Outdoor lighting can be a great way to liven up your yard for entertaining guests, create a beautiful display of lights during the holidays, or add extra security to your home. However, it needs to be installed and maintained safely. Outdoor lighting is constantly exposed to the elements, and it presents challenges and safety hazards that don’t apply to indoor lighting. Outdoor lighting is rarely outright dangerous, but these tips will help ensure that your well-lit yard stays safe throughout the year.
1. Clean Your Light Fixtures Carefully
Your outdoor lighting fixtures will get dirty as they sit outside throughout the year. Naturally, they will need to be cleaned, but don’t use chemical cleaners to do so. Instead, turn off the power to your lights, and wipe away the dirt and grime with a soft cloth and some soap and water.
If you have to clean rust, hard water stains, or anything else from a lighting fixture that won’t come out with soap and water, you can clean it off with a mixture of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. Scrub away the stains, and gently rinse the fixtures with water, being careful to avoid getting water inside any electrical components.
2. Use the Right Bulbs
No matter what kind of lighting you have outside, make sure to use the correct bulbs. Check the socket for each fixture for the proper wattage and voltage combination, and use only bulbs with that combination. To avoid attracting insects, use LED bulbs in your fixtures whenever possible. LEDs emit less UV light, which tends to attract fewer bugs.
3. Change All Outdoor Lightbulbs at the Same Time
When just one lightbulb in your outdoor space goes out, it’s tempting to change just that one bulb without worrying about the others. Unfortunately, that’s not always a good idea. If you do, you might find that your other lightbulbs are softer or dimmer than the new bulbs. Not only can this affect the aesthetic of your outdoor space, but uneven lighting can be dangerous if it leaves part of a path in darkness.
If one lightbulb goes out, it’s best to change all the others at the same time. That may seem unnecessary, but it will make your yard that much safer and more aesthetically pleasing. After you change all your lightbulbs at once, you won’t have to worry as much about one or two burning out before the others.
4. Make Sure the String Lights Are Safe
Before you hang string lights on the outside of your home, check to make sure they’re safe. Not all string lights are approved for outdoor use, so look for a UL, ETL, or CSA safety label to make sure that you have the right lights.
Once you’ve determined that you have good outdoor string lights, check the wires to make sure they’re in good shape. If they’re missing insulation or otherwise damaged, don’t use them. Of course, you also need to make sure that the string lights you hang up aren’t hanging over any walkways. You shouldn’t have to duck to go under a string of lights, nor should you have to worry about tripping over them when walking through your yard at night.
5. Don’t Place Lighting on Grass or Near Flammable Material
Unless you have something like lighting stakes, you should never place an external lighting fixture directly on grass. The dewy moisture on your lawn could damage the fixtures and cause a short circuit. The same should be said about placing lights near wood mulch, firewood, or any other flammable material. When you arrange your exterior lighting, place fixtures only on concrete surfaces such as a patio or on a stake or platform.
Additionally, make sure to use **Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)** outlets for all outdoor lighting. GFCI outlets are designed to prevent electric shock by cutting off the power if moisture or a short circuit is detected. This is especially important for outdoor fixtures that are regularly exposed to rain or damp conditions.
6. Light Your Home for Security
If you’re installing exterior lighting to add security to your home, be smart about it. Make sure that all walkways are well-lit and that lights above your garage and front door are in good shape. When you’re designing your outdoor space, look for dark, secluded areas on your property, and make sure that they are well-lit.
Also, ensure that you’re using **weatherproof fixtures** that are specifically rated for outdoor use in wet conditions. These fixtures are designed to prevent water from seeping in, reducing the risk of electrical faults and ensuring your lights work reliably year-round.
Contact GVEC Electrician Services for Assistance
If you want to make sure that your exterior lighting is installed safely and properly, we’ll be happy to help. GVEC Electrician Services is an electrical contractor serving homeowners in Gonzales, New Braunfels, and surrounding South Central Texas counties. We can perform electrical inspections and upgrades as well as generator services and more. Our professional electricians are known for their precise and thorough work, and they will make sure that your exterior lighting is in good shape and safe for your home.
For more information about our exterior lighting services, call GVEC Electrician Services today.
