Waterproof outdoor christmas lights? (2023)

Are outdoor Christmas lights waterproof?

Are Christmas lights waterproof? One of the most common questions from our customers is whether Christmas lights are water resistant. Most modern lights with a rating above IP44 are waterproof. Christmas lights with this rating are safe to be used outdoors and are protected from rain and water.

“Make sure where everything plugs in is dry and not exposed to the elements because the electricity still goes through the equipment and the light portion, what goes outside is what's important.” He said Christmas lights are meant to be used outside, they will be fine in rainy conditions.

Place a Rain Block Weatherproof Gasket on the male connector of the light or decoration and firmly press the two together. The gasket will compress slightly and lock out water.

LED lights are generally considered the longest-lasting outdoor Christmas Lights. They are more energy efficient and will take longer to burn out, and they also stay cool to the touch, making them less flammable. Multicolor LED lights also will not fade in the sun as quickly as incandescent lights.

Damp-rated LED lights can only be exposed to indirect water. Think of these as being in the laundry room, within a bathroom, or under a patio awning. There may be some slight moisture accumulation, but ultimately very little. Wet-rated LED lights may be within dripping or flowing water.

The danger of an LED light being exposed to water is when it's fully submerged. Electricity flows through the bulb, and because water is a conductor, it's possible for electrocution to occur.

Start applying the silicone caulk from the top-down, first on one side, then on the other. The underside of the light should not be sealed to allow moisture to escape. Smooth the silicone around the light. You can do this with your finger freshly dipped in the bowl of water, but the finish will remain visible.

Don't Overload Electrical Outlets

The lights on your Christmas tree should be plugged into a surge protector to help avoid a voltage spike, causing all of the lights on your tree to burn out.

Commercial LED light strings with co-axial connectors are one of the most popular styles of commercial Christmas lights among professional installers due to their exceptional durability.

What are the best outdoor lights for winter?

LED bulbs perform very well in winter weather. Unlike other light bulb types, LED bulbs don't rely on the use of heat or gasses in order to create light. Because of this, an LED bulb will turn on instantly in cold weather without any delays. LED bulbs are also typically made of plastic rather than glass.

The main difference between C7 and C9 lights is their size. C7 lights are smaller and more delicate, while C9 lights are larger and more rugged. This difference in size also means that C7 lights use less energy than C9 lights. C7 bulbs also last longer than C9 bulbs, so you won't have to replace them as often.

Plug the Christmas lights into your Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), or outdoor outlet. Wrap Teflon tape (electrical tape) securely and carefully around the plugs, completely coating the plug to prevent water from getting in and effectively creating a water-tight seal.

According to Low, a clear coat of either polyurethane or acrylic works well on wood-based materials. "Those will absolutely weatherproof your items," she explains.

Water that infiltrates the sockets on your Christmas lights wire can trip the GFCI socket, or the breaker and any other location water that might touch the wire can cause a trip. That's the importance of those breakers and GFCI, a trip would easily turn into an electrical fire and could burn the house down.

You can leave solar lights outside in winter, but some models may be damaged or break if exposed to freezing temperatures for long periods of time. The general rule of thumb is to avoid leaving them exposed in the elements during freezing temperatures for more than two days at a time.

A: Yes, these string lights can be left out during the winter.

IP67 indicates that it is waterproof; you can immerse it in water for a short period of time outdoors. IP68 indicates that the level of waterproofing is higher and that you can immerse it in water for a long time.

LED strip lights are available uncoated (non-waterproof), or with splash-proof or fully waterproof coatings. With this range of waterproof LED lights, you can install your tape strips almost anywhere – bathrooms and kitchens, externally, or any location where resistance to water is required.

Even though LED Strip Lights use a low voltage direct current, exposure to water is still enought to short circuit the delicate components.

Do I need to waterproof outdoor lights?

Waterproof connectors with sealant should be used in every outdoor lighting installation. Every week we see mistakes made by do-it-yourselfers. These mistakes can drastically reduce the lifespan of a system but they are also easily avoidable.

Outdoor string lights can get wet. You need to look at the IP (Ingress Protection) rating of these lights before buying them. The IP rating tells you how well protected your outdoor lights are against dirt and moisture. You also need to ensure that the extension cords are rated for exterior use.

You can prevent corrosion by ensuring that the base of each bulb has protection from moisture buildup. The easiest solution is to use rust-resistant or waterproof fixtures. For help with these or any other issue with your outdoor lighting, trust the experts at DeFazio Company.

Silicone caulk stands up to extremes in temperature changes and can last up to 20 years when properly applied. Cleanup for silicone caulk requires solvents instead of water. Used outdoors in areas exposed to direct sunlight or rain, silicone helps the seal last longer.

