Category Archives: Kitchen Electrical

How Can I Decrease My Electric Bill?

Articles, Business Lighting, Commercial Lighting, Electrical Fire, Electrical Installation, Electrical Maintenance, Electricians, Kitchen Electrical, Residential Electrical Problems

How Can I Decrease My Electric Bill?

Electricity is a huge cost for most homeowners, but fortunately there are plenty of ways to save energy for year-round savings.

Turn Off Electronics And Appliances
One of the simplest ways to decrease your electric bill is to unplug electronics and appliances when you aren’t using them. You’ll save a few dollars per month, but it also helps to lower your risk of an electrical fire. Among the most common energy vampires are your microwave, DVD player, VCR, cable box, or computer. They all suck electricity even when you’re not using them, and they contribute to phantom power or standby power bills that can add up to 23% of your energy costs! To combat this, you can buy an electricity monitor that plugs in each device and records their wattage usage. This can help you identify the energy vampires and save money on your electricity bill.

Turn Off The Water
Taking the time to turn off the water when you are not using it can save you a lot of money on your bill. It also can help prevent water damage in case of a plumbing emergency. Ideally, every person living in your home should know where to find the main water shut-off valve in their property. It should be a lever-type valve with a wheel control or lever handle.

Insulate Your Home
Insulation helps prevent heat from escaping your house by acting as a barrier that blocks the movement of air. Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing home, properly insulating your walls, attic, crawl space, rim joists, and electrical outlets will dramatically reduce your heating and cooling costs, as well as increase your comfort.

Run Your Appliances During Off-Peak Hours
If you have a time-of-use electricity plan, you can lower your electric bill by running appliances during off-peak hours. These times are cheapest because they’re less busy for the energy provider. In summer, peak demand hours are typically from 1pm to 7pm on weekdays and 4pm to 9pm in some areas during the day, because people are using air conditioning. Off-peak periods are usually nighttime hours, which tend to be quieter and cheaper. You can save money on your utility bill by putting your major appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and dryers on delayed start during these times.

Install A Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is a great way to decrease your energy bill because it automatically learns how your home feels and adjusts to keep the temperature perfect for you. They also help you track your energy usage so you can see how much you’re saving. The savings may vary depending on the climate you live in and your energy bill, but a smart thermostat should save you about 8 percent on average. It’s a small amount, but it could mean a big difference in your monthly budget.

What Are the Kitchen Lighting Trends?

Kitchen Electrical

Modern kitchen cabinets and front doors are leaning toward more moody, saturated colors. Handcrafted tiles are becoming more popular. Various materials are available, such as metal and silhouettes. Continue reading to find out more about modern kitchen lighting trends for 2022.

Kitchen Lighting Trends

Here are some modern kitchen lighting trends for 2022 that can be installed by a professional lighting electrician.

Industrial

You can easily add a nice touch to your kitchen lighting using an industrial piece to light up the space as you cook. This can be achieved in various ways to match your style, including hanging lights with exposed wiring, black metal frames, or pendant lighting similar to the appearance of street lights. If you already have an existing light fixture that has an open design, you can consider replacing the light bulbs using Edison bulbs to transform the look completely.

Sculptural

For many homeowners, every item in their home should be functional but be seen as a piece of art or décor, including lighting. You can achieve this look by hanging a sculpturally inspired fixture right from the ceiling that will have your guests talking. There is no limit to color, material, or size for this style, meaning it will match your home’s existing vibe easily if you aim for a cohesive design flow.

Earthy

People are raving about rattan and seagrass. There is no reason why they cannot be included for kitchen lighting ideas. You can easily switch out your light shade with a woven basket if you are looking to bring warmth and a touch of boho to your kitchen. You can choose from various stains, from dark to natural, if you want to find something that matches your existing wood. These pieces are also available in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes to suit the size of your kitchen and the impact you are aiming for.

Glass

Glass is classy and simple. The best part is that a row of glass orbs will match almost any kitchen design, whether your kitchen is modern or coastal. If you are aiming for a simple design, the orb can hang from a dowel rod in matching metal to the rest of your hardware. It can also be encased in a bronze band. You don’t have to just stick with traditional clear glass fixtures. For those who absolutely love color, you can try going to blown glass masterpieces that match the theme and hue of your kitchen.

Glam

A residential electrical contractor can also achieve a glam look for you by hanging chandeliers adorned with crystals. If you believe that these were just designed for formal dining rooms, you are wrong. Kitchens also deserve some glamour as well. You may lean more toward a chandelier with a spiral of crystals hanging over your kitchen island.

If you are looking for professional help to turn your kitchen lighting ideas into a reality, you can choose a company that specializes in kitchen remodeling to help install new lighting in your kitchen.

How To Choose Kitchen Lighting?

Kitchen Electrical

The right kitchen lighting can make a huge difference in how much you like your kitchen and how great it looks. With the right kitchen lighting, you can transform your kitchen’s whole look and feel. There are some factors to keep in mind when choosing kitchen lighting that can help you find a light that you will love and that will work well for you.

Choosing the Right Lighting
The first step to choosing the right lighting is to determine if you need an electrical contractor to help with your electrical lighting installation. This will also help you decide what sort of lighting you can get. With very simple lighting, you may not need a contractor, and you may be able to install the lights yourself.

After you decide if you need a contractor, you can start looking at the space you have and determine what sort of light might fit there. You need to keep things like the size of the space, the size of the light and the position in mind. With very large spaces, larger lights are a great option. With smaller spaces, you might consider things like can lights or recessed lighting to help save space and still offer visibility.

Chandeliers are a great option if you have a very high ceiling and a great deal of space to fill. If you have a kitchen with a specific theme, you may want to look for lighting that will fit that theme.

