For those of us not quite as skilled in the electrical trade, here are some common problems with string lights and how to solve them.

Most new packs of Christmas lights come with a replacement fuse—which should give you a clue as to how common fuse problems are with these things. A blown fuse also causes the entire string to ...

Tis the season to untangle last year’s Christmas lights... only to find a few bad bulbs in the mix. Don’t trash that string ...

To fix burnt-out bulbs, untangle all string lights and check for frayed wires, damaged sockets, or broken bulbs. Discard any damaged bulbs, and then replace them with spare ones.

An aircraft engineer and nurse-turned-tinkerer say you should try fixing your broken holiday string lights, before tossing them into the landfill.

With so many options to choose from — string lights, LED fixtures, rechargeable lamps and more — we asked designers of landscapes and lighting to share their advice.