Charlotte Holiday Lighting: Lessons From Clark Griswold

With Christmas less than two months away, homeowners are starting to gear up for their Charlotte holiday lighting projects. This means several trips to the dusty attic, countless hours of untangling strands of lights, checking bulbs and a long weekend on the ladder. There is nothing like a house that is beautifully decorated for the Christmas season, but putting it all together can be a pain.

As Charlotte's top holiday lighting company, Irrigation and Lighting Specialist can help take the stress out of your holiday season with our decorating service. Our holiday lighting team specializes in creating festive designs that will compliment the exterior of your house and spread Christmas cheer. From Christmas lights to lawn ornaments, we take care of everything.

Charlotte Christmas Lighting Vacation

If you have ever seen any of the National Lampoon Vacation movies, then you are familiar with the Griswold family and their goofy world of mishaps and shenanigans. In the 1989 installment of the series, Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, decides to host his family for the holidays in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 

While Clark is hoping for a nice vacation at home with his family, we soon see that he has bitten off more than he can chew, especially when it comes to Christmas lights. Below, we explore some hilarious mistakes made by Clark in his attempt to create a memorable holiday light show. 

A Tangled Mess

Clark starts his holiday lighting adventure by unloading  and sorting through several boxes of extremely tangled lights. By the looks of it, his lights were just thrown into the box the previous year. 

To avoid a tangled mess, be sure to be carefully package your lights at the end of the season. It will pay off when you have to get them out next year. Irrigation Lighting Specialist takes down all your lights and decorations, wraps them up and safely prepares them for storage.

Dangers of a Staple Gun and Ladder

In the next part of Clark's holiday lighting project, he finds that hanging lights is harder and more hazardous than he thought. After stapling his entire sleeve to the house, he nearly tips the ladder over and falls.

This is just a movie. In real life, Mr. Griswold would be visiting the emergency room. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that around 18,000 individuals received medical care for holiday decorating falls. Don't hurt yourself, let the experts at Irrigation and Lighting Specialist handle the entire installation process.

Power!!!

After installing 25,000 Italian-imported twinkle lights, Clark calls the entire family onto the lawn to debut the fruits of his labor. After a family drumroll, Clark hits the switch to find that none of the lights work. He checks every bulb and still can't find the problem. We find out later that the outlet switch wasn't turned on.

When you hire Irrigation and Lighting Specialist for your holiday decorating needs, you can count on your lights working. We check all the bulbs for you and complete any maintenance to ensure you don't leave your audience disappointed.

Professional Design and Safety 

After a long and frustrating battle with his Christmas lights, Clark finally gets his display to work. But, as you can see in the video clip above, there are several things wrong with the Griswold Christmas abode.

In addition to the surge protecter at the back of the house, the electrical socket in the garage is far too overloaded. This is a huge fire hazard and can send your Christmas spirit to a screaming halt. When we install your holiday decorations, we always follow the strictest safety guidelines to guarantee the safety of you and your home.

Second of all, the lighting design is obtrusive. In comedic fashion, Clark goes a little overboard with the lights - so much that it blinds his neighbors. It may seem funny, but this actually happens. Novice Christmas light decorators end up creating something that is more offensive than pretty. Our lighting experts have years of experience and can create tasteful lighting scheme you'll love.

To learn more about our Charlotte holiday lighting service or to schedule a free holiday decorating consolation, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or 803-831-0506 or email John. When it comes to your holiday decorating, don't pull a Clark Griswold. Hire a professional! 

Is Time Running Out for Charlotte Irrigation Winterization?

According to local weather reports, the Charlotte area will experience their first taste of freezing temperatures this weekend. Highs will be in the 50's, and lows are expected to reach well into the lower 30's - which is cold enough to cause the ground to freeze.

As a leading provider of Charlotte irrigation winterization, Irrigation Lighting Specialist is often asked whether an irrigation system is vulnerable to freezing before it has been properly winterized. While there is a potential danger, the chances of your irrigation system experiencing major damages is less than it would be during the winter months, when freezing temperatures are daily.

