Informational

Are LED Lights Safe?

by admin · Sep 1, 2023

How LED Lights Might Be Unexpectedly Affecting Your Health

LED light bulbs are touted as the latest and greatest thing in the lighting world, and for good reason! They’re brighter, more efficient, and more colorful than lightbulbs of the past. But are they safe?

LED technology is still relatively new, so scientists and health professionals are still studying the impact LED light has on our health. So far the results are a mixed bag, with some good news and some bad news.

If you’re one of the many homeowners that filled your house with LED bulbs to save on energy bills, you might be wondering who to listen to and how concerned you should be. So, before you go through your house with a ladder and a trash can, stick around and we’ll break down what we know so far.

The Basics

Before we can get into the side effects of LED lights, we need to cover a couple of lighting basics.

Light travels in wavelengths, and the length of the light wave changes its visible color. While infrared and UV light are invisible, the wavelengths in between can be seen by the human eye.

LED lightbulbs come in light colors all along this visible spectrum, and we use Kelvins to measure their “warmth”. Warm lights give off a yellow glow that feels cozy and relaxing. On the other end of the spectrum, cool lights give off a blue light that feels crisp and energizing.

Blue Light Health Risks

You may be asking yourself, what does this have to do with my health? As it turns out, the color of the LED light changes how it affects your body. Red and Near-Infrared (NIR) light is thought to stimulate repair and regeneration in our bodies. Blue light is a little more complicated.

Blue LED light (also called cool white) mimics daylight, which makes it popular in spaces like offices where you need to stay alert, and kitchens where bright lighting is important for safety. But some scientists are raising concerns about the side effects of prolonged or intense exposure to this blue light, and have linked it to sleep disorders, migraines, eye damage, and even breast cancer.

The research is still new and ongoing, so it can be hard to find answers. We’ve put together an overview of the current health risks associated with LED light so that you can see it all in one place and decide for yourself what you want to do.

LED Lights and Sleep

If you find yourself getting tired around the same time every day, it’s by design. When it gets dark outside, our bodies start to produce melatonin, which helps us to relax and drift off to sleep. This process is part of a cycle called the “circadian rhythm”.

When our circadian rhythm gets thrown off, it can cause all sorts of health issues including diabetes and heart disease. The WHO even classified night shift work as a probable carcinogen in 2007 due to the disruption of shift workers’ circadian rhythms.

Blue LED light can have a devastating effect on our circadian rhythms too. A Harvard study found that exposure to blue light reduces melatonin production for as long as 3 hours. Without the melatonin to trigger sleep, people exposed to blue light have a harder time getting to sleep at night.

This blue light can come from any blue LED light, including your interior lights, your TV, and your cell phone or computer screen. So if you’re having a hard time getting to sleep at night, try unplugging a couple of hours before bed. Turn off your devices, and only use warm interior lights when possible.

LED Lights and Eye Damage

LED computer monitors emit blue light that can strain your eyes with extended use. (This happens with LCD monitors as well.) If you find your eyes feeling tired after a day at the office, there’s an easy solution recommended by the AAO that may help: The 20-20-20 Rule. “Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds” to help prevent eye strain.

It’s also possible that blue LED lights could be causing permanent damage to your eyes. In 2019, a French study showed “show short-term phototoxic effects” in the eye with short exposure to blue LED light. Even more concerning was that they discovered long-term damage in eyes that had regular exposure to blue light.

This eye damage can increase the risk of developing macular degeneration, which is a progressive loss of vision over time. If you have a family history of macular degeneration, it might be a good idea for you to ask your doctor about limiting your exposure to blue LED light. In the meantime, you can swap out your cool LEDs for soft white, and look into buying some blue-light-filtering specialty lenses.

There was some good news too- they found that this damage seems to be limited to just blue LED light. Warmer, soft white LED lights appeared to be just as safe as other traditional light bulbs.

LED Lights and Migraines

Exposure to artificial lights is linked to higher rates of headache and migraine symptoms. We still don’t know exactly why, but researchers have a few ideas.

One theory is that flickering is to blame. If you’ve ever worked in an office with fluorescent lights, you’ve probably experienced at least one headache because of the fluctuation in the light they emit.

Scientific American conducted a study where they looked at workers in offices with flickering fluorescent lights and workers in offices with non-flickering lights. They found that office workers working under flickering lights were twice as likely to experience headaches than their counterparts.

We haven’t seen any studies like this done yet for LED lights, but there are some possible repercussions for migraine sufferers. LED lights also flicker, although it’s too fast for us to perceive it. This could mean that they are a better option for migraine sufferers. On the other hand, fluorescent bulbs dim 35% when flickering, and LED lights dim all the way to 100%. It’s possible that the bigger change in light levels when flickering could make LEDs even more likely to cause headaches. It’s important to pay attention to the types of light you’re exposed to before a migraine to find out what your triggers are.

Another theory about light and headaches is that the intensity of LED lights can be a migraine trigger. Dimmable LED lights could be a solution for migraine sufferers who find the lights in their home to be too bright.

Although research linking LED lights to migraines is still pretty hard to come by, you’ll see more information in the near future. One clinical trial is testing green LED light, as it appears to reduce migraine symptoms.

