Patio Lights and Water Resistance

Patio lights
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To fully enjoy your patio and your outdoor spaces, you need proper lighting so you can stay outside well after the sun goes down. Patio lights can come in many different styles, from the more permanent such as the standard wall lights to the more stylish such as hanging lanterns and wall sconces. The less permanent kind such as string lights or a patio umbrella light, can be taken down when the season ends or left in place for year round lighting. Since many of the lights that will affect the space aren’t actually on the patio itself but situated around it,such as spot or flood lights you need to consider a light’s level of water resistance to make sure you get the longest use possible out of your lighting choices.

You don’t run sprinklers at night, so you might not be considering where your lawn sprinklers are when you set up your lighting. But remember that the light fixture, even though it’s not being used during the day, probably shouldn’t be in the direct path of your sprayer. If you absolutely have to put a light where it’ll be blasted with water occasionally when your sprinkler system comes on, choose a light with a higher IP rating.

All outdoor lighting has to have an IP rating, as this lets you know just how water resistant the fixtures are. A rating of 1 or 2 means the fixture can handle light to heavy rain, and water falling on top of it from above. As the number goes up, the more water resistant the patio lighting will be.

Anything from 1 and up is at least a little waterproof. Lights rated with 4 and up can withstand a jet of water, while a fixture rated at 1 or 2 is designed to withstand rainy conditions rather than a focused spray. Keep that in mind when choosing your patio lighting. A rating of 4, 5 or above means that the patio lights can handle bursts of water from the side, and higher numbers offer resistance against focused sprays.

So whether you are installing simple patio lighting or solar deck lights it’s best situate them where they will not be subjected to this type of water spray, but if you don’t have a choice just make sure you get a light that can handle the abuse to avoid replacing it often.