GlowGuard: Keep Your Lighting Looking Like Day One

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Most residential maintenance visits take 1-3 hours, depending on the size of the system and what needs attention. We schedule visits during daylight for inspection and adjustment work, with optional after-dark verification for systems where the night aim is critical.

That's most of our GlowGuard signups, actually. We start with a free assessment and then propose the right path — restore, enhance, or replace. We service inherited systems from any installer, not just our own work.

Several common causes: dead batteries in the timer's clock memory, photocell sensor obstructed by dirt or vegetation, programming reset after a power outage, or transformer failure. Most are quick fixes — but if the timer keeps failing after a fix, it's usually a sign of underlying transformer wear that needs professional assessment. GlowGuard catches this before it becomes a system-wide failure.

Most landscape lighting transformers have a small reset button or breaker on the unit itself. The process: turn off power at the breaker, wait 30 seconds, press and hold the transformer's reset button for 5-10 seconds, restore power. If the system doesn't come back, or if it works briefly and trips again, that's a sign of a deeper issue — often a short in the wire run or a transformer near end-of-life. Call us before troubleshooting further.

Most common cause: voltage drop along long wire runs. Lights farther from the transformer receive less voltage and appear dimmer. This is usually a design issue — the original installer didn't size the transformer correctly or didn't loop the wire run properly. The fix involves rebalancing the system, sometimes adding a second transformer, and replacing any aging bulbs. GlowGuard catches this and we resolve it during a visit.

Replacement transformers run $300-$1,200 depending on capacity and quality (we use commercial-grade transformers built for long-term durability). Installation labor is typically $200-$500. Total replacement: usually $500-$1,700. If your transformer is failing, it's worth asking us to inspect the full system at the same time — the cause is usually upstream.

Flickering is usually one of three things: (1) a failing transformer, (2) a corroded wire connection, or (3) an LED bulb incompatible with the transformer's output. All three are diagnosable in a single visit. Don't ignore it — flickering systems typically progress to outright failure within months.

Both. One-time service calls for emergency or one-off issues. GlowGuard for ongoing care. Most people start with a service call and enroll in GlowGuard once they see the value.

Gemstone systems have manufacturer-backed warranties that cover most hardware issues. GlowGuard's role with Gemstone is checking on app/firmware updates, addressing physical fixture issues (rare), and managing any installation-related maintenance. Often included in our Gemstone install packages.

Common signs: some fixtures noticeably dimmer than others, bulbs that keep burning out, lights coming on at the wrong time, fixtures aimed where they don't belong, plant growth obscuring lights, or visible wire above ground. If you're seeing any of these, schedule a free assessment.