Get matched with top holiday decorators in Barnsdall, OK

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. 

Christmas lights typically do not need to be grounded like electrical circuits in your home do. However, it's crucial to use outdoor outlets equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) for added safety. GFCIs can help protect against electrical shocks and are recommended for outdoor electrical connections when using Christmas lights.

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.

Considering the pros and cons of hiring a professional holiday light installer can help you decide if it’s right for you. Here are some advantages and disadvantages:

Pros

• Saves time

• Reduces stress

• Produces for custom, high-quality designs

• Provides better-quality lights

• Reduces personal safety risks 

• May Include takedown and storage services

Cons

• More expensive than DIY light installation

• Less control over the design

• High demand for installers

• Contractors may keep the lights and decorations