McBride Lighting & Electrical Services

What Is Retrofit Lighting?

Older homes and commercial properties in the Denver area are often equipped with high-wattage lighting fixtures that consume more energy than necessary, or with fixtures that take outdated fluorescent bulbs that flicker and make some people feel ill. If you would like to save money on your electric bills and be able to use newer CFL or LED bulbs, you should consider having your lighting retrofitted.

During a lighting retrofit, an electrical contractor will remove all outdated fixtures in your home or commercial property and replace them with the latest energy-efficient fixtures. This extensive job requires professional knowledge, as the wiring inside your walls may need to be replaced and new circuits may need to be added, and you may even need a new master control box in order to bring your property up to code

To schedule a retrofit lighting consultation, contact McBride Lighting and Electrical Services at (720) 250-9777. Our family-owned business has proudly served Denver for over 50 years.

Tips for Keeping Burglars and Trespassers Away from Your Property

Property crime should be a primary concern for any homeowner. Opportunistic burglars will often target homes that have certain vulnerabilities because they are easier to rob, and if your home is not protected you can end up filing a time-consuming insurance claim to cover the loss of stolen property. From a security system to enhanced lighting, here are tips for making your home unattractive to burglars:

Equip Your Home With an Alarm System

Alarm systems are useful not only because they alert police should anyone break into your home—they can also be powerful deterrents on their own. Displaying the logo of your security company alone may be enough to deter some thieves, and visible keypads near entryways also let any would-be burglars know that your home is protected.

Place Bars on Ground-Floor Windows

Burglars can easily gain entry to homes with windows on the ground floor by simply smashing a pane of glass. Installing bars, however, will effectively cut off this entryway to your home. You should also keep small valuables away from the windows so that if a criminal smashes your window anyway, he or she will not be able to snatch anything of value.

Install Security Lighting

One of the easiest ways to make potential burglars skip over your home is to invest in security lighting. Motion sensing fixtures installed high up on exterior walls, out of reach, signal to criminals that they won’t be able to approach your home without being seen by the neighbors. Since stealth is essential to a successful burglary, having an electrician equip your home with exterior security lighting can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of property theft.

To speak with a professional electrician about good locations for security lighting around your residential or commercial property, call McBride Lighting & Electrical Services at (720) 250-9777. We can help you equip your Denver property with motion-sensing or timed lights to deter thieves.

Lighting Tips to Make Your Home More Secure

Keeping the house safe from property crime is a primary concern for any homeowner. Because homes often contain small, portable, high-value items such as expensive electronics and costly jewelry, burglary can be an especially lucrative form of theft, attractive to many criminals.

Security systems will sound an alarm and call local law enforcement should anyone break into your home, but depending on response times in your municipality, a speedy thief could still make off with valuables from your home before police arrive on the scene. One of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to deter burglars is to install motion-activated exterior lights. Learn more about deterring thieves with good lighting in this video from State Farm.

If you want to upgrade the exterior lighting on your Denver home, call the professional electricians at McBride Lighting & Electrical Services at (720) 250-9777.

What an Electrician Can Do For You [INFOGRAPHIC]

You may call an electrician when your power goes out, but experienced electricians can offer dozens of other services. By taking the time to get to know what your local Denver electrician can do for you, you can get help when you need it most. Electricians have the experience and knowledge needed to solve many household problems while also saving you money. From free lighting estimates to informative energy audits, your electrician can help you light your home efficiently. Take a look at this infographic to get more information on the services an electrician can offer. If you know anyone else in need of upgrades, installation, maintenance, or retrofitting, feel free to share this infographic!

About Your Home's Wiring and Reasons It Needs to Be Updated

If you are thinking about updating the look of your home, changing the lighting is a guaranteed way to add ambience and appeal. To ensure optimal safety, efficiency, and style for your new lighting, it’s important to have your home’s wiring updated. Find out more about how home wiring works and how you know it needs updating by watching this video clip.

Electrical wiring might need to be updated if you are changing the lighting in your home. It’s also a good idea to have the electrical wiring expected every five years, as old wiring wears out and can become unsafe after just ten years. Watch the video to learn more about your home’s wiring.

If you have any questions about home wiring, call McBride Lighting & Electrical Services today at (720) 250-9777. Our electricians are experienced and eager to help you. Visit our website to see a list of all of the electrical and lighting services we offer homeowners and businesses in the greater Denver area.