How to Prepare Your Outdoor Lights for Winter
- by Bryan Veldboom - updated on 9/27/2022
With the days growing shorter, now is the perfect time to start prepping your outdoor lights for the coming winter. By following a few basic steps while the weather is still warm, you can ensure that your exterior lighting will be ready to go once the temperatures begin to drop.
Test the Bulbs in Your Exterior Lights
Take a tour of your yard during the day and test each of your lights to make sure they're still functioning properly. This should include any fixtures on the outside of your house and garage, as well as any landscape lighting that you have along paths or gardens. Swap out any dead bulbs with new bulbs.
Are LED Lights Good for Winter?
LED bulbs perform very well in winter weather. Unlike other light bulb types, LED bulbs don't rely on the use of heat or gasses in order to create light. Because of this, an LED bulb will turn on instantly in cold weather without any delays. LED bulbs are also typically made of plastic rather than glass. This makes them much more durable than other bulbs and perfect for rugged winter weather. Plus, LED light bulbs have incredibly long lifespans, which means you won't have to replace them as often.
Clean Your Exterior Lighting Fixtures
As dirt collects on the outside of your lighting fixtures, it can cause the light to appear dimmer. Clean off the exterior of your fixtures using a solution of soap and water. During autumn, it's also common for leaves to get stuck in lighting fixtures, so be sure to check for that too.
What Do You Do with Landscape Lights in the Winter?
Many landscape lights turn on and off according to a pre-set schedule. As the days grow shorter, you'll want to adjust this schedule so that your lights switch on much sooner.
If you have solar powered lights in your yard, you don't need to take them inside for the winter. As long as the solar panel is clear and positioned in a location where it can receive sunlight, your solar lights should continue to function during the winter months.
Add Additional Fixtures to Your Yard
If you feel like you need to add some additional illumination to your yard, Batteries Plus has plenty of exterior lighting options. Our Bell + Howell Disk Lights and Solar Pathway Lights are perfect for highlighting paths and gardens. Best of all, they're easy to install and solar-powered, which saves you the hassle of having to hire an electrician.
If you're looking to make your home more secure, we have several motion-activated lights available, including the Bionic Solar Security Spotlight, the Bionic Floodlight and the Solar Bionic Outdoor Wall Light. Each of these lights is waterproof and solar powered with no wiring or additional batteries required.
Visit Batteries Plus for Your Interior & Exterior Lighting Needs
Shop our full selection of lighting solutions, including light bulbs, fixtures and ballasts. We also offer a variety of Smart Home solutions. Smart Home products are perfect for winter, allowing you to automate your lights so that they're waiting for you when you come home.
Still have questions? Our online blog has plenty of answers. Some popular lighting topics include "How Does a Wi-Fi Light Bulb Work?" and "Lighting Tips That are Easy on the Eye."