Learn how to protect holiday lights from ice, wind and temperature swings during Canadian winters. Get simple maintenance tips, safe storage advice and smart post-season remo
Surviving the Canadian Winter with Your Holiday Lights – Top Tips
Holiday lights add a little magic to the long dark nights of winter in Canada, but the harsh weather can ruin the show if you don’t look after them properly. Snow piles up, ice forms under your shingles, and the wind whips up in a way that puts a real strain on your wires. But with a bit of common sense and some simple habits, you can keep your display shining bright right through the season – and save yourself some cash by getting the most out of each strand of lights.
Don’t Let Ice Build Up in the First Place
Ice can really weigh down your wiring and weaken the connections over time. So it’s worth doing a bit of planning to avoid it.
- Try to keep your strands of lights away from surfaces where melting snow is likely to drip off and then freeze again.
- Position them so that water runs away from the bulbs, rather than pooling round them.
- Use a drip loop on your cords to guide the water safely downwards and protect yourself from the worst of the freeze-thaw cycle.
Laying a bit of groundwork now really does make all the difference when the storms start to hit.
Protect Your Strands from the Wind
The wind can be a real problem for your lights – it can pull the clips loose or twist the wires in a way that doesn’t feel right to you.
- Make sure you’re spacing your clips tightly along the roofline so that the strand stays securely in place.
- Try to avoid running the lights along narrow edges where the wind is likely to grab hold.
- If you live in an area with steady gusts, consider using thicker cords that can take the strain.
Homeowners who invest in some good quality winter light protection gear often find that they’re seeing a lot fewer failures in the run-up to the end of the season.
Watch Out for Temperature Swings
Lights can be really sensitive to big swings in temperature, especially when the plastic bits get cold and brittle.
- Check the tension on your wires every week – cold nights will tighten them up, but warm days will loosen them.
- Take a closer look at your connectors after a sudden warm spell – you might notice a small gap that you hadn’t noticed before.
- Don’t overload your wiring – older wires can get a lot more fragile when the temperature is fluctuating.
Keeping an eye out for these things can really help you avoid damage spreading across your display.
Look After Your Lights During the Season
It’s not a lot of work to give your lights a bit of TLC during the season – but it really does make a big difference.
- Brush off any heavy snow with a soft broom – don’t try to pull on the wires.
- Let the sun do the work for you when it comes to melting ice – breaking it off by hand can be a bit too much for the wires to take.
- Plug your strands into a ground-fault outlet when you’re running them – it’s a safety precaution, and it can really help reduce the risk if there’s a storm coming.
Many homeowners find that adding a quick seasonal light care routine to their weekend chores really helps to keep the bulbs shining bright, even on the longest and coldest days.
Removing the Lights Safely After the Holidays
If you want to get the most out of your lights next year, it’s worth taking the time to take them down properly, rather than rushing through the job.
- Choose a mild day for removal – it’s easier to work with the cords when they’re not stiff and brittle.
- Store each strand loosely, rather than pulling it tight – you don’t want to risk putting too much pressure on the insulation.
- Keep them in a dry bin, where the temperature is stable and the air is moving – it’s the perfect way to keep the moisture at bay.
Following these post-season storage tips can really help to protect the insulation and prevent cracking – which means your lights will be in great shape for next year.
A Final Thought Before You Head Out
Some people love handling their own lights, but with winter ladders, icy steps and frozen cords, it’s not hard to see how a small job can quickly turn into a bigger one. If you’re ever feeling unsure about setting up or taking down the lights, don’t be afraid to call in the professionals – they deal with seasonal work every day and know all the tricks to stay safe in shifting weather. And many homeowners find it’s worth letting the cleaning crews handle the hard jobs, so they can focus on the fun bits of the season.
