# Do Permanent Outdoor Lights Work in a Saskatchewan Winter?

> Yes, they're designed for it. Gemstone's permanent lights are IP67 waterproof and UV-rated, and the aluminum track keeps them tucked under the eaves away from wind, hail and snow. Gemstone doesn't publish a numeric cold-temperature rating, so Baer Electric, the Gemstone dealer in Goodsoil, SK, won't quote one either; this guide covers what is published and what to check after storms and ice.

URL: https://baerelectric.ca/guides/permanent-lights-cold-weather/
Last reviewed: 2026-10-03

Permanent lights are designed for winters like ours. Gemstone's lights are IP67 waterproof and UV-rated, and they sit in an aluminum track under the eaves, out of the worst of the wind and snow. What Gemstone doesn't publish is a temperature rating in degrees, so the honest answer is "built for it, not rated to a number," plus a few checks after storms.

## What winter looks like here

Goodsoil doesn't have long-term climate normals of its own. Its weather station only ran from 1956 to 1968. The nearest long-term records come from Meadow Lake Airport, about an hour's drive away, so treat these numbers as regional:

| Measure (Meadow Lake Airport) | Value |
|---|---|
| January mean temperature | −16.8 °C |
| January days below −30 °C | about 9 |
| Record low | −51.7 °C (January 1930) |
| Snowfall | about 123 cm a year |
| Days with freezing rain or drizzle | about 8 a year |
| Frost-free season | about 96 days |

That's the test any outdoor lighting has to pass: deep cold, freeze-thaw cycles in spring and fall, a few rounds of freezing rain and a lot of snow.

## What Gemstone publishes about weather

Gemstone was founded in Calgary in 2016 to build a lighting system that could "withstand the harsh winters of Calgary, Alberta." On its own site it states that:

- the lights are IP67 rated;
- all cables and lights are UV-rated;
- the lights are "designed to withstand UV rays, wind, rain, and freezing temperatures";
- each light connects with a threaded compression fitting for a watertight seal;
- mounted in the track, the lights are protected from wind, rain and hail;
- each component is protected with surge protectors.

## What IP67 means, and what it doesn't

An IP rating describes how well an enclosure keeps out solids and water, under the IEC 60529 standard. The 6 means dust-tight. The 7 means protected against temporary immersion, tested at up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes. For lights that see rain, meltwater and the odd drift, that's a strong rating.

What an IP rating doesn't cover is temperature. IP67 tells you water and dust stay out. It tells you nothing about how cold the lights can go.

## The missing number

Gemstone says its system is built for "freezing temperatures" and harsh winters, but it doesn't publish an operating temperature in degrees. We won't put a number on Gemstone's lights that Gemstone hasn't, and we'd be wary of any installer who does.

For what it's worth, LEDs are solid-state and generally handle cold well. In a deep freeze, the weak points in outdoor lighting tend to be physical: ice loading, cables flexing while they're stiff, water working into a connection, or the power feeding the control box. Those are what the checks below are aimed at.

## Snow, ice and the track

Gemstone's track mounts to the soffit and fascia, below the gutters, with the lights pointing down. They aren't sitting where snow piles up. A few winter situations still deserve a look:

- Overflowing gutters. When ice dams form, meltwater can spill over the gutter and freeze along the fascia, sometimes encasing a run of lights.
- Snow and ice sliding off the roof. On steep or metal roofs, a sliding load can catch whatever is at the eave.
- Freezing rain. A coat of ice is normal and usually harmless. Let it melt off on its own.
- Branches. Spruce limbs heavy with snow can snap and hit the eaves.

Never chip ice off the track or lights with a tool, and don't use a heat gun or a torch. You're more likely to crack a lens or cut a cable than help.

