You invested in outdoor lighting to make your home look beautiful, feel safer, and enjoy more time outside. But instead of reliable light, you’re left frustrated, bulbs keep burning out, fixtures stop working, and sometimes entire sections of your yard go dark. It’s more than an inconvenience. Poorly functioning lighting can make your home look neglected and leave you feeling uneasy when the sun goes down.
At Integra Electrical, we’ve helped hundreds of Iowa homeowners uncover the hidden causes of outdoor lighting problems. From wiring issues to fixture placement, we know what to look for and how to keep your lighting system running smoothly.
The 5 most common problems with outdoor lighting are:
- Burned-out bulbs that keep coming back
- Fixtures not turning on or staying on
- Flickering lights
- corrosion and water damage
- Inconsistent lighting
Your outdoor lighting should make your home shine, not cause headaches. Let’s walk through the issues we see most often and how you can get ahead of them.
Burned Out Bulbs That Keep Coming Back
Few things are more frustrating than replacing an outdoor light bulb, only to have it burn out again within weeks. While it’s easy to assume the bulb itself is defective, frequent burnouts are usually a sign of something deeper.
Outdoor fixtures are constantly exposed to temperature swings, moisture, and vibration from wind or passing traffic. If the fixture isn’t rated for outdoor use, or if the wiring connection inside is loose, bulbs can fail much faster than expected. In some cases, the problem is an electrical issue; too much voltage flowing to the fixture can dramatically shorten bulb life.
You can prevent this by:
- Choosing LED bulbs designed for outdoor use. They last longer and handle fluctuations more effectively than incandescent or halogen bulbs.
- Making sure the fixtures are weather-rated for your setup (especially in areas exposed to rain or snow).
- If bulbs continue to burn out, have an electrician check the voltage and inspect for loose or corroded connections.
Fixtures Not Turning On (or Staying On All the Time)
If your outdoor lights won’t come on at night, or worse, they stay on around the clock, it’s usually not the bulb that’s the problem. This issue often points to controls, sensors, or wiring that aren’t doing their job.
Most outdoor lighting systems rely on photocells, timers, or smart controls to tell the lights when to turn on and off. If a photocell sensor gets dirty, is blocked by landscaping, or is installed in the wrong spot, it won’t detect daylight correctly. Timers can lose sync after a power outage, and faulty wiring can prevent fixtures from responding at all.
You can prevent this by:
- Keeping photocells and sensors clean and unobstructed so they can “see” daylight accurately.
- Check and reset timers after storms or outages.
- For systems that repeatedly fail to turn on or off, have an electrician check the wiring connections and consider upgrading to a smart lighting control system for reliability and convenience.
Flickering Lights
A light that flickers now and then might seem like a small annoyance, but consistent flickering in outdoor lighting is often a sign of an electrical issue that shouldn’t be ignored.
Loose wiring connections are one of the most common culprits. Over time, outdoor fixtures expand and contract with temperature changes, which can loosen connections and cause intermittent contact. Moisture creeping into fixtures or junction boxes can also lead to flickering, and in some cases, the issue is an overloaded circuit struggling to keep up.
You can prevent this by:
- Inspect and tighten wiring connections (best handled by a licensed electrician).
- Replace damaged or poorly sealed fixtures that let moisture in.
- Make sure your outdoor lighting is on a dedicated circuit if you’ve added new fixtures or other electrical loads outside.
Flickering may seem minor, but it’s often your home’s way of signaling a bigger issue with the electrical system.
Corrosion and Water Damage
Outdoor lighting has one big enemy, moisture. When water sneaks into fixtures, outlets, or underground connections, it can cause corrosion that eats away at metal parts and eventually shuts the system down.
Even weather-rated fixtures can fail if seals wear out or if they’re installed in areas prone to pooling water. Corrosion builds up on sockets and wiring, leading to poor connections, dim lights, or total failure. In the worst cases, water intrusion can trip breakers or cause electrical shorts.
You can prevent this by:
- Use fixtures and covers rated for wet locations, not just damp ones.
- Seal connections properly and elevate junction boxes to keep them above areas where water may collect.
- Inspect your system yearly for early signs of rust, discoloration, or mineral buildup so issues can be fixed before they spread.
Outdoor lighting should add beauty and safety, not create hidden hazards every time it rains.
Inconsistent Lighting
Sometimes outdoor lighting doesn’t completely fail; it just doesn’t look right. One side of your yard may be too bright while another is left in the dark, or individual fixtures may shine with uneven intensity.
Uneven lighting is often caused by poor design or installation. Fixtures may be spaced incorrectly, pointed in the wrong direction, or mismatched in brightness. In other cases, underground wiring runs may not be balanced, leading to “voltage drop” where lights farther from the transformer are dimmer than those closer.
You can prevent this by:
- Choose fixtures with matching lumens and color temperatures so they work together for a consistent look.
- Plan your lighting layout carefully, or have a professional design it to ensure balanced coverage.
- If lights fade the farther they are from the power source, have an electrician check for voltage drop and rebalance the wiring.
Getting the layout and wiring right from the start makes a huge difference in how welcoming and functional your outdoor space feels at night.
Wrapping It Up
Outdoor lighting should make your home safer, more beautiful, and more inviting, not create extra headaches. By knowing the five most common problems, you can spot issues early and keep your system shining bright.
If you’re tired of bulbs burning out, lights flickering, or fixtures that won’t cooperate, you don’t have to live with the frustration. At Integra Electrical, our licensed electricians help Iowa homeowners design, repair, and maintain outdoor lighting systems every day. We’ll make sure your lighting works the way it should, so you can relax and enjoy your home after the sun goes down.
When you’re ready for worry-free outdoor lighting, give us a call.
FAQ: Outdoor Lighting Problems
How long should outdoor light fixtures last?
A well-installed, weather-rated fixture can last 10–20 years with regular maintenance.
Can I use indoor bulbs in outdoor fixtures?
No. Only use bulbs marked for outdoor or damp/wet locations; indoor bulbs can fail quickly and may be unsafe.
Why do my outdoor lights trip the breaker?
Moisture intrusion or overloaded circuits are the most common causes. An electrician can identify and repair the source safely.
Do LED outdoor lights attract bugs?
LEDs give off less UV light than incandescent, so they tend to attract fewer insects.
