What to Know About Residential Recessed Lighting

Features

• When purchasing residential recessed lighting, look for lights that are designed for pin-based compact fluorescent light bulbs, which are energy-efficient. These types of lights last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. In addition, note that manufacturers have produced recessed lights available for use not only in new construction but also in older systems. A residential recessed light's can, or housing, is made of metal and features an inner trim design as well.

Disadvantages

• One problem of recessed lighting is that these lights pose a fire hazard if not installed correctly. Recessed lights cannot touch insulation, so any insulation present near the lights must be a minimum of 3 inches away. This produces a gap that allows for the release of heat from your home. However, a device made specifically to go in an insulated ceiling is available for you to put around your recessed lights so as to eradicate this aperture problem.

Installation

• Consider buying retrofit kits for updating a home that has aged recessed-lighting fixtures. These kits basically feature transformers that change your home's existing current into the 12-volt energy source your lighting needs. These kits are about $75 each.

  Meanwhile, to install new recessed lighting in a home, simply screw the recessed lighting can's bracket into your ceiling joists prior to drywalling the ceiling. When installing the lighting in a finished ceiling, trim a hole in the drywall and insert the can.

Costs

• Recessed lights typically cost about $20 to $60 each. However, the price of more expensive recessed lighting models that produce less heat and are more energy-efficient can reach as high as $150. Still, the cost of paying an electrician to do the residential recessed lighting installation is even pricier, reaching about $125 to $150 per light.