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If you’re experiencing dimming or flickering lights in your home, don’t dismiss it as simply an annoyance. While there are some situations sort of a loose connection that is easy to fix, it might be a dangerous electrical issue that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.

Knowing when flickering or blinking lights is a simple solution and when it’s time to call an electrician before someone gets shocked or before any electrical fires break out. Not every flicker of the lights indicates a significant issue. These are simple & easy things to test that sometimes get overlooked by some homeowners.

You might be one of the lucky ones and discover the issue is caused by something as simple as loose connections with a light bulb, a loose light plug that’s not completely plugged into an outlet, or a private light switch or light fixture that needs to be replaced.

1. Loose Bulb
   If you notice an occasional light flicker with just one light or consistently when a large appliance kicks in, it’s going to be a simple culprit. Light bulbs that are loose within the socket will receive an inconsistent power supply, which causes the sparkle. Turn off the light. await the bulb to cool down before touching it. Check to form sure the light bulb is screwed in tightly and that it is the right kind of bulb for the fixture.
2. Sort of Bulb The flickering or blinking lights might be due to the type of bulb you are using. A fluorescent bulb, for example, tends to flicker when it’s warming up.
3. Dimmer Switch Bulbs If you’re using a dimmer switch, ensure the light bulb is compliant. it’s going to be as simple as loose bulbs or the wrong bulb type for your dimmer switches. LED bulbs often flicker once used with a dimmer switch since they are incompatible with non-LED dimmers. you would possibly even want to swap your bulb out for a smart bulb that won’t need a physical dimmer switch. It might be a faulty light switch if this does not do the trick.
4. Loose Plug Connection Also, ensure that your plug has not come loose from the outlet. If the prongs on the plug are bent, simply unplug it and pry the metal prongs open before plugging it back in.

Flickering lights are often a warning sign that there is a fire hazard in your home. When lights flicker everywhere in the house and are not associated with a large or major appliance, like an air conditioner, turning thereon could mean that there is an issue with the wiring, which could cause a fireplace.

A bad breaker can cause lights to flicker, especially when an outsized appliance powers on. A high-wattage appliance will pull a substantial load of current on startup. If the central breaker is overloaded, it’s going to cause lights to flicker but also indicates a larger problem that will require an expert to troubleshoot and fix.

Regardless of where you live storms can happen quickly and unexpectedly. So, you might be asking “how do you prepare for severe weather?” While it can be difficult to know exactly what to do when severe weather strikes, you can take safety measures ahead of time to ensure that you, your family, and your home are well-equipped to deal with dangerous weather conditions.

When it comes to storm preparation, it’s better to be over-prepared than underprepared. To help you be better prepared when severe weather strikes, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you keep everyone safe!

Learn About Severe Weather Near You

Familiarize yourself and your family with common severe weather conditions in your area. Is your region prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or extreme thunderstorms? Then, ask yourself questions like these to be sure you make the right preparations:

1. Is your home more susceptible to flooding due to its elevation?
2. What safety procedures are already in place near you and how are warnings issued?
3. What are the evacuation routes, and where should you go to find shelter nearby?
4. Do you have back-up devices for checking weather updates?

Answering these questions before a storm will help you better understand which safety measures to take, where to shelter, and how to help your family prepare for severe conditions. Ultimately, the type of storm coming your way will determine which plan you put into action, but it’s best to follow all these steps when learning how to prepare for severe weather conditions.

