Well, it happened again. The kitchen and bath pros who make up the via www.marketwatch.com

Giant windows are great if possible. That’s a big IF, though. Sometimes, natural light isn’t an option, either because the laundry room is subterranean or otherwise windowless. Obviously, in the image below, natural light is not an option. Yet, the color temperature of the ceiling light is neutral enough to make this laundry room bearable while another, poorer lighting choice could have made this tiny laundry room annoying to visit and kind of scary.

You didn’t think I was going to avoid talking about lighting solutions just because natural light is such a great option for laundry rooms, did you? So, how should you light your laundry room? For any type of laundry room, there are some fundamental guidelines.

I’ve already suggested that you ALWAYS USE NATURAL LIGHT, when and if possible. And for your other light sources? Consider choosing lights with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of as close to 100 as possible. A light source’s CRI is, in effect, a metric by which to compare the ability of artificial light to render color as well as the sun. 100 is the maximum CRI. Some lamps, like low-pressure sodium lamps, can actually have really low CRIs, while there are now some LED lights with CRIs of 95 – 98. If the sun isn’t shining in your laundry room, there are plenty of excellent options that closely match natural light’s ability to render color and help you keep your clothes clean and fresh as can be.

Layer your lighting.

OK, so this is the main theme in pretty much all lighting design guides. Layering your light pretty much means that you should think about general light, accent lighting, and task lighting. In the main section of a house, this might look like mini recessed ceiling lights with square bronze trim, elegant track lighting to spotlight a painting or picture, and a reading light by the chair or some under cabinet lights illuminating the bar counter. In a laundry room it might look like the image below.

Sometimes, in larger laundry rooms, you can have all three kinds of light. But, generally speaking, laundry areas are on the smaller side and are too focused on pragmatism for decorations that would benefit from accent lighting. Keep in mind that this is a generalization with exceptions galore, but, generally, the two kinds of lighting you’ll find in laundry areas are ambient overhead lighting and task lighting, and this scheme usually takes the form of a ceiling light or two and under cabinet lighting.

Creative Options.

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Generators make an important line of defense against natural disasters and power outages. With a generator, you don’t have to worry about keeping the food in your refrigerator cold, or powering your heating system when the temperatures drop. When installing a new generator, it’s important to select one that is the right size for your home. By size, we mean the power it’s capable of creating, not the physical size (though that can enter into the equation depending on where you plan to put it). In Lynnwood WA, electrical repair services can often advise you on how to size the right generator for your home, but it pays to know the basic before you give them a call.

The first step is to perform an energy audit for your home, determining how much power each appliance or electrical device uses, and then prioritizing them for use during an emergency. Medical devices usually come first on the list, followed by refrigerators and freezers which store your food. Next is your home HVAC system, followed by the lights in your home. Computers, radios and entertainment systems are usually on the bottom of the list: useful for keeping connected with the outside world, but otherwise non-essential in an emergency.

Once you have that list, you can determine two things: how much power is required to run your whole house and how much power is required to run the bare essentials during an emergency. The former number is preferable and if you can afford a generator of that size, then you should probably purchase it. The latter is less ideal but can do in a pinch if you’re on a budget and still want to keep your household running when the power goes out. In that case you need to carefully monitor which appliances are hooked up to the generator so you don’t overload it when the time comes.

A home fire is one of the most terrifying, disastrous events that can happen to a homeowner. Losing everything is a fear that many of us have. We take steps to insure our family members can escape a home should the unthinkable happen by installing smoke detectors. While it is no secret a home fire can be devastating, some may not be aware of how preventable a home fire truly is. An electrician in Burbank can help you prevent a fire in your home. If you would like to learn more, the team at The Electric Connection can help.

Holiday Lighting

Sadly, at a time when homeowners are trying to be festive, they are putting their homes at risk with holiday lighting. The problem is overloaded circuits can create heat and/or a spark. For those that use real trees, the trees can dry out and become tinder. The smallest spark can set off a fire. Light strands that are in poor condition are another huge risk. Always inspect your lights before stringing them up. If you need to upgrade circuit breakers to accommodate your lighting needs, call a Burbank electrician.

Cooking Fires

Everybody has experienced a stove top fire at least once. Unfortunately, some of those minor fires can quickly turn into huge fires. It is important you practice caution while cooking. Having a smoke detector installed can alert you to any pans that may start smoking, giving you the chance to extinguish a fire before it becomes a big one.

Electrical Wiring

Faulty wiring is a huge issue and is almost always going to end badly. If you suspect your wiring is outdated or possibly substandard, call an electrician. Burbank homeowners can call to have an electrical inspection to identify any potential hazards. This is your chance to head off any issues before they become a major, potentially life-threatening problem.

Call The Electric Connection today and schedule your electrical inspection to give yourself peace of mind about the safety of your home’s wiring.