Top Landscape Lighting Failures In Houston

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All You Need To Know About Landscape Lighting Fails In Houston

1. Glare

Glare produced by bright direct lighting and reflection almost always destroys the ambiance needed for landscape lighting. The main idea behind adding lights to the landscape is to illuminate everything and not be a light source in itself. Ambient lighting in the landscape helps bring every aspect of the same without necessarily having to squint to see what’s there. Reducing glare by using ‘eyelids’ (the mantle surrounding the light fixture opening) is one of the best ways to reduce/block glare from the landscape. To better understand this, glare is produced when the lamp illuminates the landscape and other items directly making it impossible to discern what it is exactly. Nevertheless, using a mantle to prevent direct light but rather product passive illumination in the garden, for instance, help highlight everything properly since glare is eliminated. An ‘eyelid’ almost always comes in handy for this purpose.

2. Lack Of A Proper Plan

You need to have the forethought of how the landscape will look like after designing/installing landscape lighting. Proper planning is therefore needed to ensure the focal points are well illuminated without any glare. This means you need to turn your attention more to the lighting effect and not the fixture itself. Among other factors, you need to consider things such as beam spread and light output before buying any accessory off the shelves. Having more than one lighting fixtures to choose from could also improve your chances of picking the right one for that specific purpose. Light spread and effect should be the core factors to consider when choosing a light fixture. Fixtures with a broad light spread spectrum are mostly recommended for this purpose.

3. Abused/Misused Path Lights

Choosing the right fixture but using it for the wrong purpose or application is most definitely a fail. A good example of this is using path light fixtures in turf areas. This is because path lights cause extensive damage to turf over time. Having light fixtures in turf areas isn’t also recommended as the risk of them getting damaged is high. In addition to this, the lawn is home to dangerous equipment such as hedgers, mowers, and such.

4. Too Much Lighting

Using light fixtures too bright for the need isn’t recommended too. The main goal of having these installed is to illuminate the home for security and beauty but not to irritate your neighbors. If you can see your home several streets away, then the lighting is too much. Avoid lighting every architectural feature or tree, but rather only use the right ambiance for the same. Professionals in landscape lighting in Houston recommend less lighting for the best effect.

5. Less Than Enough Budget

Working with an inadequate budget for outdoor lighting will most likely mean low-quality lighting. This is because you will be forced to work with inferior light fixtures, hence a shoddy job. Although you may have a wide assortment of fixtures to choose from, only a few are meant for this sole purpose. Some of the fixtures may seem handy now, but not be able to last for long enough. Some of these are meant for temporary fixtures and not long-term use. Although they may seem cheap, you are more likely to spend much more on repairs as compared to what you would have spent on quality fixtures.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

 

Intensify & Create A Beautiful Atmosphere For Your Living Space With Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting Designs In Houston

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Enhancing Your Outdoor Living Space With Beautiful Houston Outdoor Lighting Designs

Enjoying your backyard after dark can come down to the right Houston outdoor lighting design. When you are ready to unwind on the back patio after a hard day’s work, there are certain things that make your experience more enjoyable. Some of these things include feeling the warm summer breeze on your skin, taking up your position over the grill in order to serve some serious summertime barbecue, and kick up your feet with a cold beer in hand. While your satisfaction could be attributed to many things – including the above – the moment is quite enjoyable because you got the chance of escaping from the rest of the world. In fact, your outdoor space is where you unwind forgetting about all the madness that goes on during the day. The outdoor lighting can play a big part in enhancing your outdoor experience during the warm summer months. The Houston outdoor lighting should be tailored to meet your specific needs and enjoyment. In fact, you have worked very hard to build an escape – and the evening is the time you really get to enjoy the day. Houston outdoor lighting can either enhance or deflate your evening experience. That is why you need to pay close attention to Houston outdoor lighting at all times.

Designing A Tailored Lighting System

Is your outdoor space used to entertain guests? If so, the designer may consider a different approach when lighting your backyard. In fact, he or she may create some festive lighting designs depending on your specific setting. If pool lighting is an issue, the designer might have the perimeter of the pool deck illuminated by tiki-lighters. These are tall are lights that are very important to offer a functional safety with a tiki torch on top – which can be lit for the right occasion. In fact, pool lighting may create an amazing atmosphere in your backyard- when done the right way. Is security your concern? In fact, steps and elevation changes can always pose a danger in the dark.

