6 Tips To Maintain Your Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting plays a crucial role in welcoming visitors and improving the curb appeal of your home. It not only assists guests in locating your home easily but also serves as a deterrent for potential intruders and nocturnal wildlife like armadillos, deer, and wild hogs. Motion sensors provide an energy-efficient solution by activating the lights whenever someone or something enters the yard, ensuring both safety and cost savings.
While outdoor lighting can be a significant investment, especially for larger yards, regular maintenance is essential to ensure optimal functionality and aesthetics. Neglecting proper maintenance can lead to damage and potentially require costly replacements for your outdoor lighting equipment.
What Causes Damage to Outdoor Lighting?
Malfunctioning outdoor lighting not only poses annoyance but also presents a safety hazard. Frayed wiring can result in electrocution, while the quality of lighting is often compromised by vegetation growth around the light fixtures. Animals gnawing on the wiring, inclement weather, moisture, dry rot, dust, and dirt can also inflict damage on outdoor lighting systems.
Checklist for Inspection and Maintenance
To safeguard your outdoor lighting, it is essential to conduct regular inspections and maintenance. The frequency of these activities depends on your specific circumstances. If you routinely remove weeds on a weekly or bi-weekly basis during the summer, your maintenance schedule may be less burdensome. We recommend initiating quarterly inspections and undertaking the following tasks during an exterior lighting inspection and maintenance service:
Cleaning Reflectors and Lenses
Improperly directed lighting and clarity issues can arise from cloudy or dirty reflectors (the area surrounding the bulb). It is important to ensure that the internal reflector remains free of dirt, debris, spiderwebs, and water spots caused by inclement weather. Thoroughly clean the entire lens until it is transparent and clear.
Cleaning Around the Lighting Fixture
Outdoor lighting fixtures are often covered by grass, weeds, tree limbs, bushes, dirt, or mulch/groundcover. This not only hampers the proper functioning of the lights but can also lead to wiring damage and further accumulation of dirt on the light's surface. Take the time to trim the area surrounding the fixtures to mitigate these issues. Additionally, address any areas where water may accumulate by filling them with dirt or other suitable materials, as standing water poses its own hazards.
Inspect for Damaged Fixtures
Outdoor lighting fixtures that are corroded, broken, damaged, or dented are not only ineffective but also pose a safety risk. In-ground lighting, in particular, is prone to damage from being stepped on, kicked, chewed by animals, or accidentally struck by lawn equipment. It is crucial to promptly replace significantly damaged fixtures, even if they still function, to prevent electrical fires or the risk of electrocution.
When replacing damaged equipment, ensure that you select either the exact same fixture or one with the same wattage. If you require assistance, an outdoor lighting specialist can provide guidance in choosing an appropriate replacement fixture.
Replace Burnt Out or Malfunctioning Bulbs
Replacing bulbs before they completely burn out is essential for maintaining the safety of your home. Consider upgrading when replacing bulbs, as there are numerous energy-efficient options available in the market today, with LED bulbs being a particularly favorable choice. If certain areas appear dim or inadequately illuminated, replacing the bulbs is the recommended course of action.
Verify Proper Alignment of Fixtures
The primary purpose of landscape lighting is to illuminate specific areas of your yard. Factors such as wind, heavy snow or rain, people walking through the yard, or even animals can cause outdoor lighting fixtures to become misaligned. Check each light to ensure they are positioned correctly. If any fixtures have shifted, simply push them gently in the desired direction to readjust their alignment.
Inspect for Exposed and Damaged Wires
Exposed or damaged wires present a significant safety concern and require immediate attention. While it is generally acceptable to bury wires, it is crucial to ensure they are undamaged. If you come across any wires that are exposed, frayed, or improperly sealed, it is advisable to contact a professional lighting technician who can replace them accordingly.
