Maintenance Tips for Commercial Lighting Systems, US

Key Maintenance Tips for Commercial Lighting Systems

Your commercial property’s lighting systems are necessary to maintain the safety, comfort, and efficiency of your business. Without proper lighting, your business will not attract customers and will not be safe or inviting. Outdated or damaged lighting can also cause your energy bills to increase and increase the time and money spent on lighting repairs and upkeep. At Provident Electric, our commercial lighting contractors in Frederick, MD offer professional commercial lighting installation, maintenance, and replacement services. Here is our guide to key maintenance services for commercial lighting systems.

What Is Commercial Lighting Maintenance?

Commercial lighting maintenance is the proactive and preventive inspection and upkeep of commercial lighting systems. Commercial lighting maintenance includes routine inspections of all lighting systems and elements, regular cleaning, professional lighting repairs, and replacement of light bulbs, light fixtures, and lighting components throughout a commercial property. Commercial lighting maintenance ensures your lighting operates efficiently, safely, and reliably so that your property stays safe and functional. Investing in preventive lighting maintenance can save you time and money on lighting repairs, reduce your risk of sudden lighting outages, and extend the lifespan of your lighting systems.

Commercial Lighting Inspections and Maintenance

You should schedule commercial lighting inspections at least once per year to assess the age, condition, safety, performance, and efficiency of your lighting systems and components. An annual inspection is recommended for commercial spaces to ensure all lights are functioning properly and safely and to identify early warning signs of problems. Schedule commercial lighting maintenance every month or if you notice any warning signs of a problem with your lighting system. Emergency lighting systems should be tested monthly, and more high-usage or critical areas should receive maintenance and inspections more often. If your area experiences extreme weather conditions or heavy storms, schedule lighting inspections and maintenance before and after harsh weather conditions.

Signs You Need Commercial Lighting Repair

You should be aware of the warning signs of a problem with your commercial lighting systems. Call a commercial electrician or commercial lighting contractor if you see any of these signs you need commercial lighting repair:

Flickering or dimming lights
Regular power outages or tripped circuit breakers
Frequent power surges
A burning smell or fishy odor
A buzzing sound from lights, wires, or the walls
Energy bills that have suddenly increased with no change in usage
Uneven lighting
Light bulbs that burn out much faster than usual
Sparks when connecting or disconnecting lighting
Burnt or damaged wiring, cords, switches, or outlets
Outdated lighting or wiring

Benefits of Regular Maintenance for Commercial Lighting Systems

Regular maintenance of your commercial lighting systems is key to safety, comfort, productivity, compliance, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal. The biggest benefits of regular commercial lighting maintenance are:

Increased Safety – Your commercial lighting improves the safety and security of your property. Properly maintaining your lights will ensure your property is well-lit and safe, and will deter criminals, vandals, and burglars. Proper lighting will also ensure employees and visitors can safely navigate all areas of your property during the day and night.
Improved Energy Efficiency – Maintaining your lighting systems will improve their energy efficiency and reduce your risk of wasting energy.
Enhanced Comfort and Security – Keeping your commercial property well-maintained and well-lit will enhance the comfort and security of your employees, visitors, and customers. You can decrease your risk of on-the-job accidents, slip and fall accidents, and injuries that could cause liability or legal issues for your company.
Compliance With State and Federal Regulations – Ensuring your commercial lighting is well-maintained and operating safely will help you comply with state and federal regulations, including OSHA regulations.
Reduced Maintenance Needs and Costs – Preventive lighting maintenance will help you identify early warning signs of lighting issues before they get more costly. Lighting maintenance will also extend the lifespan of your lighting and reduce your risk of outages, damage, and breakage. Your lighting will last longer, and you won’t need to devote as much time and money to lighting repairs and replacement.
Improved Lighting Quality – Cleaning your lighting systems and maintaining their performance will ensure consistent, even lighting throughout your commercial property.
Increased Lifespan of Lighting Systems – Lighting inspections, cleaning, and repairs will extend the lifespan of your lighting systems and prevent further damage.
Aesthetic Appeal – Keeping your lighting systems functional will increase the aesthetic appeal of your property and attract customers.
Better First Impression – Effective, well-maintained commercial lighting will make a better first impression on visitors and customers.
Improved Employee Morale, Satisfaction, and Productivity – Maintaining optimal lighting conditions will improve employee morale, reduce employee turnover, and increase safety and productivity.

