Tag: lighting

How LED Outdoor Security Lights Can Save Your Life

Mar 21, 2023

How LED Outdoor Security Lights Can Save Your Life

  • Outdoor Lighting
How LED Outdoor Security Lights Can Save Your Life - Ryan Gath Electric

If you’re looking for ways to enhance the security of your home, installing LED outdoor security lights can be an effective solution. In this post, we’ll discuss how outdoor LED lights can save your life and reduce the risk of crime around your property.

How Outdoor LED Lights Can Save Your Life

Outdoor LED security lights are an essential component of a comprehensive security system. They are designed to deter criminals and make your property safer, especially during the night. LED lights are brighter, more energy-efficient, and longer-lasting than traditional incandescent lights. This makes them an ideal choice for outdoor lighting. If anyone decides to invade your home, they will be met by bright motion sensor lights that signal everyone inside and deter the intruder.

Outdoor LED security lights can help you in various ways:

  • Deter crime: Bright lights can make criminals think twice before attempting to break into your property. It’s a known fact that burglars and intruders are less likely to target homes with good lighting.
  • Enhance visibility: Outdoor LED lights can illuminate dark corners and areas around your home, making it easier for you to see who’s approaching your property.
  • Alert you to potential danger: Motion-sensor LED security lights can alert you to potential danger and intrusions, even if you’re not at home.

Outdoor Lighting Cuts Crime by 39%

According to a major study, outdoor lighting can cut crime by 39%. The study, published in the LED Magazine, found that outdoor lighting reduces the risk of crime by improving visibility and making it harder for criminals to operate in the dark.

What Kind of Outdoor LED Lights Work Best?

When it comes to choosing the best outdoor LED lights for your security needs, there are a few factors to consider:

  • Brightness: Look for lights that are bright enough to illuminate your entire property. LED lights are typically brighter than other types of outdoor lighting, and they use less energy.
  • Motion Sensors: Consider installing outdoor LED lights with motion sensors. These will turn on automatically when someone approaches, which can be a great deterrent for burglars.
  • Weather Resistance: Outdoor LED lights will be exposed to the elements, so it’s important to choose lights that are weather-resistant. Look for lights with a high IP rating, which indicates they can withstand rain, snow, and other harsh weather conditions.
  • Installation: Finally, consider how easy the lights are to install. Some outdoor LED lights require professional installation, while others can be installed by homeowners. Choose lights that are easy to install if you’re planning on doing the installation yourself.

By taking these factors into consideration, you can choose the best outdoor LED lights for your home security needs.

Ryan Gath Electric can help you choose lights that work best for your home or business. We can also help you install your outdoor lights professionally. Just give us a call!

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By Ryan Gath Electric

5 Benefits of Installing LED Lighting in Chelmsford

Sep 15, 2020

5 Benefits of Installing LED Lighting in Chelmsford

  • Electrical
led lighting in Chelmsford by Ryan Gath

LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights are a type of lighting that is becoming more popular in the conventional lighting markets. They’re becoming more popular as the technology behind them becomes more refined and reliable. As of now, they have higher lifespans, lower energy usage, and lower maintenance requirements than traditional lightbulbs. The Department of Energy estimates that LED lights could save 190 terawatt-hours per year by 2030, which translates to $15 billion per year. It’s reasons like these that you’ll want to install LED lighting in your Chelmsford home.

Here are five reasons to switch to LED lighting in your Chelmsford home:

 

They’re long-lasting

High-quality LED lights can withstand 30,000-50,000 hours of use. This is a big jump from an incandescent bulb’s 1,000-hour lifespan. Even compact fluorescent lighting can’t compare, with a lifespan of only 8,000-10,000 hours. It’s also worth noting that LEDs don’t “burn out” like normal lightbulbs. Instead, they start to dim as they reach the end of their lives, giving you a heads-up when they’re getting old. LEDs can help you make your home’s lighting lower maintenance.

