As the holiday season approaches, you might be looking forward to decking your home with twinkling Christmas lights. However, the annual task of setting up and taking down temporary lights can be tedious and time-consuming.
This is where permanent Christmas lights come into play. These long-lasting, customizable light systems are understandably becoming increasingly popular for their convenience and longevity. Who wouldn’t want to switch these attractive lights on at the flick of a switch? Once they’ve been installed, that’s exactly what you can do. But what are the costs involved in installing permanent Christmas lights?
Let’s break down the various factors that influence the cost of permanent Christmas lights, from the initial investment to long-term maintenance, so you can decide if this option works for you.
The initial cost of permanent Christmas lights
The first thing to consider is the upfront cost of installing permanent Christmas lights around your home. Unlike temporary lights, which you purchase once and set up each year, permanent lights are a long-term investment that is designed to stay in place year-round.
A key point to remember is that permanent Christmas lights typically consist of high-quality, durable LED lights that can withstand year-round exposure to the elements. These lights are often customizable, allowing you to change colors, and patterns. They are also brilliantly versatile as you can control them via a timer, smartphone app or control panel.
The total cost of your lights depends on the materials, what features they offer, and how many lights you need to buy.
On average, the material cost for permanent Christmas lights can range from anywhere between $2 to $10 per linear foot. This cost tends to depend on the complexity and quality of the lighting system you choose. For instance, basic single-color LED lights will be on the lower end of this range, while advanced RGB lights with customizable features will be more expensive.
What about installation costs?
It is fair to say that Installing permanent Christmas lights is not a typical DIY project. It usually requires a professional installation service, which ensures that the lights are securely mounted and wired properly.
What you pay for those Installation costs will vary depending on the size and complexity of your home. Other factors that will influence what you pay include your location, installation costs may be higher in certain areas due to labor rates, and accessibility issues. If your home has a steep roof or has difficult-to-reach areas, this may require specialized equipment or more labor.
As a general guide, professional installation can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500. This fee is usually everything required, including mounting the lights, connecting them to a power source, and ensuring everything is weatherproofed for year-round use.
Estimating your total upfront cost
When you put the cost of the lights and what you pay to have them installed, the total upfront cost of permanent Christmas lights generally ranges somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000.
You are paying for durability and weather resistance
Another key advantage of permanent Christmas lights is their durability. Most systems are designed to be weatherproof. That means they can withstand harsh conditions like rain, snow, and extreme temperatures. While this increases the upfront cost, compared to cheaper, temporary holiday lights, the long-term durability of permanent lights means you won’t have to think about replacing them anytime soon.
Benefit from lower running costs
One of the main benefits of permanent Christmas lights is the fact they use LED technology, which is far more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs use as much as 90% less electricity than incandescents, making them an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option for year-round use.
The amount of electricity your lights consume will depend on the length of the light string, the type of lights, and how often they are used.
Because LED lights have such a low energy consumption rate, they are far more cost-efficient in the long term compared to traditional holiday lights. If you're replacing older incandescent lights with permanent LEDs, you could see significant savings in your electricity bill over time.
Maintenance and replacement costs
While permanent Christmas lights are designed to last for many years, occasional maintenance and repairs may be required. Certain factors like weather damage, electrical issues, or individual bulb failures can impact the longevity of the system.
However, the good news is that LED lights tend to have a much longer lifespan than traditional bulbs, often lasting for 50,000 hours or more.
Some possible maintenance costs to budget for include replacing the odd damaged bulb, which is an infrequent occurrence, or fixing wiring issues due to weather exposure.
You might also need to occasionally adjust the mounting brackets or clips, as they may come loose over time.
Benefit from long-term savings and value
While the upfront costs of installing permanent Christmas lights may seem high, there are several factors that can easily offset the investment in the long run. With permanent lights, you also eliminate the need to purchase new holiday lights each year or hire professional installers for temporary setups.
If you look at your investment in permanent Christmas lights over a span of five to ten years, these savings can add up significantly. Another positive aspect of these lights is that they can increase the curb appeal and overall value of your home.
Potential buyers might see the convenience and aesthetic value in having a built-in lighting system, making your home more attractive on the real estate market.
All things considered, the costs involved in installing permanent Christmas lights including both the initial investment of buying the lights and professional installation can be seen as a viable investment. Especially when you consider that permanent Christmas lights provide more than just holiday decorations. What you get is year-round versatility, durability, and aesthetic appeal that can enhance your home for many years to come.
If you're tired of the yearly hassle of putting up and taking down holiday lights, permanent lights may be the perfect solution to brighten up your home, whenever you turn them on.