Five Severe Weather Tips
Whatever the weather may have in store for you, these five tips can help you prepare for future storms and other emergencies:

1. Back-Up Your Power.
   There’s a lot to think about when severe weather hits, don’t burden yourself with the additional
   worries of a power outage. In the case of complete power loss, a home backup generator will
   ensure that your home appliances keep running and you don’t lose any of the basics like food,
   water, and heat while you shelter in place. Beyond that, a power surge can occur when power is
   restored. A whole-house surge protector could prevent your electronics and appliances from
   being damaged in the process.
2. Create and Practice Safety Plans with Your Family. Explaining what to expect during a storm and assigning roles to each family member will help everyone stay calm and organized. Take some time with your family to discuss severe weather conditions in your area, create a safety plan, and run practice drills. This way, everyone knows what to do or where to go in case of separation.
3. Do a Home Safety Check. Don’t just have a safe room, have a safe home. Consider the weak points of your house and what you can do to better secure them. If you’re expecting high winds, you may want to consider barricading your doors, installing shutters on your windows, or even re-roofing. Inspect the area outside your home as well for any potential hazards like large tree branches that you can trim back ahead of time. Checking and stabilizing your house can be tasked to family members when making your safety plan.
4. Stock Up and Create a Kit. It can be difficult to remember everything you may need during a crisis. Instead of scrambling together items at the last minute, be ready with a stocked supply kit of food, water, first aid items, medications, flashlights, batteries, tools, maps, blankets, emergency contacts, and a whistle for aid. And if you can, keep important documents in a dry, secure spot.
5. Know How to Recover from Damage. Seemingly minor damage can lead to bigger issues later. An electrical safety inspection of your home after a severe weather event can help ease your mind about any unseen issues. If the damage is more extensive, take precautions and avoid any damaged areas outside or inside your home. Help your neighbors if you can, and always ask a professional before trying to fix or operate any storm-damaged electrical devices.

During and after a hurricane, residents of affected areas are at great risk. The foremost effective way to stay safe is to be prepared. Check the weather outlook regularly and warn your loved ones when a storm is approaching. Familiarize yourself with how your community reports and response to disaster events in order that you can respond effectively in the event of a disaster. discover community-specific evacuation plans in your area. Keep an inventory of emergency contacts in an easily accessible place.

Electrical safety tips to assist reduce the risk of injury before, during, and after a storm:

Shut off utility lines and switch off propane tanks when instructed to do so by authorities. If possible, stand back from flood waters and avoid driving in flooded areas. Even water that’s only a few centimeters deep can be dangerous.

Close up the main switch and disconnect electronic devices during evacuation. If you’ve got to stand in water, don’t attempt to turn off the fuse box. Instead, call your power service and ask them to turn it off at your meter.

Remember that evacuation orders must be skilled immediately. Never evacuate if the road is flooded as it can mask a potential electrical hazard. Flash floods aren’t only a potential risk, they’re dangerous because flooding can occur to mask electrical hazards.

If you employ a generator to restore power, ensure you understand how to operate the generator to minimize hazards. don’t connect the generator directly to your house wiring or operate the generator in wet conditions. Therefore, check the instruction manual regularly.

Even if you can’t see a spark, treat the broken wire as if it were alive, especially if there’s standing water nearby. If you discover a cable cut in your area, please notify the authorities immediately. If your house is flooded, it is vital to turn off the power until a professional electrician has verified the safety of your entire home, including appliances. Water can damage the interior components of appliances such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard. Have a professional electrician come to your home to determine which electrical devices need replacing and which ones can be repaired.

If you do not have electricity in your home and you don’t have water in your home, a generator may be an available option for powering some small appliances. However, if used incorrectly, there is also the risk of fire, carbon monoxide gas poisoning, and electric shock.

Note that damaged electrical equipment isn’t always visually identifiable. No arc or spark doesn’t mean danger. Stay well far away from high-voltage power lines that may go down during a storm.

Your electrical panel regulates the electricity coursing through your home. However, a circuit swell is tripped in the electrical panel to stop the electricity from overfilling the wiring, If too important electricity is demanded on a circuit. A load can beget a fire, so it’s the job of the electrical panel to break the circuit and regulate the electricity in the system to keep your home and family safe.

Unfortunately, as your home gets aged, the electrical panel could have a hard time keeping up with the increased electrical demands on the system. Your appliances, boxes, computers, HVAC systems, lights, and other electrical widgets are decreasingly energy effective, but the average ultramodern ménage uses further widgets than ever before. However, your electrical system may not be suitable to keep up with your electrical demand, If your home is further than 10 times old. How do you know for sure?