 

They’re environmentally safer

LEDs don’t have any disposal problems associated with older lighting. For example, fluorescent lights have electricity run through mercury vapor. This creates ultraviolet light that causes the lamp’s phosphor coating to glow. When it’s time to dispose of them, the mercury in the lamps means special steps must be taken to dispose of it safely. LED lights can be disposed of and recycled without any special considerations.

 

They’re safer

A big hazard with most lights is that they emit heat. LEDs emit very little heat while incandescent lightbulbs turn over 90% of their energy into heat. This means only about 10% of their energy goes to lighting up your home, making them inefficient and dangerously hot. Also, LEDs use less energy and can work on low-voltage electrical systems. These systems tend to be safer in case something goes wrong.

 

They have great CRI

Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a measure of how well light can reveal an object’s actual color compared to natural light. Low CRI lights, like sodium vapor lamps, leave objects looking yellow/orange. LED lights have a CRI ranging from about 65 to 95, which is considered excellent. CRI can be an important consideration when choosing your outdoor lighting.

 

They’re energy-efficient

Compared to traditional incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen lighting LED lighting uses about half as much electricity. This allows for substantially reduced energy costs, especially for lights that are on most of the day. Part of this efficiency comes from how LEDs emit light in a semicircle, as opposed to the traditional spherical light/heat emitted from bulbs. The directional lighting helps preserve energy and heat that normal ceiling lights waste. However, they can still serve as light bulbs by being bundled together.

 

What makes Ryan Gath one of the area’s best lighting companies?

At Ryan Gath Electric, we only hire highly skilled and licensed electricians for our team. Our experts take pride in providing superior indoor lighting services, no matter what your particular needs may be. While we specialize in recessed and track lighting, we can also install lighting to display a piece of art, light up a kitchen cabinet, or even to point the way to the emergency exits in a commercial building. We can also help you to select the most efficient lighting for various purposes throughout the house. Trust in our wide-ranging experience to make sure the indoor lighting is just to your liking. Call Ryan Gath today to learn more about our lighting services!

By Ryan Gath Electric

8 Kitchen and Bathroom Lighting Upgrades

Jun 15, 2020

8 Kitchen and Bathroom Lighting Upgrades

  • Electrical
kitchen lighting by ryan gath electric

8 Kitchen and Bathroom Lighting Upgrades

One of the biggest concerns that you should have as a homeowner is finding the right additions to add more appeal to your residence. For most homeowners, making upgrades in both their bathroom and kitchen is important due to the amount of use these areas get. Lighting is one of the main issues that should be addressed when trying to make these areas more functional. Without proper lighting upgrades, you will experience issues like an overall decline in the room’s atmosphere or the inability to function in either rooms due to a lack of visibility. Below are some of the lighting upgrades you need to consider for your home’s bathroom and kitchen.

1. Track Lighting

If you are looking to increase both the appeal and visibility in the bathroom or kitchen of your home, then track lighting is a great option. Track lighting is both easy to install and will provide a higher degree of illumination. The addition of track lighting will allow you to point the lamps in any direction that you want, which only increases the level of customization you can take advantage of.

2. Self and Cabinet Lighting

One of the most poorly lit areas in a bathroom or kitchen is around the cabinets. Trying to find spices or even towels without the proper amount of lighting can be nearly impossible. Installing under cabinet lighting is the best way to solve this problem while adding an ambiance to the kitchen and bathroom areas in your home.

3. Chandeliers are a Great Addition

Creating an environment in your bathroom or kitchen that is luxurious and classy is easy when finding the right chandelier. In smaller bathrooms and kitchens, having a chandelier is essential due to the space that it can save you. If you have no room for floor lamps in these areas, a chandelier is a great option due to the amount of light it can produce and the appeal it is able to add. When choosing a chandelier, you will need to contemplate just how grandiose you want it to be. There are a variety of different chandeliers on the market, which means you can achieve the customized look you need with ease.

