3 Ways Dimmers Can Save You Time and Money

3 Ways Dimmers Can Save You Time and Money

  • Electrical
dimmer installation by ryan gath electric in chelmsford, ma

Dimmer Installation

Ryan Gath Electric

Home maintenance can add up in costs and it can be difficult to cut down on your utility bills. Emergencies can happen at any time, and appliances simply aren’t built to last forever. The good news is that there are a few tricks every homeowner can use to save money and keep your home in tip-top shape. Most probably don’t think of their home’s lighting as a way to cut down on costs, but a dimmer installation can help you save. Your home’s lighting can not only be energy efficient, but customizable and cozy.

How a Dimmer Installation Can Help Your Home

You might not think it, but the quality of lighting can increase your home’s value and comfort tremendously. Installing dimmers adds a variety of different lighting settings to your home to save money and add ambiance. Like any electrical appliance, however, your lighting is complicated and it can be difficult to get just the right amount of lighting. Dimmers give you that trial and error without having to have a licensed electrician replace and install multiple light fixtures. If you’re considering adding some dimmers to your home, here’s how a few dimmers can help you.

  • You save money. Dimmers are economic in that they consume considerably less energy when you dim the lights. Traditional light switches only give you the option of shutting off a light or turning it on, which means either you use 0% energy or 100%. A dimmer switch gives you full control of how much energy you want to use in a light switch, which can decrease your utility bills, saving $30 a year.
  • Your light bulbs last longer. On top of consuming less energy, a home with dimmers means fewer trips to the hardware store to replace your light bulbs. Generally the less light is used, the longer the bulb lasts. 
  • They provide a variety of lighting. Besides saving money, the best perk of a dimmer is the flexibility. Installing dimmers to your lighting enables you to adjust different light fixtures in your rooms for different effects. Dimmers are also easy to use because they can be programmed to change at certain times or controlled with an app or touch screen. Whether you want to accentuate some art, add ambiance, or sleep a little better at night, dimmers help to make that happen.

What You Need to Know About Dimmers

Dimmers not only improve your home’s quality of lighting, they also come in a variety of switches and can add different effects to each room. While it might be tempting to try and install a dimmer switch on your own, your lighting is complicated, and best left to a licensed electrician to install. If you’re ready to upgrade your home’s lighting, there are a few important factors to consider first.

  • The type of switch. A dimmer is not only flexible for your home’s lighting; it’s also flexible in what type of switch you can use to adjust the lighting. An integrated switch, for example, allows you to create multiple lighting presets for one room which is controlled either by a button in the wall or a wireless controller. There are touch dimmer switches which are controlled with a simple tap of your finger and some can even switch back to a prior light setting. For something less sophisticated, there are manual switches like a slider or a rotary switch, which allow you to manually adjust the lighting.
  • The type of dimmer. You can also decide how complex you want your lighting control setup to be. A single pole dimmer controls the dimming and lighting for all your home’s light fixtures. Three-way or four-way dimmers are used for light fixtures to be controlled by one dimmer switch with additional on and off switches. Multi-location dimmers enable you to use multiple dimmer switches to control multiple dimmers. 
  • What you want in each room. It’s important to remember that a dimmer installation not only save you money but offer a variety of uses for each room. Having dimmers in the bathroom, for example, allows you to turn down the lights first thing in the morning for your light sensitive eyes. Dimmers are especially best for bedrooms as the dimmed light helps prepare your body to wind down for sleep. Kitchens which can be a popular room to hang out can benefit from dimmer lights, as good lighting makes for a good looking kitchen, which saves you money and adds curb appeal. Even outdoor lighting benefit from a dimmer switch, especially when you need a little extra light in the evenings.

Your Home Deserves Better Lighting

Saving money is tough, especially when it’s time to pay the utility bill, but installing dimmers is one helpful trick that benefits homeowners. Dimmers add a nice variety of lighting for decoration and ambiance for comfort and help cut down on utility costs. Upgrading your home’s lighting, however, is best left to a licensed electrician, who not only can help you pick a dimmer that will work best for your home, but ensure your new lighting is installed safely. Call Ryan Gath Electric today and get the best lighting your home deserves.

By Ryan Gath Electric

Electrical Resolutions for the New Year

Electrical Resolutions for the New Year

  • Electrical
Electrical repairs in Chelmsford, MA by Ryan Gath Electric

2019 is here! How are you doing with your new year resolutions? If you haven’t made one already or you’re looking for another one, why not focus on improving your home? Though many homeowners go from day to day hoping that their electrical system is safe, updating and testing your system is the only way to know. Here are ten easy resolutions that can help keep your home and family safe and comfortable for years to come:

Extension Cord Placement

Let’s face it – everyone uses extension cords. From one room to another throughout your home, sometimes your existing cords just aren’t long enough! While they should never be used as a permanent solution, it’s still important to make sure that you’re using them safely. Make sure you keep extension cords away from doorways, under carpets, near heaters, or near any other item that may damage the cord. If you find yourself using them too often, call Ryan Gath Electric to go over options for a safer, more permanent solution.

Sockets Near Water

Even though you have outlets in your bathroom and kitchen, or areas near water, the two should never mix. If you don’t already have GFCI sockets, you should! Installing this type of outlet in bathrooms, on kitchen counters, or in any other area where water might get into sockets can help ground out the socket if water should be introduced.

Faulty Wiring

There are a few signs to watch out for that could be signaling issues with your wiring. If your switches feel warm or you have issues like blowing fuses, tripping circuits, flickering and dimming lights or other issues, it is best to contact a professional electrician that can pinpoint the cause of the issue then fix it so that you have nothing to worry about.

Wattages

The wattage that is written on the inside of lamp sockets is there for a reason! Take the extra time to check on your lamps and bulbs to make sure they’re the right fit. Not only do higher watt bulbs take up more energy and help run up your electricity bill, but these higher wattage bulbs are also likely to blow more often and can pose a threat to you and your family.

Damaged Cords

Like all home appliances, your cords are subjected to wear and tear over the years. Any visible damages should be addressed by a Ryan Gath Electric professional or replaced if beyond repair.

Install More Outlets

Extension cords aren’t meant to be used every day. If you are using them often, it’s time to have some additional outlets installed. Calling Ryan Gath Electric can get you the sockets you need so that you can get rid of potentially dangerous extension cords.

Outlet Overload

We have all done it, bought outlet expanders or added extension cords to get more socket space out of a single outlet. Though this may not be dangerous for a little while, when an outlet is overloaded for a long period of time it can become overheated, damaged, and can pose a fire hazard.

Energy Efficient Appliances

Keep your appliances as up-to-date as possible. Newer models are more energy efficient. Not only do they require less energy to function, but they can also save you on your monthly utilities.

Surge Protectors

Not all homes are going to experience a power surge but having a surge protector in place can help keep your home safe and can help prevent issues if there is a power surge or a large storm. Power surges have the potential to cause sparks that can then lead to a fire, they can also overload circuits and cause damage to your overall system.

Replace Smoke Detectors

Smoke and CO detectors are two of the most important home safety features you can have. It’s best to have them hardwired, but if you still have battery powered detectors, make sure you change the batteries and test them often.

New year, safe home! Call Ryan Gath Electric Today for all of your electrical needs!

 

By Ryan Gath Electric