How to Troubleshoot Christmas Lights
These procedures are for incandescent Christmas lights. Incandescent string lights differ from LED lights, as they are warm to the touch. LED Lights remain cool when placing your hand on them.
Replacing a Holiday String Light Bulb
Replacing a string light bulb that won’t illuminate is a pretty simple task. Before checking your string lights, make sure the circuit breaker has not tripped or the GFCI outlet doesn’t need to be reset. Both of these can keep string lights from working.
Locate the Bad Bulb
Next, plug your string lights in and locate the bad bulb. Mark the bad bulb with painters tape or a clip.
Remove the Bulb
Gently remove the bulb with a small flat head screwdriver.
Remove the Plastic Cover
Straighten the metal prongs and slide the cover off.
Insert the New Bulb
With the old bulb removed, replace with a new bulb and fold the metal prongs back over the plastic cover.
Replace the Bulb Back in the String
Insert the new bulb into the open slot in the light string, making sure it is secure.
Plug the String Back In
Plug your lights back in and your new bulb should be working.
Many string lights come with a small bag of spare bulbs. Tape or staple this bag near the string’s plug to keep them handy if you need a replacement.
Replacing a Fuse in Holiday String Lights
Beyond replacing a burned-out bulb, there are other problems that may occur that will cause your sting lights to not operate. Knowing how to troubleshoot Christmas lights can help you figure out if the string can be repaired or if it needs to be discarded.
Christmas Lights Not Working
If the whole string of lights isn’t working, and the outlet is okay, then you may have a burned out fuse in your light string. Follow these next steps on how to change a fuse in Christmas tree lights.
Open the Fuse Cover
Before starting, make sure your lights are not plugged in. Slide open the fuse box, typically located just beside the string light plug.
Remove the Old Fuses
Remove the old fuses, being careful not to break the glass part of the fuse. Place new fuses back into the holder.
Check Your String Lights
Close the fuse cover and plug your lights back into the outlet to check if this solves your issue.
Tips for Buying Christmas Tree Lights
- Ensure that all lights are UL-listed (Underwriters Laboratories).
- Choose the same brand and type of lights to produce consistent results and ease in connecting.
- Consider purchasing energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lights. Although they're more expensive, they're typically more efficient than traditional lights, shatter-resistant and cool to the touch.
- Buy an extra set or two of lights in case you need more.
Find out more with our Christmas Lights Buying Guide.