It’s never a good idea to use electricity around water; bathroom spaces always have a certain amount of humidity and steam as well as water in them. You may end up using electrical devices such as hair dryers and shavers when you are in this bathroom and the shower and bathtub areas always have some water. These can prove to be an electrocution hazard or a fire hazard and it’s important to be extra careful when you are using any electrical appliances in the bathroom.

We all need water to maintain health and hygiene. However, it’s also an excellent conductor of electricity. This means you can easily experience shock when you are standing in a water puddle and touch an electrical appliance. If your skin in wet, that gives the electricity an easier path and it can pass through your body in an unhindered manner.

That can be extremely dangerous as electrical shock can cause heart arrhythmia, burns and can damage your nervous system and lead to death too. If the grounding is improper or if the wiring is poorly installed, that can start a fire as well. And so, it is crucial to maintain electrical safety when you are in bathroom spaces.

Here are some useful tips to you can follow to avoid an emergency:

If you are renovating or updating your kitchen, one common kitchen addition you might be interested is a garbage disposal unit. This little unit sits in your sink and allows you to shred food that you would not normally fit down the drain. This can be a handy appliance, however it may introduce the threat of electrocution into the environment, as water and electricity don’t mix well. If you are looking at having a garbage disposal unit installed in your sink, have one installed safely.

The garbage disposal unit is installed into your existing sink pipe. In order to power the unit, you will require a 120-volt GCFI (ground-fault circuit interrupter). This means that you will need an outlet under your sink to plugin into. If one is not available you will need to have it installed. Often, other appliances may already heavily load kitchen circuits, it is important to check the load on that circuit before installing a new electrical outlet. If you are not careful, every time you run your garbage disposal you could cause the breaker to trip and lose power to your toaster, microwave, or refrigerator.

At times disposal units may need maintenance, become clogged, or break down for some other reason. To identify the problem you may need to open up the sink or motor to get to the part that you need access to. Before you begin any work, shut down the circuit that the garbage disposal is on and unplug the unit. This will not only keep your fingers safe from the motor activating unexpectedly, but it will also help you avoid an electrical related accident. If you start to take apart the pipes and water begins leaking there is a big risk of electrical shock. If you are not familiar with the plumbing or electrical work of the garbage disposal, leave it to a professional. You may think it is a simple job, but one mistake can be costly.

Before having a new garbage disposal installed, inspect your sink and pipes for any leaks. If these leaks make contact with exposed electrical wires or outlets there is risk of electrical shock. If you are not familiar with the plumbing or electrical work involved in installing a garbage disposal unit, call an expert. Our licenced electricians can ensure that your kitchen circuit can handle the unit and install a new electrical outlet.

Bring a bit of Henri Bendel’s “Hirschfeld Spectacular” into your home this holiday season. Join in the fun and enter Capitol Lighting’s Chandelier sweepstakes, and you could be the lucky winner of the magnificent Swarovski chandelier that is currently being featured in the holiday window display at Henri Bendel’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City!

Crystorama provides the lighting; Swarovski showcases the Elements; Henri Bendel creates the most dazzling holiday window displays; and Capitol Lighting presents the opportunity for a lucky winner to bring it all home for the holidays!

A lighting industry leader, Crystorama has teamed up with Swarovski to provide 16 chandeliers for the famed Henri Bendel holiday window display on Fifth Avenue. This year’s display, the “Hirschfeld Spectacular,” honors the late Al Hirschfeld, an American caricaturist best known for his black and white portraits of celebrities and Broadway stars.  

Adding to the enchantment—Crystorama and Capitol Lighting/1800lighting.com are hosting a holiday sweepstakes for a Crystorama chandelier featuring Swarovski Elements.

Hirschfeld Spectacular at Henri Bendel  

The main window of the Henri Bendel flagship store has been transformed into the formal dining room of a classic New York townhouse in the midst of a holiday party.  The celebrated party guests-all Al Hirschfeld’s line drawings translated into three-dimensions—include: Carol Channing, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Jessica Parker, Liza Minelli, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Bernadette Peters, and Woody Allen.

At the center of the window hangs a large gold-plated Crystorama chandelier sparkling with Swarovski Elements.   The centerpiece of the atrium is Henri Bendel’s iconic two-story tree, covered in malachite.  Atop the tree is Al Hirschfeld’s Charlie Chaplin, also sculpted in three-dimensions, looking down at all who enter the store.

Fifteen Crystorama chandeliers with Swarovski Elements adorn the tree’s many branches.

The display will be up through January 2, 2014 and can be seen at the Henri Bendel flagship store located at 712  5th Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019.

Chandelier Sweepstakes with Capitol Lighting

During Capitol Lighting’s “12 Days of Giving” social media campaign, the grand prizewinner will receive a Crystorama chandelier from the Maria Theresa Collection featuring Swarovski Elements.

Capitol Lighting will be announcing the contest on its Facebook page on December 12 with a photo featuring the chandelier prize. To enter, fans must “like” both the Crystorama and Capitol Lighting Facebook pages and “share” the announcement photo from Capitol Lighting on their own page and tag both companies; the winner will be announced on December 20, 2013.

  About Swarovski

Swarovski delivers a diverse product portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, Swarovski Crystal Business is famous for natural and created gemstones, fine jewelry and accessories, and dazzling light fixtures.

Now run by the fifth generation of family members, Swarovski Crystal Business has a global reach, with over 2 350 stores in about 170 countries, 25,135 employees and revenues of 2.38 billion Euros in 2012. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasive), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group.

About Henri Bendel

Famous for his signature brown and white striped hatboxes and shopping bags, Henri Bendel became the first retailer with an upper Fifth Avenue storefront.  Henri Bendel continues to excite as a  “ A Girl’s Playground,” offering amazing gifts for the holidays and showcasing Crystorama and Capitol Lighting’s chandelier sweepstakes.

Henri Bendel, the “fearless innovator,” was a true pioneer in the world of women’s fashion.  He opened his first shop in Greenwich Village in 1895, supplying the city’s elite clientele with the peak of luxury.

The original townhouse façade of the Bendel Fifth Avenue building, including the Lalique art glass windows, has endured for over 100 years.  Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis petitioned the city of New York to grant the Henri Bendel Fifth Avenue store official landmark status in 1991.

About Capitol Lighting and 1-800Lighting.com

For more than 89 years, the lighting experts at the award-winning Capitol Lighting/ 1800lighting.com have helped customers find the perfect lighting fixtures and decorative accessories.   Capitol Lighting showrooms and their website 1-800LIGHTING.com satisfy all lighting needs, from contemporary wall sconces and traditional crystal chandeliers to table lamps, outdoor light fixtures and energy-efficient lighting – all at the guaranteed lowest prices.

For more information, visit Capitol Lighting, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.   Join in the celebration with Capitol Lighting during their “month long” social media event December 2-20. Enter the sweepstakes to be a contender for the Grand Prize.

One lucky winner is entitled to part of Henri Bendel’s “Hirschfeld Spectacular”:  Crystorama’s Swarovski Maria Theresa chandelier is the final prize and give-a-way for Capitol Lighting’s  holiday sweepstakes!  Like them on Facebook and be a contender.