LED Lights and Cancer Research

In 2018, researchers in Spain discovered a link between exposure to outdoor blue light at night and certain types of cancers. They found that participants with a high estimated exposure to blue light outside at night had a 60% higher risk for developing breast or prostate cancer.

It’s important to note that this study only looked at the effects of high levels of exposure to outdoor blue light at night. They did not study the more typical blue light given off by indoor lights or device screens.

While this may sound alarming, it’s still too early to raise red flags just yet. This research is brand new and unproven outside of this single study. If you’re concerned, the best thing to do for now is to limit the time you spend outside under artificial lights, and to close your curtains or blinds at night if you have a blue LED streetlight nearby.

It’s Not All Bad News

LEDs have only been around since the 1960s, and blue LED lights weren’t developed until the 1990s, so there’s still a lot to learn about them! We’re learning that blue LED light may have some unexpected negative side effects, but that doesn’t mean that all LED light is bad.

LED Light Therapy is a new field that uses LED lights to treat conditions and heal wounds. LEDs lights can improve skincare, help with mood disorders, and have the potential to do more!

LED Light Therapy and Seasonal Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that affects an estimated 10 million Americans. As the days get shorter and sunlight is harder to find, many people find that their mood starts drop and seasonal depression sets in.

One of the ways doctors treat this is with LED light therapy boxes. These super-bright boxes of light have rows of LED lights that researchers believe cause a chemical change in the brain that lifts your mood when you sit in front of them for 20-30 minutes a day. For a light therapy box to be effective, it needs to be rated at 10,000 lux or higher, so be careful to avoid cheap knock-offs when shopping for them online.

If you find yourself struggling in the winter months, make sure you talk to your doctor. Light therapy boxes are only one part of an effective treatment plan for SAD, and they don’t work for everyone. You don’t have to struggle through the winter months.

LED Light Therapy and Skincare

In the 1990s U.S. Navy SEALs started developing LED light therapy technology to help heal wounds more quickly. Once it was proven effective, doctors and aestheticians started using LED lights in skincare.

Red LED lights are used to reduce the appearance of acne, wrinkle and age spots. It’s thought to reduce inflammation and stimulate collagen, which causes skin to appear more smooth.

Blue LED lights are used to treat surface and cystic acne. It’s believed to make oil glands less active, and kill bacteria beneath the skin.

So, are LED lights bad for you?

LED lights as a whole are very safe, but you do need to be careful about how you use them.

Use soft white lights where you can in your home, especially in your bedroom. It’s still okay to use blue LED lights (often called Daylight bulbs) in your home, especially in places where you need to work, like an office or kitchen. Just keep in mind that these blue lights can affect your sleep, so steer clear of them in the late evening hours.

If you’re prone to headaches or migraines, pay attention to the lighting you’ve been exposed to. If you notice a pattern, changing out your lightbulbs could be an easy fix! Consider getting blue-light-filtering glasses to help protect your eyes if you work in front of a computer screen all day. Just like taking a multivitamin every day can help keep us healthy, small precautionary measures against harmful light sources may make a big difference.

TL;DR – LED Lights and Your Health

Risks	Benefits	Mixed Bag
Sleep – Exposure to blue LED light before bed can disrupt your circadian rhythm. You should limit blue light exposure for a few hours before bed. Eyes – Blue LED light can damage your eyes. Blue light filtering glasses are recommended for people that work in front of a computer monitor all day. Cancer – The link between LED light and cancer is still being studied. Some researchers believe it increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer, but more research needs to be done.	Seasonal Depression – LED light therapy boxes can help some people that suffer from seasonal depression, although they are just one part of an effective treatment plan. Please talk with your doctor if you think you may have SAD. Skincare – LED light therapy can help speed up the healing process. Red LED lights help reduce the appearance of acne, wrinkle and age spots. Blue LED lights are used to treat surface and cystic acne.	Migraines – Flickering lights can trigger migraines for some people. LED lights flicker significantly less than fluorescent lights, so some migraine sufferers will benefit from replacing CFL bulbs with LED. LED lights are also very intense, which could also be a migraine trigger. Most LED bulbs are dimmable, so this could help to mitigate the intensity for migraine sufferers. If you suffer from migraines, you should pay attention to your light exposure to look for trigger patterns.

LED bulbs are energy efficient, bright, and widely available, but they’re still considered “new” in the lighting industry. It’s always a good idea to keep an ear to the ground for future breakthroughs and discoveries.

If you have any questions about how to use LED bulbs in your home, or how to choose the right light bulb for your space, our lighting experts are ready to answer your questions. Give us a call or drop in and see us at our showroom!

The information in this article is compiled from several sources and studies. Research into the effects of LED lights on your health is ongoing and subject to change as new information is found. If you have any concerns about your health and its relation to LED lighting, please consult a licensed medical expert.

A Beginner’s Guide to Light Bulbs

by admin · Jun 16, 2023

Everything You Need to Know to Choose the Right Light Bulb for Your Home

Imagine this: you look up, and notice that your ceiling light has a burnt-out bulb. You check the closet and realize you’re out of replacements. So you go to the store and realize there’s an entire aisle full of light bulbs in different boxes with different names and shapes and ratings. This was supposed to be a simple trip, but now you have to start googling. Sound familiar?

