Holiday Lighting in Champaign and Douglas Counties

Holiday lighting across Champaign and Douglas counties

Holiday lighting is one of the featured winter services from Russel’s Mowing and Services. The business is based in Villa Grove and hangs holiday lights for homes across Champaign County and Douglas County, from small-town houses to homes in the larger cities and subdivisions of Champaign County.

The job is straightforward to describe. Lights go up along the roofline, around windows and doors, and on the shrubs and trees in the front yard, so the house looks finished for the season without anyone in the household spending a cold weekend on a ladder. When the season is over, the lights come down again.

Why hire out the lights

Hanging lights looks simple from the ground. On the roof it is a different job. Rooflines are high, gutters and shingles can be slick with frost in the morning, and late fall weather in Central Illinois can turn from mild to freezing within a day. Ladder falls are a common cause of holiday injuries, and the risk goes up once there is ice or snow on the roof or on the ground where the ladder stands.

Hiring the job out takes that risk off the household. It also saves the hours spent untangling strands, testing bulbs and working out where the extension cords should run.

Holiday lighting suits a wide range of homes and households. It is useful for older homeowners who should not be on a ladder, busy families without a free weekend in November, homes with high or steep rooflines, rental property owners who want a rental to look cared for, and anyone who likes a lit house but not the work of putting it up.

Planning the display

A good lighting display starts with a plan, even a simple one. Before anything goes up, it helps to walk around the house and decide which features to light.

Rooflines and eaves

The roofline is usually the backbone of a holiday display. A single line of lights along the front eaves outlines the shape of the house and is visible from the street. Some homes add the peaks of gables, the edge of a porch roof or the line of a garage. On a ranch house, a long, even run along the front eave often makes the biggest impression.

Windows and doors

Outlining the front door and the main windows draws attention to the entry and ties the roofline to the ground. It also helps visitors find the door after dark.

Shrubs and trees

Wrapping shrubs along the front of the house, or covering them with net lights, fills in the lower part of the display. A front-yard tree wrapped along its trunk and main branches can become the centerpiece of the yard. Trees that are overgrown, or have dead or low branches hanging over the walk, are easier and safer to light once they have been trimmed. Small tree trimming earlier in the fall can shape a tree before lights go on it.

Keep it consistent

As a general rule, a display looks more polished when the colors and bulb styles match. Warm white throughout gives a classic look. Multicolor works well too, as long as it is used consistently on the parts of the house that are meant to go together.

Getting the house ready

A few things make holiday lighting go more smoothly.

Clear the gutters first

Many roofline lights attach at the gutter or along the edge of the shingles. Gutters that are full of leaves make that harder, and lights clipped to a clogged gutter may sit in standing water. As a rule, it makes sense to have gutter cleaning done after leaf drop and before the lights go up.

Outdoor-rated cords and GFCI outlets

Any extension cords used outside should be rated for outdoor use. Indoor cords are not built to handle moisture and cold. Outdoor outlets should be GFCI protected, which means they shut off power if they detect a fault, an important safety feature where snow, rain and melting ice are involved. If the house has no outdoor outlet near where the lights will be, mention that when you call.

Timers

A timer turns the lights on at dusk and off at a set hour, so nobody has to remember to plug them in each night. It also saves energy and extends the life of the bulbs. Timers range from simple plug-in dials to smart plugs controlled by a phone.

Clear the ground

Moving planters, lawn furniture and other items away from the foundation gives the ladder solid, level footing around the house.

LED and incandescent lights

Most holiday lights sold today are LED, but many households still have older incandescent strands. Some general facts are useful to know when planning.

• LED lights use much less electricity than incandescent lights, so more strands can be run on the same circuit.
• LED bulbs stay cool to the touch, while incandescent bulbs give off heat.
• LED strands tend to last longer and are more durable, since they have no filament to break.
• Incandescent lights have a warm, familiar glow that some people prefer, though warm white LEDs now come close.
• Mixing old and new strands in the same run can lead to uneven color and brightness.

If you already own lights, it is worth checking the strands before the season and setting aside any with damaged wires or cracked sockets.

Timing the install and takedown

In Central Illinois, November is the usual window for putting lights up. The weather is often still workable, the ground has not frozen hard and heavy snow is unlikely to have arrived yet. Installing before the ground freezes also matters for anything staked into the lawn, such as pathway lights or yard displays. Lights can go up in November and simply stay off until the date you want them lit.

Waiting until December often means working around snow, ice and short, cold days, which is exactly when ladder work gets more dangerous.

After the season, the lights come down. Many people like the lights down in January, once the holidays have passed, and before late-winter storms make roof work harder. The exact takedown timing is worth discussing when you set up the job.

What to ask when you call

Holiday lighting can be set up in different ways, and not every detail is set out on this page. These are good questions to ask when you call or text.

• Ask whether the lights are supplied or whether your own lights are used.
• Ask what kind of clips or fasteners are used to attach lights to gutters and shingles.
• Ask whether timers are included or whether you should have one ready.
• Ask when the lights come down after the season, and whether takedown is part of the same arrangement.
• Ask whether storage of the lights is offered after takedown.
• Ask whether help is available with designing the display, such as which features to light and which colors to use.
• Ask how the work fits around snow, if a storm arrives before the install date.

How holiday lighting is quoted

There is no single figure for holiday lighting. The quote depends on the property: the length of the roofline, the height and pitch of the roof, how many windows, shrubs and trees are being lit, whether the lights are supplied or your own, and whether takedown is included. To get a quote, call or text (217) 729-1112.

It helps to describe the house when you call. Mention whether it is one or two stories, which parts you would like lit and whether you already have lights and timers on hand.

Holiday lighting and winter service together

Holiday lighting pairs naturally with snow removal. A lit house looks its best when the driveway, walks and steps are clear, and visitors coming over for the holidays need a safe path to the door. Russel’s Mowing and Services is open 24 hours Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Holiday lighting is offered across both counties the business serves. Champaign County has small towns, larger cities and subdivisions, and Douglas County is mostly small towns surrounded by prairie farmland. Addresses anywhere in the two counties can call to check whether they are on the route.

Getting a quote

To set up holiday lighting for this season, call or text (217) 729-1112. You can also email russelmows@gmail.com or use the quote form on the contact page. Getting in touch in October or early November leaves time to plan the display and get the lights up before the ground freezes and the first heavy snow arrives.