Key Elements of Commercial Lighting Maintenance

Schedule regular lighting maintenance throughout the exterior and interior of your commercial property, including landscape lighting, security lighting, decorative lighting, emergency lighting, and interior lighting. The key elements of commercial lighting maintenance are:

Regular Bulb and Fixture Inspections – You should check your light bulbs and fixtures each month for signs of damage and wear and tear.
Checking Safety and Performance Features – Your lighting contractor or inspector should regularly check all safety and performance features of your commercial lighting system. This includes checking ballasts, transformers, and drivers to look for signs of damage or wear and tear.
Cleaning Lighting Components – All lighting components, including bulbs, fixtures, switches, shades, and more should be dusted and cleaned regularly. Clean components are safer and will ensure your lighting systems remain efficient and operational.
Monitoring Energy Consumption – Schedule a commercial energy audit each year or every three years and regularly monitor your energy bills to check for signs of inefficiency in your lighting systems. This will help you reduce energy usage and energy bills.
Upgrading Outdated Systems – Your commercial lighting contractor should regularly assess your systems to determine if they can be upgraded for safety, compliance, performance, or energy efficiency.
Scheduling Professional Maintenance Checks – Hire a commercial lighting contractor to perform regular commercial lighting inspections, maintenance, and repairs. They can assess your lighting systems and identify issues before they get bigger, more costly, or more dangerous. They can also perform light bulb replacement, lighting upgrades, and lighting installation.
Replacing Damaged or Outdated Components – Regularly replace damaged, inefficient, unsafe, and burned-out light bulbs and other components. Check for signs of wear and tear, frayed wires or cords, burn or scorch marks, malfunctioning lighting components, and other problems.
Making Energy-efficient Upgrades – Commercial lighting maintenance should include regular evaluation of your systems to see if you can make any energy-efficient upgrades, such as LED lighting and lighting control systems.
Testing Emergency Lighting Systems – Test your emergency lighting systems every month to make sure they are operating properly. Your emergency lights should go on automatically in the event of a power outage to ensure safety.
Testing Security Lighting Systems – Regularly inspect and test all security lighting systems, including motion-sensor lighting, room occupancy sensors, timed and scheduled security lighting, and interior and exterior flood lights and security lighting. All security lighting should be quickly repaired or replaced as needed to maintain compliance with health and safety regulations.
Commercial Electrical Safety Inspections – Your overall commercial electrical system plays a huge role in the safety and performance of your lighting system. Schedule an annual commercial electrical safety inspection to evaluate the condition, safety, and performance of all elements and components of your electrical system, including your electrical panel, circuit breakers, outlets and switches, wiring, lighting, and more.

Importance of Hiring a Commercial Lighting Contractor

It is crucial to hire an experienced, professional commercial lighting contractor for your commercial property. Hiring a certified commercial electrician will ensure all inspections, maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and replacements are done safely and according to the National Electric Code and all other local and federal codes and regulations. A commercial lighting contractor will know how to protect and preserve your lighting system so that it operates at peak performance and efficiency and maintains the safety of your commercial property. They will also make sure you stay in compliance with local health and safety regulations, including OSHA regulations. They can also recommend energy-efficient lighting upgrades, conduct a commercial electrical safety inspection, and perform a commercial energy audit to determine the ideal type of commercial lighting for your property.

Call Provident Electric for Commercial Lighting Services

At Provident Electric, our commercial electricians offer comprehensive commercial lighting services to businesses of all sizes and industries. We specialize in commercial lighting installation, commercial lighting control systems, security and safety lighting, landscape lighting, decorative and holiday lighting, commercial lighting repair, LED retrofitting, commercial electrical inspections, automated lighting systems, and energy-efficient lighting solutions. We can also perform energy audits and help you make upgrades that qualify you for incentive programs. Call us now or contact us online to schedule commercial lighting maintenance in Frederick, MD, or throughout Maryland, D.C., and Virginia.