Spring Maintenance for Your Outdoor Lights

Winter storms, natural erosion, and animal activity can all wreak havoc with your outdoor lighting system. So, while you’re spring cleaning and getting the outside of your home ready for backyard BBQs and pool parties, it’s also a great time to think about spring maintenance for your outdoor lights. Below, we’ve put together a helpful checklist to get you started.

Clean Fixtures and Lenses

Use a soft cloth and mild soap or cleaner to remove dirt, bugs, and debris from fixtures. For lenses or glass covers, glass cleaner or a solution of vinegar and water works well. While you’re cleaning, take note of any fogging inside the fixtures. Even if there are no visible cracks or damage, moisture inside the fixtures usually indicates problems with the seal.

Inspect for Damage

Check each individual fixture carefully for any signs of damage. Cracks, rust, and broken lenses or fixture parts are usually easy to spot and should be addressed. Less obvious signs of damage might appear in the wiring. Look for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections, and signs of animal activity like chewing.

Replace Light Bulbs

If you find any burnt-out bulbs, replace them. Now might be a good time to replace your bulbs with LED bulbs, if you haven’t made the switch already. Industry experts choose LED bulbs because they are safer, more energy-efficient, emit less heat, and last longer than traditional bulbs. Houston Lightscapes can retrofit your current fixtures so that you can take advantage of the benefits of LED lighting without having to install an entirely new lighting system.

Adjust Positions of Fixtures

Storms, heavy wind, foot traffic, animals, and rain can all affect the alignment of your lighting, especially path lights and floodlights near entrances and your garage. Reposition your fixtures to make sure the light is going where you want it and there are no dark spots.

Reset Timers and Check Sensors

More daylight means that you can use your outdoor lights for fewer hours at night. Using timers and adjusting them for each season will save you money on your energy bills. Another way to make your lighting more energy-efficient is to use motion detecting lights and solar lights. For these types of lights, your spring maintenance should involve cleaning the motion sensors or photocells so that the lights function correctly.

Trim Overgrowth

Clear away branches and trim any plants or other vegetation that might be blocking your lights. Not only can overgrowth knock your lights out of position, but it also reduces visibility and safety.

Test Your System

Run a system test at dusk. Walk around your entire property, noting any dark spots, uneven or dim lighting, and any flickering. If you notice any of these issues, especially if you have an older system, it might be a good idea to have lighting professionals check your wiring.  

Let Houston Lightscapes Help With Your Maintenance Needs

The lighting professionals at Houston Lightscapes provide all of the maintenance services listed above and more. When you schedule a maintenance visit with us, we make sure that your entire system is running at peak safety and efficiency. From replacing sockets to burying exposed wiring to checking the voltage of each individual light, we do it all.

Call us today to get your spring maintenance visit on the calendar or for a free consultation to see if retrofitting is right for you.