Tips for Hanging Christmas Lights on Your Gutters

November 27, 2017

It's Christmas time! Just about everyone loves this time of the year. People often invite friends and family over to join them because Christmas is all about sharing and celebrating with the people who are important in your life. Additionally, many people decorate their houses as beautifully as possible. Some families even enjoy doing this together.

When it comes to Christmas decorations, the roof is one of the most popular places to hang lights, and it is usually where people start when planning their outdoor display. Many people get excited about decorating the inside of their home or putting up a Christmas tree, but did you know that you can decorate your rain gutters, as well? Gutters can help prevent your home from suffering water damage and improve the look of your house's exterior. However, they can make your home look incredible this holiday season. But before you get started, you may need to hire a rain gutter cleaning service, which will get your gutters ready to be decorated.

Once the rain gutter cleaning service is finished, it is time to decorate your gutters. Every homeowner needs to plan ahead to ensure good results. As we mentioned above, the first thing you need to worry about is making sure that your gutters are working properly before you even think about decorating them. A well-maintained drainage system is crucial for preventing any type of water damage. After you are sure that your gutters are clean and functioning properly, you can make your decoration ideas a reality.

What should you do before hanging Christmas lights on your gutters? Here are some recommendations:

Choose the Right Type of Lights
There are many different types of lights available on the market. Depending on the look and style you want to give to your house, you can choose white, clear, or colored lights. Make sure to pick the right ones!


Buy Light Clips
If you do not have light clips, buy some. They are the safest way to hang Christmas lights on your gutters. Light clips are placed along the edge of your rain gutters and allow you to hang the light cords where you want them. The best part is that they are easy to install and remove, and they do not pose any risks to your gutters or house, which makes them perfect!

Test Your Christmas Lights
The first thing you should do is test your Christmas lights to make sure they work. If they don't, you know it's time to buy new ones.

Find the Closest Power Sources to Your Roof
Most of the time, the closest power source to your roof will be on your porch, as the vast majority of houses do not have power outlets near the roof. You will probably need at least one good extension cord.

Think about Your Safety
This is something that homeowners cannot ignore. Why? Decorating your gutters implies getting up on your roof several times. You do not want to hurt yourself. To avoid injuries, use a reliable and sturdy ladder. Also consider getting a couple people to help you. It will make everything a lot easier and safer.

Homeowners often decorate their roofs and rain gutters before getting the inside of their homes into the Christmas spirit. Now that you have everything ready to install your Christmas lights, it is time to get started. Follow these tips to make decorating as easy as possible:

• Locate a Proper Electrical Receptacle
  Plan to use extension cords from an electrical outlet that is protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter. The best option is to use a switch-controlled outlet or plug the lights into an automatic timer. The receptacle's circuit and timer must be rated to handle the amperage of the light cords. Never use an indoor timer outdoors.

• Measure the Length of Your House
  Knowing the length of your home will help you figure out if the Christmas lights you have are long enough to cover your gutters or if you need to buy more light cords.

• Test the Christmas Lights Again
  Before hanging the lights on the rain gutters, test them one more time. Look for broken or missing bulbs and replace them if necessary before starting the decoration process.

• Make Sure You Have All the Tools Ready
  What do you need to have ready to start the process? One thing you need to do is set up the ladder. Ensure that it is placed firmly on the ground. Also, you should double-check that you have the number of clips you need to hang the lights.

• Hang the Christmas Lights
  This was the main objective from the beginning, right? The idea is to hang the lights as easily and safely as possible. Now, you just need to place them along the gutters and roof, use the clips to secure them, and voila! Your gutters are ready for Christmas.

If you follow these steps carefully, decorating will be easier for you and your family. Always make sure to hire a professional rain gutter cleaning service to evaluate and, if necessary, fix of your drainage system, as dirty or malfunctioning gutters can cause major damage to your house. Christmas is a holiday to enjoy. Do not put your home at risk during the holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

If you are going to decorate your home and your gutters are dirty or malfunctioning, we can help you! Our experts have more than 20 years of experience providing rain gutter cleaning and installation services in Miami-Dade County. Contact us by calling Rain Gutters Solution or by filling out our contact form. To learn more about our services and latest promotions, subscribe to our newsletter. Find us on Facebook at Rain Gutters Solution, Twitter @RainGuttersSolution and Instagram @GuttersSolution.