Short answer
We handle fixture replacement, recessed lighting, exterior and security lighting, yard and lamp light poles, and landscape lighting. When an outdoor light stops working and the bulb isn't the problem, the cause is often the buried wire feeding it. We trace it, and repair or replace the run.
Light pole installation is one of the topics Google pulls out of reviews of our work. One recent job: a customer's wiring problem traced out to a light pole in the front yard, where we dug and ran new wire to get it working again.
What we do
Light fixtures
Replacing a fixture sounds simple until the box behind it is loose, the wire is brittle, or there's no ground. We replace fixtures and ceiling fans, add boxes rated for the weight where needed, and fix what we find behind the old one.
Recessed lighting
Recessed lights give even light without hanging fixtures, and they're a common upgrade in kitchens, living rooms and basements. We lay them out for the room, work around joists, ductwork and insulation, and put them on switches and dimmers that match the fixtures.
Exterior and security lighting
Lighting at doors, garages, driveways, walkways and barns makes a place safer to walk at night and less inviting to anyone who shouldn't be there. Motion-sensor and dusk-to-dawn fixtures turn on when you need them without anyone flipping a switch. Outdoor fixtures and boxes need to be rated for wet locations and sealed properly.
Yard lights and lamp posts
A post light by the driveway or a pole light in the yard is fed by wire run underground from the house or garage. When one goes dark, we check the bulb, photocell and fixture first, then test the underground run. If the wire has failed, we dig and run new wire, in conduit where it makes sense so the next repair is easier.
Landscape lighting
Path lights, uplights on trees and accent lighting along beds usually run on low voltage from a transformer, which needs a properly protected outdoor outlet or circuit. We handle the power side and the circuit that feeds it.
Signs something's wrong
- An outdoor light that stays off with a good bulb, or works only sometimes.
- Lights that flicker or dim, in one room or across the house. See lights flickering or dimming.
- A breaker or GFCI that trips when outdoor lights come on, often a sign of moisture or damaged buried wire. See breaker keeps tripping.
- A fixture that's hot, discolored or buzzing.
- A light pole that's leaning, rusted at the base, or has an open or damaged access cover.
How the job goes
- What you want lit, or what stopped working.
- A look at the circuit that will feed it, or testing along the existing run to find a fault.
- A plan and quote for fixtures, layout, controls, and any trenching.
- Install or repair, with a permit and inspection where your city or county requires it.
- Test the lights, switches, sensors and timers with you.
What it costs
This work is priced per job, because the house, the distances and what's already in the panel are different every time. Ask for a quote that lists the materials and everything included. For what drives electrical prices in general, see what electrical work costs.
Indoor work is priced mostly by the number of fixtures and how hard it is to get wire to them. Outdoor work depends heavily on distance and trenching: a new pole light far from the house takes more digging and wire than one by the porch.
Local detail: long driveways, farm yards and frost
Out in the county, homes often sit far back on long drives, with a yard light on a pole and more lights at the barn and outbuildings. Those runs can be long, and years of freezing and thawing, farm equipment and fence work take a toll on buried wire. In town, many older homes have fixtures and boxes that date back decades. According to the U.S. Census (American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates), 39% of homes in the city of Huntington were built before 1940. For wiring to barns and shops, see barns, garages and outbuildings.
Call (260) 519-1188 to talk through your lighting.
Common questions
Why did my yard light or lamp post stop working?
If the bulb and photocell are fine, the most common cause is the buried wire feeding the pole. It can be cut by digging or a fence post, chewed, or simply fail with age and moisture. The connection at the base of the pole can also corrode. We test the run to find where it fails.
Can recessed lights go in an existing ceiling?
Usually, yes. Remodel-style recessed fixtures are made for existing ceilings and can often be wired from the attic or through small openings. Ceiling joists, ductwork and insulation affect exactly where they can go.
What kind of exterior lighting is best for security?
Light where you actually walk and where someone would approach the house: doors, the garage, the driveway and dark corners. Motion-sensor fixtures or dusk-to-dawn fixtures on a photocell are common choices. Aim for even light without glare into your neighbors' windows or into your own eyes.
Do I need an electrician to replace a light fixture?
Replacing a fixture means working inside a live electrical box, and older boxes often have brittle wire or no ground. We recommend having an electrician do it, especially for ceiling fans and heavy fixtures that need a box rated to support them.