Houston Outdoor Lighting Designer

Your designer will take a look at places where there are trip hazards and illuminate such areas in order to improve the safety in your backyard. He or she will look for places in your garden where security lighting is lacking and create a ring of lighting security in such areas such as layers of lights in order to deter trespass. Is tranquility the priority in your backyard? The outdoor living space is your retreat. Hence, you want the place to be relaxing, inviting, and warm. Your designer will use the key elements in the landscape in order to enhance the natural beauty of the area. In fact, water features, statuary, and plant materials will become the focus in this regard.

Putting On Your Night Goggles

Creating a wonderful landscape lighting design includes designing a space that would be enjoyed during the evening and nighttime. This is difficult than most people would think. In fact, envisioning how your space would look at night with the right lighting is not an easy task. That is where a professional Houston outdoor lighting designer comes in handy. In fact, such a designer knows how to use night goggles. A reliable Houston outdoor lighting designer knows how to create the best atmosphere in your backyard.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting: A Guide On How To Avoid Making Silly Commercial Landscape Lighting Mistakes

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Easily Sidestepped Commercial Landscape Lighting Errors

Some of the more commonly committed mistakes in the realm of commercial landscape lighting include the generation of light pollution, using low-efficiency bulbs and utilizing too many fixtures that are the same as one another. The fact is that landscape lighting in the commercial arena is essential to keep safe your business, the property surrounding it, your employees and your customer base.

Typical Mistakes in Commercial Landscape Lighting Design

1. Failure To Use LED Bulb Products

The ways in which LED fixtures can produce real savings of time and money are numerous. First, they last far longer than conventional bulbs, resulting in a much less frequent need for replacement. LEDs are able to last upwards of 11 years, even if they run around the clock, and up to 22 years if they are operated only half the time. Light is emitted from LED fixtures in a different manner than from conventional bulbs. Rather than burning completely out, these bulbs begin to slow their output of light until eventually, they are noticeably dim. Bulbs of this type use far lower amounts of electricity, and therefore the utility bills that result tend to be much cheaper on a monthly basis. You also could consider hiring professionals to do the work for you. Check out Robert Huff commercial landscape lighting projects we have completed. we have completed.

Some key positives of LED commercial landscape lighting fixtures are:

  • Energy efficiency and environmental friendliness as compared to traditional lighting. Ability to stand up to harsh weather conditions and other stresses
  • Zero emission of UV rays and emission of almost no infrared light, rendering LEDs perfect for use in areas containing items that are heat and radiation-sensitive, such as food, art, and other delicate products
  • Capacity to run on lower voltage supplies of power
  • Brightness is achieved instantly with LED lights, and the fixtures can be turned off and on with great frequency without damage
  • Able to work even when placed in extreme temperatures
  • External reflectors are unnecessary, as LED design helps concentrate light on specific spots

2. The Scourge Of Lighting Pollution

All lighting fixtures are meant to produce enhanced visibility for workers, visitors, customers and the like. When there is too much light for a given space or the existing light is poorly placed, visibility can actually be hampered. Therefore, it is essential that the appropriate sorts of lighting in the proper voltage amounts are installed so that lighting pollution, unpleasant glare, and other problems can be avoided. Check out the best commercial outdoor lighting company in Houston.

3. Utilization Of One Kind Of Lighting Fixture Only

The lighting fixtures used ought to blend seamlessly together in order to create a cohesive whole. It is important to make sure that the fixtures do not all look exactly the same, however. This would lead to a boring overall effect. Add a bit of visual interest and design appeal by choosing a carefully curated mix of fixtures. An added benefit of such a strategy is to create nuances of light levels which will be easier on the eye.

4. Excessive Of Intrusive Lighting

It is critical that outdoor light fixtures provide sufficient illumination for the tasks at hand, but they must not overpower the surroundings. There really are times when a lighter hand is needed in terms of lighting. Drawing attention to key visual elements, such as business signage, is a vital priority, as is highlighting sidewalks and stairs to provide additional safety measures.

