Although installing energy-efficient weather stripping or caulking around leaky doors and windows are small DIY projects most Santa Cruz and South Bay Peninsula homeowners can accomplish proficiently, installing recessed lighting is a project usually best left to professionals.
Besides the need for an electrical inspection of the lights and wiring before they’re covered, a plethora of problems can occur after installation. They include:
- Inadequate clearance. Although recessed lighting with an Insulation Contact (IC) designation can be covered in insulation, according to the National Electric Code, non-IC rated fixtures should never be installed beneath any item or material that could obstruct air circulation or trap rising heat.
- Loose installation. Many recessed lights are now completely sealed, resulting in significant energy savings. Just one drafty recessed fixture can result in air loss of up to 2.5 million cubic feet per year, wasting up to 1 million BTUs during that same period (BTUs, or British Thermal Units, is the standard by which power is measured). Meanwhile, if the springs that hold the light trims in place are improperly installed, the fixture may not remain flush, which can become a fire hazard and also allow drafts.
- Incompatibility with older electrical systems. Older electrical systems often have different switch layouts, aging wiring and design variations that may require repair or even replacement before installing recessed lighting.
- Ignoring manufacturers’ specifications. Excess heat generated by bulb wattage that’s too high can cause the light fixture to crack and may short out the entire circuit. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding bulb wattage and recommended trims. Combining trims can cause loss of your Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) rating, which is the standard for electrical safety.
Recessed lighting is wonderfully flexible. Besides spotlighting artwork, you can target workspaces, border a room, or mix it with lamps or other lighting methods to create a desired “mood.”
Visit our website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, or just give us a call at 408-294-6290. We’ll be delighted to assist you.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas of California about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about recessed lighting and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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