“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains taken to bring it to light.”—George Washington

Just in time for President’s Day, exclusive designs from Maxim Lighting and ET2 bring the truth to light with innovative illumination backed by 40 years of quality craftsmanship and service.  Whether you are searching for subdued elegance for the dining room and powder room or plentiful task illumination for the kitchen and office, look to Maxim  lighting fixtures for pure and trustworthy constitution.

Capitol Lighting is proud to present the finest in home lighting and accessories with promotional values on the latest from Maxim Lighting and ET2, including:

Enjoy holiday savings on all Maxim lighting fixtures and ET2 in honor of President’s Day, and take 10% off all kitchen pendants too!

Safety

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 300,000 Americans receive non-fatal electrical shocks every year, and that’s not including the number of electricity-related deaths. Many of those incidents are caused by using outdated outlets. Using older outlets increases your risk of shock as well the chances of your home experiencing power outages and electrical fires. A licensed electrician in Fairfax, VA will protect your family from the dangers associated with outdated outlets, and it’s never too late to make the change.

Energy Efficiency

As with safety, older outlets simply can’t compare to the kind of energy efficiency provided by modern three-prong outlets. Two-prong outlets often need more electricity to power appliances, and they simply weren’t made to handle the demands of today’s high-powered electrical devices. All that extra energy means your energy bills are higher than they need to be. Updating your outlets is an effective way to lower your monthly electric bill and save money in the long run.

Better Compatibility

Good luck plugging your laptop charger or plasma screen TV into your old two-prong outlets. Two-prong outlets are a thing of the past, and most of today’s electrical devices can’t even use them. There’s nothing more annoying than having to search the house for an appropriate outlet or buying adapters every time you need to plug something in. Upgrading your outlets will make your life instantly less complicated.

It is virtually impossible that you don’t face electrical problems around the home from time to time. It could be a tripping breaker or a fused bulb, but sooner or later, there will be an electrical problem that you have to deal with. Now, most homeowners are adept at taking care of the small electrician work, i.e. taping up wires or replacing a blown fuse. However, there are certain situations where calling in a professional electrician is the best course of action. Yet, there are many people who don’t consider this an option, usually till it’s too late and they have no other recourse.

The reason for this hesitation is a few common myths about electrician work doing the rounds. It is true that there are some homeowners who have the requisite knowhow to take care of the electrical stuff around the home, but they are a rare breed. For the average Joe and Jane, it is a good idea to leave the work to a professional electrician service. However, since people tend to believe in the common misconceptions, calling an electrician is not a priority for them. They end up allowing time for the problem to exacerbate, which means greater expense, greater risk, and greater inconvenience

Now, surely you would be wondering what these abovementioned misconceptions are and if you perhaps believe in a few of them. Let’s take a look at some common myths about electrician work and debunk them:

As mentioned above, most people don’t reach out for the phone to call an electrician even when they see there’s a problem which requires an experienced hand. The myth is that they feel an electrical service would charge more if they called them over for an emergency. They instead hope that the problem isn’t major and the impact would be minimal. They wait for the sparking outlet to cool down or the tripping breaker to stop tripping before they consider calling in a professional. What this does is allow the problem to worsen, which means they have to spend more money to get it fixed later on.

Now, compare that cost with the charges of an emergency electrician service and you will see you got the short end of the deal. This is why it is important that you call up a professional electrician without delay and deal with the problem there and then. In fact, you give the electrician a better shot at fixing the problem by calling him in quicker

You might be all for the DIY movement and like doing things around the house but this doesn’t you put your safety at risk by attempting to fix electrical problems you have no idea how to deal with. One wrong move and you could end up causing more harm to the system than the actual problem did. Unless you are absolutely sure you know what to do, don’t ever attempt to fix an electrical problem at home. It would only meaning put your safety at risk. Not only this, you might end up causing damage to appliances or electrical outlets around the house. Just because it looks easy doesn’t mean its easy.

Granted, most homes today incorporate wood as a major building material. And you can probably bet your house on the fact that wood isn’t a good conductor of electricity. However, this doesn’t mean an electrical problem can not cause damage to your wooden flooring or fixtures. Keep in mind that a short circuit is all it takes and the entire room could be on fire. Just because your home is ‘wooden’ from all sides doesn’t mean you keep ignoring electrical faults, even if you have insurance!

This one is perhaps the most common misconception people have about electrician work. They aren’t prepared to listen to what the electrician is telling them about. Just because it’s your home doesn’t mean you know more about the electrical system installed than a professional whose bread and butter is fixing electrical problems. You might have your ideas about how the work should be done but you should trust the professional electrical service you have called in when it comes to electrical work.

These are only a few of the many misconceptions people have about electrician work. It might give you an ego boost to be able to take care of handyman jobs around the house but electrical work is intricate and potentially dangerous. So, it is in your best interests to leave it to the professionals

We all remember how exciting the world was as a kid. Everything was an adventure, whether it was hide-and-seek in the basement, or riding bikes with our neighbors. Everything was within our grasp and we were invincible. For children, the difference between what is safe and what is dangerous is often hard to distinguish, especially when it comes to electrical safety. Often times, outlets look like fun spaces to put small things, electrical boxes are good hiding spots, and power boxes have fun switches. It is important to teach your kids about being safe around electricity, so here’s some tips on how you can start talking about it with your family.

Start Early

When it comes to safety, the earlier the better. When your kids reach an age where communication is easy and they understand what you say, start talking about how to be safe. When you start an early conversation with your kids, they are more likely to retain that information overtime and be able to recognize a dangerous situation the more it is talked about.

Show Them Around

The more your child can associate the world around them with the words you say, the better it will stick in their minds. Take a tour around the house and point out the electrical sockets, the power cords, the electrical panel, and talk about the safety precautions with each. For example, tell them about how it is not safe to put things in the electrical socket, or not to pull on the power cord.

You can also venture outside to talk about electrical boxes, the power lines, or outdoor outlets. By making electrical safety interactive, your kids will have fun while learning how to be safe.

Make the Information Interesting

The internet has so many valuable resources when it comes to fun safety lessons! Watch a Youtube video with your kids or find different activities online. Making lessons interesting could also be as easy as taking a mini fieldtrip around your house!

Whatever your method, ensure that your kids know the dangers of electricity. Electricity is engaging and powerful, but should still be treated as the hazard that it can be.

This post is part of a series designed to help newlyweds get the most out of lighting. Also be sure to check out our post about Click here for the perfect soundtrack for this post, then grab your bags and passports, because we’re taking you on a worldwide tour to find the most exsquisite, romantic lighting around the globe! The following list details some of the best honeymoon destinations in the world that are perfect for lovers of light.

1) Paris, France.

2) Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

3) Alaska, Norway, Greenland… etc.

Basically, anywhere you can see the honeymoon packages that include viewing the northern lights, so you’ve definitely got a lot of options. Bonus: the University of Alaska has an Image via niagarafallslive.com

4)  Niagara Falls, New York, USA.

What’s better than mixing the breathtaking power of North America’s biggest waterfall with the dazzling glow of colored lights? You can enjoy the raw beauty of nature and the fascinating art of a light show at night. Combine that with the rustic charm of upstate New York and the Canadian border towns, and you won’t be disappointed!

5) Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA.

6) Anywhere you can get away from light polution.