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Good news, Christmas lovers: you can keep your lights up all year, provided you choose the type. It's critical that you choose holiday lights made for outdoor use, as these can withstand winter weather conditions. In addition, it's best to use LED lights instead of incandescent ones. LED bulbs can withstand temperature shifts and are energy efficient. 

If you are considering leaving your holiday lights up year-round, ask your lighting installer about permanent installation. This project costs around $3,500 but gives you about six to 10 years of LED lights and adds a pleasing aesthetic to your home.

No, you should not leave LED Christmas lights up all year. While the LED lights themselves are very durable, their wiring and casings can be as vulnerable as any Christmas lights. They’re subject to drying out, experiencing cold or sun damage that causes them to crack, and even damage caused by gnawing pests. (The same is true of incandescents.) If you want your lights to last the years that they’re rated for, bring them inside after Christmas is over. 

The easiest way to hang Christmas lights on your roof is to attach them to your gutters, but there are plenty of user-friendly methods to try. You can use light clips to easily hook Christmas lights to your shingles, eaves, gutters, or soffit. However, using a telescoping pole is a surefire way to ensure your safety while hanging Christmas lights because it doesn’t require using a ladder or climbing onto the roof.

You now know you can hang Christmas lights with adhesive hooks, but if you need alternatives, consider pushpins, tacks, staples, and adhesive putty (for small projects). If you have a drop ceiling, look for clips and hooks designed for the metal framing.