5. Failing To Use Adequate Lighting

While excessive lighting is a problem, so is insufficient lighting. If lighting is too low to do what is required, there really is no point to having it at all. The key is to strike the right balance with the help of one of the most reputable Houston lighting companies.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

The Common Types Of Houston Landscape Lighting System Techniques

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Popular Houston Landscape Lighting Techniques To Make Your Home More Beautiful

When it comes to achieving the optimal landscape-lighting system, experts use a number of techniques to arrive at the best results. Houston Landscape Lighting offers a list of the more common techniques along with their associated benefits:

1. Uplighting

This is a popular technique used for showcasing or highlighting features on your property such as archways, trees, columns, and windows.

2. Downlighting

This technique offers increased ambient illumination. This is achieved by placing the light upon eaves or in trees, that allows for a way to illuminate larger areas. This is a technique that is preferred for security and safety and outdoor entertaining.

3. Grazing

This type of lighting is recommended by Houston Landscape Lighting for houses with stone or brick walls, retaining walls, chimneys, and fences. This technique works well with these elements as it illuminates them.

4. Shadowing

This effective technique can enhance the existing security-lighting around your home. Trees that feature an interesting shape can also be showcased when positioning the lighting-fixtures in front of the feature, that casts shadows on vertical surfaces that stand behind them.

5. Silhouetting

Another popular technique to showcase structures or trees that offer unique shapes. In order to achieve this appeal, the fixtures need to be positioned directly behind these trees or structures which then points to vertical surfaces that are behind them.

Tips For Outdoor Lighting Systems

Summer is almost over, but this is no reason to stop enjoying your outdoor areas. Every season offers more than enough opportunities for entertaining. Below are a few tips from Houston Landscape Lighting on how to enhance outdoor lighting system for each season.

1. Creating Your Ideal Space

In the months of summer, most homeowners love spending time outdoors, relaxing close to the pool or using their gardens for entertaining purposes. However, in the month of fall or winter, you probably spend your time elsewhere. When you enhance areas like patios, decks or firepits, you are still able to enjoy the colder nights.

2. Make Sure Your Property Is Easy To Navigate

It is important that your existing outdoor-lighting system operates accordingly and that you have adjusted the timers when necessary. When your outdoor-lighting system fails to support the security and safety of your friends, family and guests, and your property, it becomes important to install the type that can achieve these goals.

3. Enhancing Your Décor

Whether you prefer lanterns, string lights or even colored lights, this form of lighting will provide your home with dramatic effects and increase your overall curb appeal.

4. Conserving Energy

Make sure you invest in energy-efficient lighting options like halogen or LED lights for an outdoor-lighting system, this will contribute to decreasing your energy bills, and these lights are a more environmentally friendly choice.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

Why Outdoor Lighting Is Important For Your Houston TX Home

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Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Outdoor Lighting

Summer has made it to Texas, and this spring we have been enjoying gorgeous weather that is great for outdoor entertaining. We’re very lucky living here and having the ability to enjoy our outdoor areas most of the year. Homeowners all over Texas are ready to spend more time outdoors with the wonderful weather. Therefore, isn’t it a smart idea to create an inviting and warm oasis for your family and guests to enjoy? Homeowners spend lots of money on their outdoor living spaces, including on outdoor kitchens, decks, patios, swimming pools, and much more. However, what about after sunset? What happens then?

Is it time to pack everything up and go back indoors? Or sit around tables full of citronella candles so that everybody smells like smoke and bug spray at the end of the night? What about returning to your vehicles that are parked in front of the house? Not having the right outdoor home lighting Houston for your outdoor areas is inconvenient and also means you are at the mercy of the sun. In addition, there is a security and safety aspect to why outdoor lighting is so important for your home.

Reasons why it is important to invest in good outdoor lighting for your Houston home

1. Overall Experience

The most obvious reason is, of course, that your outdoor entertaining experiences are enhanced by outdoor lighting. Having the right outdoor lighting provides you with the chance to use all of your outdoor features safely and enjoy them after the sun goes down.

