Using LED landscape lighting is one of the easiest ways to enhance your property. It’s a great option whether you’re using it for aesthetic purposes or safety. Before purchasing LED lighting for your yard, it’s important to understand more about it, including its benefits and how to maintain it, so you can make informed decisions about which options are ideal for you.
Can LED Landscape Lighting Help Me Save Money on Energy Costs?
Yes, it can help you cut down on energy costs compared to using other options, such as incandescent lighting. This means you’ll still get adequate lighting but pay less for it, helping to keep your electricity bills to a minimum.
How Long Does LED Landscape Lighting Last?
LED landscape lighting can last approximately 50,000 hours before needing to be replaced. This is several years’ worth of use. However, the lifespan can vary based on several factors, including the quality of the lights and how well they’re maintained. Regardless, it’s a significant difference compared to other options. For instance, the lifespan of incandescent outdoor lighting is about 1,000 to 2,000 hours, and halogen outdoor lighting lasts approximately 2,000 to 4,000 hours.
Can I Install the LED Landscape Lighting Myself?
Although it’s possible to install LED landscape lighting yourself, it’s typically better to have one of our professionals handle the task. This ensures it’s strategically placed for functionality and safety. Additionally, we can assess the condition of the lighting while we’re installing it, including making sure the wires are intact, to check that it’s flawless before you use it. We adhere to local code enforcement during installation.
How Does LED Landscape Lighting Improve Curb Appeal?
Installing new lighting can improve your curb appeal by highlighting special features of your yard and home. We can strategically place LEDs to showcase elements of your house, such as archways, giving it a more dramatic appearance. Additionally, the lighting can put gardens, trees, and shrubs on display once the sun goes down. Our team can also use it to line driveways, walkways, patios, gazebos, fences, and other areas of your property, which are especially popular in neighborhoods with smaller yards like the Fan, Museum, District, and Carytown.
Can LED Landscape Lighting Improve Safety?
LED landscape lighting can improve the safety of your property, but only if you position it properly. For instance, placing it randomly in the middle of your yard won’t be as effective for safety as if you put it next to your front door or under your windows where it gets pitch black at night. We can assist you with positioning it to make your property safer, especially when walking to or from your door in the evening.
How Can I Care for LED Landscape Lighting?
Taking care of your LED landscape lighting can help it last longer and maintain its appearance. Considering it’s exposed to the elements, dirt, debris, and pollen, keeping it clean is crucial. Dip a soft cloth in mild soap and water until it’s damp, not soaked, so you can wipe down the lighting regularly. You should also keep weeds, leaves, and other unnecessary greenery away from the lights to prevent damage.
When mowing your lawn (or if you hire a landscaper), consider temporarily removing the lighting so it won’t get damaged by a lawnmower, weed whacker, or other landscaping equipment. Additionally, regular self-inspections are important. They can help you identify any damage, such as cracks in the lights or frayed wires, so you can call us for assistance.
Where Can I Put LED Landscape Lighting?
You can put LED landscape lighting practically anywhere on your property. You can hang string lights on trees, on the outside of your home, on your porch, and on shrubs. Pathway lights are ideal for lining walkways to front, back, and side doors. Other options include your garage, and freestanding structures on the property. There are LED lights for stairs, which help reduce the risk of tripping while going up and down. LED wall lights are beneficial for illuminating columns, your porch, a gazebo, your garage, and various other exterior walls, helping to showcase your house while providing extra safety.
Do I Need a Professional Inspection of My LED Landscape Lighting?
A professional lighting inspection can be significant for helping to keep your lights in good condition and working properly. We recommend scheduling an annual inspection of your lights, especially in the spring following a harsh winter. Additionally, we also suggest calling us after a severe storm to ensure there’s no damage.
Can I Use Indoor LED Lights as Outdoor Landscape Lighting?
You shouldn’t use indoor LED lights as outdoor landscape lighting. Outdoor lights are specifically designed for outside use, as they can withstand the elements, especially rain and direct sunlight. Indoor LED lights can experience a variety of problems, including electrical issues and complete failure. Look for lights that are specifically labeled for outdoor use.
Can LED Landscape Lighting Burn People or Plants?
LED lights emit warmth but usually not enough to burn or damage plants or people. It’s one of the many reasons people prefer them over other options. For example, outdoor incandescent lights give off significant heat and could potentially cause problems or harm.
How Do I Choose the Best LED Landscape Lighting?
Our team can help you choose which LED landscape lighting would be best. Let us know if you have specific needs or preferences, such as if you have certain architectural house features you want to highlight or have safety concerns. We’ll work with you to create a plan that meets your needs, complements your style, and fits within your budget. There are many options available regarding color and brightness as well.
Does LED Landscape Lighting Go on Automatically?
You can set up your lighting so it will go on automatically. It’s possible to program it to go on and off according to your preferred schedule if you have smart lighting features. For example, if you get home from work after dark, you can set up the outdoor lighting to go on shortly before your arrival. It’s convenient to control your lighting using your smartphone, especially if your schedule changes and you want the lights to go on earlier or later than usual.
LED lighting on your property offers multiple benefits beyond convenience. Establishing a schedule can help you save money on lighting costs and prevent electrical waste. Additionally, you can adjust your schedule while on vacation, such as turning the lights on earlier than usual, to help prevent criminal activity on your property.
What Color LED Landscape Lighting Is Available?
It’s available in multiple colors, including bright white and warm white. Colored options are also available, including blue, green, purple, and red. You can use these colored lights on a regular basis or in honor of holidays or special occasions. For instance, you can use red and white lights for Valentine’s Day, red and green for Christmas, and red, white, and blue for the 4th of July.
LED landscape lighting is a fantastic way to upgrade your property and revitalize its appearance. Davis & Green provides outdoor and indoor electrical services to beautify and enhance homes in and near Richmond, VA.
Call today for more information or schedule an appointment with our Davis & Green team in Richmond.
