QA

How To Recessed Lighting Installation

Can I install recessed lighting myself?

If you have a nearby power source, you can easily install recessed lights by yourself. Bringing in a power source adds some time to the project, but this can be accomplished by wiring your own circuit or hiring an electrician.

Do you need an electrician to install recessed lighting?

Yes, you need (sic) to hire a licensed electrican to install recessed lights in a ceiling. Yes, a person with good knowledge and experience in electrical work is able to preform the work.

How hard is it to add recessed lighting?

It is more difficult to install recessed lights than traditional types. The process involves a lot of cutting out holes that are of the same size. Putting them in the ceiling can be even more challenging than working along a wall.

How far apart should recessed lights be?

A good general rule for placement is to divide the height of the ceiling by two. The result is the amount of space to leave between each light. For example, recessed lighting spacing for an 8-foot-high ceiling would be 4 feet between each light. This will provide good spacing for general room lighting.

Why is recessed lighting bad?

Used properly, recessed lights are sleek, unobtrusive fixtures that can be good problem-solvers. Used improperly, they can waste electricity, provide poor lighting and cause your heating and cooling bills to go up. Kitchens are common places where recessed lighting fixtures are used.

Does adding recessed lighting add value to a house?

Does recessed lighting add home value? Recessed lighting can absolutely add home value of you take the time to place them correctly and use the right light temperature for the room. There are also ways to make recessed lighting more energy efficient which is not a bad additional benefit.

How much should it cost to have recessed lighting installed?

Recessed Lighting Cost Expect to pay between $100 to $480 per fixture, or $360 on average, when having recessed lighting installed by a pro. At the average price, the project runs about $2,160 for six fixtures. The total varies depending on the type of housing, trim, and bulbs you select.

What is the difference between can lights and recessed lights?

Recessed lights, also known as can lights, are described as metal light housings installed in the ceiling for a sleek look that gives you back your ceiling.

How many can lights can be on one light switch?

There is no limit to the number of lights on a circuit. The load of the fixtures is what determines how many lights a circuit can accommodate. A conventional 15A circuit can have up to 1400W of lighting loads connected to it. A 1400 Watts lighting load can accommodate one 1400W fixture or fourteen 100W fixtures.

Should recessed lights be wired in series or parallel?

Parallel. White to white, black to black throughout. If you wire them in series, you will only get a dim glow based on the number of units you wire in.

Do you need a junction box for a ceiling light?

If you’re wondering how you install a light fixture without an electrical box, the short answer is that you don’t. You can’t install a light fixture without a junction box, but the fact that there’s no box at the spot where you want to install the light doesn’t mean you can’t install the light.

Is recessed lighting outdated?

The one reason why recessed lighting is timeless because they offer the flexibility to change the finishes later. You have a can in your ceiling that stays forever. However, the finish may become outdated and can be purchased in different colors and styles to suit your needs. You can change them as often as you like.

Does recessed lighting use more electricity?

Recessed lighting does use more electricity. The amount of electricity (kWh) consumed by recessed lighting is up to 90 kWh per day which is 2,700 kWh per month. This is in reference to recessed lighting with fluorescent lightbulbs. Typical electrical costs differ depending on where you live.

Where should recessed lights be placed in living room?

Living Room To achieve the best effect, place the lights two to three feet away from the walls. Cons: Spacing is important to make any room look its best with recessed lighting. If the ceiling in your room is too small to allow the correct spacing, consider using a chandelier or table and accent lamps instead.

How many can lights for a 12×12 room?

The typical rule-of-thumb is 24″ from each wall, and then 3-5 feet between cans. So in a 12′ room you’d probably want two rows of lights. Considering it is a bedroom and you don’t need it as bright as a kitchen, you can probably get away with 2 rows of 4 lights for a total of 8.

Can you have too many recessed lights?

It often seems that installing recessed lights is a cure all, but they cannot properly wash light upon walls and all dark corners, which would bounce reflective light into the room. In fact, using too many recessed light may leave areas of your room dark and may even cost you more on your electric bill.

What size recessed light for 8ft ceiling?

When spacing recessed lights, use this general rule of thumb: divide the height of the ceiling by two to get the distance the lights should be from one another. For example, an 8-foot tall ceiling should have recessed lights spaced 4-feet apart.

Are LED recessed lights worth it?

Pros of LED Recessed Lighting LED lights are known for their energy-saving potential and can save you a significant amount of money in the long run. This is due to the fact that LED lights burn at a much cooler temperature than conventional light bulbs and have a much longer useful lifespan.

Do LED recessed lights get hot?

Answer: While LEDs run much cooler than incandescents, their electronic components and external heat sinks do get quite hot; you would still need to keep the insulation away from your fixtures. You could hire an electrician to replace each fixture with a sealed one rated for insulation contact (IC).

Is recessed lighting a fire hazard?

Lights generate a lot of heat when they are in use. This heat can be a safety hazard in certain situations where recessed lighting is used. This is important as non-IC rated recessed lighting in contact with insulation creates a fire hazard.