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Testing tools, such as Christmas light testers, non-contact proximity electrical testers, and multimeters, all simplify the process of testing Christmas lights. However, without one or more of those tools, testing Christmas lights the old-fashioned way only works sometimes. Without testing tools, the simplest testing method is visual inspection, which may or may not yield positive results.

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. 

One possibility is that they aren’t getting enough sunlight during the day, which could be due to a lack of sunshine in your area or trees blocking the solar panel. Alternatively, if the solar panel is dirty or the batteries are dying, your solar lights might not operate at full brightness.

The average cost to install outdoor or landscape lighting is around $4,000, with most projects ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. The total cost can vary widely depending on several factors, including the number of fixtures, design complexity, and the type and quality of the lights used, such as wall sconces, pathway lights, or lamp posts. Other factors that influence the price are the square footage of the area being lit, the amount of electrical work needed, any required excavation or trenching, and local permitting costs. For specific types, you might pay around $100 for pathway or string lighting and up to $700 for lamp post lighting.