Although security lighting may not deter a determined burglar, its presence will make your property that much less enticing to would-be trespassers. When paired with other types of home security systems like alarms and surveillance cameras, strong lights will better help you and the authorities identify thieves in the instance they attempt to break in or succeed at doing so. 

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. 

You can take a few steps to prolong the life of your holiday lights. Make sure to replace burnt-out bulbs as quickly as possible to avoid overloading the rest of the circuit and knocking out more lights. Before packing them up each year, plug each strand into the wall to confirm everything is still working. Wrap the lights carefully back into their original packaging or something similar—winding a strand tightly together or leaving it to hang loose in a storage bin can lead to frayed or damaged wiring. 

The cost to repair a short circuit depends on the type of repair. A faulty outlet or simple loose wire can be a simple fix that might only cost a handful of dollars. For example, if you need to rewire a house, you’ll spend around $2 to $4 per square foot, but replacing an entire electrical panel costs anywhere from $500 to $2,100.