What are PAR landscape lights?
In the outdoor lighting industry, you have seen me write or heard me speak about the vast array of fixtures and lamps (light bulbs) available to suit just about any purpose imaginable. Most were created to accommodate a specific primary application.
There are quite a few landscape lighting projects in the Austin, TX and hill country areas that have used only PAR well lights to illuminate a house, trees and everything else. These projects were very likely installed by an irrigation or landscape company that adds a little lighting as an extra revenue stream for their company. Not to say that there aren’t landscape or irrigation companies that can and do install quality landscape lighting systems and take the task seriously, but more are not trained lighting designers. While these PAR landscape lights look better than no lighting at all, it doesn’t look like it should and would if it were designed using the proper fixtures, lamps and lenses for the many desired effects.
A little history about the ever popular Parabolic Anodized Reflector or the PAR landscape lights. The PAR lamp was originally designed to be a head light for tractors and cars back in the 40s or so, and have changed very little since. Really the only change is that the lamp is now available as a halogen lamp and even more recently as an LED lamp. As for the well light fixture itself, it is a piece of 6” PVC pipe with a lamp holder – no bells or whistles. The wire attaches directly to the lamp on the back side. There are also PAR landscape lights that are used above ground.
At NightScenes, we have very rarely used PAR landscape lights for several reasons.
- First is that it is very old lighting technology and is not very versatile even though there are now filters and lenses that can be used to change it up a little.
- Another issue is that the well light fixture should NOT be used in flower beds that have leaves and mulch. These lights can get very HOT and have been known to catch flower beds on fire.
- One more problem is that this fixture housing does not protect the lamp at all, allowing water, debris, bugs and other things to contact the lamp itself – which can cause all kinds of difficulties. Here in the south you will often find these fixtures completely engulfed with ants trying to stay warm. There are covers for these fixtures but they do not help very much and we have seen the plastic covers actually melted onto the halogen PAR lamp.
Where we have used these fixtures in the past is in turf areas. In these cases we use a cast brass grate over the fixture to cover and protect the lamp. When installing this type of fixture we are sure to add about 4” of pea gravel at the bottom of the fixture for drainage. We also use an insect repellent in the fixture to help keep the ants and other bugs away.
Regular maintenance is crucial for PAR well lights. If you have this type of fixture on your property you should check them often (we suggest weekly) for debris, water build up and insects. If you find standing water in your fixture, pull the fixture out, dig the hole about 4”-6” deeper like we do, and add pea gravel which will allow water to drain away from the lamp. You can clean the lamp with just about any household cleanser with ingredients to cut through lime and calcium which will build up on the lamp.
When replacing the lamp in these fixtures, DO NOT use the plastic lamps that you will find at the local big box store. Instead, go to a lighting store, irrigation supply store or even an auto parts store and get a quality lamp. You’ll want to treat the screw terminals of the lamp with an anti-seize compound which will protect them if they do get wet.
If you have a few of these in your landscape lighting scheme and need help with service or maintenance, or would like to learn about your replacement options, just give us a call or contact us here.
