Reasons for Landscape Lighting Issues

Outdoor lighting highlights the most striking features of your home, and keeping lights functioning should be a part of regular home maintenance. Any problem with lighting can be frustrating for homeowners as failures can also compromise the safety and security of the property. Regular maintenance by a landscape lighting specialist is the best way to ensure that everything is in working shape. It is essential to determine the causes of frequent lighting failures. 

There is no one reason for outdoor lighting failures, and while some can be easily fixed by the homeowners, for some services, a professional is needed. Here are some of the most common reasons behind the failure of landscape lighting:

Light Bulbs

One of the most common reasons behind some of the outdoor lights not working is because the bulb is burned out and needs replacement. Lights bulbs don’t last forever, and if you are still using the traditional incandescent bulbs, consider replacing them with the LED bulbs. Some of the reasons behind bulbs burning out quickly include failed bulb socket, vibration, bulb wattage mismatch to the fixture, and low-quality bulbs. 

Timer issues

A Timer is an essential part of the lighting system, and faulty timers can cause lighting issues. If the timer doesn’t work even after pressing the restart or reset button, replace it with a new timer.

Connection issues

Failures of some lights can also be due to connection issues. If the connections are exposing the wire, they need replacement. Exposed connections can cause corrosion as they often loosen up and let moisture come in contact with the cables. It is usually best to use waterproof connectors. Other things that can cause bad connections include dry rot, vigorous landscape maintenance, and rodent damage. 

Weather conditions

Sometimes extreme weather conditions like lightning, heat, tropical storms, hurricanes, and power surges can cause the outdoor lighting system to fail. 

Tripped GFCI

If a whole section of light is not working, check the transformer for a tripped circuit. The GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) can fail for several reasons. When it fails due to water or other factors, it prevents electricity from reaching the outdoor lighting system. Locate the GFCI outlet and hit the reset button to solve the issue. 

Improper Voltage

If you feel the lights are dimmer than usual, an improper voltage can be the reason. To find the power, check the light at the end of the grouping. Low voltage will keep the bulbs from lighting brightly. 

Wiring

Old and broken wiring may also cause outdoor lighting to fail. Underground wiring issues or damage in spots with access difficulty will require an expert to fix the issue. Regular maintenance can help identify wiring problems on time. 

Other reasons that some or all of your landscape lighting failure includes non-functional switches, using poorly constructed fixtures, poor engineering, failing to do routine maintenance, and if the outdoor lighting project is accomplished without the help of a professional.

If you are unable to diagnose the reasons, call a landscape lighting specialist to diagnose and fix the outdoor lighting failure problems.

Springs of Life  Irrigation is a Phoenix-area irrigation company specializing in professional sprinkler and drip irrigation and landscape lighting installation and repair. Call 623-299-2996.