Last updated 7 months ago
Security lighting installed by a professional electrician can be one of the best methods of keeping your home safe even on the darkest night. The greatest tool the homeowner has against potential intruders is deterrence, because burglars want to target homes that offer easy access and quick escapes. If your current lighting installation doesn't protect against the following vulnerabilities, it’s definitely time to consider security lighting.
1. Obvious Dark Areas: Intruders want to avoid detection, and shadows provide the perfect hiding spots. Darkened areas are especially appealing to trespassers when located near windows or doors, because lack of visibility offers the shelter an intruder needs to break into your home. Go outside your home when it is dark and slowly walk around the entire building, checking for areas that are not adequately lit or shadows created by your architecture or landscaping. These are key places to illuminate.
2. Out-of-Sight Access to Your Home: Another thing that intruders look for are places out of direct line of sight from the road or neighbors. Hedges, trees, and even a vehicle can provide a physical barrier to line of sight. Corners and the sides of your home facing away from the street do the same. By creating a lighting scheme that leaves no area untouched by light, your home will have a visible shield that is unattractive to burglars. Be sure to keep your trees, hedges, and other structures away from your windows and doors in order to maintain high visibility.
3. Previous Intrusion: If your home has already suffered from a break-in, a burglar has identified weak spots and taken advantage of them. Do more than add light at the point of intrusion. Evaluate your entire lighting scheme, upgrade your windows and doors, and transform your home into one that sends a clear message to burglars: not this house.
McBride Lighting & Electrical Services wants to help you keep your home safe with professional lighting installations. Visit us online to learn about our security lighting services, or contact us at (720) 250-9777 for more information today.
Last updated 8 months ago
Check out the links below to learn more about using landscape lighting techniques to beautify your yard, and get some important electrical safety tips that will help keep your home safe from hazards. Contact McBride Lighting & Electrical Services at (720) 250-9777 for even more information about electrical safety and landscape lighting.
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This document has several excellent electrical safety tips that can help you avoid dangerous situations around your home.
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Visit this article from LandscapingNetwork.com to explore ways to light your patio and enhance your outdoor spaces.
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Check out HGTV.com for a broader look at lighting up your landscape to enhance its appearance and mood
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Naturalistic lighting can be an excellent way to capitalize on your home's landscape. View this slideshow on BHG.com to learn about these techniques.
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Head to ThisOldHouse.com to explore several potential problems in your home's lighting that can lead to electrical hazards.
Last updated 8 months ago
The right landscape lighting techniques and electrical fixtures can transform the outside of your home into a stunning and attractive visual treat. By choosing the right techniques and enlisting the skills of a professional electrician for installation, you can achieve magazine-worthy views in your own yard and landscaping.
1. Path Lighting: Illuminating walkways is important for both the safety and appearance of your landscape. Low-voltage lighting is most appropriate. This subtle touch can create the feel of a moonlit path while allowing you and your guests to be sure of your footing at night.
2. Layering: Professional landscapers typically “layer” the landscape by using flora of different heights, textures, and thicknesses. Enhance this look at night by using the same concept with your landscape lighting design. Your electrician can implement different voltages at different heights, warm and cool lights, and a range of orientations to best highlight certain areas of your landscape.
3. Downlighting: This technique is especially useful when used with your hardscaping, such as pillars that hold up patio structures, and can double as spotlighting for interesting architectural and landscaping features. This is achieved by placing recessed fixtures that "graze" a pillar or other structure with a beam of light. The overall effect is enhanced by using warm lighting in mid-range voltage.
4. Upward Spotlights: Make a noteworthy tree stand out with the use of mid- to high-voltage lighting oriented upward from ground level. Spotlighting is an ideal way to add texture and drama to any landscape. Experiment with both placement and angle to achieve the greatest effect.
McBride Lighting & Electrical Services can install the right outdoor electrical fixtures in the ideal places to enhance your landscape. Visit us online to learn about the projects we can help you realize, or give us a call at (720) 250-9777 to schedule an appointment.
Last updated 8 months ago
Ceiling fans are unique fixtures that help keep your home cool and provide a light source. Keeping them clean can seem to be a bit of a challenge, especially in rooms with high ceilings. With the right tools and techniques, however, you can keep your ceiling fans clean with no problems, as this video demonstrates.
The first step is to turn off your ceiling fan, and then gather the appropriate tools. If you don't have a ladder, a duster with an extension rod can get the job done. Otherwise, microfiber cloths used by hand are ideal for clearing off dust. Another convenient way to clean the blades is by using your vacuum extension hose with a soft attachment. This is also the perfect time to clean glass globes or light fixtures and ensure that all the bulbs are working.
McBride Lighting & Electrical Services can answer any questions you have about maintaining light fixtures and electrical appliances around your home. Give us a call at (720) 250-9777 today to schedule service. We proudly serve the Denver area!
Last updated 8 months ago
Plenty of light inside and out can keep your home comfortable and secure, but electrical fixtures and lighting installations need to be well maintained and correctly installed in order to keep your home safe. It's important for homeowners to educate themselves and their family about electrical safety in order to avoid problems that can present electrical hazards.
Use the Correct Lighting
It should go without saying that electricity needs to be respected, but it can be easy to take this resource’s power for granted. For example, a homeowner may assume that he can place a 100-watt light bulb in a fixture that is only rated for 60 watts or less. Most of your home lighting fixtures should be marked with specifications that indicate the maximum wattage they can accommodate. If you do encounter fixtures that are unmarked, do not use bulbs higher than 60 watts.
Don’t Overload Outlets
Outlets should never be overloaded because they can present a fire hazard. A good rule of thumb is to use no more than one power strip per outlet; also, never "daisy chain" extension cords or use them with power strips. Overloaded outlets and light fixtures produce excess heat and can quickly start a fire.
Maintain Home Wiring
Your home’s electrical wiring should be inspected by a professional electrician when you move in and anytime you experience an electrical issue. Homes with older aluminum wiring should be rewired for safety, as this older style of wiring can cause fires. Frayed wires, especially outdoors, should be addressed immediately. Have your electrical panel, or fuse box, appropriately covered and inspected. Frequently blown fuses or tripped circuits can indicate a problem with your wiring or the panel itself.
Schedule an electrical inspection or wiring repairs with McBride Lighting & Electrical Services. You can visit us online to learn more about what we can do for your home's electrical systems or call us at (720) 250-9777 to make an appointment.
