What are some problems with exterior lighting?

While exterior home lights are a wonderful thing, there are also some problems that you may encounter while using them. Here are some of the common issues faced:

 

-         Light shining in the windows. Exterior lighting is a wonderful thing; however it can be quite annoying when you’re trying to sleep and the lights are shining in your bedroom window. A few ways to prevent this are either to turn out exterior lights when getting ready for bed or to put timers or sensors on the lights so that they only illuminate when needed.

 

-         Lights turning on and off with any outside movement. Sensor lights are excellent when you are walking outside or when someone else is approaching the house; the problem is that some sensors are quite sensitive, even to small animals and materials that may be blowing across the yard or driveway. So, you’re standing up every few minutes to see who’s out front… An alternative to this bother is to buy lights which have more of a distinguishing capability. They are less sensitive to minute changes and more focused on large objects.

 

-         Improper use of the lights. Unfortunately, some of the major problems that occur with exterior lighting has to do with them being improperly used. Lights that have not been installed correctly pose large hazards to the home and to people. The same goes for lights that may have broken and have not yet been replaced. Leaking gas, broken glass, and faulty wiring all pose danger. Another threat arises when indoor lights are improperly used outdoors. Use only the proper voltage and weatherproof lights when installing exterior lighting.

 

-         Expensive electric bills. Unfortunately, the exterior lighting, if being consistently used, can become quite costly for the home owner. Using halogen or compact fluorescent light bulbs can help lower the energy costs. Timers can also help with this, turning on the lights only when you really want and need them on.

 

-         Darkness screaming “not home!” For some, a concern with lighting is that a consistently dark house indicates that the family is vacationing or away for another reason. However, leaving the lights on the entire time you’re gone can be very costly. This problem can be eliminated by using outdoor lighting fixtures with photocells. They turn lights on at sunset and off at sunrise, taking care of the lighting problem.