Can You Leave Christmas Lights Up All Year in Omaha, NE?

After the holiday season winds down and the frigid Omaha wind starts to quiet, many homeowners find themselves looking up at their roofs thinking the same thing, “Do I really have to take these lights down already?” Maybe you got them up late. Maybe it’s just too cold. Maybe they still look good and you like the soft glow on long winter nights. The idea of leaving your Christmas lights up all year starts to feel tempting. You know you’ll miss the magic of a lit-up home in the middle of July.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve helped Omaha homeowners with projects for decades. While we specialize in painting, our team also installs professional holiday lighting during the colder months. While we love a good lighting display, we also know when it’s time to take it down.

This article will answer whether or not it’s a good idea to leave your holiday lights up year-round. We’ll go over how traditional Christmas lights hold up in Nebraska weather, what the risks are, and how that compares to permanent lighting systems designed for all-season use. If you’ve been debating whether to take them down or just keep them plugged in until next December, this article will give you the answers you need to make the best call for your home.

Why Most Holiday Lights Aren’t Meant to Stay Up All Year

Most Christmas lights, the kind sold in big-box stores or included in standard holiday displays, are designed for short-term, seasonal use. That means 60 to 90 days of exposure, max. They’re made with basic insulation, thin wiring, and light-duty clips that just aren’t designed to survive long stretches of wind, rain, hail, and heat.

Here’s why leaving them up isn’t a great idea:

1. Omaha’s Freeze-Thaw Cycle is Tough on Plastic
   The wires, sockets, and clips used on seasonal Christmas lights are typically made from lightweight plastic. In Omaha, we deal with repeated freezing and thawing throughout winter and spring. That expansion and contraction can cause plastic to crack or become brittle. What starts as a little bend in the clip in January can lead to a full break by March.
2. UV Rays Will Wear Down the Wiring
   Even though Christmas lights are made to be outside, they’re not designed to be outside when the sun is beating down day after day. Omaha summers get hot. UV rays can break down the insulation on wires, leading to fading, cracking, or worse—exposed wires that could cause shorts or become a fire hazard.
3. Moisture, Mold, and Corrosion
   If lights are left up during rainy seasons, water can collect inside the sockets or connectors. Eventually, this can lead to corrosion, mold, or short circuits. By next winter, you may plug in your lights and find entire sections not working—or worse, a risk of sparking.
4. They Can Damage Your Trim and Gutters
   When lights are installed with clips on gutters or shingles, wind can shift or yank them throughout the year. Over time, this constant tugging can scratch or bend aluminum gutters, leave marks on painted trim, or even cause shingles to lift if lights were tucked underneath.
5. HOA and Neighborhood Rules
   Some Omaha neighborhoods or HOAs have guidelines about when lights should be taken down. Even if yours doesn’t, year-round Christmas lights can start to look neglected after a few months, especially if they begin sagging or sections go dark.

Why Do Some People Leave Christmas Lights Up Year-Round?

Some homeowners do choose to leave their lights up, especially if they did it themselves and don’t want to climb up ladders again. Others try to use them in creative ways for other seasons, like red, white, and blue for the Fourth of July or orange and purple for Halloween. The flexibility is tempting.

But it’s a gamble. Even high-quality Christmas lights are still meant to be temporary. And you’ll likely have to replace or repair them the following year anyway.

If you're considering this route, be ready for:

• Ongoing maintenance throughout the year
• Sagging or faded light strings
• Inconsistent performance
• Voided warranties on some light products

Should You Get Permanent Outdoor Lighting?

There’s a growing trend in Omaha neighborhoods: homeowners investing in permanent architectural lighting systems. These aren’t just upgraded Christmas lights; they’re smart lighting systems built to last all year long.

These systems typically include:

• RGBWW LED lighting (Red, Green, Blue, and Warm White)
• Aluminum channels that protect wires from the weather
• Custom-fit installation tucked under soffits for a clean, invisible look when off
• App-based control to change colors, patterns, or schedules throughout the year

Permanent lighting gives you the ability to celebrate any holiday, event, or season without climbing a ladder ever again.

It’s important to keep in mind, permanent lighting comes with its own responsibilities. While it’s built to last longer, it still needs care.

Pros of Permanent Lighting:

• Long lifespan, often 10+ years with LED systems
• No need for yearly installs or removals
• Cleaner, more polished look than seasonal lights
• Custom colors and patterns for year-round celebrations

Cons of Permanent Lighting:

• High upfront cost, sometimes $2,500 to $6,000 or more, depending on size
• Lots of maintenance is required
• Requires professional installation
• If one bulb fails, it often requires calling the installer for service
• Still subject to weather-related wear and tear over time

These systems are best for homeowners who want year-round use and are willing to pay for convenience and control. But it’s not just a set-it-and-forget-it option. Permanent lights need occasional cleaning, software updates, and potential repairs.

If you’re interested in permanent lights, they are an option, but not one that we at Brush & Roll Painting install in Omaha, NE. We believe in doing things right the first time, and for us, that means using seasonal lights when they’re meant to be used, then taking them down to preserve your home’s appearance and function.

Our holiday light service focuses on professional-grade seasonal lighting. These are designed to go up in late fall and come down by February.

Seasonal holiday lights:

• Keep your trim, gutters, and paint in better condition
• Have fewer electrical issues due to UV or water damage
• Let you enjoy fresh, updated displays every year
• They are more budget-friendly for homeowners who don’t want a major investment

Can You Leave Holiday Lights Up All Year?

You can, but you probably shouldn't. Leaving holiday lights up year-round in Omaha might seem like a time-saver, but it can lead to damage, higher replacement costs, and even safety concerns. Most Christmas lights simply aren’t made to handle months of sun, wind, and moisture.

Permanent lighting is available for homeowners who want a year-round option, but it comes with a higher price tag and ongoing care needs. It’s not a perfect solution, just a different one.

For most Omaha homeowners, sticking with seasonal lights that are professionally installed and removed is the safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective option. It protects your trim, keeps your home looking sharp, and lets you update your display every year.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we have helped Omaha homeowners since 1996 with professionally done home projects. We're here to guide you through the best option for your home, not just the fastest one.

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