Scotch or duct tape may seem like the easiest method for hanging holiday lights, but universal clips are a better choice for outdoor light jobs since, unlike tape, they won't retain moisture near your electric lights. “Tape can trap rain or sprinkler system moisture,” said Whiddon. “One raindrop can ruin everything.”

Moisture can find its way into the connectors from dew, rain, melting snow, sprinklers, and so on. Water and electricity generally don't mix well, so weatherproofing your Christmas lights are essential.

If you lack an outdoor outlet, You can plug in Christmas lights to an indoor power outlet by using an extension cord, solar, rechargeable batteries, wireless lights, and candles.

Christmas Lights and Safety Recommendations

Only use outdoor extension cords for outside projects. Power Christmas lights using ground fault outlets (three-prong). Check to see that cord insulation is free of tears and deterioration. Keep connections away from deep puddles, car tires, and foot traffic.

Most Durable: JMEXSUSS LED String Lights

With 200 bulbs, these lights bring a warm glow to any room. In addition to being used to light mantels, trees, and other indoor spaces, these lights are also certified for outdoor use with their oxidation- and freeze-resistant design.

After more than 100 hours of researching, interviewing experts, and testing more than 25 different string light sets, we believe GE's Energy Smart Colorite LED Miniature Lights (available in strands of 150 bulbs in multicolor or warm white) offer a combination of light quality, color accuracy, and wide availability ...

How much does it cost to get permanent Christmas lights?

The average permanent installation costs around $3,500 to $10,000. The average labor on a seasonal Christmas Light installation costs only $350, plus the initial LED material cost of $250.

Wondering which is better – LED or incandescent Christmas lights? In terms of power consumption and longevity, LEDs are consistently the more popular choice. They may cost more upfront, but they are more energy-efficient as they don't need heat to product light.

How Are LEDs Affected by Cold? Generally speaking, the cooler the environment, the greater an LED's light output. This quality means that LED lighting actually performs well in cold temperatures. In fact, these lights will turn on instantly in cold temperatures, as the cold does not affect them.

Attach Christmas Lights to Shingles

One approach is to simply attach your lights to your shingles rather than your gutters. If your Gutter Helmet is installed underneath your shingles, then most traditional shingle clips will work as intended.

The older, incandescent bulbs do get hot, which makes them a fire hazard when used on or near flammable or delicate holiday decorations. However, the LED C7 and C9 bulbs do not get hot to the touch, expanding the creative horizons of where they can be used—anywhere… which leads us to…

C7 bulbs are slightly larger and provide a brighter light, making them a good option for outdoor decorations. We use Minleon® C7 bulbs for all of our holiday displays! C9 bulbs are the largest and brightest of the three, making them ideal for large outdoor holiday lighting projects.

Cord Socket Size - When it comes to the socket base size, you can choose between C7 or C9. For most structural perimeter lighting, C9s are the most commonly used. If lighting displays or small structures, then C7s work well.

Choose holiday lights that are rated for outdoor use.

A green holographic UL mark on the tag indicates that a product is for indoor use only, while a red mark indicates it's safe for both indoor and outdoor use. Outdoor lights are waterproof and prevent electrical shock and fire hazards.

Water and electricity don't mix well. Water that infiltrates the sockets on your Christmas lights wire can trip the GFCI socket, or the breaker and any other location water that might touch the wire can cause a trip.

Use Indoor Lights Indoors and Outdoor Lights Outside

They're not — unless they're marked that way on the package. Lights designed for outdoor use are made to withstand cold and wet conditions. Indoor lights are safety tested so they're not a fire hazard for trees, but they're not durable enough for outdoors.

Do outdoor lights attract burglars?

For the average break-in, the presence of lighting is not even a factor as daylight would overshadow any security lighting. So do outdoor lights deter crime? They can, but only for a small portion of potential burglaries.

For example, traditional incandescent lights usually have a lifespan of around four to six years, while newer LED lights often last anywhere from seven to ten years. Nonetheless, a variety of factors can determine whether you need to replace your lights sooner or can keep using them for several more years.

Cover the Display

Therefore, they create protective plans for these displays when rain looms. The easiest and most common way to protect a light display, aside from turning it off and unplugging the wires, is to cover the lights.

Don't assume all lights are designed for outdoor use; wrap all connections between strings with electrical tape to keep moisture out. Always plug lights into a covered outlet protected with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)—running cords from inside the house through a window or a mail slot is a fire hazard.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Christmas lights and decorations and GFCIs, generally all it takes to trip a circuit is for a little moisture to get into the outlet, cord or lights. If this happens and the power is on, the circuit will trip, causing the lights and décor to go out.

Should you leave outdoor lights on at night? No, leaving lights on can make intruders think that you're not home. Use a motion sensor light that turns on when you, or anyone else, comes near so you have light only when you need it.

Work Efficient in Cold Weather

But LED outdoor Christmas lights work just fine in cold temperatures. They actually burn more efficiently as the temperature drops.