Happy Spring! Although it doesn’t look like Spring in New England at the moment…
During this time of year, after the snow has melted and the weather is getting warmer, it is time to address any repairs or adjustments that need to be made to your lighting system. Most of the time, our customers tend to find that their fixtures or wiring have been damaged by plow trucks, delivery drivers or even the homeowner themselves.
How To Avoid Winter Damage
One of the most important ways a homeowner can avoid sometimes costly Winter repairs is by communicating to their plow truck driver. Simply photograph fixtures that may be vulnerable to the plow truck’s passes and share them with your driver ahead of time. It also might be beneficial to provide the plow truck driver with a simple aerial map. Even printing out an aerial view of your home and circling fixture locations on the photo is helpful to the plow truck driver, saving you potentially hundreds of dollars in the future.
Spring Landscaping Woes
So you have communicated with your plow truck driver during the Winter, but now Spring is here! It is time for lawn care and landscaping. One of the number one reasons BTI is called out for a Service Call is from landscapers cutting wires with their edgers. It’s very difficult for landscapers to know exactly where the wire that connects the fixtures is located, and this is another great reason to have a lighting system plan. Irrigation companies also see similar calls, due to a string trimmer or edger severing a sprinkler wire. Always communicate to your landscaping company that you have a lighting system, and provide the locations of fixtures ahead of time.
Another important aspect to keep in mind is making sure plantings are trimmed back around your fixtures. If you have any plants or trees that are invasive, this can severely impact your lighting fixtures and cause damage in the future. Make sure to communicate this with your landscaping company while showing where your fixtures are to avoid unnecessary repairs down the road. Also, keep an eye out for wires that may have unburied themselves due to cold temperatures and frost.
In closing, your lighting system is like the nervous system of your yard, providing the glow and tranquility you have become fond of in the Spring, Summer and even into the Fall. When a wire is severed or a fixture is damaged, those nerves stop working and the whole system malfunctions. Always keep up with yearly maintenance to enjoy your lighting system each season, and for many years to come.