improve kitchen electrical and lighting plans
improve_kitchen_electrical_and_lighting_plans
Have a question on how to make your home more user-friendly with universal design? E-mail your query to Rosemary Bakker, Certified Interior Designer,at .
Be sure to include your name, state and ZIP code. Your name will not be published. Good lighting can do wonders for any kitchen. It makes all the kitchen surfaces more visible, which is important because you’ll feel more secure and safe as you prepare and cook food. Good lighting can also make small spaces seem larger. Plus, adequate light can create a sense of well-being.
Light It Up!
A well-illuminated kitchen has two types of lighting: general lighting, the overall illumination that comes from daylight or from overhead fixtures, and task-specific lighting. Both are important in the kitchen. When it comes to general lighting, a large ceiling fixture with long-lasting, eco-friendly fluorescent bulbs will give off plenty of light and mean fewer trips up and down a ladder. You can improve task lighting by installing fluorescent fixtures under the cabinets or by adding lighting over the range, sink and other areas where much of your work takes place.
Electrical Plan
It’s essential to install an electrical system that is safe and easy to use. The number and placement of outlets is especially important in a kitchen — for ease of use and to satisfy current building codes. A good, inexpensive strategy is to install a surface-mounted cable raceway at the back of the counter or under the cabinets to make more outlets available for small appliances. All outlets, especially those near water, must be changed to ground fault interrupter outlets, known as GFI outlets, to avoid the possibility of shock. And remember to install your light switches and electrical outlets no higher than 48 inches (122 cm) from the floor for easy reach. Watch the Cords!
If you must use extension cords, select only those with built-in circuit breakers. The thickness, or gauge, of the wire is what determines extension cord ratings. Many cords are intended for use only with table lamps and present a fire hazard when used for kitchen appliances with a heavy electrical draw. Read the gauge of the wire on the extension cord tab to see if it’s adequate for the appliance you have in mind.
Keep It Current
Relocate your fuse box or service panel from a hard-to-access location (like the basement) to a place you can reach easily in your kitchen or a nearby hallway. And update your service panel. Most older homes have a 60-amp service panel, although the minimum used today is 100 amps. Current safety codes require separate circuits for appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators. If you’re renovating your kitchen, ask your electrician about the need to upgrade the electrical power and whether worn-out insulation around the wiring should be replaced at the same time.
Here are three tips for getting the most out of fluorescent lighting:
1. To obtain good, even lighting on the countertops, choose the largest fluorescent fixture that will fit under the upper cabinet.
2. Install the fixture in the recessed space under the upper cabinet, close to the front of the cabinet.
3. If your cabinets don’t have a valance and/or the fixture hangs down too far, so that the light shines into the eyes of someone seated, add a trim to the bottom of the cabinets.
Rosemary Bakker is the author of the AARP Guide to Revitalizing Your Home, which is available through . Bakker holds a master of science degree in gerontology and is a certified interior designer. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Improve Kitchen Lighting< br> and Electrical Plans
Learn the basics for greater comfort and safety
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Have a question on how to make your home more user-friendly with universal design? E-mail your query to Rosemary Bakker, Certified Interior Designer,at .
Be sure to include your name, state and ZIP code. Your name will not be published. Good lighting can do wonders for any kitchen. It makes all the kitchen surfaces more visible, which is important because you’ll feel more secure and safe as you prepare and cook food. Good lighting can also make small spaces seem larger. Plus, adequate light can create a sense of well-being.
Light It Up!
A well-illuminated kitchen has two types of lighting: general lighting, the overall illumination that comes from daylight or from overhead fixtures, and task-specific lighting. Both are important in the kitchen. When it comes to general lighting, a large ceiling fixture with long-lasting, eco-friendly fluorescent bulbs will give off plenty of light and mean fewer trips up and down a ladder. You can improve task lighting by installing fluorescent fixtures under the cabinets or by adding lighting over the range, sink and other areas where much of your work takes place.
Electrical Plan
It’s essential to install an electrical system that is safe and easy to use. The number and placement of outlets is especially important in a kitchen — for ease of use and to satisfy current building codes. A good, inexpensive strategy is to install a surface-mounted cable raceway at the back of the counter or under the cabinets to make more outlets available for small appliances. All outlets, especially those near water, must be changed to ground fault interrupter outlets, known as GFI outlets, to avoid the possibility of shock. And remember to install your light switches and electrical outlets no higher than 48 inches (122 cm) from the floor for easy reach. Watch the Cords!
If you must use extension cords, select only those with built-in circuit breakers. The thickness, or gauge, of the wire is what determines extension cord ratings. Many cords are intended for use only with table lamps and present a fire hazard when used for kitchen appliances with a heavy electrical draw. Read the gauge of the wire on the extension cord tab to see if it’s adequate for the appliance you have in mind.
Keep It Current
Relocate your fuse box or service panel from a hard-to-access location (like the basement) to a place you can reach easily in your kitchen or a nearby hallway. And update your service panel. Most older homes have a 60-amp service panel, although the minimum used today is 100 amps. Current safety codes require separate circuits for appliances such as microwaves and refrigerators. If you’re renovating your kitchen, ask your electrician about the need to upgrade the electrical power and whether worn-out insulation around the wiring should be replaced at the same time.
Quick Fix Undercabinet Lighting
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to boost the appeal of any kitchen is to install undercabinet lighting. You can purchase energy efficient fluorescent fixtures that flood the countertop with warm, even lighting; consider plug-in models that don’t require wiring — just attach the unit to the bottom of the cabinet and plug in the cord. These fixtures put light right where you need it, are reasonably priced and are readily available at local home stores. Other types of lighting, including LED strip lighting or puck lights, have narrow, spotty beams of light you get from fluorescents.Here are three tips for getting the most out of fluorescent lighting:
1. To obtain good, even lighting on the countertops, choose the largest fluorescent fixture that will fit under the upper cabinet.
2. Install the fixture in the recessed space under the upper cabinet, close to the front of the cabinet.
3. If your cabinets don’t have a valance and/or the fixture hangs down too far, so that the light shines into the eyes of someone seated, add a trim to the bottom of the cabinets.
Rosemary Bakker is the author of the AARP Guide to Revitalizing Your Home, which is available through . Bakker holds a master of science degree in gerontology and is a certified interior designer. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures