We all want our families to be safe at home, and there are many products to help us feel safe. While some homeowners still use traditional deterrence methods like fences, bars, and “Beware of dog” signs, there are proactive and responsive electronic security systems being used today that can be much more effective. However, as with every electronic system, improper installation or malfunctions could make them a nuisance or even inoperable, leaving your home and family vulnerable.

Motion sensors seem to be especially problematic. When they are working improperly, they can add unnecessary costs to your electric bill and disrupt your sleep and peace of mind. But there is a lot that you can do before you call an electrician.

First, make sure you read the instructions carefully. Even if you’ve installed motion sensors before, you will need to take into account the specific specifications of the one you’re installing or troubleshooting. In addition, here are some tips that may solve the issue:

Besides just having light, light layering (having multiple light sources for different purposes) is the most important, all-encompassing rule in home lighting design.

I recently ran across a post on Image via Freshome.com

That’s not just one, not two, but five different light sources, not counting the ample ambient light coming in from the windows. You have under cabinet lights on the left, recessed accent lights on the back wall, a pendant light, a table lamp, and linear accent lights atop the window.

On the other side of the room, there are just as many layers:

So there you have it. The most universal rule in residential lighting design, and a few ways to make it your own. What’s your favorite light layer in this space?

There is no way to put a price on one’s safety, or the safety of one’s family. That is why we recommend that homeowners in the area consider the use of a residential alarm system in Newtonville, MA. You shouldn’t be constantly worried about the security of your home being compromised, as that’s no way to live. However, you must also accept that this is not a perfect world, and that threats to home security are a very real possibility. Protecting your home with an alarm system is a great way in which to sleep easier at night. Of course, you may encounter occasional problems.

One of the most common problems that homeowners encounter with their alarm systems is that their codes won’t work when entered. There are a few potential causes of this issue. First of all, stop and ask yourself if someone else may have changed the code without you knowing. A miscommunication may be the cause of the problem. Secondly, it’s possible that your buttons are sticking, perhaps due to excessive wear. If so, you may need a new keypad installed, but you should be able to pry them out enough to at least get into your home first.

If you are headed out for the day, and you notice a low battery indicator on your panel, and wonder if you need to do replace it immediately. Generally speaking, you should have a bit of leeway before the system becomes inoperable. However, it is always best to replace batteries in your system as soon as possible. Be sure to refer to your user’s manual to ensure that you are using the correct batteries, and to understand which controls are hardwired, which recharge, which have backup batteries, etc.

When the “no AC” indicator shows up on your alarm panel, you may be wondering how it can tell that you are not running your air conditioner. This is not what the indicator is referencing, though. Instead, this stands for “no alternating current,” meaning that your system has no electrical current supplying it. You may need to reset a circuit breaker, or there could be a problem with your wiring.

After you’ve been around something for a while, you start to take it for granted.

Things like dissolvable cornstarch packing peanuts.

It took one imaginative 11-year-old boy and an email from a happy customer to remind us just how nifty these little earth-friendly peanuts are.

If you’ve received a shipment from Pegasus Lighting in the past few years, your box most likely had a sticker on it with those words. Inside the box is a note that shares the reasons behind our choice to use biodegradable cornstarch packing peanuts, not the least of which is because they are really fun to play with.

Thank you, Happy Customer, for restoring our packing peanut fascination by sending this great note and photo of your son’s clever art sculpture (whatever you decide that it will be)! Oh, and for the record, I’m voting Rocket Ship.