When buying holiday lighting for your outdoor decorations, there are several factors to consider. Among them are safety, energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. The right choice for your outdoor decorations can help your home or business look its best during the holidays. Here are a few tips that will help you make an informed decision. Using LED mini lights can help you save power and money, so consider buying them instead of conventional lights.
Cost of outdoor holiday lighting
If you want to add some color to your outdoor space during the holiday season, consider installing holiday lights. The traditional option, incandescent lights, can cost five to 20 dollars per strand. They come in many sizes, including mini versions. They work by incandescence, a process where electrical current passes through a heated filament to produce light. However, they use a lot of energy and tend to burn out sooner than their energy-efficient counterparts.
For an average home, ten to 20 strands of holiday lights are needed. A professional lighting installer will charge between 50 cents and two dollars per linear foot, but this does not include the cost of lights. The cost of installation will also depend on the type of bulbs used. In addition, the pitch of your roof will affect the cost.
Energy efficiency
Putting up holiday lights outside can be expensive, but you can save money by using energy-efficient models. You can use timers to set the amount of time the lights remain on. Make sure to get timers that are made for outdoor environments, because they can withstand the weather. You should also wait until warm weather to put them up and take them down. And once the holiday season is over, be sure to unplug them.
Another way to cut energy consumption is to choose LED lights. These lights are better than traditional string lights because they use up to 70% less energy. In addition to being more energy-efficient, these lights are safer and easier to install. Unlike older string lights, LED lights can be installed end-to-end.
Cost-effectiveness
Hiring a lighting service to install outdoor holiday lights is a great way to add a festive touch to your home without spending a fortune. Some companies charge a large upfront deposit or fee, but it’s important to consider whether this cost is worth it. You want to hire a professional, who can ensure a high quality installation. A high upfront fee is a red flag, because it indicates a company that might not be stable and unlikely to deliver a professional result.
In general, an average-sized home between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet requires about 10 to 20 strands of lights. The cost of holiday light installation varies, but a basic installation can cost around $100. The cost will increase if you want to get LED lights, which are more expensive than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Installation
If you are looking to spruce up your home for the holidays, installation of holiday lighting can help you achieve that look. These lights can also boost local business sales. You can hire an electrician to install new electrical wires and lights. These pros usually charge between $50 and $100 per hour. Many of them also provide extension cords and stakes to keep them in place. Timers can also be useful additions to your holiday lighting. These timers cost $10 to $30 each.
When choosing a contractor for holiday lighting outdoor, it’s a good idea to make sure that they are insured and have a good safety record. The last thing you want is to end up with a disaster due to an electrical malfunction. You should avoid using nails or other dangerous devices on holiday lights.