## What to check after a storm

Do all of this from the ground. The whole point of permanent lights is that nobody climbs onto an icy roof.

| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing comes on at sunset | No power to the control box, often a tripped breaker or GFCI | Check the breaker and any GFCI on that outlet and reset once. If it trips again, call us. |
| App can't connect, but lights still run on schedule | Wi-Fi or internet outage | Nothing urgent. Hub2 timers keep working offline. |
| One light or a short section is dark | A single light or connection | Note where it is and call your dealer. Lights are individually connected and carry a lifetime warranty. |
| Lights encased in ice | Gutter overflow or freezing rain | Leave it and check again once it melts. If ice keeps forming in the same spot, have the gutters looked at. |
| Track bent, loose or hanging | Branch, sliding snow or ice | Don't pull on it. Call us. |
| Flicker or wrong colours in one section | Possibly a connection | Note where it starts and call us. |
| Film of salt or grime on the track | Road spray, dust, meltwater | Gemstone suggests wiping the track with a wet microfibre cloth once it's safe to reach. |

## Before winter sets in

A short fall check goes a long way:

- If your system is new, register the Gemstone warranty within 30 days of install. Gemstone won't honour it after that.
- Set your sunset timers or Autopilot calendars so the lights run without anyone opening the app.
- Trim branches that hang over the eaves.
- Clean out the gutters so meltwater goes where it should.
- If the outlet feeding the control box shares a circuit with a block heater or space heater, tell us. Big winter loads on the same circuit can trip the breaker on the coldest nights.

## When to call an electrician

Call if a breaker or GFCI trips more than once, if the track or cables are damaged, if the control box or its outlet looks wet or scorched, or if a section stays dark once the ice is gone. As a licensed electrician and Gemstone dealer, we look after both the lights and the power behind them. See how our [permanent roofline lights](/gemstone-lights/residential/) are built for winter, or [get in touch for service](/contact/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Are Gemstone lights rated for −40?

Gemstone doesn't publish a temperature rating in degrees. It says the system is designed for freezing temperatures and harsh Calgary winters, and the lights are IP67 and UV-rated. We won't quote a number Gemstone hasn't published.

### Should I knock ice off my permanent lights?

No. Let ice melt on its own. Chipping at it or using heat is more likely to crack a lens or cut a cable than help.

### My lights didn't come on after a storm. What should I check first?

Check the breaker and any GFCI on the outlet feeding the control box, and reset it once. If it trips again, or a section stays dark, call your dealer.

### Does a Wi-Fi outage stop my lights?

It shouldn't stop your schedule. Gemstone says Hub2 sunrise and sunset timers keep working offline, though you won't be able to change scenes remotely until the internet is back.

## Sources

- [Gemstone Lights FAQ](https://www.gemstonelights.com/faq/)
- [Gemstone Lights: About](https://www.gemstonelights.com/about/)
- [Gemstone Lights: Permanent Christmas Lights](https://www.gemstonelights.com/permanent-outdoor-lights/holiday-lighting/permanent-christmas-lights/)
- [Gemstone Lights: How is the track installed?](https://www.gemstonelights.com/faq/how-is-the-track-installed/)
- [Gemstone Lights: How are Gemstone Lights installed?](https://www.gemstonelights.com/how-are-gemstone-lights-installed/)
- [Gemstone Lights: Maintaining permanent LED lighting](https://www.gemstonelights.com/maintaining-permanent-led-lighting/)
- [Gemstone Lights: Hub2 Controller](https://www.gemstonelights.com/app/hub2/)
- [Gemstone Lights Warranty](https://www.gemstonelights.com/warranty/)
- [Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan: climate (Meadow Lake Airport, 1991–2020 normals and extremes)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadow_Lake,_Saskatchewan)
- [Environment and Climate Change Canada: Meadow Lake A climate normals (1981–2010)](https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/climate-normals/items?f=json&CLIMATE_IDENTIFIER=4065058&limit=2000)
- [Environment and Climate Change Canada: Goodsoil climate station record](https://api.weather.gc.ca/collections/climate-stations/items?f=json&STATION_NAME=GOODSOIL)
- [IP code (IEC 60529)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_code)

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Baer Electric Inc. · 306-238-7655 · baerelectricinc@gmail.com · https://baerelectric.ca/