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Cold weather can cause older incandescent Christmas lights to fail by causing cracks in the finish or the glass itself. Modern LED lights are affected in the opposite way and perform even better as the temperature drops. 

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. 

First of all, don’t shop for bargain lights—often, you’ll end up with a faulty or broken strand, full of dead bulbs or less-than-luminous brightness. Choose quality lights that will last you many years—LED lights have been known to last as long as 100,000 hours. Second, plan ahead and purchase lights for next year’s Christmas during this year’s post-holiday sales. Finally, have a vision and a plan—if you know the measurements of your home, including any windows, doors, and outside bushes you wish to light up, you should be able to only purchase the necessary lights and not more than you need.

There is no formal date for Christmas light removal, but January 2 is a standard day to take them down for many homeowners. However, some homeowners’ associations have strict rules around this topic, mandating that residents remove lights no later than two weeks after Christmas. Check with your local association or community for more information.