Installing Holiday Lights Safely
One of the most important things to do before starting your holiday lights set up is to identify a safe and suitable electrical source. Verify the electrical circuit you plan to use will not be overloaded and the exterior receptacles are ground fault protected (GFI). The use of overloaded circuits and old, frayed light sets are the cause of many house fires and personal injuries during the holidays.
The following are some additional tips to remember when setting up your holiday lights this year:
- Use the correct type of ladder for safety. (Read the article on ladder safety.)
- When installing outdoor lights, be aware of overhead hanging power lines and service entrance wires coming into your house.
- Never hang lights with nails, staples, screws or hooks. A better way is by using layers of weatherproof electrical tape and plastic lighting clips.
- Only use indoor lights “indoors” and outdoor lights “outdoors”.
- Use heavy-duty, outdoor-specific extension cords outdoors. Make sure that the current rating (in amps or "A") of the appliance that you are plugging in doesn't exceed the extension cord's rating. If the product's current rating is higher than the extension cord's, the cord could overheat.
- Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord.
- Use light sets with a UL label for safety and to help minimize electrical problems.
- Follow the instructions that come with your light sets to determine how many sets you can plug together.
- Carefully check all wires for tears or cracks before plugging them in.
- Replace burned-out bulbs immediately to prevent strain on the remaining ones.
- Don't bunch or coil mini-lights together; the excessive heat could melt the insulation and expose live wires.
- For added protection, use a surge protector strip with GFI protection.
- Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.
- Discard old light sets and replace them with the newer, energy efficient LED light sets.
For any other electrical questions regarding Holiday lighting safety please contact us.