The holidays may be over, but many of us haven’t been ready to let go of the holiday lights and decorations. Many homes in town still have Christmas trees up inside and lights hung outside.

Hanging lights and decorating for the holidays is festive and fun, and this year more than ever, we needed that to help us get in the spirit of the holidays.

But much like taking down the Christmas tree inside, taking down the outdoor lights is a chore that many of us dread, and the cold temperatures don’t help!

If you don’t safely remove lights from your home, you risk not only breaking the lights, but potentially causing damage to your home.

Here are a few tips to help you safely remove holiday lights and avoid damage to your roof and gutters:

1. If you need to get on a ladder or the roof to remove the lights, wait for better weather. Do not climb on a roof that is covered in ice or snow!
2. Don’t try pulling the lights down! You may be inclined to try the easy route because it is cold, but pulling lights to remove them from the clips can damage the shingles, gutters or siding. Do it the right away to avoid damage.
3. If all else fails, hire someone to remove the lights for you!

The Rooferees advise that you not rush to take down the lights. Leaving the lights up a little longer won’t damage the lights, simply unplug them or turn them off, and wait for a warmer, sunny day! Not only will it preserve your decorations for next year, but it will help avoid damage to your home!