How to Compare the Quality of Outdoor Christmas Lights

Compare lights before you purchase.

A Christmas tree may make the interior of your home feel festive, but outdoor Christmas lights can add the final touch and make your house shine. However, the quality of outdoor Christmas lights varies. Generally, you get what you pay for, but there are certain features you should look for to be sure you're purchasing a set of quality lights that won't ruin the Christmas spirit with high electric bills or busted bulbs.

Instructions

1. Consider energy-saving LED lights. LEDs, or Light-Emitting Diodes, use a fraction of the electricity that traditional incandescent bulbs burn. If you leave your outdoor Christmas lights on overnight or for long periods of time, high-quality LED lights will allow you to save you plenty of money. LEDs also last much longer than incandescents, so you can reuse the lights year after year.

2. Shop on line to read reviews. When you are looking at Christmas lights in the store, it's easy to be swayed by colorful packaging or store displays and you have no way of actually evaluating the quality of the lights. Read reviews of lights on line first to find out what other people have to say about them before choosing the lights that are right for you.

3. Always check that the Christmas lights you are considering are approved for outdoor use. Quality outdoor lights feature a thick plastic casing to protect the bulbs (rather than fragile glass) as well as a durable plastic cord to protect the electrical wires from water infiltration and wind damage.

4. Compare the length of the strands of Christmas lights per package. Short strands are difficult to hang and can be more expensive than longer, quality strands. Be sure that there are polarized plugs on both ends if you need to connect several strings of lights to wrap around your house.

5. Evaluate special features to get the festive look that you desire. Lights are available in traditional strings, icicle formations, netting to hang over trees or bushes as well as festive shapes such as snowflakes, candy canes or snowmen. Even traditional strings come in many colors and bulb shapes and some can be set to twinkle, blink or flash. Specialty lights and strings with these special features may cost more than traditional white light strings, however.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your neighbors with the most impressive lighting displays to recommend quality outdoor Christmas lights.

• Always take care when working with electricity. Don't attach lights to any structures containing metal, such as a topiary, and take care not to overload your circuit.

References

• Galt: Christmas light reviews and buying guide