Your home’s exterior lights are more important than ever during the long nights of winter. Pulling up to a dark house after a tiring day of work robs you of the cozy “welcome home” feeling that you could enjoy. Installing a few light sconces outside your home dramatically improves its aesthetic appeal both during the day and after the sun’s set.

What is Sconce Lighting?

Sconce lights include a fixture, typically attached to a wall, which houses a light source. Originally, sconces were used to hold candles or torches. These days sconce lights use LED and incandescent bulbs rather than fire.

Sconces usually include a backplate, an arm, and a “shade.” The backplate secures the sconce to a wall and hides any wiring or electrical boxes. Extending from the backplate, the arm holds the light and the shade in place. And the shade covers the light, often in glass, diffusing its rays to provide a softer, gentler glow.

Types of Sconces

Sconces come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some sport elaborate and decorative designs while others favor understated aesthetics meant to blend into their surroundings. Given their origins as torch and candle holders, sconces often resemble lanterns or candles. The unending variety ensures that you’ll be able to find a sconce that perfectly fits the look and feel of your home.

Benefits of Scone Lighting

Exterior sconce lights often hang above or beside entryways. When compared to recessed lighting or spotlights, they offer a homier feel that welcomes guests rather than simply illuminating a door. Their shade amplifies this welcoming feeling by softening the light while protecting the bulb from damage.

Typically installed at or just above eye-level, sconce lights also tend to be more accessible than overhead lighting. So changing their bulb or performing repairs generally doesn’t require a ladder or step stool of any kind.

If you’re interested in sconce lights for your home, AccuTemp’s team of electricians in Baton Rouge can help. Give us a call today at (225) 529-1205 to talk to our experts and schedule an appointment!

We’re all aware that humidity can impact us outdoors, but skewed humidity levels indoors can also be a challenge. Part of the responsibility of our HVAC company in Covington is helping families and businesses achieve the ideal humidity level. Here is some helpful information from our team at AccuTemp to help you navigate your home’s humidity levels this summer.

First, Measure the Relative Indoor Humidity Level

Using a hygrometer is one of the easiest ways to efficiently measure your home’s humidity level.  A hygrometer acts as an indoor thermometer in addition to a humidity monitor. If you don’t have this tool laying around your home, consider one of the following methods to pinpoint your home’s humidity level.

• The ice cube method: All you need for this method is a glass of water and some ice cubes. Simply fill the glass and add 2-3 ice cubes and wait for about four minutes. It’s best to place the glass in an unoccupied space, so avoid placing it on the kitchen counter. Then, check to see if there is condensation on the glass. If you notice your glass is “sweating” or dripping on the outside, this means your humidity levels are likely too high. However, if there is absolutely no condensation forming, your humidity levels may be too low.
• Wet & dry bulb thermometer temperatures: You’ll need two regular glass thermometers for this test. You’ll leave one thermometer as it, and this will act as the dry thermometer. For the second thermometer, wrap a moistened cotton ball (using room-temperature water) around the bottom of it and secure it with a rubber band. After 5-6 minutes, check the temperatures on both and find the depression value by subtracting the wet-bulb temperature from the dry-bulb temperature. From there, you’ll be able to retrieve the humidity levels.

Where Should Humidity Levels Be?

You may not know exactly where your home’s humidity levels should be. Keep in mind that the right humidity levels alter based on the season. In the summer, humidity levels should be 40-50 percent. Levels above 60 percent will cause your home to become muggy and moist. During the winter, humidity levels will be lower, hovering around 30-40 percent. Generally speaking, humidity levels should be in the 45-55 percent range year-round During routine HVAC installation appointments in Covington, we will discuss with you your home’s humidity level and answer any questions that you may have.

Managing Indoor Humidity Levels

If you’re uncomfortable in your home and your HVAC system is working as it should be, your humidity levels may be to blame.

If your humidity levels are too high, here are some approaches to help naturally lower them:

• Consider adding houseplants to your space to naturally absorb excess humidity
• Invest in a dehumidifier
• Turn on exhaust fans
• Try to shorten your showers or take showers that use colder water
• Don’t use the dryer to dry your clothes, as they can add moisture into the air and cause your clothes to take even longer to dry
• Clean your air conditioning filters on a regular basis

On the other hand, if your humidity levels are too low, here are some tips to increase them naturally.

• Invest in a large-room humidifier to release extra humidity into the air
• Use an indoor clothing rack to dry your clothes, as the moisture will release into the air as they dry
• Locate your vents and place open containers of water near them
• Spray water into the air to help create moisture

Many homeowners have recently contacted us asking about water spots that they’re noticing on their ceilings. This is the result of air duct condensation. This happens when the air inside of the duct begins to get colder. This is a natural process that occurs in other areas of life, such as a cold glass starting to condensate after sitting on the counter for too long.

Other causes of air duct sweating include:

• Poor insulation throughout your ductwork
• Too much moisture in the air
• Dirty air filters that need to be changed
• Obstructed air ducts

When Should I Start to Worry?

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the condensation that’s forming. It’s okay if your air ducts are condensating once in a while, but persistent condensation should be looked at by a professional. Persistent sweating can lead to water damage on your ceilings and mold and mildew formation.

To Combat Ductwork Sweating

Try to reduce the humidity levels around your ducts and change your air filters regularly to ultimately reduce the amount of ductwork condensation in your home. You may need to get certain ducts repaired if there has been too much damage to them already. Our HVAC contractors near Hammond are happy to help if this is the case in your home.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team to learn more about ductwork condensation and what we can do to help.

If you’re in the process of closing on your new home, congratulations! This is an exciting yet stressful time, but our HVAC contractors near Hammond are here to provide guidance. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might have even more questions about the process and what it entails. One thing to never overlook: the importance of a functional HVAC system. Just because the system works during your inspection doesn’t mean it has a ton of life left. Consider the following questions to determine the condition of your system.

How Old Is It?

How old the system is will provide you with information about how much longer it will last. Simply check the serial number to determine when it was manufactured. You should also check in the install date to see how long it has been operational. While this isn’t a surefire way to determine the health of the system, it helps provide an overall snapshot of how much longer it will last.

How is the Maintenance Report?

Whether or not the previous owners completed regular maintenance on the system will be a big indicator of the shape that the system is in. In the case that the previous owners were signed up with routine maintenance through an HVAC company, you’ll want to see that information to get a better understanding of what has been done and the type of shape that the system is in.

See If It’s Still Under Warranty

Check to see if the HVAC system is still under warranty, as this will help you save on any necessary replacement parts. Don’t overlook the labor warranty, too, as labor is not cheap!

Doing your due diligence to check on the HVAC system before purchasing your new home can help you gain peace of mind. If you have further questions about what to look for in your new home’s HVAC system, don’t hesitate to reach out to our HVAC contractors for additional help.