It looks like a lot of technical jargon, and it kind of is, but don’t worry. We’ve put together the things you actually need to know, so that you can skip past the shopping nightmare and get right to the bulb you need.

Light Bulb Types

Incandescent

Incandescent bulbs are the original light bulb. They give off light by sending electricity through a thin filament, which glows when it heats up. They emit a warm yellow light and are dimmable. These bulbs are easy to find and are typically the least expensive option. Incandescent bulbs last for around a year, which is longer than halogen bulbs, but shorter than CFL and LED bulbs.

Incandescent bulbs are the least energy-efficient bulb on our list, which has landed them on the blacklist of environmentalist legislation in several countries over the last 15 years, including China and the United States.

Halogen

This bulb has the shortest lifespan of the four. They emit a light very similar to incandescent bulbs, and they cost a little bit more because they are much more efficient. They do have a drawback- they heat up very quickly, so they need to be kept away from combustible materials. Use gloves when you handle these bulbs, as the oil from your hands can make them explode when they get hot.

CFL

Short for Compact Fluorescent Lamp, CFLs are energy-saving bulbs that come in a wide range of colors. They last longer than incandescent bulbs and are less expensive than LED lights, so they can be a good choice for large rooms. It’s important to note that they usually take time to warm up and get to full brightness, and they produce a lot of heat. They contain mercury, so handle and dispose of them with care.

LED

LED bulbs are the latest technology in the light bulb industry. Despite being the most expensive option of the four, they’re wildly popular for a number of reasons. They can last up to 50,000 hours, which means they hardly ever need to be replaced. To put that in perspective, if you left an LED bulb on for 12 hours a day, every day of the week, it would last for 11 years! They also produce so little heat they are cool to the touch even after hours of running. This makes them a very safe option when it comes to lighting your home.

LED bulbs are the holy grail of customizable lighting. They are dimmable, come in a wide variety of colors (some can even change hues), and come in outdoor-rated varieties. Many use smart technology, so they can be linked to your Google Home or Alexa. LED bulbs are a great option anywhere in your home, but we especially recommend them for hard-to-reach fixtures that you don’t want to change very often.

Light Bulb Glossary Terms

Base: The portion of the light bulb that connects the bulb itself to the light fixture is called the base. Light bulb bases come in several sizes, so be sure to check your old bulb. Most household light bulbs have a base with a letter-number combination such as E12. The letter represents the base shape (in this case, Edison), and the number represents the width of the base, usually in millimeters.

Watts: This is a measurement of power, representing the energy transfer of the bulb. A 60 watt lightbulb “consumes” 60 joules of energy per second. Energy efficient light bulbs can produce the same amount of light using fewer watts, so they cost less money to run.

Lumens: This is a measurement of light, representing how much light is being emitted per second. Light bulbs with high lumen ratings give off more light.

CRI: This acronym stands for “Color Rendering Index.” Colors appear differently under different lighting conditions, so the CRI score tells you how well a light bulb will show you the true colors of objects. Bulbs are rated from 0-100, with 0 meaning all colors will appear the same and 100 meaning that all colors will be true. A bulb with a CRI above 80 is good, and 90 is great. Incandescent and halogen bulbs have a CRI of 100. This rating has nothing to do with light temperature.

Color Temperature: This is a measurement of light color from cool to warm, measured in Kelvin (K). Bulbs around 2000 K will give off a warm red light. Around 5000 K, bulbs give off light that mimics mid-day sunlight. Over 6000 K bulbs give off a cool blue light. Warm light is relaxing, so it’s great in bedrooms and living rooms. Cool light is energizing, so it’s perfect for kitchens and offices.

Energy Star Rating: This rating label was developed by the EPA, and is given to bulbs that “contribute significant energy savings.” If your bulb has the Energy Star logo on its packaging, it means that it will be more efficient in its energy consumption, which saves you money in the long run.

If you’re stuck in the store unsure what to buy, or if you’ve lost track of your browser tabs and you still don’t know if the bulb in your cart is right, we’ve got you covered. Give our experts a call or stop by our showroom and we’ll be happy to walk you through getting the perfect bulb.

3 Light Bulb Mistakes Everyone Makes And How To Avoid Them

by admin · Jun 2, 2023

Using the wrong light bulb can really make your space feel all wrong. If your room feels dark and dingy or, the opposite, harsh and cold, your light bulb may be the culprit.

Before you buy another bulb, make sure you’re not making one of these common mistakes in your home!

Light Bulb Mistake #1
Using the Wrong Wattage

Watts refer to the amount of energy a light bulb uses. The lower the wattage, the less electricity a bulb needs to stay lit. Energy-efficient light bulbs can give off the same amount of light using fewer watts, which saves you money on your power bill!

Every light fixture has its own wattage requirements, so you’ll need to do a little sleuthing to find out what your fixture requires.

There should be a sticker or label with the wattage limit clearly printed on it, although you might need to unscrew one of your existing light bulbs and look near the threads to find it. If you can’t find the wattage limit on your fixture, give us a call and we can help you out!

