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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. 

You can use outdoor electrical outlets to conveniently power landscaping equipment such as electrical lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and pressure washers. From a recreational standpoint, outdoor outlets are handy for powering electric grills, mini-fridges, and stereos. They're also helpful when it's time to string Christmas lights on your home and around your property.

High-quality landscape lights that are hardwired and properly maintained can last for 10 to 25 years or more. You’ll usually get a longer lifespan from soffit lights and wall-mounted lights that aren’t directly exposed to the elements or prone to damage from foot traffic or vehicle traffic. Solar-powered and battery-powered lights often won’t last as long, but you can still expect a lifespan of five to 15 years.

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.