How do I order lamps?

Use our online shopping forms to choose lamps and one of our lighting design professionals will contact you to confirm your order and arrange shipping.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept payment by Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

How do I return items?

Items purchased online may be returned for a refund within 30 days. Please see our Return Policy for more information.

How much will shipping cost?

After you place your order online our lighting design professional will provide shipping cost when they contact you. If the shipping amount is not satisfactory you may cancel your order at this time with no penalty.

Is my privacy protected?

Your privacy is always protected when dealing with Arevco Lighting. We will make every effort to protect your personal information and will never sell or give your information to anyone without your consent. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.

Can I place special orders?

We will do our best to accommodate special orders. If you have a special order please contact us.

Do you do repairs?

We can repair all types of incandescent and halogen lamps. Call or bring your lamp in for an estimate.

Do you make custom lampshades?

Our Ottawa location provides custom lampshade design services. Bring your lamp in and speak to one of our experts on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

Do you sell lamp parts?

We have most common lamp parts as well as solid brass and bronze finishing pieces. Please contact us for more information.

Do your products ever go on sale?

No, we keep our products competitively priced all year.

What type of light is best for reading?

Halogen bulbs produce the whitest and most natural light for reading.

How does Wattage relate to light output?

Wattage is a measurement of the electricity usage of a bulb. Lumens is a measurent of the total light output of a bulb. The efficiency of a bulb is calculated by comparing the light output to the energy usage.

The efficiency of a bulb is similar for light bulbs of the same type, so you can expect that by switching from a 100W to a 150W regular incandescent bulb that you will get about 50% more light. However, If you switch from a 60W regular incandescent bulb to a 60W halogen bulb you may actually get more light, because halogen bulbs are more efficient.

Is light output the same for reflector bulbs?

For reflector bulbs like an R20 or an MR16 Lux is more important than Lumens. Lux is a measurement of light on a surface. Reflector bulbs are available with different beam spreads. A bulb with the same wattage and a narrower beam will have a higher Lux. If you are lighting an object from a distance you may be able to choose a lower wattage reflector bulb with a narrow beam to save money on electricity.

Where should I use fluorescent lights?

Fluorescent lights are currently the most economical form of lighting for lights that are left on most of the time. Compact fluorescent lights that replace traditional light bulbs are an easy way to save energy in your home. Fluorescent lights will often last for 10,000 hours or more.

Fluorescent lights are best used in places where light quality is not your primary concern.

What are my options with fluorescent lights?

Fluorescent lights come in different colour temperatures. A colour temperature of 3000K is a yellowish light and 5000K looks bluer. If you are mixing fluorescent with other light sources a 3000K bulb is a good match for most regular incandescent bulbs and 5000K is a good match for most halogen bulbs.

Fluorescent lights produce light at several distinct frequencies instead of evenly across the spectrum of visible light. The most efficient fluorescent lights tend to produce uneven light across the visible wavelengths and have poor colour rendering. You can tell how even the colour spectrum on a fluorescent light is by looking for the "Colour rendering index" (CRI). Natural daylight, regular incandescent and halogen lamps have a CRI of 100. A CRI of 85 or higher is good for fluorescent, but many of the cheaper tubes have a CRI of only 25. If you are using fluorescent lights in an area where you will be working for a long period of time, a light with a high CRI will reduce eyestrain and fatigue.

We sell only fluorescent tubes with CRI values 85 and above. Call us at 1-800-542-4483 for pricing and availability.

What is the difference between halogen and regular incandescent bulbs?

Halogen bulbs produce a whiter light and are 10 to 20% more efficient than regular incandescent bulbs. Halogen can produce more light with a smaller bulb, and are often used in modern fixtures with sleek designs. Both types of bulbs can last as long as 6000 hours on average, but halogen bulbs tend to be more expensive to replace. If you need more light from an existing lamp there are halogen bulbs designed to replace most regular incandescent bulbs.

Arevco Lighting was one of the first stores in North America to sell halogen lamps. We carry a wide selection of quality halogen bulbs. We can help you with all your halogen light bulb questions and halogen lamp repairs.

Is it true that you cannot touch halogen bulbs?

Halogen bulbs have quartz envelopes and operate at a higher temperature than regular incandescent bulbs. If the quartz envelope is handled it should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol before being used or the bulb's life will be shortened.

Many halogen bulbs have a glass cover over the quartz envelope. These bulbs may be handled like a regular bulb.

Can a dimmer be used with halogen lamps?

You can use a dimmer with a halogen lamps but some low voltage halogen lamps require a special dimmer.

Particles from the filament in a halogen bulb will cycle from the filament to the inside of the quartz envelope and back while in operation. Halogen bulbs used on a dimmer will last longer if they are set to full "ON" for two minutes before being turned off — this helps the particles from the filament complete their cycle.

What about LED lights for my house?

Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology is very promising. LED lights are more efficient than even fluorescent in many colours. LED lights can last as long as 100,000 hours.

White LED lights have about the same efficiency as fluorescent lights. However, LED lights produce much less light than incandescent and fluorescent lights, and the light they produce is very directional. There are LED replacement bulbs for many halogen and incandescent lights.

LED lights do work well in certain applications. They make good flashlights and we carry a line of LED under-cabinet lights that are very effective.

For ordering information please contact us.

What is the difference between 120V and 130V light bulbs?

The standard line voltage in North America is 120 Volts (120V). 120V bulbs are designed to be the most efficient at that voltage. 120V bulbs will produce a brighter, whiter light than 130V bulbs. 130V bulbs, however, are more resistant to power surges and will last longer that 120V bulbs. Power surges are more common in rural areas.

We stock a variety of 120V and 130V bulbs. Call us at 1-800-542-4483 or come into one of our stores so we can help you find the right bulb for your purpose.

How can I use my European lamp in North America?

The wiring and bulbs in European lamps are designed to be run at 220 Volts, not at the 120 Volts we use in North America. There are a few ways to solve this problem.

One solution is to plug the lamp into a transformer that steps up from 120 to 220 Volts. This is a safe solution, but finding 220V replacement light bulbs is difficult in North America and the transformer may be expensive.

A more common solution is to change the bulb to a 120V bulb and to use a plug adapter. This solution is not recommended unless you know that the wiring in the lamp will be able to handle the higher amperage associated with running at 120V. Most simple 60 Watt table lamps with an on-off switch can be operated safely this way.

The best solution is to have your lamp professionally rewired and tested. This solution lets you use light bulbs that are easy to find, and lets you plug in your lamp without bulky attachments.

We have more than 20 years of experience importing and rewiring European lamps. Most rewiring is completed in less than one week. Bring your lamp in for a free estimate.