Royal Creations Blog

How To Maintain Your Light Fixtures

Over the last couple of months, we at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping have been discussing how to maintain your equipment and landscape beds.  You also need to maintain the lights that show off your landscape and outdoor living spaces.  Here are the steps we recommend. 

Total System Inspection 

We recommend a total system inspection.  This includes the wiring, lamps, transformer, fixtures, and timer/photocells.  While this type of inspection takes some effort, once it is done you know the system is safe and will work without trouble for the next year.  To do this, you need to turn on the system. 

Check the Lamps & Connections 

Check to see if the lamps inside the fixtures work.  If they are not, or give signs they are failing, replace them.  LED lights last thousands of hours, but they do eventually fail.  Any easy way to test a failed lamp is to swap it with one in a fixture that you know is working.  If it still doesn't work it may be a connection that is the problem.  You can trace back the wire to a connection within a few feet and resplice to make sure the wire is good or you could use a volt meter to check if you have power. 

Clean the Fixtures 

Over time, dust and dirt mar the light fixtures and cover the lens on the fixtures.  Clean the fixtures with a damp cloth.  Do not use a wet one or you can damage the fixture.  Clean all the lenses with a glass cleaner so they can shine brightly.  This step may need to be taken on a regular basis, probably 3-4 times a season, to keep everything looking nice all year around. 

Adjust and Aim Fixtures 

Storms, animals, and sometimes guests, may bump your fixtures so they are not aimed properly anymore.  In addition, plants grow, and the light may not show them at their best anymore.  This means they will not illuminate the feature you want to put a spotlight on.  Adjust any fixture that isn’t just right so that it is aimed exactly where you want it.  You may have to do this in the evening so you can see the lights the way your guests will. 

Test the Transformer 

The transformer takes the house current and reduces it so the LED light fixtures can use it without burning out.  Testing the transformer makes sure it is properly reducing the current so your LED light fixtures will last a long time.  Re-tighten any terminal blocks that have worked loose during the last year.  Inspect all the internal components to make sure they are clean, do not show too much wear, and do not have any burned spots.  Replace any problem components you find. 

Check the Clocks/Photocells 

Now that the time has changed, set the clocks for the season.  If you use photocells, which turn on the lights at dusk and turn them off at dawn, make sure they are functioning properly.  Clean the surface so dirt doesn’t block the lens and make the lights turn on prematurely.  Use a damp cloth. 

Repair and Re-bury Wire 

Check the wire you can see for any cuts or nicks in the wire.  Repair any you find.  Re-bury any exposed wires that should be buried.  Make sure the wires are deep enough to avoid damage during the year. 

Trim Plants That Block Lights 

As plants grow, they may begin to block the lights set around them.  Trim any plant material that is causing a problem by blocking the light.  Be careful not to trim more than a third of the plant, including any pruning you have done in the last two months, or you will damage the plant. 

Make Changes as Needed 

Lighting innovations are continually being developed.  Update your lighting fixtures and lighting system as new and better components are available.  As an example, you can find some new things for 2022 in this article.   

In addition, your needs may change.  Perhaps a plant has died, so there is no need for that light.  Or, you have planted another tree and need new lights to show it off.  New hardscape features need lights, too.  Expand your lighting system to illuminate all your landscape and outdoor living areas. 

We Can Help 

Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can tune your lighting system for the year.  We will run through this checklist and make sure all parts of your landscape lighting system are working correctly.  Schedule a consultation or call (816) 825-2524 to get on our schedule today.  Hurray, our schedule is filling up fast.