How to Choose the Best Under Cabinet Lighting for Your Kitchen

cabinet lighting

Cabinets can be a nightmare when it comes to blocking light. You’ll know the struggle all too well If you’ve dealt with trying to cook under a cabinet and failing to see what’s going on clearly! Luckily there is a solution: with the help of a trusted Atlanta electrical contractor, you can find the perfect under-cabinet lighting or your kitchen which will give you the light you need to follow recipes and cook in peace.

If you need more info on the best under-cabinet lighting for your kitchen, we’re here to help! Here are some types of under-cabinet lighting and where they’re best suited:

Battery Powered Under Cabinet Lights

If you’re looking for a lighting solution that can be installed just about anywhere, then battery-powered under-cabinet lighting may be the thing you’re looking for. Since they’re battery-powered, they’ll work even the powers out! However, you will have to deal with possible faulty batteries and replacements, which may be more hassle than you’ve bargained for – if that sounds like a drawback to you, maybe consider other options.

Hardwired LED Under Cabinet Lighting

With the help of a trusted Atlanta electrical contractor, you can avoid batteries altogether with hardwired LED lighting. This will connect your lighting to a switch so you can easily control it whenever you need it. It’s also a great solution for people looking to hide their wires, as a trusted Atalanta electrical contractor will be able to make these lights look as seamless as possible.

Plugin Under Cabinet Lighting

If you’re looking for something in-between battery powered and hardwired, this may be the option for you. Plugin lighting is powered using an existing outlet in your kitchen. While this means there will be more wire exposure than a hardwired alternative, it’s also more reliable and lower maintenance than battery-powered lighting. So long as there is an existing plug socket near enough to the space you want lit, a plugin under cabinet lighting could be a good solution.

Which Solution Should I Go For?

The answer really depends on your budget and needs. If you want to go for the best quality solution that will look the most elegant, then we definitely recommend going hardwired with your under-cabinet lighting. This will give your lighting an integrated feel and ensure that you don’t have to stress about wires sticking out or battery replacements. While you will have to enlist the help of a trusted Atlanta electrical contractor, it’s certainly worth it for the elegant and seamless results you receive.

Summary

You can get under cabinet lighting in battery form, plugin, or hardwired. While battery and plugin cabinet lighting are perfectly respectable solutions for your under cabinet lighting concerns, hardwired is by far the best option to go for if you can afford it. If you’re looking to get hardwired under cabinet lighting installed in your kitchen, be sure to contact a trusted Atlanta electrical contractor.

Local Electrician offers Tips for hiring an Atlanta Residential Electrician

licensed electrician working

Although there are a lot of resources out there for the DIY electrician, there are numerous benefits when working with a licensed electrician who’s also specialized as a residential electrician.

First, a lot of technical knowledge is needed, and it can really help smooth over the entire end-to-end process of whatever the licensed electrician is there for.

They are highly experienced

Before they can even consider becoming a residential electrician or a licensed electrician, they need to go through extensive training just to be approved to start their journey.

This course is around 100 hours, and once they are qualified with the book portion of being an electrician, they can start their path of becoming an apprentice, then a journeyman, and a master level of skill. To be either a journeyman or master requires several thousand hours of practical experience.

It’s not a clean job

Being a licensed electrician means going into the guts and foundation of the house to get to where the wiring is. You might feel that putting in a new electrical socket or light switch is all a residential electrician may do, but the real work comes in where all the dirt, cobwebs, and dust are behind the scenes.

They’ll need to get there and either fix wires on the spot or need to re-wire throughout the entire home.

You’re covered with a licensed electrician

Another thing about residential electricians is that they will always stand by their work. As long as you’re working with a professional contractor that has the right types of insurance, whatever electrical wiring or job a licensed electrician performs, insurance will cover any significant mishaps in most cases.

Regardless of insurance, many professional licensed electricians will come back and check on their work to confirm that they did the best job possible.
They’ll also ensure to get the proper building permits that may be needed (depending on the State) and will make sure that their wiring job complies with any types of building or municipal codes at the same time. This is another headache you can easily avoid when working with a licensed electrician.

It will save you money in the long run

Although it may seem as if a residential electrician comes in, does the job quickly, and charges you a significant amount, it’s well worth it. That’s an investment into your electricity at your home that can make everything run smoothly, keep your home safe and give you the correct power needs you require.

You want to also make sure when selecting the right type of licensed electrician that they have a good reputation and good reviews to go with everything. This way, you’ll be in safe hands for someone handling your wiring through this residential electrician.

Understanding similar past work and how they were able to handle it goes a long way to a successful residential electrician doing the job right the first time.

Please see our reviews and contact us for help with your residential electrical services.

Home Electrical Safety Tips for Fall

electrician tools

Did you know that almost half of fire department calls report accidents caused by electricity? To be more precise, electricity isn’t the culprit, but people that neglect routine checks are.

As fall is getting closer, another regular inspection has to be done. We know exactly what there is to check. Do it diligently and carefully, and make sure to call professionals if all these wires don’t make any sense.

While there are many conditions that can be detected by someone who doesn’t know a lot about electrical applications, only a true pro electrician will notice the smaller, yet equally important, errors.

We’re going to use more appliances soon, so here are some recommendations.

1: Check All Plugs’ and Cords’ Condition and Placement

The first electrical safety tip concerns cords and plugs. You have to look for:

  • Damage of any kind;
  • Exposed wires;
  • Broken parts or elements not in place.

Call a licensed electrician if something looks suspicious. If you don’t have experience, it’s better not to touch the wires. 

Now, about the placement. Here are some guidelines that will help you understand if everything’s fine for fall:

  • There have to be water-resistant extension cords in all areas in your house and outside where it gets dump;
  • The cords shouldn’t be under carpets or near doors (you can close the door and damage the wire);
  • Extension cords shouldn’t be used as permanent outlets. If you need some, it’s better to ask a pro to install them where you need;
  • Every heavy-use appliance must be plugged into wall outlets.

2: Check All Appliances’ Condition and Placement

One of the essential electrical safety tips is to check all appliances, especially those responsible for heating. Make sure they are:

  • Intact;
  • Placed properly;
  • Have an official seal from CSA, UL, or another lab.

As to the placement, don’t put any heating devices near flammable objects. This includes not only heaters but coffee machines, toasters, etc. Appliances a like toaster, hairdryer, kettle, etc. should be plugged off after use.

3: Check All Lighting in the House

Check your lamps, as you’re going to use them much more as the sun goes down earlier. See if all lamps are below the limit mentioned on the light itself. LED lights are an amazing solution since they are very effective, save power (and money), and aren’t as dangerous as other types.

Keep the lights at least 1 ft away from flammable items like paper, curtains, etc.

Bonus: Additional Precautions

Here are some additional electrical safety tips:

  • Inspect your detectors to make sure they work properly for movement, smoke, and carbon monoxide;
  • Inspect every portable heater you have and never use them in the bathroom;
  • Check devices for outside use. If they aren’t suitable for that, consider buying other models.

Don’t neglect routine checks of electrical appliances in your house. Safety recommendations are given not to take your time from other important stuff. Specialists provide them to make sure every home is safe as the temperature goes down.

We want your golden autumn and cheerful winter to be warm and stress-free. So, go over the recommendations again and consider calling a professional to come over and inspect the house.