A Quick Guide to LED Lightbulbs

Lighting can make or break the mood and functionality of a room. If it’s too dim, you’ll be stuck squinting and turning on extra power sources that you probably don’t need. If it’s too bright, you’ll feel like you’re in a grocery store or a shopping mall. With LED lighting, it can be tough to know what to buy to ensure that your lightbulbs function the way you need them to. But once you get the hang of it, making the switch is a no-brainer as the energy efficiency and longevity of an LED bulb pays for itself over and over again. Here is what you need to know to add this little improvement to your spring project list.

The first thing you’ll want to think about is whether you want a cool or warm hue in various rooms of your home. Light is measured in degrees Kelvin and the brightness of light bulbs mimic the brightness of the sun. To give you an idea of what this means, the sun is at its brightest at around midday when it measures a very bright, white-blue light that tops out at about 6000K. A morning sunrise or afternoon sunset will be a warmer or more orange hue and will measure in at about 3000K. Generally, 4000k is considered neutral.

So how do we convert that sunlight to inside light? If you’re used to incandescent bulbs, you’re probably thinking about wattage. But contrary to popular belief, wattage is actually the measure of energy a bulb uses as opposed to its brightness. To measure brightness you need to consider lumens, which will help make the conversion easier. As an example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb creates 800 lumens of light, but an LED bulb that produces the same amount of brightness only requires 15 watts.

So after figuring out the math, how do you choose the right bulb for your home? If you’re a 9-to-5er, chances are that you’re home a lot more often when the sun is coming up or going down, and you’d probably be more comfortable with LED lighting that replicates a warm glow. This is especially true in relaxing rooms like bedrooms and living rooms. In these cases, I would suggest no more than 4,000 lumens. If you work from a home office or do a lot of cooking, these rooms require brighter light, so 6,000 lumens of light or greater might be more appropriate. 

It’s also worth noting that many LED light bulbs come with dimmer settings which can be very helpful in controlling light so long as your current fixtures are set up for it. I’d also keep an eye out for the ENERGY STAR logo when shopping for LED lights. While many manufacturers offer serious energy efficiency claims, ENERGY STAR actually tests and certifies the ones that offer the best products in the market.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Choosing the Best Driveway Material for Your Home

A cold winter and damage from plow trucks and salting might have your driveway looking a little worse for wear. I’ve had curbs taken off more times than I can count, and cracks almost always appear as a result of rough weather and surface materials that haven’t been updated in some time.

While it’s true that a driveway is a convenient place to park your car, it also offers considerable curb appeal and can increase the resale value of a home if a potential sale is in your near future. Of course, when considering driveway material, there are many to consider and what works for one house might not work so well for another. So let’s go through the pros and cons of the four most popular options to help you make the best decision for your home.

Asphalt

This is the most popular driveway material and for good reason - it’s practical and easy to install. An average asphalt driveway and typically be laid in a day and if properly maintained, they can last for up to 30 years or more. An asphalt driveway is also a safe bet with our cold winters and hot summers as they can stand up to severe temperature changes.

Sounds pretty good right? I think so, but there are a few drawbacks to be aware of. For starters, asphalt only comes in one color - black. So if you’re looking for something special to match the aesthetic of your home, you aren’t going to find it here. Another thing to consider is that asphalt does crack and crumble with age, but problem areas can be resealed so you don’t need to replace the whole driveway with every blemish.

Gravel

For people looking for a driveway solution on a budget, gravel might be the way to go. While they aren’t as popular as they once were, gravel is great for very long or intricately shaped paths. On the flip side, using loose stone can get very sloppy and you’ll likely find yourself regularly going out to get new materials to replace what’s been lost from both the weather and everyday use. Gravel is also tough to plow and shovel, so take that into consideration if your driveway gets a lot of snow.

Pavers

No one can deny the beauty of a brick or stone driveway. Homeowners love them for an upscale look that can mimic the style of the property while still offering a strong and reliable material that will last for decades. Of course, with beautiful pavers also comes high product and labor costs as each piece will have to be laid by hand. Take this into consideration when you’re thinking about which material to use as the installation of this material will likely mean your driveway will be out of commission for a lot longer than some of the other options.

Concrete

If you’d like a driveway with some individuality but don’t want to fork over the cash for pavers, concrete might be your best bet. Concrete is poured quite easily so the installation is relatively fast, although you’ll need to wait a week to drive on it. There are also many options to stamp or dye the material to create a unique look, including mimicking the design of pavers. While concrete is still more expensive than asphalt, it also lasts a really long time - 30 years or more. The downside? Concrete can be susceptible to cracking and can be pricier to fix.

No matter what type of driveway material you decide on, the end result will only be as good as what’s underneath the material. A qualified professional will discuss elevation, drainage, and environmental factors with you to help you make the best choice for your home.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

A Water Heater Tune-Up is Essential In Late Winter

This past week’s warm-up had us all thinking about beautiful spring days, but it’s around this time that a sudden cold snap can hit, throwing us back into the throngs of winter. After a long season of use, your hot water heater might be feeling some pain, so now is a great time to make sure it’s in excellent working order - both for next year and in the event that you’ll be needing it in tip-top condition for another month. Here are some tips.

• As a water heater operates, it collects sediment that can cause decay if left in the tank over time. Don’t let this happen to yours. Drain your water heater at least twice a year to get rid of any buildup, which will prevent corrosion and increase the machine’s energy efficiency.  

• First turn off the unit and give it plenty of time to cool down. Then, using a garden hose and pump, drain the water into a bucket. If the bucket becomes filled with brown, sediment-tainted water, continue to refill and drain your heater until the water looks normal again. When you’re in the clear, you can disconnect your hose and turn the unit back on.

• Keep your water heater at a steady 120 degrees and lower it down if you’re planning on leaving the house for three days or more. For every 10 degrees, you decrease the temperature, you’ll save five percent in energy costs.

• Insulate the tank and pipes with fiberglass. For the tank, fit a fiberglass blanket using foil tape, but be sure not to cover any valve or pipe openings. For the pipes, you can use fiberglass wrap or foam insulation. By adding a layer of insulation to your water heater, you’ll keep the warmth from escaping into the air and you’ll protect the machine from condensation in the warmer months.

• If you have a valve that’s leaking, make sure that the fittings are nice and tight. If that doesn’t work, you might have to replace the valves or fittings. You can find the parts you’ll need at a local hardware store – just don’t forget to shut off the water first!

Remember, working with electric or gas appliances can be dangerous. If you’re not familiar with how your unit operates or if you’re not comfortable with this kind of work, contact a plumber for a routine maintenance check.  

The average lifecycle of a water heater is about eight to twelve years and they can cost anywhere from $300 for an electric tank system to well over $1,000 for a tankless energy efficient natural gas machine. If you’re in the market for a new machine, do your research and make sure you maintain it regularly to ensure it will go the distance.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.