will it hurt my Christmas lights to leave them up all year if i unplug them & just plug them up next Christmas

Answer 1

No. I know lots of people who keep theirs up all year round and so far nothing has gone wrong.

Answer 2

Inside lights are fine to leave up all year. I have curtain lights that I leave up in my windows and they're always fine although I use colored lights so after 2 years or so the colored bulbs start bleaching out from the sun. If you use the clear/white that would be a bonus since they wouldn't fade out on you from sun light. Outside.... Hmmmm.... I'd say it depends on a few things. 1. Are they the inexpensive miniture lights, or the more expensive C-7 or C-9's or something like that? If they rean't too expensive, give it a try. I'd personally plug them in next year, if they lite them I'd check the wires and bulbs to make sure there isn't anything exposed. Also, I wouldn't try it with shrubs and the like, only roof/house lights. And I'd make sure when you unplug them that the plug is kept dry. I'd personally put a zip lock baggie over the plug(s) and use a good tough tape to seal it just to be safe. If you use the more expensive lights I'd take them down. I did learn a trick though- I leave the gutter clips on and carefully store them that way. There are usually a few that come off but most stay on and it makes it a bit quicker when putting them up the next year.
Just my 2 cents worth. Hope it helps. And I don't think it's tacky. Many people do it. Unless you're really looking hard you really don't notice the miniture lights when they're up all year. So as long as you're prepared to replace them 'should' something happen, I think the best thing is to give it a shot. Most people I think buy new every few years anyhow. The lights they have these days don't last like the ones they made when I was a child helping my grandfather put them up. Let me know what you decide and how it goes.

Answer 3

Indoors, it would be OK. But outdoors, they're constantly exposed to the elements. Sunlight is hard on plastic, i.e, plugs, bulb sockets & insulation. The plastic tends to become brittle after awhile. This can cause breakage or expose the wiring, creating a shock, short circuit or fire hazard. So, it's better to take them down, say, right after New Year's, & store them till next year.

Answer 4

I think it's kinda tacky, and show's that you're lazy. (no offense!) Plus, i don't think the weather is too kind to them. They have the neatest device for putting up Christmas lights! My sister got one, and she put her light sets up in like 15 minutes, and she's got LOTS of sets! I couldn't use the device on my house, because of my roof style, but i'm sure they sell a lot of them! Try to find one at Home Depot, or Lowe's. I don't know the name of them, but ask the customer service people.

Answer 5

If your lights are outdoors, exposure to the sun can make the insulation covering the wires brittle, potentially leading to a short circuit or other electrical/fire hazard. I'd definitely take them down once Christmas is over.

Answer 6

You know, I know people who are like this -- (mostly they will readily admit that they are LAZY and don't like to clean the light sets, check the bulbs or do yardwork -- which makes one wonder why they own a home with a yard anyway) and leave them there in the bushes, the trees, whatever all year around ...

Answer 7

The weather elements will cause damage, over time, to the wiring as well as the bulbs themselves. If you decide to leave them up,as many do,be sure to check EACH and EVERY BULB, as well as the WIRING,and CONNECTIONS, to make sure there are No Fraying of wires, Cracked Bulbs or Unsafe Connections BEFORE turning them on next year. I personally think it is worth the hassle to take them down,store them properly, out of the elements, to insure they are Safe for using the next year,however after 2 yrs of use,I always get new ones,they are always on sale AFTER the Holiday and aren' that expensive to replace.

Answer 8

No, not at all. Some bulbs might get broken but thats an easy fix. I actually find that leaving them makes them last longer, they wont get man handled as much.

Answer 9

In my opinion, I find it's abit odd to see XMAS lights on a house all year round, kinda takes the fun outta it.

Answer 10

To each his own, personally I think it looks tacky to leave them up all year. It looks like no one in the family has any ambition.