How an Electrical Panel Works:
The main power line from your electric company connects directly to a power cadence on the outside of Your home. Also, the line goes directly to the electrical panel. You can generally find your home’s electrical panel in a garage, mileage room, closet, or basement. It’s generally painted argentine.

When you look inside the electrical panel, you’ll see rows of switches. These are the circuit combers that distribute the main power line into lower branch lines. Some of the switches are doubled or tripled because they power appliances that bear large electricity loads, similar to air conditioners and electric dryers. Inside the electrical panel door, there should be a marker that maps out the locales of the outlets and appliances according to the figures on the switches. The switches also have figures on them that tell you how numerous amps the branch line can carry before the swell switch is tripped. The electrical panel also has a main power swell that can turn off power to the whole system.

Symptoms of Sick Electrical Panels:
Old electrical panels can malfunction, but the utmost of the time the problem stems from overloaded circuits. At first, you might notice fluttering lights or you might have to turn off an appliance in order to use Another plugged into the same circuit. But if the panel is conking or imperfect, the combers will trip frequently, or they will fail to trip and someone might be shocked. In the worst case, a swell that fails to trip may beget fire, bank, and melted cables from overheating.

Checking Your Electrical Panel
Your electrical panel needs a scan, especially if it’s over 25 years old. They are the signs to look for to see if you might need a new electrical panel. Creaking sounds from the electrical panel.
● Erosion and rust on the circuit combers.
● The innards of the electrical panel feel warm.
● Appliances are running at lower than full power.
● Outlets near water sources – similar to cesspools, barrels, dishwashers, and clothes washers –
aren’t GFCIs( ground fault circuit interrupters). These outlets stop the electricity if an appliance
comes into contact with water, precluding electrocution.
● Always using extension cords.
● Home has a 60- amp electrical service.
● Home has 100- amp electrical service, but it still can not operate some appliances.
● Aged homes have a fuse block panel or split-machine panel, which doesn’t have the primary swell.

After a hurricane, there may be power outages, flooding, downed electrical wires, and debris, all of which can be a hazard to your health and safety, many homes suffer from damages they weren’t prepared to tackle. This includes electrical repairs, which are common after lighting and wind storms during hurricane season. Because storms are common in Florida, we are prepared to help at any hour of the day.

Power Outages and Carbon Monoxide
Gasoline-powered generators release carbon monoxide (CO) which can be deadly. If your power goes out and you are using a gasoline-powered generator for energy, be sure that the generator is installed safely and far from your home. Never use your generator indoors or in an enclosed area, like a garage.

Electrical Wires
Strong winds from a hurricane can knock down electrical wires. Some of these wires may be live. If you see a downed wire, DO NOT TOUCH IT as it could shock you and even kill you. Report it to your local police or fire department.

Electrical Panel Repairs
Your electrical panel is the hub of your electricity in your home, as this is where all of the circuit breakers are located. If this malfunctions after a storm, it may have been struck by lightning or compromised.

Electrical Surges
Lighting storms and wind storms cause many power lines to short out or even fall, which can cause electrical surges across many neighborhoods. If your home has been damaged by an electrical surge, you’ll want to contact your electrician to come out and restore power. They will also inspect your home for any damaged wires or fire hazards that may have been created from the power surge.

Electrical Inspections
After storms pass through, many homeowners require electrical inspections to determine the extent of damage in their homes. Your insurance companies often require these inspections in order to determine the cost of repairs needed to restore the home. This inspection is critical in ensuring that you get the money you deserve from your insurance company.

These are just a few of the electrical damages that are frequently caused by lightning and wind storms. Electrical issues are commonly reported after hurricanes, as the strong winds and lightning storms that damage neighborhoods also pull down power lines, cause electrical surges, and much more. If your home has suffered storm damage and is in need of extensive repairs, we are always happy to help with your electrical issues, feel free to contact Franco’s Electric.

