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Pre-Christmas Home Prep: Gutters, Lights and Eaves
Get your roofline ready before the lights go up: clean gutters, safe lighting and eaves that can handle the first snow.
Why prep gutters before hanging holiday lights?
Most roofline lights clip onto gutters or shingles. Gutters full of wet leaves and ice are a poor place for light strands and their connections, and a clog that freezes can tear clips loose or pull a gutter down. Clean, secure gutters make the lights look better and hold up through the season.
Outdoor holiday lighting safety
The NFPA winter holiday safety tips focus on keeping holiday decorations from becoming a fire hazard. Common-sense steps for outdoor lights:
- Use lights and extension cords made for outdoor use.
- Check every strand for broken bulbs, frayed wires or loose connections before hanging it.
- Don’t overload outlets or link more strands than the maker allows.
- Keep plugs and connections off the ground and out of standing water or packed, wet debris.
- Turn lights off when you leave home or go to bed, or use a timer.
Your pre-Christmas roofline checklist
- Clean the gutters and flush the downspouts.
- Tighten loose gutters and hangers so clips have something solid to hold.
- Check trim and fascia for soft or rotted spots.
- Plan where the lights plug in and how cords will run.
- Look up for icicles and ice build-up, and call us if you see an ice dam forming (why ice dams happen).
Let us hang the lights
Our crews already work on rooflines every day with 48 ft ladders. See holiday lighting for installation, takedown and storage, and pair it with a gutter cleaning.
Call (603) 899-2465 to book a free estimate. Phones are answered 24/7.
Holiday Home Prep FAQ
Should I clean my gutters before putting up Christmas lights?
Yes. Clips hold better on clean, secure gutters, and you avoid leaves and ice packing around the light strands.
Can holiday lights damage my gutters?
Clips made for gutters and shingles are fine. Nails, staples or overloaded clips can bend gutters or damage shingles.
Are outdoor lights safe in snow and rain?
Lights and cords rated for outdoor use are built for it. Keep connections off the ground and out of standing water, and replace damaged strands.
Do you install holiday lights?
Yes. Udderly Gutters installs, takes down and can store holiday lights across New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts and Vermont.
What if I see ice on my roof before the holidays?
Early icicles and ice along the roof edge can be the start of an ice dam. Call us and we can check it and remove it with steam if needed.
Reviewed by Chester Aho, Founder. Last updated: November 2026