The short answer
Putting your lights up and turning them on are two separate decisions. Put outdoor Christmas lights up in the fall, on a dry day before ice and snow arrive, and switch them on whenever you feel the season has started.
Lights can sit on the roofline for weeks before you plug them in. Doing the install early means easier, safer work; waiting to turn them on keeps the neighbours happy if you're not ready for Christmas in October.
Why a fall install is easier
The job doesn't change much from October to December, but the conditions do. Earlier in the season you usually get:
- Dry eavestroughs and shingles, so clips go on cleanly and ladders sit on firm, ice-free ground.
- Comfortable hands. Clipping hundreds of feet of lights is fiddly work in freezing weather.
- Time to fix problems. If a strand is dead or you run short at a corner, there's time to sort it out before December.
- A clean start. Many roofline clips attach to the gutter edge, so clear the leaves out first. If your eavestroughs are full, book gutter cleaning before the lights go up.
If you're putting them up yourself
The two big risks in holiday lighting are ladders and electricity. The Electrical Safety Authority's holiday tips cover the basics:
- Use lights rated for outdoor use, with a Canadian certification mark from an accredited agency, such as CSA or cUL.
- Plug outdoor lights into a GFCI-protected outlet with a weatherproof cover.
- Hang lights with proper clips. Staples and nails can damage the cord.
- Don't connect more strings end to end than the manufacturer allows (usually no more than three).
- Keep cords and connections off the ground and away from puddles, driveways and walkways.
- Inspect last year's lights before they go up, and replace any damaged cords, plugs or bulbs.
- Look up before you set up a ladder. ESA says to check for overhead power lines first and stay at least 3 metres away from them.
For the ladder itself, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety recommends the 4-to-1 rule (one foot out from the wall for every four feet of height), keeping three points of contact, and staying off the top three rungs. Two-storey rooflines and steep peaks are where many homeowners decide to call a pro.
When to switch them on
When the lights go on is your call. A plug-in timer makes it easy: set it once and the lights come on at dusk and go off at bedtime, which is also what ESA recommends (turn lights off when you go to bed or leave the house).
Timing affects your hydro bill too. Under the Ontario Energy Board's winter Time-of-Use hours (November 1 to April 30), weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. are on-peak and evenings after 7 p.m. are off-peak. On the Ultra-Low Overnight plan, weekdays from 4 to 9 p.m. are on-peak. Prices are reset each November, so check the OEB's current rates for your plan.
LED strings help most. Natural Resources Canada says ENERGY STAR certified LED light strings use on average 75% less energy than incandescent strings.
When to take them down
January, after the holidays, is the usual time to take outdoor lights down. ESA notes that holiday decorations aren't designed for year-round use, so don't leave seasonal lights up through the spring.
If you'd rather never take lights down again, permanent lights sit in a slim track under the eaves all year and switch colours from an app for any holiday.
When to book a professional install
As early as you can. Our install slots fill up by mid-November, so booking in October or early November gives you the most choice of dates.
With Home Guardians, seasonal installs start at $11 per linear foot in year one, with the lights included and yours to keep. That covers installation, mid-season fixes, takedown in January and storage until next year. Following years cost about half, depending on the house, since you already own the lights. See the full cost guide for example homes.
We install across Vaughan, Maple, Woodbridge, Kleinburg, Concord and Thornhill, plus Richmond Hill, King City and nearby areas. Want a number now? Our instant price tool measures your roofline from your address and gives you an estimate right away.