"In Charlotte, it is common to have a few frosts before the winter months officially start," said John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "When these frosts do occur, there is a chance that water can become frozen inside your system and cause damage. However, it is less likely to cause significant damage because these drops in temperatures are usually quick and followed by warmer conditions. These quick changes prevent the ground from freezing deep enough to affect your system drastically."

Time is Ticking for Charlotte Irrigation Winterization 

The Charlotte region may not have reached the season where freezing temperatures are a daily occurrence, but it won't be long before the season hits. We suggested scheduling your annual winterization as soon as possible. Waiting until it is too late can prove costly, especially when compared to the cost of properly winterizing the system. 

To properly winterize your irrigation system, all water from your pipes and equipment must be removed. When water freezes inside your system, it will cause pipes and fittings to burst, valves to crack and sprinkler and pump cases to split open - leaving you with a lot of repairs when spring arrives. 

"Charlotte homeowners should call us as soon as possible to schedule their annual winterization," said Minor. "We've already begun winterizing systems, and the remaining appointments are filling up fast. With temperatures already freezing, it is essential to protect your irrigation system." 

For more information about our Charlotte irrigation winterization services or to schedule an appointment, call John Minor with Irrigation Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or 803-831-0506 or email John. We look forward to protecting the integrity of your irrigation system with our winterization services!

Charlotte Irrigation Winterization is Essential

You may want to invest in a thick coat because this winter is going to be bitterly cold. According to the Farmers' Almanac, Charlotte will have above-average snowfall and colder temperatures this year. With the thermometer expected to drop into the 40's by the end of the month, now is the time to start preparing for Jack Frost.

Depending on your home, preparing it for the winter may include cleaning the chimney, reversing your ceiling fans, insulating windows and covering your pipes. But, if you have an irrigation system, it is important to add Charlotte irrigation winterization to your list of things to do.

"Winterizing your irrigation system is a must this year, especially with the freezing weather our area is expected to have," said John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "Your irrigation system is just like any other feature in your home, it is an investment and needs to be taken care of. Winterizing your irrigation system extends its life and helps you avoid irrigation repairs in the spring."

Irrigation Winterization Basics

When preparing your irrigation system for the winter, it is important that it is done correctly. A properly winterized irrigation system will help you avoid damages and ensures your system is ready to operate come spring. 

The winterization process consists of expelling all of the water from your irrigation system and equipment. This is necessary because water freezing in your irrigation system can create a lot of damages.

Mot substances get smaller as they get cold, but not water. It expands and increases in volume by one-eleventh. For example, 11 cubic feet of water will form about 12 cubic feet of ice. This expansion creates enough force to cause pipes and fittings to burst, valves to crack and sprinkler and pump cases to split open.

Quick Facts About Charlotte Irrigation Winterization  

• Do not trust manual or automatic drain valves. Pressurized air should be used to blow out the system. 
• Know the gallons per minutes that flow through each zone to determine the best sized compressor for your system. 
• It is required to have a back-flow prevention device if your irrigation system is attached to your house's main water line. 
• You should hire the seasoned professionals at Irrigation and Lighting Specialist to handle all of your Charlotte irrigation winterization needs! 

"It's important that you schedule your annual winterization shut-down as soon as possible," said Minor. "We usually begin winterizing systems in mid-November and appointments fill up fast."

To learn more about Charlotte irrigation winterization or to schedule an appointment, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or 803-831-0506 or email John. We look forward to helping prepare your irrigation system for the harsh winter ahead! 

'Tis the Season for Charlotte Holiday Lighting Service

Do you want to hear something that is scarier than anything you'll see this Halloween? Christmas is right around the corner, and it will be here before your Halloween sugar rush has the chance to wear off.

With Christmas only 75 days away, retail stores will be switching over from skeletons to Santa in the next few weeks, which means it is time to start thinking about holiday decorations. Instead of waiting until the last minute or laboring in the cold weather this season, how about trying something different and hiring a Charlotte holiday lighting service like Irrigation & Lighting Specialist. It will be the best gift you could give yourself all year!

"For years we have been decorating the Charlotte community with beautiful arrangements of lights and cheer," said John Minor of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "We have built a loyal client base who love our ability to create festive designs that compliments the beauty of their exteriors."