A chandelier can make a stunning statement in your home’s interior design. If you are gearing up to install new, eco-friendly lights throughout your home, talk to your LED lighting specialists in San Jose about the possibility of installing a brand-new chandelier. Not only will an LED chandelier help you save energy, but this light fixture can also serve as a central focal point for your room. When you are shopping for and installing a new chandelier, be sure to keep following the Do’s and Don’ts of chandelier selection and placement in mind.

Choose a chandelier that is properly sized
As you are picking out a brand new chandelier for your home, you will want to ensure that you select a fixture that is the right size for your space. An oversized chandelier will overwhelm your interior design aesthetic, whereas a fixture that is too small may look out of place in the room. To calculate the ideal dimensions for your chandelier, you should find a fixture that has a diameter that is about 1/12 th the square footage of the room.

Place your chandelier too close to a wall or window
Once you have found a chandelier that is the right size for your room, your next task will be to find the ideal spot for installation. If your chandelier is installed so that it touches a wall or window, it may throw the design of your room off balance. Ideally, your chandelier should be no closer than 4 feet from any adjacent walls.

Hang your chandelier at a safe height
Whether your home has high, vaulted ceilings or is lower in profile, you will need to adjust the length of your chandelier with care. A chandelier that is installed in the middle of a room should be high enough so that you and your family members can walk underneath the fixture with ease. When you are installing a chandelier over a dining room table, make sure that your fixture is at least 3 feet from the surface of the tabletop.

How big should my chandelier be in my dining room?
Chandeliers are sized by diameter and height. The number of bulbs may also impact size. I recommend a chandelier’s diameter be 1/2 to 2/3 the width of your dining table. Today’s average dining room chandelier is a four to six-light, 26-30″ diameter fixture. Take ceiling height and chandelier height into consideration before buying, too. The chandelier should hang about 30″- 36″ from the top of your table to the bottom of the fixture itself. A chandelier that is too tall might end up sitting almost on top of your table! However, if you have tall ceilings a two- or three-tiered design could work great.

Are there chandeliers that use modern technology like LEDs?
Contemporary lighting designers and manufacturers are coming out with incredible new LED chandeliers every day. LED technology has improved so much that often you cannot tell the difference between an LED fixture and a traditional incandescent one. Even better – some lighting designers now prefer designing with LEDs, simply because they allow for some really unique design opportunities! LEDs are so small that designers don’t have to worry about concealing the light source. This means there is much more freedom to experiment with form, function, and material.

In addition to design flexibility, other advantages of LED lighting include increased efficiency and
reliability, which translates into significant energy and cost savings. LEDs run five times cooler
than halogen bulbs while expending 1/5 of the energy. LEDs also outlast other light sources, with a
projected lifespan of about 50,000 hours—25 years of use at 5 ½ hours a day.

Turning into more awareness about your power consumption will not only prevent doubtlessly hundreds of bucks a year, however, but it will also additionally lessen your effect on the surroundings. With more and more homeowners converting their homes with clever technology and greater smart houses being constructed, the mixed effort can sincerely make an impact on not simply the existing nation of the planet but its condition for future generations to come. Electricity savings through the smart home era is available via many exclusive devices, varying from small modifications to total home makeovers. Right here’s an examination of a few clever techs to apply to your property.

Your HVAC gadget takes up about half of your overall household power utilization. With clever thermostats, like nests, you can not only save an enormous amount of cash and energy, but you’ll be capable of contributing to national strength savings. The Nest thermostat is able to modify your temperature at non-stop hours so that you’re not impacting the power grid when thousands and thousands of different house owners are turning up their heat or air conditioning at the identical time. functions like auto-away, which detects when you leave the residence and robotically changes your family temperature to preserve energy use, and uploads to its general enchantment. with an 8-yr overall energy savings of four billion kWh in tens of millions of houses across the world, the nest is creating a global effect on electricity conservation. maximum clever thermostats are smooth to put in yourself but to make things even less difficult.