4. Recessed Lighting

Are you looking for lighting fixtures that can help to make your bathroom or kitchen appear bigger? Recessed lighting is a great option when trying to accomplish this task. Adding recessed lighting will result in what is called wall washing. This term is used to describe a lighting fixture that offers increased illumination to the walls in a particular room. Most homeowners who have sloped ceilings will benefit the most from the installation of recessed lighting and the subsequent wall washing effect it will produce.

5. Dimmer Switch

If you are looking for more control of the lighting that you have in your bathroom and kitchen, then a dimmer switch is a great option. Not only with the installation of this switch allow you to adjust the brightness of a room, it will also allow you to save energy in the process. Generally, bulbs will last 25% longer when used in conjunction with a dimmer switch.

6. Change Light Bulbs

When trying to improve the ambiance and illumination that you have in the bathroom or kitchen in your home, you may want to change out the existing light bulbs. You need to make sure that the bulbs you are using are the right wattage. Using a higher wattage than recommended can lead to the bulbs burning out quicker.

7. Bathroom Mirror Lighting

One of the most used methods of illuminating a bathroom is via a mirror with lights built into it. Not only will these mirrors help you to navigate your way to the bathroom during the night time hours, they can offer a level of appeal that is unrivaled. When trying to get the right backlit bathroom mirror, you will have to take some measurements to ensure you get the proper fit. Due to the complexity involved in installing these mirrors, you will need to hire a professional with plenty of experience to help out.

8. Accent Lighting

In some instances, the reason for installing additional lighting in the bathroom and kitchen of a home is to highlight some of the structural features it has. Using accent lighting will allow you to draw attention to the best features in your home, while creating ambiance in the process. If you are unsure what type of structural elements you need to highlight with accent lighting, then having a professional familiar with home illumination give you guidance is vital.

Investing in new bathroom lighting will not only add more appeal to your home, it can also increase the value. Choosing energy efficient lighting can also help you to save money on utility bills over time. Call Ryan Gath Electric today to schedule your service! 

By Ryan Gath Electric

Protect Your Outdoor Lighting This Winter!

Nov 29, 2019

Protect Your Outdoor Lighting This Winter!

  • Electrical
outdoor lighting winter in Chelmsford by Ryan Gath

Winter is only a month away, but we’ll likely be seeing snow before that. Fresh snow certainly looks beautiful, especially at night under the glow of outdoor lights. However, winter weather can cause a variety of problems for outdoor lighting. If you want your outdoor lights to keep your home looking it’s best during the winter, you’ll have to take special maintenance precautions for them. At Ryan Gath Electric, we can help you learn how to care for your outdoor lights during the Massachusetts winter.

Here are five tips for keeping your outdoor lighting healthy this winter:

 

Watch for exposed wiring

When the temperatures get cold, the ground tends to freeze and thaw, forcing buried wiring upward. Any wires that get unearthed this way should be reburied as soon as possible before the ground freezes again. Wires that get left out can get damaged. Any issues involving damaged wiring, such as exposed copper, should be handled by a professional electrician.

 

Readjust your lighting fixtures

Once in a while, you’ll want to go outside and adjust your lighting fixtures if they get misaligned or damaged. It’s not uncommon for snow shoveling or plowing to cause occasional damage to fixtures. Your best bet for preventing this sort of damage is by preventing accidents in the first place. Does a company or some other third party handle your snow removal or landscaping? Buy some cones or poles and use them to warn them about your fixtures and other sensitive areas.

 

Keep an eye on the light bulbs

Extreme temperatures, especially cold ones, often wear out your light bulbs quickly. You’ll want to replace any bulbs that die out quickly, as they’ll negatively affect healthier bulbs. This is because outdoor lighting is often a low-voltage system, and each bulb takes up a bit of the workload. When one bulb dies, the others take up the slack, putting more stress on them. Another thing to consider is that the long winter nights mean your landscape lighting will be working more than usual.

 

Clean the lenses

Dirt and other contaminants can often block the light coming from your outdoor lighting. You can wipe it off with CLR cleaner and a nonabrasive cloth. Snow is another common light-blocking contaminant during the winter. If you use LED lights, their improved efficiency can be a downside because they produce less heat, making it harder for them to melt away any snow that builds upon them. Take the time after every major snowfall to clean off your outdoor lights.