2. Your home’s security and safety are increased by outdoor lighting.

There are many ways that outdoor lighting may be implemented in order to increase your home’s security and safety along with the people at your house. Having a well-lit driveway or walk can make a big difference in helping to prevent people from injuring themselves or falling. Outdoor lighting can also help to deter criminals from making your home a target, to give you increased peace of mind.

3. Increase The Curb Appeal Of Your Home

Outdoor lighting can significantly enhance your home’s outer appearance to provide your neighbors and visitors with a very positive impression. Another great reason for increasing your home’s curb appeal is because when you are ready to sell your house, great outdoor lighting can really help to attract the right buyer for your home. It is possible to customize outdoor lighting, which means that Robert Huff Lighting can have our professionals design a lighting system for you that will draw positive attention to the best qualities of your home, including its landscaping and architecture to increase the value and curb appeal of your property.

To learn more about outdoor home lighting Houston TX Services,  check out our website and our blog. For questions or concerns, please Call us now.

Save Money With Outdoor LED Landscape Lighting For Your Houston Home

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Learn How You Can Use Outdoor LED Lighting To Save Money

LED is short for a light-emitting diode. It’s among the more energy-efficient options you have for modern lighting. The efficiency of them makes them quite appealing to many homeowners, and things continue to improve as the technology matures. LED lights aren’t some fad that’s overhyped or going to disappear from the market in the near future, so a lot of homeowners are now confident that they can maintain and even replace LED systems when need be in the future.

How Do LED Lights Differ From Other Lights?

Per the United States Department of Energy, there are a number of distinct features of LED lights that make them quite different from incandescent lights and even other options that are newer, such as CFLs, or compact fluorescent bulbs. To start with, every light-emitting diode is really minuscule in size, like the size of an actual grain of ground pepper. Diodes of various hues combine together in a single light to create the color of white. Altering this mixture of colors allows LED lights to have different tints.

Secondly, it’s quite easy to control the light direction using LED systems. That minimizes your need for shades or reflectors, which sometimes prove to be fire hazards or get too hot if they’re paired with conventional incandescent bulbs. If you have installations such as recessed lighting, LEDs prove to be an ideal choice. If an incandescent bulb is used in such a lighting system, then a fraction of its light gets lost from being reflected into a particular direction, which increases how much energy is necessary for the lighting of that space.

LEDs also get noticeably cooler as compared to CFLs or incandescents. That coolness means they’re safer for you to handle, and it’s also symptomatic of their energy efficiency. On the flip side, incandescent bulbs release nearly 90 percent of their energy simply as heat, and it’s still 80 percent for CFLs.

Also, an LED bulb’s lifespan is about 50,000 hours. In contrast, incandescent lights only last around 1,200 hours. This shorter lifespan drives up the cost in the long run since incandescent bulbs have to be replaced far more frequently.

Landscape Lighting Demands Robust Fixture Quality

LEDs often prove ideal for exterior lighting due to their lack of heat, low maintenance, efficiency, and long-running cost-effectiveness. So, what do homeowners need to look out for if they plan to make the switch to this kind of lighting for their entertainment areas, walkways, yards, and porches or decks? The need to make sure that they don’t just settle for the cheapest possible fixture choices. LED bulbs can last a very long time, but an outdoor fixture has to be constructed to be sturdy and durable so it can withstand the elements.

Want a hint of the expected hardiness? Check out the warranty length. Stainless steel, aluminum, and brass fixtures are usually higher in price than plastic choices, but they’re also in better shape to put up with what mother nature is going to throw at them. If you need outdoor landscape lighting in Houston, make sure to consider, the best outdoor lighting company in Houston.

Comparing LEDs To Compact Fluorescent Lights

CFL bulbs certainly prove to be a rational upgrade above incandescent bulbs when talking about efficiency. Since fluorescent lights typically fit into conventional incandescent fixtures, they’re not that much of an initial investment. They certainly offer you savings on your utilities, but CFLs do have a big downside, and that is mercury. When a fluorescent bulb breaks, it’s often troublesome to clean things up given the gases, but this isn’t an issue with LEDs, so they might make a safer choice if you’re renting any temporary fabric structures.

