You hear a lot of suggestions and general chatter about making the change from traditional incandescent bulbs to LED. And while we at Kolb Electric generally agree, we noticed something when hopping around on the web. You can find a lot of answers why this is a good idea. But none of it is really…simple. You get charts, math, and massive walls of text, and you know that deep down, somewhere in there lies your answer. If only you could get your eyes to stop glazing over. So we decided to lay it down layman style for our consumers, letting you know the why in a short, succinct bit of information!

There are a few aspects that overall make LED the superior option. Longevity is good, as these lights tend to last much longer, thus need to be purchased less often. They’re also environmentally friendly, and that’s nice too. But when it comes down to it, you care about the efficiency. And this lies in the wattage of the two lighting types.

Light wattage strictly refers to how much energy a light requires to generate lumens (the unit we use to measure light). The big secret between these two light sources lies all in how they generate lumens:

To make it clear, let’s use an example: A standard incandescent bulb generally uses 60 watts of power to generate light. You can get the same amount of light from an LED, for a mere six to eight watts.

So there’s the big answer. The average light wattage of an LED is more desirable, since it requires demonstrably less energy to produce light. The longevity and environmental-friendliness are basically the icing on the technological cake!

The bathroom is a place full of moisture and humidity. If this moisture is allowed to sit in the air for too long without being vented it can cause damage to the structure of the home. The moisture may start the growth of mould and mildew in windowsills and throughout the dry wall. Water damage may also occur which can be a costly fix. That is why each bathroom should have an exhaust fan to suck moisture out of the air and blow it outside the home. However, care should be taken when installing an exhaust fan due to the amount of moisture interacting with electricity running to the exhaust fan.

In order to add an exhaust fan into your bathroom, you will be required to install a vent that connects from the exhaust fan (in the roof of your bathroom) to the outside of the home. If you are not experienced with this type of work, have a professional complete the work as the roof and structure of the home may be damaged if not done correctly. The exhaust fan is installed in the bathroom, which pulls in the air and pushes it out of the home. This is how the air that is dense in moisture is pushed out of the bathroom.

While this might appear to be a simple job that any handyman would want to perform themselves, if the wiring is not done correctly, you could cause more damage to your bathroom than the moisture will. To turn on and off the exhaust fan, you will be required to add an additional light switch and wire the switch to the exhaust fan. Handling electrical wiring is not something that everyone is comfortable with, and if the wiring is done haphazardly it can lead to electrical fire. Additionally, with the amount of moisture in the air, if any of the wires are exposed the electricity could leave the wires and electrocutions and shock could occur. We would advise you to use a licenced electrician when performing this electrical work to keep yourself and your family safe.

If you have a bathroom in your home that does not have an exhaust fan, plan to have on installed and contact Expert Electric. We can help perform the electrical work safely so that it is ready for the fan installation.

While incandescent light bulbs are popular, they’re quite dangerous. Incandescent bulbs have high-temperature gasses inside, and these gasses can react dangerously with external air. If your incandescent bulbs are in a cold room, they might create a combustion nightmare. Keep them away from drapes, beds and other upholstery items.

Wall outlets installed near sinks, faucets and bathtubs can propose dangers. Make sure your outlets are installed away from any water sources, as they can create electrical hazards. If need be, your technician can reinstall them in a different location. Pay close attention to any outlets in your home’s bathrooms and kitchen.

Chewed, frayed or plain old electrical wiring can create a fire hazard. While most worn out wiring will be exposed, some lengths may be hidden within your walls. Keep your pets away from exposed cords, and reduce the chance of fire before it’s too late. Additionally, contact a professional for an annual wiring checkup.

Commonly, homeowners max out their power strips. If you have a lot of electronics and appliances, you might be overloading your power strip’s electrical availability. If this happens, it’ll spark—creating a fire hazard. Even if you need to plug in your appliances, you can remove any flammable materials away from your power strip, reducing any dangers while maintaining household functionality.

The London Olympics are certainly on the tip of nearly everyone’s tongue (and Courtesy of FrenchArt-Deco.com

This piece, entitled “Swimming Pool” by French artist Albert Decaris won gold in the Engravings and Etchings competition.

In 1949, the International Olympic Committee decided to stop all art competitions, reasoning that it was illogical to let professional artists compete, while only amateur athletes were eligible. Instead, cultural festivals replaced the art competitions, and still do to this day. There’s still a chance for the best of the best artists and entertainers to showcase their stuff on an international stage, and for lighting designers, this is certainly a world class exhibition. 

LED is the light source that’s in it to win it this summer, wowing Olympic fans with spectacular light shows and festive monuments alike.

At the opening ceremony, LEDs were at the center of almost everything. The dove bikes used LEDs to light up their wings as they performed a circuit of the stadium.

LEDs lit the screen showing the Queen’s acting debut, with none other than James Bond.

Even on the sidewalk outside the main Olympic Stadium, there are 20 circular slabs that capture the kinetic energy of pedestrians’ footsteps to light up nearby LED lamps for 30 seconds at a time!