Professional Charlotte Holiday Lighting and Take Down

During the holiday season, people have enough on their plates. Between spending time with family, shopping crowded malls and other seasonal activities, who has time to pull out old lights and untangle them, much less climb a ladder and install them? Save the time and hassle this year and hire a professional. 

The Charlotte holiday lighting team at Irrigation and Lighting Specialist are trained to install and maintain your decorations. They will replace bulbs, repair any damage and do all the necessary wiring to ensure a safe and durable display. 

In addition to lighting, Irrigation and Lighting Specialist even handles all the other yard decorations. No need to wrestle with your over-sized snowman this year, our experts do it all. And, once the season has passed, they will even take down, wrap up and safely package your lights for storage. 

"As one of the top Charlotte holiday lighting services, we are able to draw from more than 26 years of experience in the field. We take care of everything, and we do it with professionalism," said Minor. "So instead of adding to the headache of the holiday season, leave the decorating to us." 

Holiday Lighting Process

We offer a free holiday decorating consultation with no obligation. We will discuss your decorating options and installation details. Once you have scheduled your consultation, we will begin the following process: 

• A professional design consultant will meet with you to determine what will best suit your design needs. 
• Our professional lighting technicians will install all of your holiday lights and decorations. 
• Our lighting technicians will also complete any maintenance needed to ensure your display is working properly. 
• After the holidays, we take the lights and decoratations down and prepare them for storage. 

To learn more about our Charlotte holiday lighting service or to schedule a free holiday decorating consultation, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or 803-831-0506, and you can also email John. We look forward to helping you create a beautiful holiday lighting display this year! 

Charlotte Outdoor Lighting Terminology

Charlotte outdoor lighting installations are popular projects during this time of year. Many people are trying to find new ways to add flair, flavor and function to the exteriors of their houses before the cold winter moves in. As with any project, research can come in handy.

"There are so many options to consider for Charlotte outdoor lighting installations," said John Minor, owner of Irrigation and Lighting Specialist. "It can be really helpful to look through magazines, websites and books to gather ideas and become inspired. It can open up a lot of possibilities and boost your creativity."

For research resources, be sure to check out our previous blog posts. They are loaded with information and tips!

Frequently Used Words in Charlotte Outdoor Lighting

As you are researching outdoor lighting installations, you may come across words and phrases that are confusing. As with any profession, outdoor lighting has its own lingo, and knowing that lingo can help you have a greater understanding of your next project.

Below are a few word definitions that are commonly used in outdoor lighting.

Adaptation - The process in which your eyes adjust to a change in light level. There is light adaptation and dark adaptation. Light adaptation is where your eyes adjust to brighter a scene and dark adaptation is where your eyes adjust to a darker scene. We reduce extreme adaptation so your outdoor lighting is more inviting and natural.

Diffused Light - Light that scatters in many directions and produces beams with soft edges. This effect can be accomplished by using techniques like frosted lenses or shading. We use diffused light to create exotic looks that highlight certain areas of your lawn.

Light Pollution - Excessive or obtrusive light that intrudes into unintended areas, like the inside of your home. This is a common problem with poorly installed and designed outdoor lighting schemes. To eliminate light pollution, we carefully design our lighting systems and use different effects and techniques to either reduce the amount of light or redirect it.

Luminance - The amount of light that is reflective off of different surfaces. For example, light is more reflective off of a white wall than it is a brick wall. We always consider luminance because it effects lighting patterns and could create unpleasant glares.

Visual Path - The path that your vision takes as it glances from one place to another. Visual paths often start and end at focal points. We use visual paths to create a natural transition throughout your exterior and to naturally highlight your landscape's beauty.

"It can be easy to get confused with some of the terminology that is used when researching outdoor lighting,"said Minor. "That's why we take the time to explain all the details to our customers in a way that is easy to understand. We want to make the installation process easy, while giving them plenty of options. The end result is an outdoor lighting design that is exactly what our customers envisioned."

To learn more about Charlotte outdoor lighting, call John Minor with Irrigation and Lighting Specialist at 704-747-0235 or 803-831-0506 or email John. We look forward to helping you obtain the outdoor lighting design of your dreams!