Outdoor lighting can make your home more secure and presentable at night, and they also let you enjoy outdoors spaces like patios and decks when the sun goes down. However, you probably aren’t the only one enjoying your lights. They can draw a huge audience of bugs. To keep the pests at bay, follow the tips below.

How Can You Keep Pests Away From Outdoor Lighting?

1. Using Timers

Dusk is a prime time for insects, but bug activity usually dies down after dark falls. However, if your lights were on at dusk, they can draw a nocturnal crowd. By timing your outdoor lighting to come on an hour after sundown, you minimize the likelihood that you’ll attract insects like moths and gnats.

2. Swapping Bulbs

Without even realizing it, your choice of bulbs may be bringing more insects in. They tend to be drawn to high-wattage bulbs, particularly mercury vapor and fluorescent ones. By dropping the wattage, switching to halogen or sodium vapor bulbs, and changing white lights to yellow, you’ll reduce the number of nighttime visitors you get.

3. Placing Lights Strategically

Ultimately, you’ll still get some bugs near your outdoor lighting. If those lights are placed above doorways, it’s easy for pests to slip into your home, where they’ll head for the nearest indoor lighting. When you’re having new outdoor lighting installed, give it enough distance between any doors that you won’t get any unwelcome guests.

4. Lighting Candles

Sometimes, your best bet for keeping pests away from your lights is with certain repellents. Lighting tiki torches filled with citronella-scented fuel or lighting citronella candles can deter insects. However, these solutions take a while to take effect, so they’re best used around patios or decks when you’re enjoying the evening with your family or guests.

 

Whether you need new outdoor lighting or electrical updates in your home, locally owned and operated Stellmach Electric, LLC can help. Based in Cambridge Springs, PA, they have more than 18 years of experience bringing homes up to code, running new electric for remodeling, and updating electrical panels. To learn more about their offerings, visit their website or call (814) 282-7637.