One final thing to take into consideration is a light’s expected look. LED options can honestly prove disappointing here. Incandescent bulbs often have a rather warm look. Homeowners might expect to get that same attractive glow from even other types of lights. On the other hand, the light from LEDs might seem harsher. They can also emit blue-hued rays which aren’t always expected by people new to this kind of lighting. Fortunately, those that develop LED technology are working on mixing different combinations of the various diodes so that they might mimic incandescents so they offer more various looks.

Get The Right Look By Using Color Temperature

Buyers need to know that new LED lights mean comparing many different options. Your local home improvement store might even have a display at the end of an aisle that demonstrates the different possibilities. At a minimum, the box of each bulb should offer a color description covering the light style emitted by the bulb. Color temperature helps predict just what bulbs are going to look like if they’re turned on.

Call us now or contact us today for more information on starting or finishing a new or existing outdoor lighting project!

LED Landscape Lighting For Your Houston Home

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Tips On How To Make The Switch To LED Lighting

Would you like to lower your energy costs? Most people constantly scrutinize their electric bills, and since lighting is something you have a lot of control over, you can also help to control the amount of energy that you use. Although most people know that moving away from incandescent bulbs is more cost-efficient, some compact fluorescent bulbs that are available in the marketplace are expensive and don’t provide the same warmth that incandescent bulbs do. However, there are now LED (short for Light Emitting Diode) bulbs that have arrived on the scene that can be used outdoors as well as indoors.

When you hear LED you might think of the red lights on a ticker style of sign or those powerful small lights on pocket flashlights. However, LED lights can also be used in your yard and home.

6 Benefits Of Using LED Lighting

1. More light is produced per watt compared to fluorescents and incandescent bulbs. They also don’t generate any heat. Those two qualities help to save on electricity when it comes to lighting costs and helps to keep a room cool that can get overheated when incandescent bulbs are used.

2. Are hard to damage or break compared to incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

3. Have longer useful lifespans (60,000 hours estimated) compared with incandescents (only 1,000-2,000 hours) and fluorescent tubes (about 30,000 hours). A quality LED light can give you 17 years worth of use or even more.

4. LEDs dim when they start burning out. This is preferable, especially in safety situations (basement stairs, garages, etc.) compared to an incandescent of CFL (compact fluorescent light) where the only way that you know it isn’t working is when the bulb doesn’t illuminate when you flip the switch.

5. LEDs light up fast.

6. There is no mercury contained in LEDs like there are in CFLs.

The one drawback that LED lighting has is the upfront cost. They are more expensive compared to conventional lighting technologies. But you usually can recoup your costs within one year by having to replace the bulbs less frequently and by having lower energy bills.

Indoor Uses

You might have your own personal lighting preferences, but generally speaking, “natural white” and “cool light” are great options for general ambient lighting and also spaces that need more task lighting, such as home offices, studies, and kitchen. A yellow hue is cast by incandescent lights. When LEDs are used you have more flexibility for using the lights throughout the different rooms in your house.

Generally speaking, natural white and cool lights are reliable options for most spaces and uses, however, a “daylight” or “natural” bulb is recommended for reading.

Outdoor Uses

Some people say that UV lights are something that many bugs are attracted do, and there are some LED lights that don’t emit UV light. So it may be worthwhile to explore LED landscape lighting options for your backyard to help reduce how many insects your lighting attract. LEDs have long lives, so they are ideal for those hard to reach lights that are on the exterior of your house, whether they are lights that need to be turned off and on frequently, back and front door lights, or floodlights.

Call us now or contact us today for more information regarding starting or finishing a new or existing outdoor lighting project of yours!

Watch Where You’re Going With Houston Outdoor Lighting

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A Homeowner’s Guide to Path Outdoor Lighting in Houston

The night sky is absolutely gorgeous with its twinkling stars and beautiful moonlight. Unfortunately, there are only a few nights a month that the moon and stars are bright enough to light your way. Outdoor path lighting helps you be able to safely get from point A to point B after the sun goes down. Whether you are traveling to your front door from your driveway or going to the pool, outdoor path lighting makes all the difference. These low-voltage lights are not bright enough to spoil your nighttime view; however, it will keep you safe.

