When it comes to effective home security solutions, outdoor lighting is one of the most effective ways to improve the safety of your home. By simply erecting a number of high-voltage bulbs around the perimeter of your home, you can significantly decrease your vulnerability and ward off intruders.
Outdoor lighting is an effective enhancement to your existing home security system, however, there are some tips that you should keep in mind to truly reap all of its benefits!
The reality of outdoor lighting
Unfortunately, as desperation within the City Bowl grows, it’s become increasingly necessary that homeowners take extra precautions to protect their homes and families. Especially as we approach the festive season, where opportunistic crimes – more specifically burglaries – are expected to rise.
Something that we’ve found to have a notable impact on the likelihood of a property being broken into is whether or not adequate outdoor lighting has been installed.
Garden lighting, home exterior lighting, and property perimeter lighting all play an important role in keeping a home safe and secure. Not only are criminals easier to spot at night when there is sufficient outdoor lighting, but they are deterred from approaching these lit-up spaces in the first place. So, if you’re upgrading your home security, consider including a few quality LED security lights to give your property an extra layer of protection.
How to choose the correct outdoor lighting
When it comes to choosing which kind of outdoor lighting is best for your home, you will find that there are several options available to you. Outdoor lighting varies in capability, size, and functionality. Before you rush out and purchase anything, it is important that you determine exactly what your outdoor lighting needs are and which products can best cater to them.
There are a number of lighting stores in and around the Green Point area, such as Village Home & Hardware at the Cape Quarter or Eagle Lighting at the top of Long Street. Pop into their stores for help or advice.
Some popular outdoor lighting options include:
- Landscape illumination lights
- Mounted illumination lights
- Floodlights
- Step lights
- Lamp posts
Where to place your outdoor lighting
Once you have found lighting solutions best suited to your home, it is time to decide where you’re going to place them. The placement of your outdoor lighting will ultimately determine how effective they are at improving your home security.
Below are a few areas for you to consider:
– All entrances, doorways, driveways, sliding doors and exits
– Backyard spaces including decks and balconies
– High bushes and trees
If you have any placement concerns, it’s best to rely on the expertise of your home’s security provider.
Maintaining your outdoor lighting
Your outdoor lighting system can only help improve the safety of your home if it is maintained. Too often, household security systems are neglected, leaving properties vulnerable. It’s important that security measures are maintained, particularly if you’d like to make a claim from insurance.
Regularly check that none of your lightbulbs have died and make sure that you keep spares on hand for when you need to switch them out.
We recommend opting for energy-efficient light bulbs here – not only are they a great way to reduce your carbon emissions, but they last a lot longer and tend to be brighter.
Finally, it is essential that you choose outdoor lighting that can withstand Cape Town weather. From heavy winds to torrential rain, it is important that your equipment can withstand the elements.
Final thoughts on outdoor lighting for safety
The unfortunate reality is that, in South Africa, crime is very much a part of our reality. We can better ensure our safety with the addition of a few simple security precautions. When we work together to show criminals that they are not welcome in our neighbourhood and do not offer them easy opportunities to break the law, we can help to eradicate the problem and improve the safety of our community at large.