Icicle Lights: Yea or Nay?
You may have seen so-called “icicle lights” in stores or on other houses this holiday season. Instead of a single strand of bulbs, icicle Christmas lights have numerous smaller strands of five or six bulbs each which are attached to a main wire. These mini-strands dangle from eaves or gutters, giving the “illusion” of icicles hanging from your rooftop on a wintry day.
Generally speaking, icicle lights are just as safe as regular miniature lights; so whether or not you incorporate them into your Christmas display depends on your personal tastes. However, you should
-
not
attach icicle lights to the roof of a second story house. Icicle lights use wires that are of smaller gauge than traditional Christmas lights – which means they are more susceptible to wind at greater heights. This can increase the chances of an electrical short (or even a fire!).
As long as you attach icicle lights properly and keep them off of two-story roofs, they can be an excellent addition to your exterior yuletide scene!