If you are upgrading your home’s electrical work for a renovation or remodel, then there are some truly simple ways you can elevate your new lighting to “wow” status, and now is the time to do so!

If your home is a bit on the older side, the best way to modernize is with new LED recessed lighting cans. The reason for this is simply due to the smaller nature of modern cans, which allow for a much higher ceiling than you may have. Areas like kitchens, for instance, very often have lowered ceilings to account for the room that antiquated fluorescent or recessed lighting needs to have. Today’s recessed lighting cans can fit in the space between the floor joists and the future drywall, allowing for the absolute maximum ceiling height, which immediately improves the feel of most rooms.

Do you have a dedicated entry to your home, such as a mudroom or enclosed patio? Nothing modernizes and simplifies these areas as easily as a motion-activated switch. In fact, these upgrades can be done after-market if your switch is positioned correctly using inexpensive switch replacements found at your local hardware store. The key here is that your switch has to be positioned correctly, often on the adjacent wall, which is often not the case. Otherwise, you will need to enter the room before the switch can sense your movement, which defeats the purpose in most applications. Planning for motion switches during the remodel can open up this possibility with ease.

Here is where we really get to go wild; a pressure switch may seem like a frivolity, but actually adds a great amount of value when used correctly. For instance, if there will be space between your upper kitchen cabinets and the ceiling, then adding in over-cabinet lighting creates an incredible effect; better still, piggybacking off of the circuit used for under- or over- cabinet lighting to create an interior cabinet lighting system is really not difficult to do at all. From there, simply add a pressure switch to your cabinet doors and voila, you’ve achieved a million-dollar home look for almost no extra cost if done when your other cabinet lighting circuitry is being installed. Similarly, if you’re able to reimagine your pantry with a closing door, simply put a pressure switch in the door frame that compresses when closed, turning off the light immediately, and depresses when opened to instantly turn on the light. It may not sound like much, but anyone visiting your home will be amazed by your ingenuity; plus, it takes almost no extra work to install, only requiring the switch box to be located on the corresponding portion of the wall and a small wire to snake through a drilled hole in the door frame.

The best way to achieve these and other inexpensive tricks for added value and usability is to partner with inspired electricians that are willing to make these types of suggestions. At Electrical Gurus, you’ll find the most skilled and dedicated electricians in Des Moines.

Before you deck the halls and transform your Florida home into a festival of lights this holiday, consider how your lighting display will affect your winter electric bills. Monthly bills can be especially expensive when you and your neighbors beautifully decorate your homes with holiday ENERGY STAR® qualified LED light strands you will save on your utility bills this holiday. And that’s not their only advantage—Use a timer to automatically turn on your holiday lights at dusk and turn off in the middle of the night. By limiting the amount your lights are on to times when people can appreciate them, you will reduce your energy bills.

There are plenty of ways to decorate your home for the holidays—ways that don’t impact your electric bills! Make use of other decorations like tinsel, wreaths, and jingling bells! Instead of decorating the front of your St. Petersburg home with strands of lights, consider buying a solar powered spotlight with different color filters. There are many ways to enjoy the beauty of the holidays without raising your electric bills exponentially.

The kitchen can be an accident-prone area. It can be the busy hub of the house, hosting multiple people and activities at a time. With a variety of large and small electrical appliances being used close to water, there are many potential hazards. Use these safety electrical tips to stay safe in the kitchen and avoid accidents.

Depending on how large or small your kitchen is, counter space can quickly disappear. While cooking a meal you can find yourself using multiple appliances including the stove. If you are not careful a cord from a blender can soon come in contact with a hot stove surface or a toaster oven. If it is left unattended the protective layer on the outside of the electrical wire will begin to heat up and melt. This damage will expose the inner wires and an electrical fire can start. When setting up an appliance on your counter, tuck the cable into a safe spot and keep track of the hot surfaces to avoid.

When baking or washing dishes water can make its way into just about any area. This can cause electrical shock and damage to appliances. Be extra cautions when using liquids around electrical cables and keep spills away from the outlet. To take it a step further you can use outlet covers on unused outlets to avoid liquids splashing into the sockets.

Fridges, freezers, ovens, and microwaves require a high amount of power. Their electrical demand can put a lot of stress on circuits in the home. By putting too many appliances on the same socket and circuit it will cause the breaker to trip. While this may seam like a temporary inconvenience, it is an indication of a larger problem. If this is an on going theme in your kitchen, it may be time to reorganize the arrangement of cables or upgrade your electrical circuits. The damage to appliances will cost a lot more in the long run.

When looking down the sides of your cabinets and counters you can find a lot of crumbs and dirt that you never noticed. Over the years this type of debris can collect behind appliances you never check. If this food is too close to an electrical outlet it could heat up and potential cause a fire. Make an appointment to check around all the outlets of your kitchen and clear out the dust, dirt, and food. While your guests may not be looking in these areas, this maintenance can avoid potential costly fires.

We know that when you are in the kitchen you are likely working overtime. But it is important to take some time to review your family’s safety in the kitchen. If you have questions about your kitchen’s electrical setup or potential issues you have noticed, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.