Most light fixtures have an individual bulb wattage limit (typically 45W or 60W), but there are some that have an overall limit for the entire fixture instead. For these you’ll need to add the watts together for each bulb to make sure you’re under the safety limit.

It’s okay to use bulbs with lower watts than what your fixture calls for to save on your energy bill, but never go higher. Exceeding the wattage limit on a fixture could start a fire!

Light Bulb Mistake #2
Ignoring the Lumen Rating

A light bulb’s lumen rating will tell you how bright it is. The higher the lumen rating, the brighter it will appear. When it comes to lighting your home, different rooms need different levels of light. Work spaces need lots of light, so choosing bulbs with a high lumen rating is a great way to brighten your kitchen if it’s feeling dim. Other spaces like bedrooms and hallways don’t need to be as bright, so it’s okay to opt for bulbs with a lower lumen rating.

There isn’t an exact formula that will tell you how lumens you need in a room, because it depends on your use and design of the space. You’ll need more lumens in work spaces like kitchens and offices, and less in bedrooms. If your design aesthetic is bright and airy or dark and moody, you’ll need to take that into account when planning your lighting.

A good rule of thumb to get you started is 20 lumens per square foot for floors, 30 lumens per square foot for tables, and 50 lumens per square foot for desks, countertops, and task lighting.

How does this work when you have more than one light bulb in the room? Do lumens cancel each other out or add up? The short answer is: lumens are cumulative. In a room full of furniture, light bounces around enough that the lumens don’t directly add up, and the more bulbs you use the less precise it gets.

When you’re figuring out what you need in your home, it is 100% okay to add the lumens for each bulb in your room together to get a rough idea of what your space will need. You’ll probably end up adjusting it here and there as seasons change, when you repaint your walls, or if your use of the room changes. If your room has a lot of uses- consider getting bulbs that are dimmable so that you can change the light levels depending on what you’re doing!

Light Bulb Mistake #3
Buying the Wrong Color

If you didn’t know that light bulbs came in different color hues, now’s the time to learn! Light bulbs come in a wide range of light “temperatures”, measured in Kelvins (K). The temperature of the light you use in your room will dramatically change the way the room feels.

Warm (2,000K – 3500K)

Wam light bulbs give a room a soft, cozy, and intimate feel with an orange or yellow hue. Outside, you see this type of light during sunrises and sunsets. Inside, it’s often associated with vintage light bulbs, like Edison bulbs, or incandescent light bulbs. It’s great for places like the living room, bedroom, and dining room.

Cool/Natural (3500K – 5000K)

Cool or “Natural” light bulbs give off a truer white color that gives a room a clean, crisp, and inviting feel. This light is more like the light you’d see in the mornings and afternoons outdoors. It’s great for bathrooms, closets, and offices.

Daylight light bulbs (5000K – 6200K)

Daylight light bulbs give off a light that’s close to what you’d see at noon outside on a sunny day. Daylight light makes a room feel even more clean and crisp than natural light, but it can come off a little harsh if you’re not careful. It’s a great choice for lighting work spaces like kitchens and garages, and for task lighting, like a reading lamp.

Blue (6200K+)

After 6200K light starts to look blue, so that bulbs in this color aren’t typically used in homes. There are some exceptions: some artists prefer to work under this light, and people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may find blue light beneficial in the winter months.

Bonus Mistake #4:
Just Living With It

If the lighting just doesn’t feel right in your room, you don’t have to live with it! Too dark and depressing? Add lumens! If your clean room still feels dingy, it could be that you need cooler bulbs… or if your room feels stark and cold, you can warm up your bulbs to make it feel more inviting. And always double-check your wattage before you buy! With the right wattage, lumens, and temperature, you’ll be surprised at how much better your lighting can work for you.

We know what a big deal it is to make your house feel exactly the way you want it to. Don’t let your lighting hold you back! If you have any questions about how to find the right light bulbs for your space, give our experts a call and we’ll help you find exactly what you need!

Lighting Your Home: A Beginner’s Guide to Light Fixtures

by admin · Apr 21, 2023

It’s easy to tell which light fixtures you love when you’re scrolling through designer home pictures on your phone. But when it comes to finding a light for your own home, the little details and product specs can almost feel like they’re written in a foreign language. What’s an accent light? Is that a pendant or a chandelier? What is that light called? I don’t know what to search for!

If this sounds familiar, we have good news: we’ve done all the research for you! Put down your search engine, and bookmark this page. This light fixtures cheat sheet has everything you need to know to get started lighting your home, your way.

Lighting Basics

Not all light sources are created equal! Before you dive into pendants and sconces, you need to know the three basic types of lighting.

Ambient Lighting: The primary source of light in a room, also called “general lighting”.

Example: A ceiling fixture provides ambient light, meaning it lights the whole room. If your whole room is too bright or too dark, addressing the ambient light should be your first step.

Accent Lighting: Supplemental lights used to light dark corners or to highlight a room’s focal point.

Example: A floor lamp added to a dark corner gives the room more even light. A wall sconce or track lighting highlighting a fireplace or bookshelf makes it a focal point in the room.

