How do I keep Christmas lights from shorting out in the rain?

Keep the water out of the connections

Lights almost never short out in the rain because of the bulbs. They short out where water finds a plug, a cracked socket or an outlet. So the fix is a short list: use outdoor-rated lights, protect the outlet, lift every connection off the ground, and throw away damaged strands.

Start with the strand

Inspect holiday lights each year before you put them up.^[2] Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires.^[2] A cracked socket or a missing bulb leaves live metal exposed to rain, and tape is not a lasting repair. Check the tag too: use strands made for outdoor use, and keep to the number of strands the maker says you may connect.

Use the right cords

Plugs and cords are where most rain trouble starts. Cords made for indoor use will not withstand the temperature, humidity, and mechanical stresses of outdoor use,^[1] so buy extension cords marked for outdoor use. Choose three-prong cords for three-prong plugs. Using a 3- prong product with a 2-prong extension cord eliminates the protection^[1] that the grounded plug provides.

Protect the outlet

Moisture can get into outside outlets and cause a malfunction, which can pose a possible shock or fire hazard.^[1] Two things help most.

First, a GFCI. GFCIs protect against electrocution.^[1] If your outdoor outlet is not on a GFCI circuit, plug in a portable GFCI when you use an outdoor outlet.^[1] Press its test button when you set it up, and again after a storm.

Second, a cover. A weatherproof cover on an unused outlet keeps rain out. The in-use case is harder: most covers do not keep water out when a cord is plugged into them, because the water drips between the plug and outlet.^[1] If you must power lights in wet weather, fit a weatherproof while in use cover, and have an electrician install one if the outlet has none.

Lift and shield every connection

Where one strand plugs into another, or a strand meets an extension cord, water collects. Keep those joints off the ground, away from puddles, snow and the base of a downspout. Hang them on a hook or fence rail, or put them inside a weatherproof connection cover made for the job.

Make a drip loop. Let each cord hang in a low U before it rises to the plug, so water runs off the bottom of the loop instead of into the plug. Point plugs and sockets downward where you can, and do not run cords through gutters that hold water, or pinch them in a door or window.

Check the first wet night

After the first rain, walk the display. Look for a tripped GFCI, flickering strands, or plugs that feel warm. Dry the connection, move it up, and replace any strand that keeps failing. If half a strand has gone out, here is why that happens and how to fix it.

Stop and call a pro if

• A GFCI or breaker trips with nothing plugged in. The outlet or wiring may be wet or faulty, and that is a licensed electrician's job.
• The outlet is cracked, scorched or has no cover. Do not use it until it is repaired or replaced.
• You need an outdoor outlet where there is none. New outdoor wiring is electrical work, not an extension cord job.
• The lights run along a roofline or high gutter. Hire a professional rather than working from a ladder in wet weather.

Getting help in Virginia

For the install itself, see how to hang Christmas lights along gutters. If you would rather hand it off, read is it worth hiring someone to hang Christmas lights and what professional installation costs in Virginia. Browse more seasonal answers or find local seasonal pros.

When you want it done, describe the job and local businesses quote it.