Landscape Lighting Maintenance: Keep Your System Running Perfectly
Modern LED landscape lighting requires far less maintenance than the old halogen systems — but “low maintenance” doesn’t mean “no maintenance.” A little attention keeps your system looking its best and prevents small problems from becoming expensive repairs.
Monthly: Quick Visual Check
Once a month, walk your property after dark and look for:
- Fixtures that aren’t turning on (could be a bulb issue, loose connection, or damaged wire)
- Fixtures knocked out of alignment by lawn mowers, foot traffic, or weather
- New shadows or dark spots where light used to reach (plants may have grown and blocked a fixture)
- Flickering lights (usually a loose connection or transformer issue)
This 5-minute walkthrough catches 90% of issues before they become problems.
Seasonally: Clean and Adjust
Spring: After winter, clean all fixture lenses. Salt, dirt, and debris accumulate over the winter months and reduce light output significantly. A simple wipe with a damp cloth restores full brightness. Also check for frost heave — fixtures may have shifted and need re-aiming.
Summer: Check that growing landscaping hasn’t blocked fixtures. Trim back any branches or plants that are now in the beam path. Adjust fixture angles as needed to accommodate plant growth.
Fall: Clear fallen leaves from around fixtures, especially well lights and path lights that can get buried. Check that your timer is adjusting for shorter days — fixtures should turn on earlier as sunset moves up.
Winter: Make sure snow removal doesn’t damage path lights or fixtures near walkways and driveways. Mark fixture locations before the first snow if you use a plow service.
Annually: Professional Service
Once a year, it’s worth having a professional check your system. Our annual maintenance service includes:
- Inspect and clean every fixture
- Re-aim and adjust all fixtures for optimal coverage
- Check all wire connections and splice points
- Test transformer output and efficiency
- Verify timer and photocell operation
- Replace any failed components
- Report on overall system health
Common Issues We See
Fixtures buried by mulch: When landscapers add fresh mulch each spring, they sometimes bury low-profile fixtures. Make sure your landscaper knows where your fixtures are.
Mower damage: Path lights near lawn edges get clipped by mowers more often than you’d think. Consider marking fixtures with small flags during mowing season.
Corrosion at connections: Wire nuts and splice connectors can corrode over time, especially in wet soil. Waterproof connectors and proper splice techniques prevent this — but it’s worth checking annually.
Schedule Annual Maintenance
📞 Call (847) 566-0099 or Schedule Service
Part of our Complete Guide to Landscape Lighting.