Task Lighting: Specific lighting designed to make doing a certain task easier.

Example: Any light that is used to complete a task fits here. At home, this includes things like a reading lamp, a utility light over a garage workbench, under-cabinet lights above the kitchen counter, and desk lamps.

Before you even start looking at light fixtures, take a look at your space. Turn on the lights in your room during the day and again at night. Look for the places where the light is too bright or too dim. Then, determine which type of lighting you need to use to fix those places.

Light Layering

We know it’s tempting to just install that fancy ceiling fixture you found on sale and call it a day, but your room just won’t feel right if you’re only considering one light source.

What is Light Layering?

Light layering is the practice of combining different types of lighting to create a mood. It’s an important part of your home design! Layered light sources, like a ceiling fixture and a floor lamp, work together to fill in dark corners and highlight a room’s best features, giving it the perfect ambiance.

Expert designers spend hours on this to get it just right, but you don’t have to dive that deep. Just make sure you have a combination of ambient, accent, and task lighting in your space and you’ll be on your way to a balanced design. Remember, natural light counts as a light source too!

Light layers done right will smoothly transition a room through the day. They can transform a living room from a bright, daytime work area to a warm, cozy entertaining space with just a few well-placed fixtures.

Smart Home Lighting

Smart technology makes light layering easier than it’s ever been! Smart bulbs and plugs make it so that you can turn on any light in the house from one place. You can set up different lighting profiles for things like work, dinner, and movie nights. You can even put your lights on a schedule so that they follow you through your day without any button pushing.

When you’re ready to start shopping for light fixtures, look for ways you can mix it up with new light sources. Choose light fixtures that work together to create the perfect ambiance and layer your room with light.

Light Fixtures

Light fixtures come in a huge variety of shapes, colors, and styles. It’s easy to get lost in the lingo, so here’s a quick breakdown:

Pendants

These lights are suspended from the ceiling and shine light downwards. They’re typically used as task lighting over kitchen bars and tables, or in the bedroom to replace bedside table lamps. They also are a great choice for accent lighting that makes a statement. You might need an electrician to install them for you if you don’t already have wiring in your ceiling.

Flush Mounts

These lights are mounted directly to the ceiling, with no hanging bar. The top of this light sits flush with the ceiling, giving it its name. Flush mount lights are one of the most common types of ambient lighting. They come in many varieties and sizes, so you’ll need to check to make sure it will provide enough light for your space.

Sconces

Sconces are mounted to the wall instead of the ceiling. Some cast light directionally along the wall, shining up, down, or to the side. Other sconces broadcast light in all directions. These lights are used for both accent and task lighting. Sconces can be installed almost anywhere, but they’re most commonly used as vanity lighting above a bathroom mirror, or as exterior lights on homes and businesses.

Lamps

Lamps are freestanding light fixtures that typically need to be plugged into an outlet. They can be used for ambient, accent, and task lighting, and they’re easy to move around a space. This versatility makes them one of the most DIY-friendly lighting upgrades! Desk lamps are used as task lighting for things like writing at a desk or reading a sheet of music. Table lamps are used as accent lighting, usually placed on an end table. Floor lamps are the largest, typically 58” – 64” tall, and can be used as any type of lighting, depending on its location, style, and brightness.

Chandeliers

These lights are the showstoppers of the lighting world. They are suspended from the ceiling and are usually a focal point of a room’s design. Chandeliers emit light upwards to reflect ambient light around a room. They’re most often found in entryways and over dining tables, but they can be added to any space to add an elevated sense of style.

Ceiling Fans

This fixture is designed with airflow in mind. Ceiling fans can come with or without a light kit, so you can decide what’s right for your space. With a light kit, they provide ambient light in a room. They come in different sizes to accommodate different room sizes, so you’ll need to measure your room before you start shopping.

Track Lights

Track lighting is a unique type of lighting with an industrial feel and a flexible format. It’s made up of two parts: a long track attached to the ceiling, and lights attached to the track. The light heads can be moved to any position on the track, and tilted to point in any direction. Track lighting works well as accent or task lighting to highlight artwork or to illuminate a work surface. It’s also used as ambient lighting in some modern minimalist spaces.

Recessed Lights

Also called can lights, recessed lights are mounted inside the ceiling for a seamless, streamlined look. Recessed lights are often installed in large rooms to increase the ambient light without drawing attention away from the main light fixture. Some are directional and can be pointed towards a feature wall or workspace for accent or task light. They’re also very popular in basements with low ceilings, because they provide light without hanging down into the room.

Under-Cabinet Lights

This type of lighting is designed to be invisible. It comes in a wide variety of styles, from battery-powered stick-on lights to hardwired LED light strips. They’re installed on the underside of a kitchen cabinet, out of view, to provide task lighting for cooking. Alternatively, you can install them on the toe kick of lower cabinets to light the edges of your floor.

You’ve got this handled. Now you’re ready to go and make your space brighter and better!

We wish you the best and brightest of luck with your next lighting project! If we didn’t cover your question here, or if you need any help picking out a fixture that’s just right for you, don’t be afraid to give Armstrong's Lighting a call! We’ve got you covered.

