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Does your light fixture look good, but won't light up?
There are a handful of reasons why your light fixture isn't working anymore. Sockets are one of the leading reasons a light fixture stops working. This is especially true when it comes to outdoor lighting, such as low voltage landscape light fixtures, which are often exposed to sprinkler systems. Beyond the light's socket, the wiring leading to the socket could be the other reason you're no longer getting power to the bulb. When it comes to more unique fixtures, such as monorail pendant light fixtures, contact points and delicate internal wiring can also be a factor in the failure of the light.
The good news is, most of these problems can be solved. Even better, the cost of the parts to repair a light fixture is usually minimal when compared with purchasing a new light fixture. Often, the decision of repairing a light fixture comes down to how complicated the repair is, which drives the total labor cost. Sometimes, though, a fixture simply can't be repaired. Here are some ways to figure out what makes sense for your light fixture problem.
Is it cheaper to repair a light fixture, or just replace it?
The cost to repair a light fixture depends on whether or not the issue is physical damage or that it just won't light up anymore. The repair materials themselves are fairly cheap most of the time, but the amount of time it takes to perform the repair can sometimes not be worth it. Let's take a look at what drives the overall cost of a light fixture repair, whether physical or electrical in nature.
Physical damage repairs
If the fixture has glass that's broken, there's a decent chance that a local glass shop or light fixture repair business can replace it. Sometimes, path lights for landscape lighting can have tops that become loose with time. In these cases, crafting new rubber boots or replacing missing retention screws can usually solve the problem. That said, if the metal of the fixture has been bent or smashed, it's probably going to be time to replace the fixture rather than repair it.
When it comes to physical damage repairs, the total cost of materials and labor usually works out to about half the cost of replacing the fixture. For example, I recently repaired some path lights for a customer in Tempe that had broken glass housings and loose tops. I crafted new housings out of high strength acrylic, epoxied them to their copper tops, then added rubber boots to the bottom for a secure fit inside the stem of the fixture. The total cost came out to $75 per fixture, compared to their $175 cost new.
Internal electrical repairs
When your light fixture isn't lighting up anymore, it's usually because of an internal electrical issue. This could be a bad socket, which is common. It could also be the wiring that runs through the fixture itself, or the point of connection with the socket. These are relatively minor repairs that once identified, are quick to complete. Expect a cost of around $10-20 for materials, and $35-75 for labor to repair each fixture, plus a $75-150 service call charge if the lighting repair company comes to you.
Some companies, like Phoenix Lighting Repair LLC, include an hour of labor in their service call charge. Be sure to ask when you schedule your appointment whether or not the service call or trip charge includes time for the repair itself. For example, the hour I provide usually works out to repairing 1-2 fixtures for the $75 I charge for a service call.
Recently, I repaired 9 landscape light fixtures for a customer in The Foothills. The lights were around 20 years old, but were made of solid copper and still structurally sound. Each needed new sockets, and about half of them needed new glass. I also upgraded each with lifetime warranty LED bulbs that only use 5.5 watts, versus 50 watts for halogen bulbs. This ensured the customer wouldn't have to replace the bulbs ever again, along with saving a little on their energy bill. Total cost for the work and parts came to only $675.
Can vintage lamps be fixed if they stop working?
A few months back, I had a customer in Tempe who owned a vintage lamp from the 50's that had a damaged cord. Upon inspection, the original socket was still working flawlessly, an amazing testament to American-made products (see photo at the top). I replaced the cord and cleaned up the original socket for a perfect connection with the bulb. Total repair cost including the cord came to $75.
Who repairs light fixtures in Phoenix?
If you live in Phoenix and are having trouble with your light fixtures, Phoenix Lighting Repair LLC is a company that repairs light fixtures of all sorts. Whether it's a landscape light, wall sconce, vintage lamp, path light, or chandelier that uses monorail pendant lights, there's a good chance I've fixed something similar to what you have. Give me a call or shoot me a text at 480-604-3528 to schedule a service call.
