Holiday season takes on a life of its’ own and we are in the thick of it.  One more gift to buy, one more light to shine, one more guest to add to the table…   Take precautions to make sure you know just who and what you are inviting into your home.

Illuminate your home to the fullest, but know your lighting facts and be safe.  Check all lighting products for safety and buy all lights and electrical supplies from a reputable dealer.

Look for lighting showrooms that are backed by the American Lighting Association (ALA).  Check for a certified UL-Mark on all lighting products.

Decorative strings of holiday lights, Christmas Lights and novelty lamps from Bulbrite are of the best quality…

Get to know your lamps and lighting for a Safely Illuminated Holiday Season.

1.  The item has been evaluated and tested by certified-UL engineers to meet all UL safety requirements.

2.  The product is ensured against the risk of fire and electric shock as long as all safety instructions are followed according to the package directions and proper usage.

3.  UL’s green holographic label indicates that a product is for indoor-use only.

4.  UL’s red holographic label indicates that the product may be used indoors or outdoors.

5.  UL evaluates decorative lighting strings in accordance with the requirements described in the UL/ANSI 588, the standard for Safety of Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Lighting.

The Wonderland of Christmas pier lamp from Meyda Lighting is UL-approved for both indoor and outdoor usage.

The ANSI designation indicates that the American National Standards Institute approves the UL Standard as the American National Standard.

Elegant crystal table lamps from Schonbek are enchanting.

Accent lamps in crystal from Schonbek bring exquisite colors and sparkling brilliance to the table.

Find the best light fixtures and lamps for your holiday celebration at Capitol Lighting showrooms or visit 1800lighting.com, an ALA member showroom and company.  Lighting showrooms that are affiliates of the American Lighting Association (ALA) will only carry lighting products that have been tested for safety and are certified with the UL-Mark.

Everyone loves a home interior that is inviting and well-lit, why not ensure your outdoor spaces have the same attention to detail.  Strategically placed landscape lights can not only help with a home’s security, but can highlight a home’s architectural features and draw attention to landscape features.

Five great places for Outdoor Lighting:

Outdated or insufficient wiring is so much more than an inconvenience; it’s a safety hazard. There is a much higher consumption of electricity today than ever before, meaning that you need wiring that can meet these increasing demands.

Rewiring is a major job—and one that should only be handled by professional electricians—however it can be vital to keeping you and your family safe. But how do you know if it’s time to rewire your home? Be aware of the following 5 signs.

Old age is the enemy of most appliances and components in your home. The average age of a home in America is about 30 years old. If this is the case for your home, and it still has its original wiring, then chances are it’s outdated and needs an upgrade.

The 21st century has brought us a plethora of technological advancements and electronic devices and appliances. This includes smart phones, tablets, gaming systems, exercise equipment, and so much more. Electrical systems are simply not equipped to handle all of this, particularly if your home was built in the 80’s or prior. It just puts too much strain on your wiring.

Do you plan on eventually selling your home? If your wiring is outdated, then many buyers and even mortgage lenders may be discouraged. Wiring in older homes often doesn’t meet National Electrical Code standards, which a rewire can help solve.

Overloading electrical outlets—in a best case scenario—will cause your circuit breakers to trip. It also leads to overheating, fire, or electrical shocks. By investing in a rewire, you can add more outlets and switches, bringing your house up to date.

Other signs that it is time to rewire your house include visibly worn electric cables, electrical shocks from appliances, sockets, and switches, outlets and cords that get warm from use, fuses that blow regularly, frequent power outages, and the use of two-pronged outlets rather than three-pronged.