I've had a set of these for about four years and have had similar experiences with bulbs burning out due to water infiltration. I even tried sealing the small openings with silicone sealant and that didn't help. I've also had problems with the upright "post" section becoming loose because the threads on the in-ground part deteriorated. I'm going to pull these lights up and see if I can get the manufacturer to replace them with another style or give me a refund. The only reason I didn't give them 1 star is because they are very attractive and the finish has held up very well.