As a proud Tulsa area homeowner, you deserve to have your well-maintained lawn, flowers, and landscaping features stand out beautifully from the curb. Landscape lighting is great at accentuating your home. And that’s why it’s frustrating when your landscape lighting doesn’t work as it should.
But before you hit the panic button, take a deep breath and check out our handy outdoor lighting troubleshooting guide. Ask yourself these 6 questions to pinpoint where your landscape lighting challenge lies, and then try the suggested solutions. Often, the fix is easier than you think—allowing you to get your outdoor lighting shining bright again in no time.
1. Do you have power to your transformer?
It sounds obvious, but one of the main causes of lighting problems is a faulty electrical connection.
Why a power failure happens
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets trip if the connections get wet due to a heavy rainstorm, melting ice, or your sprinklers.
- These circuits also trip easily when they get old. If your circuits trip often, they may be old and in need of replacement.
What to do about it
- Be sure there are no nicks in the wire between the outlet and the transformer.
- Find the test/reset buttons in your GFCI outlets (they’re located in the middle of the outlet). Then press the reset buttons on each to see if that fixes the problem.
2. Is your timer set correctly?
Often, landscape lighting doesn’t work as you intended because of a timer problem.
Why a timer issue happens
- Even timers with a battery backup can fully drain and stop functioning.
- Power losses and other issues can cause timers to fail to come on at the scheduled time.
- Old-style, photocell-controlled transformers may develop a short in their wiring, or something may block them, making it hard for them to properly detect lighting changes.
- Bluetooth transformers can lose track of time after a power outage. As a result, your lighting might turn on and off at the wrong times.
What to do about it
- Replace battery backups, or contact your landscaper to replace them for you.
- To test photocells, cover them with black electrical tape to see if they turn on. Then remove the tape and make sure they turn off. If not, they may need to be replaced.
- Check to see if plants have overgrown the photocells. If so, try trimming away the blockages.
- Consider switching your timer to an astronomical clock that adjusts to changing nighttime hours. These timers last longer and are more reliable than photocells.
- For Bluetooth devices, be sure power is restored to the transformer. Then resync your transformer with the proper app on your phone. This should update your settings, allowing the timer to begin operating normally again.
3. Is there a cut in your low voltage lines coming from the transformer to your light fixtures?
If a specific section of your landscape lighting system suddenly goes out, it is possible that a line was cut.
Why a line break happens
- Electric wires are most often damaged due to activities such as hedge trimming, trenching, or nearby construction.
What to do about it
- Contact a professional landscaper! Electricity is not something to play around with. It’s best to contact experts.
- Our knowledgeable team can troubleshoot line break issues quickly and safely.
- Most often, all that is needed is a splice to connect the wire. And we can do that for you easily.
4. Are your connections corroded?
As your lighting system ages, any exposed connections can deteriorate, leading to intermittent or nonworking landscape lighting.
Why corrosion happens
- Age and related wear and tear are factors in this issue.
- DIY kits may be to blame as well. Many do-it-yourself landscape lighting kits use wire piercing connections because they are quick and easy to install. The downside is that as the copper corrodes, the connection loosens over time. As a result, your landscape lights stop working and replacement bulbs will fail to light.
What to do about it
- Upgrade your landscape lighting system.
- We use all-brass, heat-shrink connections that offer superior weather resistance.
- While outdoor wire nuts and other weatherproof connections can work, they will not last as long as a heat shrink connection. So keep that in mind as you consider your options.
5. Is your LED lighting working properly?
Many people believe LED bulbs don’t fail. But while they’re longer-lasting than older bulbs, they can still sometimes work improperly. If your fixture is out, it could just be a bad bulb.
Why it happens
- Water and heat can infiltrate or affect LED bulbs, causing them to eventually stop working.
- Running an LED bulb outside in the elements is hard on them, just as it’s hard on any lighting system. The elements can cause LED bulbs to have less life.
What to do about it
- If a random bulb or two is out, the fix is usually simple—replace them with new LED bulbs.
- If a whole section is out, doublecheck the bulbs, looking for cracks or other significant damage. This is uncommon, but it’s possible that something in the environment caused the bulb damage. Again, the fix is to replace the bulb.
- Consult with our team to see if there are ways to add protective elements around light fixtures to prevent wear and tear from the elements.
6. Is it time to replace your lighting system?
Perhaps it is simply time to replace your existing landscape lighting system with one that functions better. Your lighting system may be breaking down due to wear and tear. Or perhaps your needs have changed. A new system may better provide the functionality and lighting effects you’re dreaming of — without endlessly jerry-rigging your landscape lighting.
We offer professional-grade LED fixtures that are energy-efficient and low-maintenance. And our team of experts can quickly, effectively help you troubleshoot any lighting issues you’re having, as well as offer suggestions on new landscape lighting fixtures to meet your needs and enhance your home’s curb appeal. Contact us today at 918-808-8418 for a free consultation.