How to Safely Install a Ceiling Fan

by admin · Feb 23, 2023

Installing a new ceiling fan is a cheap way to save on energy costs all year without compromising on comfort. In the summer, ceiling fans cool down the house by creating a breeze. In the winter, they help circulate the heated air to warm the whole room evenly.

Putting in a ceiling fan is a win-win for your comfort levels and your budget – and it’s a pretty simple DIY project for homeowners. Plan on giving yourself a few hours (depending on the type of fan and your experience level with lighting DIYs), and grab a friend that can help you hold things in place while you work.

If you’re buying a ceiling fan new, it should come with thorough installation instructions. We always recommend following those instructions exactly to be sure that your fan is installed safely and properly. If you’re installing a secondhand fan, you may be able to find the installation guide online by searching with the model number on the fan. Either way, we’ll walk you through the basic steps here so that you can prepare.

1. Preparation

Before you break out your tool belt, make sure you have a good plan in place. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of a project and realizing you don’t have everything you need to complete the task.

Tool Checklist

Before you take on a ceiling fan installation project, make sure you have all the tools you need so you don’t have to rush off to your local hardware store for a last-minute purchase. To install a ceiling fan you’ll need to have a:

Voltage Tester
Ladder
Measuring Tape
Screwdriver
Ceiling Fan-Rated Junction Box
Fan Brace
Wire-Cutter/Stripper
Light Bulbs
Globes/Shades if they aren’t included
An extra-long downrod if you’re installing on a sloped ceiling
Ceiling Fan and Kit

Choosing the Right Fan Size

Measure the room you’re working in before you start. Not all fans are created equal, so pick one that will fit. Use the following guidelines to help.

For rooms smaller than 75 square feet (like bathrooms), pick a fan with blade spans of less than 36 inches.
Blade spans between 36 and 42 inches are ideal for rooms up to 144 square feet.
A 44-inch span is perfect for rooms up to 225 square feet, like a dining room.
For rooms that are 225 square feet or larger (a large living room, for example), you’ll need a fan with a 50 to 54-inch blade span.
The more space between the ceiling and the fan, the better! The ideal ceiling fan height is 8-9 feet above the ground.
If your ceiling is less than 8 feet, you’ll most likely need to install a flush-mount fan (no downrod).
High pitched ceilings typically require you to buy an extra-long downrod (so that the blades won’t hit the sloped ceiling), so check your ceiling height and angle before choosing your downrod.

Pro Tip: Once your fan is installed, the tips of the blades should be at least 30 inches from the walls, and the bottom edges of the blades should be at least 7 feet above the floor.

Other Important Tips

Ceiling fans are heavy! They need to be anchored properly to an electric ceiling box designed to hold the weight of the fan. Inspect the electrical box to ensure it’s fan-rated. There should be an inscription on the box to indicate this. If it’s not, you’ll also need to purchase a fan box before you get started.
Check to make sure the light switch you’re using is wired appropriately for the fan. If it isn’t, you may need to call a professional to get the job done.
Check the ceiling joists for any wiring or plumbing pipes that may be in the way.
If you’re adding a new fan where one didn’t exist, check local building codes to determine if you need a permit.
Always check your installation guide for any additional requirements that are specific to your fan. For some expert help choosing the perfect fan for your space, give us a visit or a call and we’d be happy to help.

2. Safety

Now that you’re ready to begin, head out to your circuit breaker and turn the power off for the room where you’ll be installing your fan. Also, make sure all of the wall switches in the room are safely in the “off” position. Do not rely on a wall switch alone to protect you from electrical shock! Always use a voltage tester to be sure the power is off before handling wires.

Pro Tip: Place some electrical tape over the switches you’ve turned off on the circuit breaker. This will prevent anyone from switching it back on while you’re working.

3. Remove Your Old Fixture

Let’s get started! First, you’ll need to take down the existing fixture. Most fixtures have easy-to-find attachment points, like screws or twist-off caps. Remove accessories like light bulbs, shades to get down to the base of your fixture, then unscrew the base from the ceiling.

If you’re removing an existing ceiling fan, remove the light bulbs and globes first. Then, take down the light kit (if needed – some fans have them, some don’t). Unscrew and remove the fan blades next. At this point, you may need to enlist a helper as the full weight of the fan base and motor can be heavy. Pull off the canopy (metal cover at the base of the fan). The last step is to remove the mounting bracket with a screwdriver!

Once you have the base of your fixture dropped away from the ceiling, unscrew the wire nuts connecting it to the electrical box. Be sure to test the wires with your voltage tester first!

4. Install a Fan Box

Before you start, check your existing electrical box. If it isn’t rated to support the weight of your fan, you’ll need to install a new one. To see if your existing box is rated to hold a fan, just take a look at the label! If you can’t find a label, err on the side of caution and get a new one.

You’ll have to do a little bit of homework here to figure out what will work best for your project. Fan boxes are easiest to install if you have open access, like in the attic or an unfinished ceiling. If you won’t have easy access you may need to widen your drywall hole a little, but you can usually find a brace that will slip through the existing hole.

