The Benefits of Adding LED Lighting to Your Kelowna Home

Homes that have a lot of light are welcoming and inviting. It’s easier to read, knit or do schoolwork in a well-lit room. You may not need a lot of extra light in the summer months when you have natural lighting, but in the winter, even artificial lights make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Lighting makes the colours in your home stand out and helps the décor look more vibrant. Contact Handyman Connection for a licensed electrician in Kelowna to update your home with LED lights.

What’s the Difference Between LED and Incandescent Lights?

LED stands for light emitting diode. LED and traditional lightbulbs are very different. Traditional lightbulbs are fragile with a short lifespan. LED lights tend to last 6 times longer than incandescent lights. The biggest difference between the two types of lights is how they produce light. Incandescent light bulbs use electricity to heat a wire which ultimately produces the light. In LED bulbs, the current passes through electrodes, which then emit visible light.

Why You Should Add LED Lights to Your Home

LED lights started out very small, mostly used as indicator lights in small radios or circuit boards. The technology started over 50 years ago in the 1960s. LED lights gained traction in the 1980s as they became more reliable and brighter. Today, we’re using what is referred to as the third generation of LEDs. The technology has increased in lifespan, brightness and efficiency. LEDs once were relegated to large corporations or governments who could afford them. Although LED lights are more expensive than incandescent bulbs initially, many homeowners choose them because of the advantages.

1. Energy Efficient

LED bulbs use less electricity than incandescent bulbs. It’s estimated that most homes will reduce their energy use by 60% or more by using LED lights. Plus, LED bulbs only need to be replaced about every 4 to 6 years. The average lifespan is about 50,000 hours, but some bulbs last up to 100,000 hours. Traditional lightbulbs last 1,000 hours at best. LEDs also last longer than fluorescent bulbs as well.

2. Design Flexibility

LEDs are extremely versatile. They come in many different sizes and can be strung together to create a series of lights in more places than a traditional bulb will fit. You can use LEDs for room lighting or for highlighting artwork or bookcases. Place a string of LEDs around a mirror to make getting ready easier. LED lights can direct light to a particular area, so you aren’t wasting energy lighting areas that don’t need to be lit.

3. Dimming

LED lighting can be dimmed without losing efficiency. Dimming lights gives you more options for ambiance, but it also lets you use less energy and increases the life of the bulb. You save money while having the right amount of light whenever you need it. You’ll want your electrician to install dimming-specific technology for LEDs.

4. No Heat or UV Emissions

Incandescent bulbs not only emit light, but they also emit heat. Most of the energy used to power a traditional light bulb goes into producing heat, not light. LEDs emit light without creating hardly any heat. They also don’t emit UV emissions, because most of the light emitted by an LED is visible light. As an added benefit, when LEDs get to the end of their lifespan, they do not require special handling.

Licensed Electrical Repair Services

Ready to install LEDs in your home? Contact Handyman Connection for professional electrical repair services to make sure all the lights are installed correctly and wired properly. We give you a estimate on any home repairs and maintenance to keep your home stylish, modern and functional.