15Jul GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR OUTDOOR LIGHTING It’s a chilly night in winter, you have your feet up with that book you just bought and it seems like a winner. You look ahead at the dancing flames before you and smile because despite the months of neglect, your fireplace has become your best friend; keeping warm and reaching that back cover is pretty much the only thing that matters. However, that isn’t the only thing that should be on your mind; with winter comes shorter days, longer nights, and often unwelcome visitors that do their best not to go bump in the night. That’s right, we are referring to intruders. In winter, daylight becomes increasingly scarce with most states experiencing darkness around 6:30pm. Unfortunately, darkness is when thieves and other unwelcome visitors thrive. Regardless of their determination, intruders are warded off by light. It exposes them. The right lighting in the winter months can help you rediscover peace of mind, and sleep soundly at night, free of any security concerns. But let’s not put the cart before the horse – first the right installation needs to take place to ensure that maximum benefit and lighting is achieved. In which case, seeking the expertise of professionals would be a good place to start. However, here are a few pointers if you decide to take on the task yourself. AIM HIGH Literally. Aim to mount your outdoor lights as high as is feasibly possible. This will help prevent/deter trespassers from trying to dismantle your lights. Apart from keeping them out of reach, it will ensure that areas outside your home are also well lit. PROTECTION As much as your lights are designed to provide you with protection and act as a deterrent to intruders, they also need protection. Make sure that the lights you have chosen come with a protective cover or manually install a mesh to cover the lights. This will help prevent them being broken by intruders. MORE IS MORE… AND BETTER Using more lights of a medium power will provide you with better results than a few lights of a much higher power. The reason behind this is two prong: more lights of a medium power will assist in providing an even light that reduces the number of poorly lit areas. It also means that in the event that a light stops working, there will still be adequate light. SAFER IS BETTER THAN SORRY – DRESS FOR THE OCCASION Just like the lights themselves, the wiring that supplies them with power needs protection. This will reduce the likelihood of tampering, and of any weather related malfunction. Wherever possible, do not leave any wires exposed. Lighting around the outside of your home performs more of a function than just security. The visibility that appropriate lighting provides, also addresses safety issues, providing night time light for you and your neighbours. Good lighting will assist you in navigating the outside of your home and identifying exits and entrances. There is also a need to strike a balance between too much and too little light, avoiding glare while achieving maximum visibility. When selecting and making provisions for your outdoor lighting, make sure to remember these pointers. If you have doubts about the options available to you, it’s always best to enlist the help of professionals. Contact Steven Murphy Electrical for dependable lighting solutions that will ensure the safety and security of your premises. Previous Next