Even if half your energy invoice is going to heating and cooling, 25 percent of it goes towards lighting fixtures. turning off the lighting when you’re not in a room or no longer domestic at all is usually a terrific idea, but it’s clean to leave lights on, losing energy by chance. easy additions like computerized timers and movement sensors can appreciably cut down on wasted strength, however, smart lighting takes it a step in addition. Being able to check in case your lighting is on and shut them off thru an app for your cellphone or set your app to provide you with a warning once they’re on can provide you with ultimate control over the lighting fixtures in your property. paired with led mild bulbs, a smart lighting fixtures device can assist reduce your light’s strength utilization by half of while strength is used at the same time across the USA it puts a strain on the electric grid, as we discussed in advance.

One of the maximum peak instances is the early evening when a large percentage of Americans are preparing dinner for themselves and their families. clever appliances, like a smart convection oven, use features like carbon fiber heating, which gets rid of the want for preheating and produces much quicker cooking instances for most ingredients. Most clever ovens use around 25 percent much less electricity than a traditional oven whilst lessening the stress on the countrywide strength grid, now not to mention taking the strain out of meal time. Besides smart ovens, a clever refrigerator is an excellent way to reduce your energy prices. With alarms that provide you with a warning while doorways are open too long, and temperature zones designed to maintain sure foods are chilled perfectly without wasting strength, a clever refrigerator is a critical addition for your clever domestic. A few models will even let you check the contents internally while you’re grocery shopping, cutting down on unnecessary meal waste.

Once you’ve mounted all this clever tech, don’t forget to install an electricity monitor for your whole house. with the assistance of Mr. Electric’s energy display setup, you will be privy to the overall quantity of electricity used in your whole home, so there aren’t any surprises at the end of the month. An electricity monitor works with the aid of connecting to your power meter and monitoring how much total strength is getting used. clever video display units can individualize the usage so that you recognize which appliances or areas of your own home are consuming the most power so that you can regulate for this reason. A few even alert your phone when you have reached limits you’ve set for yourself or come up with tips on how you can conserve electricity. If reducing your carbon footprint is your last purpose, an electricity reveal is a way to do it. Mr. Electric will let you select the right to reveal for your home and make the setup technique clean.

In a perfect world, your wall draw would give a nonstop power force, a continuing voltage, and cycle exactly the same number of times per second. Unfortunately, we don’t sleep in a perfect world, and there are 9 power problems that you simply should be apprehensive of, and suitably sword yourself against. Their power issues include

1. Power Failure: Also pertained to as a knockout, this unanticipated interruption of the electrical force is frequently caused by a range of sources including mileage outfit failures, storms, objects striking lines or poles, fire, grid over-demands, and indeed a mortal error.
2. Power slack: This unforeseen drop by the usual voltage position generally results in an outfit malfunction, and is thanks to faults in the transmission or distribution network.
3. Power swell: These super fast voltage variations are frequently caused by lightning, line or capacitor witching, and the disposition of heavy loads. They demolish electronic factors and may beget data recycling miscalculations, data loss, and electromagnetic hindrance.
4. Under Voltage: Also pertained to as a brownout, this reduction in voltage lasts from some twinkles for many hours and is caused by overdemand or purposeful throttling of electricity during peak demand.
5. Overvoltage: Data loss, fluttering of defenses, and outfit damage are just many of the issues that overvoltage can beget and is generally due to starting/ stopping of heavy loads, inadequately dimensioned power sources, and inadequately regulated mills, also as lightning strikes, which may shoot line voltages to situations in excess of,000 volts.
6. Line Noise: Electromagnetic hindrance or irregular grounding produce these high-frequency signals on the waveform, causing issues with sensitive equipment, also as data loss and data processing crimes.
   ● Reduced line voltage for ages starting from many twinkles to many days can be caused by a purposeful mileage voltage reduction to conserve power during peak demand ages or other heavy loads that exceed force capacity.
   ● Increased line voltage for ages starting from many twinkles to many days still is touched off by a rapid-fire reduction in power loads, heavy outfit being turned off, or by mileage switching.
7. Frequency Variation: The loss of stability during a power force’s normal frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz results from heavy-loaded creators. The matter can beget motors to run briskly or pokily, performing in inefficiency and declination. frequency variation also can beget erratic operation, system crashes, and damage to the outfit.
8. Switching flash: These changes in voltage or current can damage an outfit come from lightning, switching of loads and capacitor banks, and disconnects on re-energized lines.
9. Harmonious deformation: This deformation of the traditional power surge is generally transmitted by uneven loads and can beget resonance, load, and overheating of lines and outfits.

