Christmas light
installation FAQ
Straight answers on cost, install and takedown dates, and what to do if your lights go out after rain. Still stuck? Give us a call.
Cost and booking
How much does Christmas light installation cost?
Every home is priced on its own, because the type of lights, how much of the house is covered and how hard the roofline is to reach all change the price. The estimate is free with no obligation. Most of the time we can design and price your display over the phone using Google Earth, and we can send a designer to your home if you want one.
Why are some Christmas lighting companies cheaper?
Our price covers a crew trained in safety, climbing and installation, commercial-grade product, and full licensing and insurance, including $2 million in general liability coverage. Many cheaper outfits carry none of that, and the risk of someone on your roof sits with you.
Do I have to sign a multi-year contract?
No. There is no multi-year contract. You book one season at a time.
Do you supply the lights, or hang mine?
We supply everything: commercial-grade lights, timers, extension cords and every clip and fastener. You never buy a strand. Because we service what we supply, a dead bulb or a failed timer is our problem to fix. At the end of the season we take it all away, so there is nothing to store.
Install and takedown
When do you install Christmas lights?
We start hanging lights in early November. The earlier you book, the earlier you get a slot, so book soon for priority. If you need a specific install date, tell us and we will work with you as best we can.
When do you take the lights down?
Takedown starts January 2nd and runs by area and city, with every customer done by the end of January. Unplug your display whenever you are finished with it. If timers or power cords are in your garage or another area we cannot reach, set them out for pickup.
Do I need to be home for installation or removal?
Most of the time, no. Our technicians can finish an install whether you are home or not. If the power supply is behind a locked door or gate, unlock it before the install date or be home to let us in.
When lights go out
It rained and some of my lights will not turn on. What do I do?
After wet weather the most common cause is a GFI (ground fault) outlet that has switched off as a safety feature. Find the outlet that is not working, make sure the cords and lights are dry, and push the reset button back in. If that does not fix it, reset the tripped breaker at your electrical panel, or call us and we will walk you through it on the phone.
Why are some of my lights turning on and off at different times?
Lights that are out of sync are usually plugged into a switched outlet, or one of the timers is failing. Call us and we will troubleshoot it for you.
What if something stops working during the season?
We do drive-by checks through the season to make sure your display is working. If you notice lights out, call or email and we will have them repaired within 24 hours. Maintenance is free while the lights are up, apart from GFI resets, so please check your GFI outlets before you call.
The rest of the year
What do you do outside the holiday season?
We work year round. We design and install lighting for weddings and special events, and our sister company, Up On The House Top Cleaning, offers window cleaning, solar panel cleaning and rain gutter clean-outs.
Lights out after
rain? Try this first
- Find the outdoor outlet your lights plug into. If it has a TEST and RESET button, it is a GFI outlet.
- Check that the cords and plugs around it are dry.
- Press RESET firmly until it clicks.
- Still dark? Reset the tripped breaker at your electrical panel.
- Still dark after that? Call us. We can usually sort it out over the phone, and anything we installed that has failed is repaired within 24 hours.
Book early.
November fills up.
Call for a free, no-obligation estimate. Most homes can be designed and priced over the phone in one call.