Get matched with top holiday decorators in Clarence, MO

No one has figured out a perfect solution to this problem. Tying icicle lights down or adding weights to them can help, but it’s a very time-consuming process and far from foolproof. If your winters are too windy, we suggest simply switching away from icicle lights to straight runs of non-dangling lights along the edge of your roof.

A blinking, or twinkle, bulb makes Christmas lights blink. Usually, this type of bulb has a silver or red tip, making it easily distinguishable from other non-blinking bulbs. Most packages of Christmas lights come with additional blinking and non-blinking bulbs. Additional bulbs can be purchased at a hardware store or online retailer.

The cost for professional holiday light installation averages around $430, with a typical range of $220 to $675. However, prices can be as low as $100 for simple projector setups or exceed $1,200 for extensive displays. The total cost depends on factors like the display's complexity, your home's size, labor rates in your area, and the type of lights used. For example, installation on a small, one-story home may cost $250 to $600, while a multi-story home over 4,000 square feet could cost $500 to $1,800. Costs can also be broken down by location (e.g., high roofs at $3.50–$6 per linear foot) or by the type of light strand, with prices ranging from $4 for basic incandescent strands to over $60 for color-changing LED strands.

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.