Take a look at your rafters to determine the best way to install your fan box. Fan boxes can be attached directly to the rafter with a side bracket. If your new fan won’t be right next to a rafter, look for a brace that will span the space between two rafters. These braces can be a little trickier to install through a small hole in the ceiling, but they’ll give you a lot more breathing room when it comes to getting your fan box in the right place.

5. Install the Mounting Bracket

To secure the mounting bracket to the fan box, start by threading the wires through the mounting bracket. If the fan has a slide-on bracket, leave the bolts on the junction box, slide the bracket over the mounting hardware, and tighten the screws. For fans without a slide-on bracket, place the bracket over the mounting bolts that poke through the bracket. Then, secure it using the provided nuts. If your fan is a flush mount, pull the wiring through the canopy (the part that covers the wiring/mount bracket) and skip to step 7.

6. Install the Downrod

To set the downrod, you’ll want to find a flat work surface. Slip the canopy onto the downrod and pull the primary wires through the hollow downrod. Then, connect the downrod to the fan base. With the downrod and base assembled, attach the other end of the downrod to the mounting bracket.

7. Wire the Fan

Next, it’s time to wire! Hang the downrod – or canopy, if you’re installing a flush mount fan – on the hook on the mounting bracket. If there isn’t a good place to hang it, phone a friend to hold the fan up for you to free up your hands while you connect the wires.

Before you start, check to make sure all your wiring (and the wire nuts) will fit in the ceiling. Use your wire cutters to trim down any wires that won’t. This will also keep them from vibrating against the canopy when the fan is on. Use wire strippers to expose the copper of the wires on the new ends.

Connect the corresponding wires using the provided wire nuts. Your installation guide will have a diagram to follow, but, generally speaking, the fan’s green wire connects to the ground wire, the fan’s black motor wire connects to the black supply wire, and the fan’s white wire connects to the white (or neutral) supply wire.

Double-check your work against the diagram, then gently push the wires into the junction box. Lift the fan into position, then clip it to the mounting bracket and secure the screws.

Pro Tip: Some fans come with additional wires for extra features, like having a separate switch for the light and fan. If your switches or wires don’t match the diagram, you might need to check in with an electrician or a lighting specialist at our showroom to help you get things set up correctly.

8. Blades and Bulbs

Now it’s time to install the fan blades. Every fan is a little bit different – but most fans will have an arm or bracket that you’ll need to attach to the blade and then to the base using a screwdriver. Some fans have quick-install blades that speed up the process using keyhole slots that slip over the fan’s mounting screws and lock into place with a little tug.

Some fans have reversible blades – so make sure you’re checking each time that you have the correct side pointed down!

By now, you should be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel – so let’s install the bulbs! For fans with a light kit, refer to your guide to ensure everything goes in place correctly. Generally, you’ll just need to install the shades, globes, or light cover. If your fan did not come with bulbs, make sure the bulbs you install have the correct base type and wattage

If your fan came with a remote, don’t forget to install the remote control holder!

9. Lights… Fan… Action!

Last, but not least, it’s time to test out your new ceiling fan! Go back to your circuit breaker and turn the power back on. Try switching your fan and lights on and off using the light switch or remote control. Test all of the speed settings to make sure your fan is secured properly and doesn’t wobble or rattle.

Most of the time, installing a ceiling fan is a pretty straightforward DIY project. Occasionally, an odd issue can crop up due to things like old wiring. If you run into any trouble, be sure to give us a call right away, or call an electrician that can help you troubleshoot the issue.

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Congratulations DIY master! Now that you’ve successfully installed your new ceiling fan, get ready for a fresh breeze to blow your way–and some savings too. With all that extra cash blowing around, come visit us and we’ll help get you started on your next project.

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DISCLAIMER: Be sure to follow all the manufacturer’s installation instructions and take all recommended safety precautions. Check before installing to see if you need a permit and be sure all building and electrical codes are observed. If you have any questions or are unsure about installing the fan yourself, contact a licensed electrician or Armstrong's Lighting for more help.

How Many Light Bulbs Do You Need? Understanding Lumens

by admin · Feb 20, 2023

Are you updating your light bulbs, but not sure how bright you need them? Or how many bulbs your room needs?

You’re not alone in the confusion. It can be difficult reading the package in the hardware store and understanding what the bulb will do for your home.

This post will briefly touch on how lumens work and then guide you on how to make sure you have the right light for each room in your house.

What Are Lumens?

With major innovations in lighting over the past twenty years, bulbs have become much more efficient. That’s great news for your electric bill and the environment! But a side effect is that watts are no longer a good measurement for brightness.

Watts measure the amount of energy used by the bulb. When all bulbs were incandescent, this also indicated brightness– the higher the watts, the more energy used, the brighter the bulb.

But with more efficient bulbs, like halogens and LEDs, much less power is used while still producing bright light. So a 40 watt incandescent light gives off the same light as an 8 watt LED!

So how will shoppers know that an 8 watt LED will replace their 40 watt incandescent? Instead of measuring power use, lumens measure brightness. Now no matter the energy efficiency, you can compare bulbs apples to apples.

How Many Lumens Do I Need?

So how many lumens do you need for your space? To calculate the right lumen range, you need to know the square feet of the space and the proper foot candles for the area.

