October is nearly over, and with Halloween just around the corner and Thanksgiving not far behind, Chicagoland residents know that winter will be here before you know it. When it comes to your outdoor lighting, there are few things you can do to get your fixtures ready for the colder months of the year. At Hortons Home Lighting, we can help you find replacement fixtures, bulbs, and other options that will make your house’s exterior shine bright all winter long. We have locations in La Grange, Orland Park, and Chicago, so visit us today!

1. Clean Your Exterior Fixtures

Over the course of the summer and fall, you may have noticed that your exterior lights looked a bit dingy and worn. Bugs collected inside the globes and shades of each fixture, and you had every intention of cleaning them. Now that winter is almost here, it’s the perfect time to take each glass globe and shade down, clean them, and remove any dirt or debris from the light. This will make it so your fixtures produce more light, especially during those long winter nights.

2. Check Each Bulb

As you’re cleaning your outdoor lights, take the time to check each bulb. If an old incandescent bulb has finally burned out, replaced it with an energy-efficient LED or CFL option. You’ll have more light around your house this winter, and your energy costs will be lower!

3. Test Your Outlets

You might not be hanging holiday lights for a few more weeks, but it’s a good idea to test your outside outlets to make sure they’re still working. The last thing you want is to go to hang a string of lights, only to find that there’s no power source for your festive decorations.

4. Replace Your Pathway Lights

If the kids knocked over a garden or pathway light while playing a pick-up game of football this fall, make sure it’s replaced before winter arrives. You’ll need to be able to see on those cold nights when there’s snow on the ground, and taller pathway lights will help you see where the sidewalk is after the flakes have fallen.

5. Reset Your Timers

This might seem like an obvious step, but with the days getting shorter and Daylight Savings Time only a few weeks away, you’ll need to make sure your exterior timers are set correctly. You don’t want your lights to come on two hours after the sun has gone down, and you don’t want them to stay on after the sun has come up the next morning. Taking a few minutes to check and reset each timer will provide more safety and comfort during the winter months.

Winter can be a wonderful time in Chicago, but if you’re concerned about your outdoor lighting, these steps can help you make sure everything is as it should be. If you need new fixtures or bulbs, come to the closest Hortons location and a member of our team will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

We look forward to seeing you soon!