the style and the store where purchased. Creativity can save you money and give you a one-of-a-kind look that cannot be found in stores.

Look for items around the home or garage to either create your own or add to the decoration of store-bought wall candle sconces. Wrought iron wall sconces look beautiful when featured with hand forged iron chandeliers. Additionally, you can change out the color of your candles as the season changes to add to the effect and deeply scented candles will give your room a homey scent while adding to the appeal of your room.

This guest post provided by Room Design Ideas.

2 Light hand Forged Wrought Iron Wall Sconce

Posted in General Electrical Home Improvement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Is Custom Lighting Worth The Cost?

Posted on March 29, 2012 by chandeliers

Countless Interior design books and designers insist that custom lighting and a custom lighting designer are essential for successful Interior Design. Interesting  light fixtures are essential for any successful design project. Artificial lights create style and mood. They also are practical items that can vastly improve both the safety and comfort. However, custom lighting can be very expensive. A lighting designer usually charges a substantial design fee in addition to sizeable markups on fixtures and electrical work.

Whether you need a lighting designer or not depends primarily on the size and scale of your lighting project. For example, if you are only looking to replace one or two fixtures this is something that can be handled by any regular electrician or skilled DIY homeowner with some good tools and a friend. On the other hand, if you are installing an entirely new kitchen or landscape design a lighting designer may be a good investment. Here are times when a lighting designer can be a real asset:

Custom Lighting in the Kitchen:

Courtesy of AADesignBuild.com

Lighting needs are very specific in kitchens. Correct lighting under cabinets, overhead and around counter areas is a prerequisite for a safe kitchen. Proper lighting is not only essential for safety while cutting and cooking; it also keeps the kitchen clean. Proper lighting can even improve the quality of your cooking. “Seeing if something is done,” takes on a completely new meaning. In addition, it is far easier to determine if a foodstuff is perfect for eating with proper kitchen lighting. Furthermore, most kitchens include an eating and office area. Every part of the kitchen will require different types of lighting to accommodate each activity. Dimmers and automatic sensored lighting are also extremely useful in kitchens. These devices can make the dirty dishes disappear during a dinner party or turn on the lights automatically when your arms are full of groceries. While some DIY homeowners may be able to handle the lighting requirements in the kitchen this is one of the best times to call in a professional lighting designer. Additionally, for a maximum “WOW” statement, consider having a custom chandelier made. These pieces can turn a boring kitchen into a beauty.

Custom Lighting in Outdoor Landscaping:

Light up your night!

Like kitchens, good outdoor landscape lighting can vastly improve the mood, safety and entrance to a home. How many of us have dreamed of that beautiful backyard “living space”? The reality is that most DIY outdoor lighting jobs look painfully horrible and they function on even a lower level. Think of those little-solar powered outdoor lamps jutting out of the grass at odd angles, or wall sconce lights on the patio to create a mood. Moreover, outdoor lighting usually requires a mixture of low voltage (12 watt) systems, regular lighting for social areas and sensored halogen lighting for security and safety. Putting the combination together can be complicated. Moreover, nothing irritates neighbors more quickly than poorly designed outdoor lighting. In addition, the weather and the elements can quickly ruin improperly installed lighting.

Small Space and Loft Living Designs:

Courtesy of: JM3@flicker

Small spaces and Lofts are the third time when a lighting designer can substantially improve the mood and function of a living space. In a small space, lighting can be used to create the illusion of spaciousness. Small homes must be multifunctional and lighting, like storage, can make small spaces comfortable and inviting. Furthermore, small projects keep costs under control.

Loft living or open plan living spaces are the one time when a lighting designer is essential. Defining spaces and using them in an open space is simply a product of a carefully planned illusion. A professional experienced touch is usually needed to create comfort and intimacy. Dividing and conquering these spaces carefully is often the difference between the end product looking like HGTV vs. a garage sale.

Jay Preston is Brand Manager for ToolHQ, Australia's leading online supplier of tools.

Posted in General Electrical Home Improvement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Is It Easy To Switch From Radiator Heat to Regular Vent Heating?

Posted on March 27, 2012 by chandeliers

Surprisingly enough, radiator or hot water heat is actually a very inexpensive and constant way to heat a home. With the new boilers that are out now, it takes very little energy to heat a home employing these items. Additionally, those with radiator heat often use under floor heat (as surrounding bathroom double vanities) which is a much better way to deliver the heat rather than with the use of the old radiators. If you truly want to make the switch, it can be done but is much more invasive, as you will have to run duct work throughout the house and then conceal it. So to answer the question simply, yes –it is possible… but no, it’s not easy!

Worth making the switch?

Posted in Questions for the Electrician | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Quick Tip Of The Day: Research The Company You Are Buying From!

Posted on March 24, 2012 by chandeliers

It seems as though lately, many consumers are so excited with the ease of online purchasing, that they forget to research the company they are going to give their hard earned money. Then, if they have a bad experience, they are stuck trying to find a solution from a company that many times doesn’t have a store they can physically go into and seek help. That’s why, with all the information available to consumers online, it is of utmost importance to check out the company you are looking at buying from. One of the ways you can do this research is to make sure that they’ve got an A Rating from the BBB. Additionally, on this site, you can see if they’ve ever had a complaint filed against them—and if so, how they handled it. Another online resource you can check into is Google. Again, if the company has a 5 star rating from Google, you are probably good to go. Review sites like the one Google has allows clients to not only rate their experience, but to share about it as well! The moral of the story? Make sure the company you’d like to deal with HAS morals! And don’t do business with those who don’t!

Do your homework!

Posted in Questions for the Electrician | Tagged , | Leave a comment