Current Kitchen Lighting Themes
There are tons of great trends that are fun and easy to incorporate into your kitchen. Modern lighting is a huge trend that is fun and easy to use and can fit with many different kitchens. These lights will be sleek, interesting, and will be fun to add if you are looking to update your kitchen and give it a bit of a modern feel.

Vintage and antique lighting is also very trendy and fun. Adding things like vintage fixtures and vintage pieces can help add an air of sophistication to your kitchen without making huge changes. Unique pieces can be found at flea markets or antique shops, and an electrical contractor can help install them. Changing up lighting fixtures is a great way to change the way your kitchen looks and feels without having to do a huge renovation that will cost tons of money and take tons of time to complete.

Electrical Dos and Don’ts for Kitchen Remodels

Articles, Kitchen Electrical

Congratulations on deciding to do a new kitchen remodel! Kitchen upgrades can make preparing meals a much more pleasant experience, from aesthetics to useful new appliances. However, it’s important that you consult a residential electrical contractor during your remodel. Working with an electrical contractor will ensure your kitchen’s electrical infrastructure is able to handle all of your remodeling needs.

Here are some tips for your kitchen remodel.

Plan on having plenty of circuits

When you work with your general contractor and builder to create a plan, they’ll usually have an electrical contractor they like to work with. A good electrical contractor will know that the electrical infrastructure is one of the most important parts of the remodel—after all, how good is a kitchen if you can’t use your electric appliances?

To that end, most kitchens require at least nine to 10 circuits—one for each major appliance (dishwasher, refrigerator, stove, microwave) and several for any eating areas or islands. The larger and more luxurious your kitchen, the more circuits you’ll need.

This process will require getting permits from your municipality. Your general and electrical contractors usually handle this process, since they’re more familiar with the process and the red tape involved. However, it’s a good idea to check in with them to ensure that this is on their to-do list—if it’s not, you’ll need to do it yourself. Proceeding without a permit could expose you to some unfortunate consequences, like having to tear out the work and start over. When interviewing contractors, be sure to ask who handles the permit process.

Consider LED lighting

Whether your kitchen remodel is large or small, you should consider replacing your old lighting with LED lights. LED lights are energy efficient, bright and versatile—you can create a number of different lighting effects with them for a lot less money. Plus, they don’t emit as much heat as incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, making them an overall safer choice for your remodel.

When you’re designing your new kitchen, be sure to ask your contractors about rewiring the lights for LED fixtures.

Remember even minor remodels involve electrical repair

Finally, keep in mind that no matter how minor your remodel, most will involve some sort of electrical repair. There’s no better time to replace old wiring or ensure your system is properly grounded than when you rip out your cabinets and appliances. Ensuring your electrical system is up to par will make it more likely your appliances last for years—maybe even decades.

Hiring an electrical contractor will help you rest assured your kitchen wiring is safe and up to code. In turn, you’re less likely to run into problems when there’s an inspection—or later on down the road, after the dust is vacuumed up and you’re enjoying your new kitchen.

When it comes to electricity and kitchen remodels, the only major “don’t” is failing to hire a residential electrical contractor. It’s the safer choice, and it will help ensure your project is completed to code and in a time-efficient manner. For help with your remodel, call Walsh Electric today.

Kitchen Remodel: Electrical Dos and Don’ts

Articles, Kitchen Electrical

Planning a kitchen remodel can be an exhilarating process. Visualizing yourself using the new space with all the upgrades and enhancements you’ve made carries with it the exciting potential of magnificent meals and gorgeous gatherings to come. But while it may be fun to dream of new granite countertops or that center island you’ve always wanted, it’s important to consider the electrical system as part of your remodel as well.

It may not be the most inspirational part of a remodel, but having a good electrician on your kitchen remodel team in Alexandria, VA is essential. The kitchen is one of the most energy-heavy areas of the house thanks to the multiple built-in appliances it contains—not to mention the outlets needed for culinary apparatuses like blenders, food processors and stand mixers.

Not only is there a lot of power required for the kitchen, but it must also be installed and planned out in a certain way. For example, because of the proximity to water, all outlets must use GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) wiring and be properly grounded. Here are some dos and don’ts for kitchen remodel electrical repair in Alexandria, VA.

Kitchen remodel electrical repair dos

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when considering the electrical portion of a kitchen remodel. Before we get into specifics, however, here are a few general remodel tips for you: don’t start the remodel until all the components have been delivered; plan for the process to take longer than you expect; and keep an eye on the way doors open and close, as this will have a big impact on the overall layout of the space.

Here are some more tips to keep in mind:

• Install plenty of circuits: Kitchen appliances take up a lot of power, so make sure there are separate circuits for each appliance, including the dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, garbage disposal, lighting and dining area, as well as two for the stove. Plan on having at least nine circuits for the kitchen.
• Replace faulty or outdated wiring: If you find old wiring that does not have a ground wire—or if you find areas in the wiring that have degraded—make sure to replace those wires as part of the remodel.

Kitchen remodel electrical repair don’ts

There are also a few things to make sure not to do regarding the electrical wiring in a kitchen remodel:
• Don’t start the project without proper permits already approved: Without the proper permits, you may face fines or at the very least delays in your remodel project.
• Don’t hook up multiple appliances on the same circuit: There’s a reason each appliance needs its own circuit. Even if it doesn’t take a lot of power to run an appliance, it may take a whole lot more to kick on an appliance like a refrigerator or garbage disposal.

If you’re considering a kitchen remodel, contact Walsh Electric today for great customer service from the top residential electrical contractor in Alexandria, VA. With over 30 years of experience, we know how to get the job done right.