We're In Your Neighborhood!
Same Day Service
Since 1992
Call The Gentleman Pros Now!
(403) 879-1759
We're In Your Neighborhood!
Same Day Service
Since 1992
Call The Gentleman Pros Now!
(403) 879-1759
If you are in the market for permanent Christmas lights for your home, read on to learn everything you need to consider before purchasing.
In this guide, we will cover the following topics:
There are a lot of good reasons to invest in permanent Christmas lights.
They can be used for more than just Christmas. Customize your lights for every holiday, or event.
Permanent Christmas Lights are a popular option for homeowners wanting to decorate their homes for all seasons and holidays, including Christmas. In Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer permanent Christmas lights are especially appealing because homeowners avoid putting up/taking down lights in Alberta winter conditions.
Many high-end neighbourhoods are saturated with homes with permanent lights, adding to the character of your home and neighbourhood. Various light patterns can be used to highlight the home’s style all year round.
Save time, prevent injuries, and avoid working outside in the biting cold weather having permanent lights. Gain two weekends every year, outdoor Christmas lights are already scratched off the list. (If you are “that family” that leaves your lights on all year round, you will become more popular with your neighbours after installing permanent lights.)
We are so confident in the quality that we provide a lifetime warranty for the lights as long as you own the home.
Outdoor LED lights typically last between 20,000 and 55,000 hours. If you run your lights 8 hours a day, this could be anywhere from about 7 to 20 years.
Many things can impact the lifespan of your LED lights, including heat, humidity, switching cycles and sources of power. In Calgary, Red Deer, and Edmonton, outdoor lights have to withstand cold temperatures, snow, and melting snow.
Read on to understand the features that can extend the life of Permanent Christmas Lights.
When you purchase permanent lights for your home, you are paying for the lights and the installation. You don’t want to pay twice, installing lights that are more likely to break down is a waste of time and money.
When considering the durability of exterior LED lights, research these features:
IP ratings are used for rating water-proof and dust-proof enclosures. In an IP rating, the first number indicates the enclosure’s level of protection against dust, and dirt. The second rating number is related to water protection. IP68 water-proof rating is above the industry standard for LED lighting. IP68 can withstand complete submersion below one meter and for more than 30 minutes. (IP67 is only rated for submersion up to one meter and for up to 30 minutes.)
LED lights are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Just like most electronic devices, extreme cold or extreme heat are not ideal for performance or longevity. LEDs have a specific range of temperatures that they perform best in. Be sure to research the temperature rating for prospective lights. Be extremely cautious about where the lights are coming from and what temperatures they perform best in. Often permanent Christmas lights are designed to perform best in temperatures more ideal for US climates. Be sure to find out where the lights come, from and what temperatures they are advised for. Extremely cold temperatures can impact the brightness and color saturation of the LED lights, and impact the life of the lights.
Our lights are Developed in Canada for our cold Canadian winters, your lights will continue to bring that glowing feeling even in -55 C degree weather.
Often we think about electricity surges from lightning, but power surges happen frequently when there is an increase or drop in electrical charge.
The voltage running through our wires doesn’t come at a constant state of 120 volts, it fluctuates between 0 and 169 volts. Power surges are an increase in voltage over the normal amount. When the voltage exceeds 169 volts it can cause damage.
Power surges can last microseconds and can range from one or two volts over normal to tens of thousands of volts over the normal range. The higher the voltage the greater the damage. High voltage surges can melt parts of your electrical system and your appliances and devices plugged into your system.
Even low-voltage surges can cause damage. Though the immediate damage is minor it adds up because low surges can happen several times daily. Some refer to this damage as “electronic rust” which can severely shorten the lifespan of your appliances and devices. Often, appliances wear out because of power surges, and your LED lights are no different.
Not only are our lights completely waterproof and impact-resistant, but each light has its own surge protection plate built right in. We are so confident in that surge protection in each light that we are willing to back the lights with a lifetime warranty.
Most often light strips break down because of plastic connectors that break down.
The major difference between our lights and competitors is how the lights are soldered together.
Most often light strips break down because of plastic connectors that break down.
Most often outdoor lights don’t advertise the wire gauge, but this should be a consideration.
Wire gauge is measured by number and gets larger as the gauge number increases. What you need to know is that a thicker gauge wire is more durable, and more commonly LED lights are connected with an 18 gauge wire or more.
Our lights are connected with 16 gauge wire, rarely found in other lights. 16 gauge, although not required, is a step up from typical LED lighting.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing exterior LED lights is the installation. Even the best products won’t perform optimally with a poor installation. Ensuring the lights are properly tied to the electrical and secured safely to your home is an integral part of the life of your LED permanent Christmas lights.
Our lights are installed by an experienced electrician, ensuring that you not only have the best quality but a secure installation.
Rest comfortably knowing they won’t catch on fire, as they could not start or sustain a flame with a V-0 rating. The connections are not mere “plug-in” style but are individually soldered and sealed and every job site is supervised by a Certified Journeyman electrician. Independent product safety testing shows these ULC-rated lights will stand the test of time, we back it with our lifetime warranty as long as you own the home.
There are many different types of permanent Christmas lights on the market. Understand the most popular types and their features and limitations.
We recommend permanent LED track lights to home buyers. They are not visible when off, and highlight any architectural style of the home. Typically, they offer individual control over each LED light. That means every light in the strand can be a different colour at different places simultaneously. Compare this to a strip light that can only have continuous changes of the same colour at each time point.
LED track lights are typically controlled with an app on your phone. The lights use RGB (Red, Green, Blue) light technology uses combinations of red, green and blue at various intensities to 16 million colours.
LED strip lights also use RGB (Red, Green, Blue) light technology. They are usually controlled with an app on your phone or a controller. LED strip lights can only have continuous changes of the same colour at each time point. They typically are connected by a long tape or ribbon.
These lights are not very durable, or programable. They may be one of the least expensive options, but the lifespan of these lights is questionable.
Rope Lights
Permanent LED Rope lights are another popular choice, but many feel they lacking in their presentation. Robe lights are visible when turned off or on. (Although, they can blend into your home’s architecture if installed correctly.)
LED rope lights are created by encasing the stand of lights in a plastic tube. They have colour-changing abilities, but typically you can’t control the individual light like track lighting.
They are a less expensive option. The manufacturer, make, and weather will determine the lifespan of LED rope lights, but remember like anything, they are not created equally. (Also there are incandescent rope lights on the market, and typically they won’t last as long as LEDs.)
The cost for permanent Christmas lights ranges in price depending on quality, warranty and who is installing the lights.
There is a spectrum of cost, with the cheaper end of the spectrum purchasing lights on your own and installing them yourself while the other end of the spectrum is choosing the highest quality lights, the best warranty that are professionally installed by an electrician, not just a handy guy.
We advocate for investing in your home, and in lights that will last.
Price will also depend on the size of your house, the number of peaks and the sides of your house you want to light.
If your home backs on a green space or water, lighting the back and front of a house is optimal.
Lighting the sides of your house is helpful for safety, especially for kids, the elderly, or uncoordinated people (like me) who often slip on the ice in winter.
To determine the cost, our lights are measured in linear feet, but by the strand. The important question is “How many stands will your home need?”.
