Maintenance & Cleaning
Every year, or maybe even twice a year, there’s a need for some contact or maintenance with the outdoor lighting.
1. Replace Burned-out bulbs
Start by replacing lamps that have burned out. If your budget allows, consider replacing the fixture with long-lasting HID or LED lamps – their long lifetimes mean they require less frequent replacement, and the ensuing labor savings and lower energy consumption justify the slightly higher input cost. When converting an existing fixture to LED, make sure they comply with the building code and Home Owner Association guidelines. Also test a light at night to make sure the lumens, color, etc are correct.
2. Inspect and Clean
Once you’ve replaced those bulbs, take a look at the lights that are underperforming. Check to see how clean the fixtures are. If any are significantly dirty, clean them to improve the quality of the light output. You lose a lot of lumens from just dirt and bugs inside the light fixture. Start with the glass or plastic lens, cleaning both sides thoroughly. See if it’s possible to get any dirt off the internal reflectors. Then, check the gaskets to make sure they’re working as intended – if you find too much dirt inside the fixture, it could signal that the gaskets aren’t performing right. Typically, whenever the bulb is replaced, the electrician should wipe the lens off.
One environment-specific concern is highly important in coastal areas, where fixtures are subject to high amounts of moisture or exposure to salt or other corrosive contaminants. This can destroy the paint on the fixtures and compromise the mounting mechanisms. Standard fixtures aren’t ready to stand up against the assault, so either make your existing fixtures more corrosion-resistant or talk with the manufacturer about solutions for coastal properties. There are special paints that can be used to make the fixtures more resistant and special hardware.
Galvanized surface:
- Check the galvanized coating for any damaged areas such as scales, nicks, scratches, scrapes, cuts or rusting.
- Clean damaged or rusted area and coat with a zinc-enriched paint such as ZRC (or equivalent) per ASTM A780.
Painted surface:
- Check the paint film for any damage areas such as scales, nicks, scratches, scrapes, cuts or rusting.
- Clean damaged or rusted areas and apply a prime and top coat per manufacturer’s recommendation.
Anodized surface:
- Check the anodized surface for any damage areas such as scales, nicks, scratches, scraps, cuts or rusting.
- Clean the entire anodized surface with mild, non-detergent soap and water.
3. MAKE THE JOB EASIER
If you notice that your fixtures are too far gone – there’s excessive corrosion, the mechanical integrity has been compromised, or the lenses are broken or missing – then replacing the fixture might be the only option. Sometimes replacement is less expensive than repairs. If possible, invest in products that make the process faster or easier. For example, conversion kits for light poles allow you to lower fixtures to your level and perform maintenance on the ground instead of renting a truck.