Lighting Services in Wells, Maine

Outdoor lighting near Wells Beach, Drakes Island and Moody has to hold up to salt spray and wind. Fixtures in brass, copper or coated aluminum with sealed housings last far longer than bargain steel, and outdoor boxes need good gaskets and covers that stay closed with a cord plugged in. On homes backing onto the Rachel Carson refuge or the Wells Reserve, shielded fixtures aimed downward keep light on the ground and off the marsh, which also makes the property look better from the water. Stairways down to the beach, decks and outdoor showers need GFCI-protected circuits and fixtures rated for wet locations, and low-voltage path lights are easier to run through dune plantings than line-voltage cable.

Inside, the job depends on the house. Newer Wells homes often get recessed lighting, under-cabinet lights and dimmers added during a kitchen remodel. Older farmhouses and cottages call for careful work around plaster, beams and low ceilings, and insulation-contact rated fixtures in any ceiling below an attic. Switching to LED cuts load on small cottage circuits, and ceiling fans in bedrooms and screened porches help in summer and cut down on air conditioning. Seasonal owners often add smart switches or timers so the house looks occupied during the off-season.

Security and driveway lighting matter most on the inland side of town, out toward Sanford and North Berwick, where long driveways and wooded lots have no streetlights. Motion sensors on garages and sheds, photocell-controlled post lights and low-voltage landscape lighting on a timer all work well. Along Route 1, shops and motels benefit from LED retrofits of parking, sign and walkway lighting, which reduce power use and improve visibility at night. Goodnow Electric installs recessed, under-cabinet, outdoor, landscape and security lighting, ceiling fans, dimmers and lighting controls throughout Wells. For rental cottages and motels, durable LED fixtures with long rated lives mean fewer burned-out bulbs between guests, and occupancy sensors in storage rooms and laundry areas keep lights from running when nobody is there.