5 Benefits of Installing a Dimmer Switch

Installing a dimmer switch in your home has its share of advantages. Dimmer switches are straightforward electrical devices used to control the brightness level of lighting. There are various reasons that homeowners decide to install a dimmer switch, ranging from the convenience of controlling their lighting to savings on their electric bill.  A licensed electrician can easily install a dimmer switch in your home, granting you all of the benefits of this convenient electrical device.

Today, we’ll be shedding some light on a few of the most common questions about dimmer switches. We’ll also be sharing the benefits of installing a dimmer switch with you so that you’ll know all of the advantages. This affordable electrical upgrade can make a huge difference in your home so we want you to have all of the facts. Let’s get started!

What Does a Dimmer Switch Do?

Put simply, a dimmer switch installation allows you to either raise or lower the brightness of your lighting. Most often, homeowners and business owners elect to install dimmer switches in an effort to conserve energy and ensure added convenience.

Believe it or not, a dimmer switch can even be hooked into your smart home’s functions. This allows you to control the overall ambiance of your home. This way, you can automatically set your lights to begin dimming at a certain time using either timers or smart controls. If you decide you’re in the mood for more or less lighting, you can control the lighting manually as well.

What Are the Benefits of Installing a Dimmer Switch?

Now that you know how a dimmer switch works, you’re likely wondering why you should consider this popular electrical upgrade. As it turns out, there are multiple reasons that installing a dimmer switch is a good idea. The next time you’re looking to add a reasonably affordable upgrade to your home, remember the benefits of a dimmer switch.

So what are the benefits? Let’s find out.

1. Your Lights Will Last Longer

One of the biggest benefits of installing a dimmer switch is found in the fact that they increase the lifetime of your lights. When using a dimmer to keep your light bulbs lit you are, in a way, giving your light bulbs a much-needed break. Dimming your lights by at least 25 percent will save you approximately 1/5th of the electricity required.

By installing a dimmer switch for your living room’s lamps, for example, you’ll quickly find that the softer the lamp fade, the longer the lamp lasts overall. Whereas your typical lamp may last 5 to 6 months without a dimmer switch installed, that same lamp could last 3 to 4 years when using a dimmer switch regularly.

Light bulbs tend to be a necessity that many of us don’t necessarily feel good about spending money on. If you want to ensure that your light bulbs last as long as possible, installing a dimmer switch can make all the difference!

2. Energy Savings

We simply can’t talk about the benefits of a dimmer switch without discussing its ability to save energy. But how much can you expect in terms of energy savings? Well, each time you dim a light you can expect energy savings of up to 98 percent. Sounds good, right? Here’s more good news. At the same time that you’re saving on energy, you can also expect a 10 percent savings on your energy bill! Who doesn’t like having a little extra cash in their pocket each month?

3. Lighting Controls

With a dimmer switch installed, you’ll be given the ability to control the light either through a knob or by sliding the switch up and down. With more modern dimmer switches installed in many homes today, you can even control the lighting with a remote control. Touch dimmers, on the other hand, are a special kind of dimmer switch that allows you to change the lighting by simply pressing a button.

By installing a dimmer switch in your home, you can set the mood in any room easily. Dimmer switches can be installed and used in a variety of rooms, ranging from living rooms and bedrooms to breakfast nooks and bathrooms. Without a dimmer switch, you’re left to switch lighting in your home on and off with no way to turn the lighting up or down. This is one of the greatest benefits of dimmer switches and makes them well worth the cost of installation!

4. The Ability to Dim Fluorescent Lights

If you have fluorescent lights in your home, installing a dimmer switch will allow you to dim them. While the effect on the room will be different from one fluorescent light to the next, the ability to dim a fluorescent light is wonderful. Instead of a warm candlelight look, however, a fluorescent light will maintain a cooler temperature even when dimmed.

Dimming a fluorescent light won’t necessarily make it last any longer as is the case with incandescent bulbs. Still,  dimming fluorescent lighting is less expensive and more convenient.

5. Easy Installation

Finally, you should also know that one of the greatest benefits of dimmer switches is that they’re easy to install. By following a step-by-step guide to installing a dimmer switch, you can easily install one on your own. The whole process shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.

Still, if you don’t consider yourself an expert on DIY projects, giving an electrician a call is your best bet when it comes to dimmer switch installation. A licensed and knowledgeable electrician can have a new dimmer switch installed in one or several of your home’s rooms in no time!

Call Your Local Raleigh Electrician For Dimmer Switch Installation

Now that you know the benefits of installing a dimmer switch, it’s likely that you’re thinking about adding one (or several) to your home. At Right Electrical Services, LLC, we offer residential and commercial electrical installation and consider ourselves experts in all things lighting.

Contact us today for a FREE estimate on any electrical project in your home or office. You can give us a call at (919) 359-1017, send an email at rightelec@gmail.com, or use our Request Service page to fill out the contact form.  We’ll get back to you immediately!

Renee Rose

Renee is a freelance copywriter and blogger known for her expertise surrounding topics like marketing, freelancing, mental health, and more. She has written for hundreds of small business websites and is the Marketing Director here at Right Electrical Services, LLC. Renee believes that when a business prioritizes entertaining, engaging, and informational content for their readers, they can expect a loyal following that trusts their company.