![]() ![]() That way, you'll look forward to a bright and trouble-free holiday next year. Tripped circuit breakers, blown fuses, and burnt-out bulbs are the most common problems, and thankfully, each one has a simple fix.īefore you pack your Christmas decorations away at the end of the season, give your string lights a post-holiday checkup. "To ball lights, hold the plug in your hand and wind the strand around your hand tightly to make a ball shape." Insider's takeawayĬhristmas light problems can quickly drain the joy out of your holiday decorating happiness. Quick tip: The best way to store Christmas lights to prevent damage is to "ball" them, says Bello. ![]() When it's time to trim the tree next year, your lights should all be working. Throw away strands with broken or frayed cords. As you take down each strand of lights, replace any burnt-out or broken bulbs. ![]() SolStock/Getty ImagesĪ great way to prevent future problems is to test your lights at the end of the season, says McCoy. (Just like the individual light fixtures in your house - each one is independent of all the others. Thats because all of those bulbs were 110 volts, and wired in parallel. Inspect lights for any signs of damage before and after use. Step 1: SECRET TRICKERY 1 - Bulbs Are Wired in Series, and in Groups In the olden days of LARGE holiday lights, one bulb would burn out, and it would not affect its neighbors. Be sure to firmly seat each bulb in its socket when replacing it. Once you find the faulty bulb, unplug the associated light strand from the outlet and replace the faulty bulb with a new bulb. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to test each bulb. If no bulbs are visibly damaged, and your lights are not working, use a bulb tester, says McCoy. When to try it: When no bulbs are visibly damaged and the lights aren't working Leaving burnt-out bulbs on a string of working lights increases stress on the working lights, and shortens their lifespan, explains McCoy. Quick tip: To increase the lifespan of a string of lights, replace burnt-out bulbs promptly. "Just be sure to use bulbs with the same voltage rating as the rest of your string lights," says McCoy. To fix burnt-out bulbs, untangle all string lights and check for frayed wires, damaged sockets, or broken bulbs.ĭiscard any damaged bulbs, and then replace them with spare ones. If the fuse isn't the problem, there is probably a problem with a bulb, says McCoy. ![]()
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