If you are looking for outdoor lights that are brighter and offer more control than your typical solar path lights, look no further than the LED or halogen lights. These lights last longer than incandescent lights and are more energy efficient. Once we design your outdoor path lighting, you will be able to enjoy a lit up walkway without worrying about costs, replacement lighting or burnt out light bulbs.

Every Landscape is Different and Should Be Designed that Way

Our professional outdoor lighting specialists’ focus on making sure that all of your outdoor paths are effectively lit for your safety. In order to do this, our specialists will schedule a complimentary consultation where they will discuss your goals for the project and any challenges that they may be facing. They will determine how to place path lights so that the safest route is illuminated, even in uneven areas or through the thick greenery.

Do you have children? If so, the professionals will ensure that areas, where toys may be located, are illuminated. This will help prevent guests from accidentally running into toys and tripping or damaging your child’s toys.

Even if you do not have a defined walkway made of pavers or concrete, our specialist can help. We offer a number of different lights to illuminate both the perimeter of our landscaped beds as well as your defined walkway. The best path lighting will ensure that your pool, hot tub, driveway, garden, and walkway are illuminated to ensure your safety throughout the year.

Call or contact Robert Huff Illumination & Houston Outdoor Lighting to get started on your project! Visit our blog for more outdoor lighting ideas!

About Christmas Lighting in Houston & How To Stay Safe

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Things You Need To Know About Christmas Lights

Thanksgiving has come and gone and families all over the world are busy getting their homes decorated and putting up electric Christmas lights. Christmas lights are a standard outside and inside most American homes.

When it comes to Christmas lights, there are probably many things you don’t know about them. With Christmas just around the corner, we thought it would be a good idea to share some things about Christmas lights that are not so well known, in addition to some energy-saving tips that can help you save money during this upcoming holiday season and well into the future.

Candles were the first Christmas lights. We previously covered the history of Christmas lights, however, it is still worth going over a few interesting facts that you might not be aware of about the tradition of Christmas lights.

Candles were attached to evergreens and used in windows for Christmas celebrations for hundreds of years. It has been claimed by many that the tradition of using candles to light Christmas tree was sparked by Martin Luther during the 16th century in Germany. This was, of course, a big fire hazard. But that was all that they had to use.

In 1882 the very first electric lights appeared on a Christmas tree. Two years later, Edward H. Johnson, Edison’s partner, became the first individual who used electric string lights for illuminating a Christmas tree. Johnson’s Christmas tree was hand-wired with around 80 blue white and red electric lights, which could easily be seen by people passing by.

In 1895 President Grover Cleveland became the first president to have electric lights on the Christmas tree in the White House. In 1889 Benjamin Harrison became the first president to have a Christmas tree at the White House, but it was Cleveland who was the first president to have multi-colored electric lights used for decorating the Christmas tree. That really helped to introduce this idea to the general public. People were still concerned about electricity being dangerous and the possibility that dangerous fumes would get into the house through wires and lights.

It took some time before electric Christmas lights started to be used by average Americans. The first commercial made Christmas lights were produced as strands that had 8 lights and made by General Electric Company (GE). These lights were called “festoons” by GE. By 1900, it was very common for businesses to have lights strung up around their buildings and in their windows. However, most homeowners couldn’t afford outdoor Christmas lights.

Over the years, as Christmas lights started becoming more affordable, they began to make their ways into residential houses. However, even as late as the 1930s, candles were still commonly used on Christmas trees and in windows.

Electric Christmas lights had pretty much become the standard by 1950. After prices became more affordable, candles were replaced by electric lights by families since they were long lasting and safer.

Once electric string lights had become affordable and safe, families began to use them on pillars, doorways, railings, mantles, and along the peaks and eaves of their houses.

Today, it is estimated that around 150 million sets of lights are sold in the U.S. each year. Smithsonian reports that the lights help to illuminate more than 80 million houses and consume around 6% of the country’s electrical load each December.

Candles still cause fires and electric lights continue to be dangerous. It is estimated by the CPSC that over 15,000-holiday decorating injuries take place during the months of November and December.

