It may not officially be winter yet, however temperatures have declined to the point that we can no longer deny it is on its way. Over the years, we’ve seen the news about homes and families—even locally—who have been stranded for days with no heat or power because of a widespread outage in relation to winter storms.

Crews work as fast as they can when these scenarios occur to get your home back on track. However, they can only work so quickly, and many times the weather doesn’t cooperate as we hope it will so they can get the power back up quickly. Therefore, homeowners are sometimes left without heat, refrigeration, or the use of any important appliances. That is, at least, if they don’t have an effective and efficient whole-house generator.

Have you ever been stuck in the middle of winter with no working heater? Hopefully, the answer to this is no, and also hopefully you’ll never have to deal with this. A generator is the leading way to reduce the risk of this happening. Remember, a power outage can very easily take out your heating system, leaving you will chilly weather and no defense against it.

Do any members of your household rely on electrically-powered devices for medical conditions? Perhaps it’s an oxygen breather or some other type of machinery. If so, then a generator can literally be a life-saver for them. There’s no reason to wait on a generator installation if you rely on medical equipment.

As intangible a benefit as this is, it’s still an important advantage. Even if you never face a significant power outage this winter or next, you’ll know that you are well-prepared in case one does happen.

There’s certainly a lot to be enjoyed about a Florida winter season. The mild weather, the festivities—it’s all quite nice. But just because the season brings some advantages doesn’t mean you have nothing to be concerned about regarding your home’s electrical! There are some challenges unique to this time of the year, and at Hoffman Electrical, our team is dedicated to ensuring you’re completely prepared.

A recent TedTalk about LED lights has garnered about a million and a half views. That high number isn’t surprising, given that LEDs have been making headlines a lot, lately. Tons of informational articles about the efficiency of LED light bulbs and how to choose them have been circulating online. But this TedTalk is about something quite different – data transmission.

Looking to jazz up your yard for this season’s summer festivities? A little outdoor lighting can go a long way! From fancy patios to tree-lined country yards, the right outdoor lighting can help you meet an array of needs, including illumination that makes tasks easier, sets the mood, and keeps your family and guests safe.

Cooking and entertaining festivities held outside after dark need lighting that is convenient and safe. Practical and economical, wall mounted lights can meet an array of needs, providing focused task lighting for…

Carriage lanterns can help define patio and walkway edges, lighting the path to doors and entryways and illuminating obstacles such as stairs and garden beds.

Parameter lights offer form and function, adding a decorative element, but more importantly, when properly placed at key points in your yard, add guidance to entry and exit points on your property.

Mixed lighting can create a truly magical effect throughout your property. Professional installation can save you time and money, conveniently planning and tapping into preexisting electrical lines.

To easily control brightness levels according to time or mood, you may wish to consider adding dimmers to newly installed or existing outdoor lighting.

Make plants and landscaping pop with LED illuminated planting pots. Far from the average run-of-the-mill flower pot, these amazing lights not only make plants pop, but radiate high level outdoor light, making them an excellent choice for walkways.

Not just for holiday lighting anymore, string lights can add sparkle and mood to any outdoor setting, such as trees, pergolas, arbors, posts, and furniture. They are also very effective when used to line railings, guiding guests along walkways.

From classic outdoor camping lanterns to fun craft finds, suspending lanterns from trees with fishing line can bring romance and magic to outdoor entertaining spaces. Battery operated or real tea lights make illumination a breeze, just be sure to keep candles a safe distance from leaves.

When choosing fixtures and bulbs for outdoor lighting options, consider energy saving LED options, which use up to 85 percent less energy than incandescents and up to 50 percent less energy than fluorescents. Hate changing outdoor bulbs? LEDs last more than 10 years on average - that's 25 times longer than incandescents and 2-5 times longer than fluorescents.

Solar lighting options are also an excellent choice, converting and storing the sun’s energy and coming in a variety of types and uses, including wall-mounted, lamppost, security lights, and lanterns. Be sure to check “nightly run times” on product labeling to ensure you have enough sunlight for operating solar lights in your area. Feeling crafty? Make a few solar decorative lights of your own.

Adding outdoor lighting to your property can be fun if it’s done properly and safely. Some installations may require running underground electrical cables, additional wiring within the walls of your home, the installation of fixtures, proper GFCI outlets, and more. Ensure all outdoor home electrical work is installed properly and safely by a licensed professional, using UL listed, weatherproof, safety compatible materials and devices.

Transform your space and take full advantage of your time outdoors. Contact Mr. Electric® and brighten up your yard with the latest in outdoor lighting today.