 

Be aware of moisture problems

Ice and snow are just frozen water, so moisture problems are very common during the winter. One common source of these problems is when melted snow gets into an outlet and trips it. You can easily fix this by pressing the “reset” button on the outlet and making sure the cover is properly closed. If the outlet won’t reset or it looks damaged, you should call for an electrician. Electricity is very dangerous to work with, especially during the wet winter weather.

 

Why call Ryan Gath to keep my electricity working this winter?

Ryan Gath Electric is focused on providing the best possible electrical services to the people of Massachusetts. We are composed of master electricians, with years of professional experience under their belts. No matter what kind of electrical needs you have, we can take care of it for you. So much of our modern lifestyles are reliant on the electricity that courses through our homes and offices. As important as that power is, however, it can also be quite dangerous. When you have a problem with your electrical grid, the very last thing you want to do is try and fix it yourself. You don’t want to put yourself at risk by dealing with that much voltage without the proper knowledge or tools. Call Ryan Gath today to learn more about protecting your electronics this winter!

By Ryan Gath Electric

5 Reasons to Consider Recessed Lighting in Chelmsford

Oct 11, 2019

5 Reasons to Consider Recessed Lighting in Chelmsford

  • Electrical
recessed lighting in Chelmsford by Ryan Gath

Lighting is one of the many factors in what makes up a room’s aesthetic. A room’s lighting can greatly change how a room looks, works and contributes to a house’s overall value on the market. Recessed lighting is a kind that is implanted in a room’s ceiling instead of hanging from a unit. When they’re used properly, recessed lighting can help a room look sleeker. At Ryan Gath, we specialize in recessed lighting and can help you decide if it’ll work with your Chelmsford home.

Here are five reasons recessed lighting for your Chelmsford home might be worth buying:

 

Complete coverage

When you have regular ceiling lights in the center of your room, they can have difficulty reaching the edges of the room, leaving the edges looking dimmer. If you want to give your room complete coverage with these lights, you’d need multiple hanging fixtures. However, recessed lighting gives you a simple and attractive way to provide complete illumination to a room.

 

Perennial style

Style and fashion can be puzzling for many people. Luckily, recessed lighting is safe from the constant change of trends. Recessed lighting’s modern, sleek appearance has never truly been in style. Because of this, they’ll never go out of style. You won’t have to worry about keeping up with the latest lighting trends.

 

Wall washing creates larger-looking rooms

‘Wall washing’ is a kind of lighting effect that casts more light around the room by using the correct trim. To do it properly, you need the right parts and an eye for home design. As Chelmsford’s recessed lighting specialists, those are both things we can provide. With our help, wall washing can help your home look roomier.

 

Good for low ceilings and small rooms

Not only does recessed lighting make rooms look bigger, but it can also make them physically bigger. When they’re in smaller rooms, hanging light fixtures can take up space and pose a danger to your head. Recessed lighting can be a great way to give yourself more room in basements and other rooms with low ceilings.

 

Waterproof

Recessed lighting is one of the few types of commercial lighting that is waterproof. While this feature isn’t important all of the time, it makes recessed lighting usable in shower stalls. This also makes recessed lighting a better choice for bathrooms in general. Also, recessed lighting’s casing helps protect it from dust.

 

What makes Ryan Gath Electric experts on brightening up your home?

At Ryan Gath Electric, we only hire highly skilled and licensed electricians for our team. Our experts take pride in providing superior indoor lighting services, no matter what your particular needs may be. While we specialize in recessed and track lighting, we can also install lighting to display a piece of art, light up a kitchen cabinet, or even to point the way to the emergency exits in a commercial building. We can also help you to select the most efficient lighting for various purposes throughout the house. Trust in our wide-ranging experience to make sure the indoor lighting is just to your liking. If you’re looking to install recessed lighting in your home, call Ryan Gath today!

By Ryan Gath Electric