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The five common types of landscape lighting are up-lighting, down-lighting, spotlights, built-in lighting, and pathway lighting.

• Up-lighting casts light upwards from the ground, mostly for aesthetic purposes.

• Down-lighting directs light onto the ground, lighting pathways, or outdoor space.

• Spotlights cast direct, focused lighting in any direction.

• Built-in lighting integrates lighting into an outdoor feature.

• Pathway lighting illuminates walkways, increasing safety.

While most general electricians can repair lamps and light fixtures, it is often better to hire a lamp repair specialist. Many electricians prefer larger jobs, such as fixing electrical systems or relocating fixtures, and may not offer lamp repair services due to the small scale of the work. Additionally, some lamps, particularly antique models, require dedicated expertise that a general electrician might not have. A lamp repair specialist will be familiar with various types of fixtures and can provide a more dedicated service. If you have already hired an electrician for a larger project, you can ask them to look at your lamp, but for a standalone repair, a specialist is typically the best option.

Professional repairs involve diagnosing issues, replacing components, rewiring, or repositioning fixtures to restore optimal performance.

You can take a few steps to prolong the life of your holiday lights. Make sure to replace burnt-out bulbs as quickly as possible to avoid overloading the rest of the circuit and knocking out more lights. Before packing them up each year, plug each strand into the wall to confirm everything is still working. Wrap the lights carefully back into their original packaging or something similar—winding a strand tightly together or leaving it to hang loose in a storage bin can lead to frayed or damaged wiring.