Outdoor light not working? Try replacing the bulb. If that doesn’t work there might be a fault in the light fitting or at the light switch.
There are many reasons why you have an outdoor light not working. This post will cover five common reasons.
In general, outdoor lights are a common cause of electrical faults. They are often the cause of tripped breakers, especially after rain.
The main reason you have an outdoor light not working is that they are exposed to the weather.
Sun, rain, wind and insects can all cause havoc to outdoor lights.
- The sun’s UV rays will wear down light fittings causing their structure to become brittle and break.
- Rain and wind can drive moisture into the electrical connection causing dead shorts.
- Insects and spiders can make homes inside the fittings and the debris they bring inside can cause the light to fail.
These are just some of the reasons. To make it worse, many light fittings haven’t been properly waterproofed when they were first installed.
So here are five reasons why you have an outdoor light not working.
Outdoor Light Not Working? – Reason #1
Faulty Light Bulb
If your outdoor light has a replaceable bulb, then this is the first solution you should try before calling an Electrician. To get the correct replaceable bulb simply remove the existing bulb then bring it to your electrical wholesaler or lighting shop and show it to a staff member to ensure you get the right one.
Hopefully, this resolves the problem of having an outdoor light not working. If it doesn’t then the problem might be in the light fitting itself.
Outdoor Light Not Working? – Reason #2
Faulty Light Fitting
As mentioned earlier, the weather can cause outdoor light fittings to eventually fail. They tend to need replacing much sooner than indoor light fittings. Moisture, bugs and UV rays will degrade a light fitting until they stop working. The simple solution in this case is to replace the light fitting.
When replacing the light fitting it is important to choose a light that will cover the existing hole or surface occupied by the previous light. This is purely for cosmetic reasons and so you don’t have an ugly hole or unpainted area when the new light is installed.
Outdoor Light Not Working? – Reason #3
Light Switch Fault
If the light fitting has no power to it when the light is on, then the issue might be at the light switch.
Loose or broken wires at the light switch are possible reasons why you have an outdoor light not working. This is because the light fitting isn’t receiving electricity when the light switch is being pressed on or off. It’s important to check the general condition of the light switch. If you notice any evidence of the light switch burning or weird smells then get in contact with an electrician as soon as possible.
Outdoor Light Not Working? – Reason #4
Damaged Wiring
Damaged wiring between the light fitting and the light switch can also be a possible reason. You might have noticed the circuit breaker tripped when the outdoor light stopped working. Damaged wiring can be caused by rodents in walls and ceiling cavities.
Once found these wires can be easily repaired.
Wires can also be damaged by circuit overloads which brings us to the next point.
Outdoor Light Not Working? – Reason #5
Overloaded Circuit
Have you had other electrical work done recently? Sometimes circuits can become overloaded when too many things are drawing electricity from it.
In this case, the outdoor light might be on a circuit which is drawing more electricity than the cable is designed to take. This causes the cables to heat up. Eventually, the heated cables will cause the circuit breaker to trip and this is why you have the outdoor light not working.
If the circuit breaker didn’t trip, then cables can heat up enough to burn the insulation, become damaged and potentially cause a fire. So not good at all!
Conclusion
Hopefully this post has given you some ideas about the cause of your outdoor light not working. There are simple things you can do to remedy the problem like replacing the light bulb, but there are more complicated reasons like broken wires that require more professional assistance.
With this being said, the most likely cause of an outdoor light not working in my experience is a faulty light fitting so if you call an electrician it is good to have a replacement ready.
This should help you save time and money.
Next Steps
- If you know someone with an outdoor light not working and think they might find this information useful, then please share this post.
- Download this free report on how to save time with electrician fault finding