How to Fix a Strand of Christmas Lights

Strings of twinkling bulbs brighten your home during the holidays, but a broken strand can dim the festivities. You can quickly repair a strand that is not working properly. Whether repairing a miniature strand that wraps around a wreath or a string of outdoor bulbs, you can safely locate the problem and fix your decorations. Learn how to fix a strand of Christmas lights by changing bulbs and fuses without getting injured.

Pop Out Lights

Most holiday lights can be fixed by popping out bad bulbs and replacing them. Here's how to fix a strand of Christmas lights that has a blown bulb.

Plug in the lights and straighten out the strand. Locate the bad bulb. Bad bulbs are easy to detect; they do not work. Mark the bad bulb with a bread tie.

Unplug the lights from the electrical outlet. If the lights are battery operated, then remove the batteries.

Look for the light you marked. Remove the bread tie. Squeeze the base of the light with one hand while pulling the bulb out with the other.This is called "popping out" the light.

Remove a replacement bulb from the package. Fold the wires under the bulb so that one wire is on each side of the bulb.

Slide the bulb into the light holder. Plug the lights in to verify the light is working properly.

Screw In Lights

Older light sets may have screw in lights. Fix a strand of Christmas lights by unscrewing and replacing these bulbs.

Plug in the light strand. Locate the bad bulb. The bad bulbs are the ones that are not lighting or staying lit. Use a bread tie to mark the bulb.

Unplug the light strand from the wall. This will help you avoid electrocution.

Unscrew the light bulb by holding the base with one hand and turn the bulb counter clockwise with the other. Screw in lights fit into the socket by turning the bulb clockwise. They are removed by unscrewing them counter clockwise.

Remove a new bulb from the packaging. Screw the bulb into the light holder by turning it clockwise into the socket.

Plug in the strand to verify that the light is working.

Replacing a Fuse

Fix a strand of Christmas lights by replacing a blown fuse.

Unplug the light strand. Grasp the electrical outlet with your left hand. Pop open the fuse cover using a flat head screwdriver.

Flip the plug upside down and the fuse will fall out.

Replace the old fuse with a new fuse by sliding it into the plug opening. Close the tab cover. Fuses will need replacing every few years or when the entire strand fails to light.

Plug in the lights to verify they are working properly.