Hanging Christmas lights are a tradition many people enjoy. The strands of twinkling lights can brighten up any home or yard, but they are also difficult to hang.
One popular way to hang lights on the outside of your home is along the gutters. Most people use clips that slide over the gutter and hold the light in place, but these can be expensive, break easily, and can even damage your gutters. Thus, below are some alternatives to clips that can hold your Christmas lights in place.
How to Hang Christmas Lights on Gutters?
Let’s start with the basics:
Hanging Christmas lights on your roof and gutters can be an excellent way to make your home more festive. As mentioned above, if not done correctly, you can damage your gutter system. Therefore, below are some guidelines to prevent this from occurring.
Choose Your Lights Carefully
You need to choose your lights carefully because most gutter systems can not handle the weight. Hence, choose small Christmas lights that will not place too much stress on the guttering. Also, make sure to purchase lights suitable for outdoor use, especially if you intend to leave them up throughout the Christmas Holiday.
Clear the Roof and Gutters of Debris
Clean your gutters to remove any debris before attempting to hang your Christmas lights. Clear all leaves and other foliage away from around the base so they do not interfere with the Christmas lighting. You should also check your roof for loose tiles or slates.
Measure the Gutter
Measure the length of your gutters. Make sure you have enough Christmas lights to cover the gutter without stretching too tightly or having too much slack.
Use A Ladder
Next, make sure your ladder is securely placed in front of your house. Step back and look at the ladder from all angles to ensure it’s not going to tip when you climb it. Place it so that you can reach both sides of the roof with one extension of the ladder.
The Popular choice Clips
It is best to determine which of the gutter clips you want to use: plastic, metal, or adhesive. Plastic clips are inexpensive, but they can break easily and may not hold up in high winds.
Metal clips are more durable, but they can scratch your gutters and leave rust stains if they contain iron. Adhesive clips are a good choice for those who want a solution that won’t damage their gutters, but these clips may not withstand high winds either.
How To Hang Christmas Lights On Gutters Without Clips?
Plastic Cable Ties
To hang Christmas lights on gutters without clips, use plastic cable ties to attach the lights to your gutters. You can buy cable ties at any hardware store.
- Wrap the cable tie around the gutter and pull it tight. If you need extra strength, double up the cable ties.
- To secure your lights tightly against the gutter, wrap the cable tie underneath itself on both sides of the gutter before pulling it tight.
- Then string the Christmas lights and secure them with the cable ties.
Use Tape
Hanging lights with tape is a great way to avoid damage to your gutters and shingles. You can use regular outdoor tape or a strong adhesive double-sided option.
If you choose double-sided tape, remove the protective coverings from the adhesive side and stick it directly onto the gutter. Firmly press down on each section of tape to ensure that it is firmly attached before moving on to more sections of gutter.
After running your Christmas lights along each strip of tape. The tape will not hold up for the entire Christmas holiday, but they are perfect for parties.
Gutter Guards
One way to hang Christmas lights on gutters with gutter guards; you can find these clips at home improvement stores and hold Christmas lights in place.
To use the clips, open the clip and place it over the edge of the gutter guard, squeezing it shut (be sure the gutter is dry before doing this). Once in place, you can attach your lights to create a secure and beautiful holiday display.
Can You Leave Your Christmas Lights On All Night?
The short answer is yes. You can leave Christmas lights on all night. This is especially true with newer energy-efficient LED bulbs, as they don’t get as hot as traditional C9 and C7 Christmas lights. However, there are a few things to consider when it comes to safety.
There are two main types of Christmas lights: incandescent and LED. Incandescent holiday lights use more energy than LED lights and produce more heat than LEDs.
The last thing you want is for one of these bulbs to burn out in the middle of the night and start a fire! As long as you use LED bulbs in your decorations, there’s no need to worry about fire hazards or overheating.
Another thing to consider when choosing whether to leave your lights on overnight is how much power they will consume if left unattended for an extended period.
You don’t want to leave your incandescent Christmas lights all night for the holiday season. These lights can burn a lot of electricity and increase your bill for that month. LEDs are far cheaper to run. Plus, most people are in bed after ten, so there is no one to enjoy your beautiful holiday lights, anyway.
While you can have your holiday lights on all night, I do not recommend it. Install a timer so your lights can automatically shut off. Also, purchase LEDs as they can save money and lower fire hazards.
To Recap,
When hanging Christmas lights along your gutters, clips aren’t your only option. You can use zip ties, gutter guards, and tape. Be careful not to hang too many lights, as it can damage your gutter system. While it is OK to leave your holiday lights on all night, it isn’t the best idea, and it is a waste of electricity as most people are in bed.
