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You should always hang the lights before the ornaments because hanging lights on top of ornaments can cause some to fall off. If a light sits directly on top of an ornament, it can cause it to heat up and possibly change its color or cause it to crack. 

Blinker lights come with a standard box of Christmas lights, so you don’t need to pay extra for them unless you’ve misplaced the ones from the original box. You can buy replacement Christmas blinker lights for about $8 per box. If you want to plan for future holidays, you can buy a value box of 24 replacement blinker bulbs for about $12. Also called flasher lights, the replacement bulbs often come in packages of six bulbs.

While DIY Christmas light hanging is possible, there are a few reasons why outsourcing this project is in your best interest. First and foremost, your safety is essential. People who are physically unable to hang outdoor lights should consider hiring a pro for this job. Also, homes that pose a safety hazard, like multiple stories, should have a professional tackle the lighting project.

Additionally, hiring a professional holiday lighting expert is a great idea when you won't be able to maintain your holiday lights throughout the season, as many pros include repairs as part of their rates and packages.

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.