Have you ever thought of elevating the look of your balcony and home? Solar lights are an excellent way to light your garden and pathways at night.
Solar powered lights need direct sunlight to charge during the day and release the same energy as light at night. The larger the solar panel, the better the illumination the light provides. Solar lights come with rechargeable batteries.
These batteries usually last a few years if kept clean. Solar light primarily functions outdoor and thus accumulates dust and debris relatively quickly. Accumulation of dust and debris on the solar panel affects the functioning of these lights.
Hence, you must clean them mindfully to maintain their efficiency and lifespan. Furthermore, these lights don’t perform entirely on cloudy and winter days and thus must be stored away to sustain these for a long time.
So, with all these issues with solar lights, how can you get the best out of your investment? Is it possible to seal a solar garden light? Below are a few tips and tricks that will help you sustain solar lights for an extended time.
Sealing Solar Lights With Silicone Sealant
Although solar lights are durable and can survive the winter, it’s always advisable to store them away. Or at least seal them to ensure the outdoor lights are not damaged in winter.
To seal a solar light, you will need a translucent kitchen silicone sealant and a piece of polythene bag or a brush. Take the brush to apply the silicone sealant on the top of the solar light. Use the brush to apply even layers of the sealant to the light to get a clean result.
The sealant will prevent moisture penetration to the internals, solar cell, and solar panel of the light. So, make sure you cover up any holes, seams, or voids on the light to seal any possible moisture entry into the device.
Don’t panic if the sealing process becomes a mess while using the silicone. Instead, use a cotton bud moistened with acetone to clean the mess neatly, and you can continue with the process.
How To Maintain Solar Lights
Sealing solar light is just a part of waterproofing it to prevent any possible damage from moisture during cold, grey, rainy days, and frost. To ensure that the solar powered lights work efficiently for a long time, you must do the regular maintenance of the device.
Below are a few things that must be done in regular intervals to ensure the proper functioning of the solar lights.
Try Pruning The Trees And Shrubs Nearby
Solar lights rely on the sun for energy and thus must be placed at a location that gets ample sunlight. Make sure that you prune any bushes, shrubs, and trees nearby that block the sunlight for the solar device.
Clean The Solar Panels Mindfully
Cleaning your solar lights is essential and plays a vital role in sustaining these devices for a long time. Accumulation of dust on the solar panel of the lights will hinder its capacity and efficiency to charge. Even the circuit board can be damaged.
You must clean your solar garden lights with a soft cloth moistened with dish soap. You might also need a soft-bristled brush to dust off any stubborn debris and dust. Generally speaking, you must clean the solar panels either early or late in the day.
It’s advisable to clean the solar panels about once a month for optimum functioning of the lights. However, if you live in an arid area, you might need to repeat this cleaning process more often.
Clean The Fixtures And Globes
It’s just not your solar light that needs cleaning regularly but the globes and fixtures of your landscape lights as well. Doing this will enhance the visual appeal and extend the life of these plastic components.
You can use clean the fixtures and globes in the same manner as the lights. And while you’re at it, you must also inspect the fixtures and globes for any damage.
Check The Solar Lights For Any Damage
You must check your solar light regularly for any kind of damage. This includes the wires connecting the solar panels and fixtures as well. Although many of the solar lights are wireless, a few are not. And if your device falls in the latter category, you must mindfully check the wires as well.
Even though these wires are well hidden and protected, it’s possible for your pets or any stray animal to damage them by chewing.
Regularly Check The Batteries
You must regularly check the battery of the solar lights for corrosion. Corrosion hinders the charging capacity of the batteries and results in malfunctioning of the solar outdoor lights.
While inspecting the batteries for corrosion, look for white dust and dust them off with a soft-bristle brush. If the corrosion is light, it will be quickly dusted off the brush. However, you will need to repeat the same process with fine-grit sandpaper instead.
If batteries are corroded, you might consider replacing them. Additionally, try to replace your batteries with NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries instead of NiCd batteries.
NiMH batteries have a longer lifespan and are relatively more eco-friendly than (NiCd) alkaline batteries.
Endnotes
Solar lights can easily withstand harsh weather conditions and have an IPX3 rating. However, even still, it’s possible for your solar lights to have a water ingress which can damage the device completely.
Therefore, you must seal your solar lights and perform regular maintenance to sustain them for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do solar lights get damaged by moisture?
Water inside solar lights corrodes the electronics, shorts out the circuit board, and breaks the battery connections. Moisture causes rust on metal components and can trigger mold growth. Even a small crack or a loose seal lets water in, especially if the light sits in wet grass or gets splashed during rain. Salt water is even worse because it accelerates corrosion.
What’s the best sealant for solar lights?
Silicone caulk is your best option. It’s flexible, waterproof, and stays put in sun and cold. Apply a thin bead around the seams where the top meets the body of the light. Avoid polyurethane sealants if the light will get heavy sun exposure because UV breaks them down over time. For a cleaner look, clear silicone blends better than white. Never seal the vent holes if the light has them; they exist to allow gas exchange inside the battery compartment.
Can I seal over an existing crack in a solar light?
If the crack is small and cosmetic, yes. Clean out any debris with a small brush, let it dry completely, then apply silicone caulk. For larger cracks or if water has already gotten inside, sealing won’t fix it. You’ll need to open the light, dry the interior, check the battery, and decide if it’s worth the effort. Replacement is often cheaper than the time it takes to properly repair and seal an older light.
How do I open a sealed solar light to dry it out?
Most solar lights are glued or screwed together. Try gently prying the top and bottom apart with a flat screwdriver. If it’s glued, work the screwdriver around the seam slowly to avoid breaking plastic. Once open, remove the battery and circuit board and let them air dry in the sun for a full day. Wipe down metal parts with a dry cloth. If corrosion is heavy, the light may not recover, and replacement makes more sense.
Is it worth sealing solar lights that are still working?
If the light is new or relatively new and works well, sealing the seams extends its life by a year or two. The effort takes 10 minutes per light and costs almost nothing. If the light is already showing signs of age or has been outside for many years, the battery and electronics are likely near the end of their life anyway. A 5-year-old solar light that’s starting to dim probably won’t last much longer even if you seal it.
Should I remove solar lights before winter?
In harsh climates with extended freezing, removing lights for winter protects them from moisture damage and ice expansion that can crack plastic. In mild climates, leaving them out year-round is fine. If you do remove them, store in a dry place indoors. Don’t seal them while they’re wet or in humid conditions; the moisture will be trapped inside and accelerate corrosion. Seal them only on a dry day after they’ve been in the sun.
Can I prevent moisture problems before they start?
Yes. Position lights where water drains away, not in depressions that collect standing water. Remove them immediately after heavy rain or watering. Check the seams twice a year and reseal at the first sign of cracking. Choose lights with better sealing from the start; premium brands often have tighter construction. These preventive steps catch problems early and make sealing a regular maintenance task rather than emergency damage control.
Summing Up
Moisture is the enemy of solar lights, but preventing damage is simple if you stay on top of it. A thin line of silicone caulk applied once a year keeps water out and extends the life of your lights. The investment is minimal: a $5 tube of silicone caulk and ten minutes of work can add years to a light that would otherwise fail.
The best approach is prevention. Position lights where water drains away, check them seasonally, and seal them before cracks start leaking. If a light is already showing corrosion inside, sometimes it’s wiser to replace it than to spend time on a repair that might not hold. But for lights that are still working well, sealing is a smart investment in longevity.
Take action now, and your solar lights will keep shining season after season.
Updated