Whether you live on a large property in the country or a smaller lot in town, security for your home is important. Theft is an increasing concern to many, so it makes sense to take efforts to keep your property safe. One of the things you can do to increase security and peace of mind is to have outdoor security lighting installed on your property.
We say to have lighting installed, because most homeowners don’t have the skill level or licensing that may be required to do an electrical job to code themselves.
Safety is of course the top priority, so make sure you have the necessary skills if you attempt any electrical job yourself – and make sure your home will be up to code so there are no problems down the road. At Experts In Your Home, our licensed Chico electricians can do any electrical job so you can have the peace of mind knowing that it’s been done right.
Types of Outdoor Security Lighting
There are many types of outdoor lighting you can choose from when lighting up the outdoors. From spotlights that shine on the house and windows to flood lights that light up when someone comes near the house, you have choices.
According to Creative Nightscapes, here are some common outdoor lighting types:
Solar or Halogen Flood Lighting
When many people think of security lighting, they tend to think of flood lighting. Specifically, flood lighting refers to lights that are designed to illuminate a large space around your home. These types of lights are generally installed in areas where security is a top concern, such as near garage doors and other exterior entryways.
There are a number of different types of floodlights, including traditional halogen and solar lights. For those who are concerned about floodlighting being a burden on their energy bills, solar floor lighting can be a great choice because it won’t run up electricity bills. However, solar lighting may not be quite as bright as halogen or even LED flood lighting options.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting
For those who are looking for extremely bright security lighting, high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting may be a good option. This specific type of outdoor lighting is generally used in commercial parking lots and around other larger structures, but in recent years, more and more homeowners have been installing this type of lighting on their residential properties.
What sets HID lighting apart from other security lighting options is the strength and intensity of the light itself, which simply cannot be matched by other lighting types. This is usually the best option for larger plots of land where a traditional flood light may not provide enough coverage. Before installing HID lighting, however, it’s a good idea to check with your homeowners association (if you have one), as there may be restrictions in place against this lighting type.
Motion-Activated Lighting
If you’re looking for a security lighting option that will provide you with the coverage you need without running up your energy bill or using unnecessary electricity, then motion-activated security lighting may be the right choice. This type of lighting is extremely common on residential properties. Specifically, motion-activated lighting fixtures come equipped with a small sensor that will trigger the light to turn on only if motion is detected within a certain radius of the light itself. This means that these security lights will illuminate the area if somebody sets foot on your property or gets too close to your home.
Because the lights are only on when needed, motion-activated lighting is one of the most cost-efficient options available.
Read the full article from Creative NightScapes here.
Deciding If You Should Have Outdoor Security Lighting Installed
Given the different options above, it may be helpful to think through your outdoor space and where the best places are to put security lighting, and whether it's something that's a priority for you. Should you have outdoor security lighting installed? At Experts In Your Home, we can't completely answer that question for you...but we want you to feel as safe as possible in your home. If you would like to add outdoor security lighting give our Chico electricians a call, we’ll be happy to give you a free quote and help explain lighting options to you.
