A whole yard of outdoor lights not working at once usually comes down to the power or timer rather than the fixtures, and you can often sort it out yourself.
Start with the Timer, GFCI, and Breaker
The three most frequent issues that lead to outdoor lighting malfunctions are as follows:
Power Outage
Power outages do occur, as many of us in Atlanta recently discovered. A timer for outdoor lights that changes to battery backup mode will only operate for a brief period of time. The batteries are most likely exhausted if the power has been gone for several hours or even days. Replace the batteries after checking the automatic timer and resetting it if necessary.
Tripped GFCI
Strong storms and strong rains can flood outdoor electrical outlets, and we all know how dangerous it is to combine electricity with water! When water has reached an electrical outlet, a fail-safe device known as a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, or GFCI, shuts off the electricity. This is probably also in your kitchen and bathroom. Pushing the reset button found on each GFCI outlet should restore the brightness of your outdoor lighting.
Tripped Breaker
Check the breaker if the outside lighting isn’t operating even after the timer, backup batteries, and GFCI outlet have been reset. If the electricity went off at any point following a stormy weather event, it might trip the breaker. Reverse the switch, and the timer-controlled outdoor lighting should turn back on.
What It Means When the Power Is On but the Light Stays Dark
If you’ve reset the timer, GFCI, and breaker but a light still won’t come on, the fault sits somewhere between the power source and the light. The most common causes are:
- A failed lamp or LED driver. An LED lamp can look fine and still have a failed driver, the built-in electronics that regulate its power.
- A loose or corroded connection. Moisture in a connector or socket can cut power to one light or a whole run.
- A damaged cable. Cable can be nicked by an edger or shovel, or chewed by animals.
- A timer or transformer fault. The transformer is the box that powers low-voltage lights, and a fault in either the timer or the transformer can leave a whole section dark while the outlet still has power.
A single outdoor light not working while the rest of the yard glows usually points to that fixture or its connection. Our guide to common outdoor lighting problems goes deeper on corrosion and pest damage.
If you’ve tried everything and your outside lights are still not working, call us at (470) 870-0606 for landscape lighting repair rather than opening up the wiring yourself. During a diagnostic visit, our technician checks how your whole lighting system is working and looks for safety concerns, finds what needs repair, and tells you whether the system can be repaired or restored. Where possible, we handle minor repairs within the allotted time.
How Should an Outdoor Light Fixture Be Cared For?
Today’s outdoor light fixtures hold up to weather better than older ones, but dirt builds up on lenses, and moisture can corrode sockets over time. Heavy rain can also wash away the soil over buried cable and leave the wiring exposed. If you spot exposed cable or a fixture knocked out of place after a storm, let us know.
What Does Outdoor Light Maintenance Involve?
It is advised to do at least annual outdoor light maintenance, which includes adjustment, bulb replacement, and cleaning, to obtain the greatest performance out of your outdoor fixtures. The work is simple but can fill a day on a larger system. Depending on the number and placement of your outdoor lighting, it may be easier to have us do the bi-annual outdoor light maintenance.
Protecting Your Investment
We maintain and repair systems other companies installed when a system’s condition and the scope of the work allow it, and our maintenance plans include a yearly cleaning and aiming visit. Whatever your system needs, we’ll help you work out the next step. Contact us today!
