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What happens on Christmas light install day?
On install day the crew checks your roofline, clips the lights on with no fasteners, runs power from your outdoor outlet to a timer, tests everything and texts you when the lights are on. You do not need to be home. The balance is due that day once the lights are up, and you have 3 days to ask for free design changes.
What happens on Christmas light install day?
A crew arrives, checks your roofline, hangs the lights with clips, connects them to power and a timer, tests the whole display and texts you when the lights are on. For most homes it is done in a few hours, and you don't need to be there.
Here is the day step by step, plus the one thing you can check ahead of time that prevents most problems: your outdoor outlets.
What does the crew do, step by step?
- Arrive and look the house over. Before anything goes up, the crew walks the roofline and checks the gutters, roof edge and access points against your design.
- Check power. They find the outdoor outlet the display will use and make sure it has power.
- Set ladders safely. Ladders go on firm, level ground, clear of beds and walkways.
- Clip the lights on. Clips grip the gutter edge and the shingle line by hand. No nails, staples or screws, ever.
- Cut each run to fit. Lights are cut to the length of each section, so corners and peaks end cleanly.
- Add the extras. Trees, bushes, wreaths, garland or pathway lights go on after the roofline.
- Connect to the timer. Cords run neatly to the outlet, and the display goes on a timer.
- Test everything. The crew turns the display on and checks every section.
- Clean up. Packaging, clip bags and scraps leave with the crew.
- Text you. You get a message when your lights are on.
How long that takes depends mostly on height, pitch and add-ons. Our article on how long installation takes gives typical ranges by type of home.
Do you need to be home?
No. We install from the outside, check the roofline on site before starting and text you when the lights are on. Most people are at work or running errands while it happens.
A few things help the crew work without calling you:
- Gate codes. Send the code or leave the gate unlatched.
- Dogs. Keep them inside for the day. A crew carrying ladders through the yard is not a good mix with a curious dog, and gates get opened.
- Cars. Move them out of the driveway if the roofline above it is being lit.
- Anything fragile. Mention planters, yard art or a loose gutter section so the crew can plan around it.
Why do outdoor GFCI outlets matter?
Outdoor outlets should be GFCI protected, because a GFCI cuts the power when it senses electricity flowing where it shouldn't, such as through water or a person. The National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for outdoor receptacles at homes (NEC 210.8(A)(3), via Mike Holt), though older houses may have been built before current rules.
That protection is exactly what you want on a holiday display that sits outside in rain and snow for weeks. It also explains a lot of December "lights are out" calls.
What should you check before install day?
Find the outdoor outlet nearest the front of the house and make sure it works and is not tripped. It takes two minutes.
- Look for TEST and RESET buttons on the outlet. If there are none, the outlet may be protected by a GFCI somewhere else, often in the garage, a bathroom or the basement.
- Press RESET, then plug in a nightlight or lamp. It should come on.
- Press TEST. The light should go off. Press RESET again, and it should come back on.
- If the light stays off after RESET, the outlet needs an electrician.
That test comes from Santee Cooper's GFCI guidance, and Leviton recommends testing GFCIs monthly. Also check whether a light switch inside controls the outlet. If it does, the display goes dark every time someone flips it.
Why does a tripped GFCI make the whole display go dark?
Because one GFCI often protects several outlets, and it trips for reasons that have nothing to do with the lights. Heavy rain, a wet cover, a leaf blower plugged in on the same circuit or an older outlet wearing out can all trip it.
When the whole display goes dark at once, check the GFCI before anything else. Press RESET on the outdoor outlet, then look for a tripped GFCI in the garage, bathrooms or basement. If only one section is out, or the reset does not fix it, text us. We fix outages within 48 hours, free.
When do the lights actually turn on?
The display goes on a timer, so the lights come on in the evening without you thinking about it. If you have a start date in mind, tell us when you book.
What if you don't love how it looks?
Tell us within 3 days of install and we adjust the design for free. Maybe the bushes need more light, or a peak looks busier than you pictured. Look at the house from the street at night before you decide, since that is how everyone else will see it.
If you are still weighing colors, our comparison of warm white versus multicolor lights can help you decide before install day.
When is the balance due?
The balance is due on install day, once the lights are up. Your 50% deposit already held the date, so this is the second and final payment for the season.
What happens after install day?
The lights run on their timer through the season. If any section goes out, text or call and we fix it within 48 hours, free; weather that makes the roof unsafe can add a day. In January we come back, take everything down by hand and store it until next year. Our clips come off one at a time, which is why clips don't damage gutters or shingles.
Ready to pick your install day?
We design, hang, fix, take down and store everything. Send your address for a free picture of your home lit up with a custom quote in about 15 minutes, then choose your date. If you are outside our current area, send your address anyway and we will tell you straight whether we can reach you.
Common questions
Do I need to leave a door unlocked?
No. We work from the outside and never need to come into your home. We only need access to the yard and a working outdoor outlet.
Will the lights come on as soon as the crew leaves?
The lights go on a timer and come on in the evening. If you have a start date in mind, tell us when you book.
What if it rains on my install day?
We do not work on a wet or icy roof. If weather moves your date, we reschedule with you first, and your deposit is never lost.
What if I do not like how it looks?
Tell us within 3 days of install and we adjust the design for free.
When do I pay the balance?
On install day, once the lights are up. Not before the crew arrives, and not halfway through the job.