Precluding the nine power problems
There are several features of UPS systems from which you can choose, and these include

1. Standby UPS Power Supply Systems These systems allow the outfit to escape mileage power until the UPS detects a problem, at which point it switches to battery power to guard against sags, surges, or outages. Stylish fitted to operations taking simple backup power force similar to services and point-of-trade outfit.
2. Line Interactive UPS Power Supply Systems These systems laboriously regulate voltage by either boosting or reducing mileage power as necessary before allowing it to pass to the defended outfit or resorting to battery power. Line interactive systems are great for operations where power protection from anomalies is needed, but the mileage power is clean. MDF and IDF communication closets, non-centralized waiters and network apartments, and general IT enclosures are stylishly fitted to this technology.
3. Online UPS Power Supply Systems These systems give the veritably stylish position of power protection by segregating outfits from raw mileage power – converting power from AC to DC and back to AC. Unlike other topologies, double conversion systems give zero transfer time to battery for sensitive outfits, and these online systems are best suited to charge-critical outfit and locales where power is not as accessible.
4. At Dale Power results, we have a great range of UPS power force systems that can help alleviate the 9 power problems, and these include both modular UPS and monolithic UPS systems.
5. Along with choosing the correct UPS system, incorporating the proper UPS conservation program into your operations is imperative to success. administered by system specialists, our UPS conservation can include everything from call-outs, visits, fault fixes, and conservation information reports through to the force of UPS spare corridor, remote monitoring, cargo bank testing, and system operation. Together, we will prepare your critical power outfit for power issues that come your way, and reduce the damage caused vastly. With UPS service options too, we have everything you need for effective power force and effective business durability.

Are there certain lights in or outside of your home that when turned on, beget you to grovel and cover your eyes? A dimmer switch can make similar lighting more protean, creating a more comfortable home terrain for you and your family by allowing you to fine-tune the air, to your delight – and putting you back in control of when you need those sunglasses.

Installing a Dimmer Switch is Easy:
Installing a dimmer switch is easy, but like planning your geography lighting, requires a little bit of farsightedness. Before ejecting your current light switches, do your schoolwork. Not all bulbs can be bed-ridden, including numerous CFLs and LEDs – so be sure to check bulb boxes for specifications before copping. In addition, ceiling suckers bear special dimmer switches to help current oscillations from damaging the motor. Protect precisely!

How to Install a Dimmer Switch:
Gather Tools & Accouterments

● Line strippers

● Screwdriver

● Voltage sensor

● The correct dimmer switch for your operation

● Single or Three-Way (see below)

● Flashlight (in case of inadequate light)

Installation Steps:

1. Cut power at the swell box( not the light switch). Also, use a voltage sensor to insure power has been cut before touching any cables.
2. Wind and remove the switch plate cover and also the switch. Loosen the cables (generally wrapped around connector screws) – or simply crop off the ends with line strippers and remove the old switch, using line strippers to remove ¾- inch of containing from the end for reconnection.
3. Always make sure you understand which part of the switch is top/ bottom, and where the cables go before hooking effects up.
   ● Green: Ground or copper wire.
   ● Black: Wires going to the dimmer (placed on the either gold screw).