The square footage of your room will help you know how much light you need– the bigger the space, the more light you need. To find out your square footage, simply measure the length and width of the room, then multiply those two numbers.

For example, if your room is 10 feet by 12 feet, your room is 120 square feet (10×12=120).

“Foot candle” is a less familiar term, but it means the brightness of a light source from one foot away. The target foot candle range will depend on the activity of the room. For workspaces like kitchens and offices you’ll want more light (more foot candles), and for bedrooms and dining rooms you’ll want less light (fewer foot candles).

Once you have the square feet of your room and the target foot candles, then you can determine how many lumens you need. Simply multiply your square feet by the desired foot candles!

Let’s say that your bedroom is 120 square feet. Multiply 120 by 10 for the low end and by 20 for the high end of the target zone.

120 x 10 = 1200

120 X 20 = 2400

Now you know that you need between 1200 and 2400 lumens for your bedroom!

Simple Cheat Sheet

If you don’t want to worry about foot candles, here’s a chart with a general estimate of how many lumens you need per square foot per area of your home. Remember, these calculations help determine the total light a room needs. But you’ll often concentrate light above tables, countertops, or a desk.

So if your living room is 15 feet by 20 feet, your total square footage is 300 (15 x 20 = 300). Then multiply that by the recommended 10 lumens to get a minimum of 3,000 lumens for your living room (300 x 10= 3,000).

How Many Bulbs Do I Need?

It may seem overwhelming to need a few thousand lumens for your room. Don’t worry– you will still use relatively few bulbs to get all the light you need. For reference, an 8 w LED bulb will give off about 450 lumens of light.

With just a few bulbs, you’ll have all your lighting covered. Put three in the ceiling fan, add a lamp with one bulb, and you’re done!

Need Help?

Proper lighting is essential to a fully functioning home– but it can be challenging to nail balanced brightness, great fixtures, and a budget! Contact the experts at Armstrong's Lighting for advice on your projec

Lumens vs Watts: What’s the Difference?

by admin · Feb 17, 2023

Light bulbs have been lighting up our world for over a hundred years, but do we really understand how they work? When you go to the store to buy a replacement bulb, the box labels are filled with numbers and industry terms that can leave you wondering how to know which bulb you actually need.

Fortunately, understanding the difference between lumens and watts is fairly straightforward. Take a quick minute to read this quick summary, and you’ll be ready to hit the stores to find exactly what you need.

Lumens

Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb emits. The technical definition is “the unit of luminous flux, equal to the luminous flux emitted in a unit solid angle by a point source of one candle intensity.” In less scientific terms, the higher the lumen rating, the brighter the bulb. Most mainstream bulb labels use the full term, but if you can’t find the word “lumens” on the label look for its abbreviation, lm.

How many lumens do I need?

Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t put the brightest bulbs you can find in every area of your home. The rooms in your home will all need different levels of light, depending on how you use them. Use bulbs with a high lumen count in areas where you need a much brighter light, like above your kitchen counters. You need much less light in your bedroom, so consider going with lower lumen count bulbs in warmer colors to keep it a relaxing space where you can get some sleep.

While there are complicated equations out there that you can use to calculate your “exact” lumen requirements, the trouble is that every person and every space is different. You may find that you prefer brighter lights than what’s “necessary” in one place and dimmer lights in another. Your best bet is to try a few different bulbs, or better yet – get a dimmer switch so that you can customize your light levels depending on your needs for the day.

Pro Tip: Lumens can be added across several light sources in a space. It’s not an exact science because it doesn’t take into account distance from the source and the angles of the light, but if you have three 800lm bulbs in a room, it will be lit with roughly 1800lm.

Watts

Watts measure the amount of power consumed by the bulb. One watt isn’t much, it’s equal to 1/746 horsepower. It’s named after James Watt, a Scottish inventor credited for creating a steam engine during the Industrial Revolution. The symbol for watts is “W”.

Most electrical devices are rated in watts, although large appliances that use more power are often measured in kilowatts, which is equal to one thousand watts. (1W = 1000kW)

The wattage of a bulb will tell you only how much power it consumes, not how bright it is. The lower the watt rating on the bulb, the cheaper it will be on your energy bill to light your house.

Before you buy, always check your light fixture for its watt rating. Never put a bulb with a higher watt rating than the fixture can handle. If the bulb tries to pull more power than the fixture can handle, it could start a fire.

Energy-Efficient Bulbs

Before the days of LED bulbs, it was pretty easy to get a good idea of how bright a bulb was by simply looking at the wattage. The higher the watts, the brighter the bulb. LED lightbulbs can give off the same amount of light as a traditional bulb using far fewer watts. This is what the labels mean when they say the bulbs are “energy efficient” – they need less power to provide equivalent light.

TL;DR Lumens and Watts

Lumens and Watts both describe how a lightbulb works. Lumens measure the amount of light a bulb emits – the higher the lumens the brighter the bulb. Watts measure the amount of power a light bulb uses. Newer light bulbs like LEDs can produce a lot of light (lumens) using very little power (watts), making them more energy-efficient.

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Need help finding the right light bulb? Give the experts at Armstrong's Lighting a call!