It is estimated by the NFPA that an average of 200 house fires is started each year by Christmas trees. Lighting or electrical distribution equipment are involved in about 40% (two out of five) Christmas tree home fires.

Excluding Christmas trees, another 840 home structure fires take place over the holiday season. Candles cause over 1/3 of house structure fires that take place during the holiday season. The top three days when candle fires in homes take place are Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

You can help to prevent home fires from occurring by inspecting electrical products before they are used, learning basic ladder safety, unplugging Christmas lights before you leave home, and making sure your Christmas tree is kept well-watered. You can recycle your holiday light sets instead of throwing them away. An outdoor lighting Houston professional can provide you with even more lighting tips to keep you and your family safe.

Old Christmas lights can be recycled and you can also look for deals on new LED lights. See if there is a recycling program for Christmas lights at your local home improvement store. Some stores might offer discounts and/or rebates on new Christmas LED lights.

Over the long run, LED lights are cheaper and better. Although the upfront costs of LEDs are higher, they use about 70 to 90% less energy, are more durable, last a lot longer, and less prone to overloading circuits and burning out. Incandescent lights cost about $10 for lighting a Christmas tree over one holiday season. However, LEDs cost only around 25 cents to light a 6-foot Christmas tree for 40 days at 12hours per day. When these savings are multiplied by lighting up your whole house over the holiday season, it becomes a very significant cost savings.

Call or contact Robert Huff Illumination & Outdoor Lighting if you have any questions regarding starting a new outdoor lighting project! Merry Christmas and happy decorating!

Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting Addressing Home Electrical Safety

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Electrical Safety Tips to Consider for Your Home

When you are looking to change up the electrical systems in your home, you may think that you can and should just dive right in and work on it yourself. While you may be fully capable of doing most construction work yourself, elec trical systems can be complicated and dangerous if you are not an expert.

Before you jump right in and start changing out indoor or outdoor lighting in Houston or trying to rewire your entire project yourself, you should get to know a few basic electrical safety tips to help you out in the process. Then you can be sure that you are as safe as possible whether you decide to do the work yourself or hire someone to do it for you.

Understand Different Types of Outlets

Whether you are looking to install a new outlet, replace current ones, or you just happened to notice that you have a lot of things plugged into a single outlet, it can be helpful to understand the different types of outlets that you may find in your home.

If you have an older home, you may have noticed that many of your electrical outlets, for example, only have two slots for prongs rather than three. These are known as ungrounded electrical outlets and can be quite dangerous.

Grounding an electrical outlet means to give it a safe way to return to the ground in the event of an overloaded circuit or power surge. Essentially, it is a protective barrier that can prevent fires, shock, and damage to the appliances or other items plugged into your outlet.

These older two-prong outlets lack that grounding. It is not enough to just plug in an adapter to these outlets. You need to replace them with grounded three-prong outlets, which requires rewiring in your home as the grounding element must be wired as well.

Label All of Your Circuit Breakers

On a dear day, when there will be little chance of a lightning strike or other power surge, you may want to take the time to get to know your home’s circuit breaker. The circuit breaker is a box of switches usually found in the basement or utility room of your home.

It is the central hub inside of your home for your electrical system, and each switch is for specific appliances or areas of your home. If your circuit breaker is not already labeled or the labeling is unclear, it is time to add labels to your circuit breaker box. Turn on the lights and, if possible, appliances in your home.

You can have a family member help you find which area of the house turns off as you flip each breaker (or you can go around the house and look for yourself). Then, label each one with the appropriate label (i.e., living room, master bedroom, etc.).

Knowing which area of the house is attached to each circuit breaker can help you when you do electrical work throughout your home. To rewire a lighting fixture or change outlets, you will need to shut off the electrical current that goes to that area of your home to avoid shock, fire, and injuries.

Having those circuits labeled will make it easier to remain safe no matter what electrical projects you work on throughout your entire home.

Now that you know a few key safety tips to utilize when you are doing electrical work throughout your house, you can be sure that you are doing everything in your power to remain as safe and injury-free as possible. Even if you have a professional come to help you with your electrical work or outdoor lighting, these tips can help keep them safe as well.

Call or contact us today to start your project! Visit our blog for more lighting tips!