Know Your Installation Type:
● Installation Steps for Standard/ Single Pole Dimmer Switches (Light is Turned On/Off
from Single position)

1. Connect the green ground line to a green or exposed copper wire in the wall box, wringing ends together with a line connector nut.
2. Connect each dimmer line( black) to the house cables separately. These could be black, white with black markings, or red. Strain the ends together with a line nut.

● Installation for Three-Way Dimmers (Light Can Be Turned On/Off from Multiple locales)

1. Remove the ¾-inch covering from house cables with a line stripper. However, remove the crooked ends first, If the cables are fraudulent.
2. Connect the green ground line to a green or exposed copper wire in the wall box, wringing ends together with a line connector nut.
3. Connect the dimmer line (black) to your tagged common line, removing electrical tape recording as necessary.
4. Connect the 2 remaining rubberneck cables, independently connecting each to the remaining cables in the wall box.

● Put Things Back Together

After the cables are attached, install the switch back into the electrical box, followed by the switch cover plate.

● Change Bulbs(s)

Flashback, not all bulbs are compatible with dimmer switches, so you’ll probably have to change out your old bulb before putting your new dimmer switch to use.

● Restore Power

Also have delightful playing with your new dimmable light!

Smart Installation Safety Practices:

1. Ensure safety by tripping the circuit swell to the switch being replaced. However, you run the threat of getting zapped,( If you only turn the switch off.)
2. Always circle the line around the screw, when possible, to avoid the wiring pulling loose over time. Loop the end into a ‘U’ pinch the ends together, and strain the screw.
3. Don’t leave bare cables exposed. Trim ends and recap if necessary.

Anywhere you have cabinets, you have potential light blockers, meaning that countertops underneath those cabinets might not get the light you need for things like reading recipes or chopping veggies. One of the best ways to make sure you have adequate lighting where you need it is to add under cabinet lights. However, with so many options, choosing the right one for you can be overwhelming. Not to worry, we’ll help you figure out which lighting system might work best for your needs and your kitchen.

Like all home lighting systems, under-cabinet lights come in a variety of options; some will be better in certain homes than others. Knowing what’s best for you and your home can save you time and money associated with installation costs. These lights are available in a few different forms, such as strips or under cabinet puck lighting; battery-powered under cabinet lighting has some major benefits. First and foremost, you can install them about anywhere. Another advantage can also be seen as a drawback: the batteries.

Because these lights are battery-powered, they will still work during power outages. But batteries go bad, so you might not have light when you want or need it. Having hardwired lighting under your cabinet allows you to connect your lights to a switch, giving you easy control over your lights. A hardwired lighting system also makes hiding wires easier since they will connect to an existing circuit within the kitchen wall. The only challenge with hardwired lighting is that while most people can install battery-powered or plugin lights themselves, hardwired lighting requires professional expertise. Therefore, the installation of hardwired lighting will need to be done by a trained electrician to ensure it is done correctly and safely.

If you already have a dimmer switch, your LED lights can be operated using the existing switch. Some also come with a remote that allows you to dim and brighten your lights remotely. One big advantage of using LED lights under your cabinets is the option to connect them to an existing smart home system. This functionality gives you options to turn lights on and off using your voice and to access them remotely (when you are not at home) using your smart home app.

This lighting option provides a good balance between the battery and hardwired options. A plugin system can be used wherever you have access to an existing outlet. And you don’t need to worry about replacing batteries. As long as the power stays on, you have lights. However, this option does mean that the lights will occupy one of your existing outlets, which you might need for a countertop appliance. Another option is to add a few additional outlets to your kitchen (which is not a bad idea anyway).

Brightness will depend on the type of lights/bulbs you use (incandescent, halogen, LED, etc.) For example, an incandescent bulb that produces 400 lumens (38 watts) should provide enough under cabinet light for most kitchen tasks. However, if your under-cabinet lighting is primarily an accent instead of utility lighting, you can go with lower lumens.