To keep your outdoor lighting in great condition, you’ll need to perform some maintenance tasks.
Winter is on the horizon, and it’s during this time of year that the days are the shortest. This means your outdoor lighting will be more critical now than at any other time. You need to make sure your lights are always functional. To keep your outdoor lighting in great condition, you’ll need to perform some maintenance tasks.
Keep Lenses Clean
Lenses that have dirt and debris on them are dimmer and can put more strain on the bulb. This makes them less effective at night. That’s why you need to clean all of your outdoor lighting lenses if you want your lighting to be as effective as possible. Pay extra attention to low-setting ground lights because they are more likely to get dirty. Clearing off snow is also recommended when needed.
Look for Exposed Wires
Whenever the ground freezes and thaws, wires can sometimes be pushed to the surface. You need to inspect any exposed wires and rebury them before the ground freezes. If you see damaged wire or copper, it means you have to make repairs. This shouldn’t be done on your own. Contact us to set up a service call so we can take a look at the problem.
Adjust Fixtures
As time goes by, outdoor lighting fixtures can get moved, suffer damage or plants can grow around them. For this reason, it’s a good idea to walk around your yard every now and then so you can realign any fixtures that aren’t in place. You may need a screwdriver or allen wrench. You also need to be careful when removing any snow near your outdoor lighting fixtures. If you decide to hire a professional for this, tell them that you have fixtures near places they’re going to plow. If it helps, you can use flags or poles to show where your fixtures are.
Check Bulbs
Light bulbs don’t last as long under extreme temperatures. This is why you need to check your bulbs often. Replace any bulbs that aren’t working as soon as you notice a problem. All bulbs in a low-voltage system draw in a little voltage. When bulbs stop working, the remaining bulbs get additional voltage, which shortens their lifespans as well. That’s why you want all of your lights working at all times. You also do not want to mix LED bulbs with other bulbs in your system. If you are changing your lighting system over to LED, do all the bulbs at one time. That way they are all drawing similar voltage.
Check for any Moisture-Related Issues
Ice and snow are common in the winter, and this leads to outlet problems. Water can trip the GFCI outlet. If this occurs, you should push the reset button on your outlet and close the cover immediately. Moisture and electricity are a bad mix, and it can be dangerous. You might not want to tackle problems like these alone. Instead, take the right precautions by calling a licensed professional who knows how to do the job safely. Moisture can also get into fixtures, so it is a good idea to check this as well. Moisture can cause the fixture to corrode prematurely, as well as, put more wear and tear on the bulb. This in turn makes the bulb burn out faster.
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