Winter weather can be hard on your electrical system, especially when it comes to your lighting. Your indoor lighting will be relatively safe from the elements, but you’ll have to do some extra work to make sure that your outdoor lighting remains reliable and efficient throughout the winter. Here are some tips that will help with that.
Check Your Lighting Before the Winter Weather Hits
Take some time to walk around your property and check your lighting before winter. Clean dirt and debris from all of your fixtures, inspect all visible wiring for signs of damage or corrosion, and check to make sure all of your bulbs are working. Replace any bulbs that aren’t.
Mark the Locations of Your Lights
Before it snows, mark the location of any fixtures near your driveway or sidewalk. Reflective driveway markers are best, but tall wooden stakes will work as well. This will prevent anyone from accidentally running over a fixture or wiring with a vehicle or snowblower.
Clear Snow Away Gently
When snow piles up, clear it away from your fixtures and wiring gently with a broom. Never use a metal shovel because it can cause damage to your fixtures.
Avoid Salt
While salt is effective at melting ice on your walkway and driveway, keep it away from your lighting fixtures and any wiring. Salt corrodes wiring and can damage the finish on your fixtures. Place sand on hard surfaces for traction instead.
Inspect Your Fixtures Regularly
Professionally installed outdoor lighting will have sealed fixtures and waterproof wiring, so it should be relatively safe from moisture. On the other hand, the ground itself can pose a problem for your lights in the winter. As the water in the soil freezes and thaws, it pushes upward and can knock some of your lights out of place. This is why you should walk around your property when the weather changes drastically to make sure everything is still in place. Do this after a deep freeze as well as when it warms up quickly. If you notice any trouble at all, never attempt to fix the issues yourself because electricity is dangerous when you don’t have the proper training. Call an electrician.
As long as you are careful with your lights and you check on them regularly, they should serve you well throughout the winter. It is also critical to have a professional inspection from an electrician once each year because they can make sure all electrical components are standing up to the elements. If you have any issues with the lighting in and around your Nahunta, GA home, call Hendrix Air.
