There is no more time-honored tradition than decorating our homes with lights for Christmas each year. Whether you’re stringing festive lights as soon as November hits or hustling around in the December chill to hang them, you know that Christmas just isn’t the same without those bright bulbs all around your Phoenix home. The outcome is always enjoyable, but it’s also important to make sure that the installation process is safe and effective. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you break out the decorations this year.
Inspect the Lights First!
Damaged insulation, loose bulbs, or frayed wires are all serious safety hazards for you as you install your Christmas lights. Inspect each string and make sure that none of them have damage from poor storage, poor installation, or simply old age. If you see any exposed wires, throw the set away. If the insulation is intact but seems to bend too easily in certain places, the wires may be broken inside the insulation, so it’s time to replace the set.
New lights need inspection as well. Just because they’re straight out of the box doesn’t mean they can’t be damaged. Careless handling can easily damage even brand-new lights, so make sure that they are safe before hanging them.
Plug each set in for a few minutes to make sure it works properly. If nothing flickers or goes off after your test, the set should be safe to use.
Don’t Overload Circuits
A wad of plugs and cords makes for a funny scene in a Christmas movie, but leave the sparking, smoking mess to the Hollywood special effects teams. In your home, it’s important to use only the number of lights that each receptacle can safely handle.
Light packages will provide guidance on how many strings you can safely connect together. Follow those recommendations to the letter. The electrical engineers who designed the lights know the details of how much voltage each string uses, and if you exceed that, you can have problems. Because the packaging will probably hit the trash the first year, use a permanent marker to write a number on the plug telling how many strings of that light you can use together.
You’ll also need to plan your layout carefully to ensure that each string of lights starts near an appropriate outlet. If you run everything from the same starting point, it will be hard to find enough power at that one single location to operate everything. Spread the demand among several outlets so that no one circuit is carrying the full load, and if the breaker trips, make changes to further share the work. If you just don’t have enough receptacles in the right places, talk to Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical about adding some well-placed GFCIs to get things the way you want them.
Use Extension Cords Safely
Of course, the best way to spread the load properly is to use extension cords, but these require caution as well. Make sure you use outdoor cords in an outdoor environment. Indoor cords are not capable of withstanding the extremes of temperature and moisture that they will encounter outside the house, even on a covered porch or deck. You need a quality outdoor cord in good condition.
Also, make sure to check the length of your cords so that you can get everything plugged in on a single cord. Never string multiple cords together. If you need to get that inflatable snowman set up 60 feet from the outlet, get a 75-foot cord instead of two 50-foot cords. This will reduce the strain on each cord and eliminate the need for a connection between the two cords, which is a big hazard for electrical shocks.
Never nail or tack your extension cords to any surface. It’s important to secure them to eliminate tripping hazards, but you can safely do this with duct tape, plastic zip ties, or other items that don’t damage the insulation. Never allow extension cords in areas where water may stand or drip, and keep them off walkways so that visitors don’t trip over them.
Be Cautious With Ladders
Most lights need to go somewhere above ground level, right? We all want those upstairs windows and gutters festooned with the biggest and the brightest, but it takes a ladder to do that.
Make sure that your ladder is in good shape for use, and that you are in good shape to use it. A sore hip or strained knee that is an inconvenience on the ground is a real danger 10 feet in the air. You may not use your ladder very often, so make sure it is ready for the work. You also want to use a ladder that’s tall enough, not a step stool or a short ladder that will require you to stand on the very top step and stretch to reach your work.
Never climb a ladder during wet weather. It will be too slippery for safe use if there is moisture on the rungs. Delay the decorating until a dry day.
Finally, make sure to position your ladder safely. It takes a lot of moving to get the ladder to every spot where you need it, so find a solid, level surface for each placement. This can be a pretty big challenge during wet weather because the yard will be muddy while the concrete and asphalt are slippery. Have someone with you to hold it steady as you climb. Not only will having a helper reduce the chances that you’ll fall, but it will also give you an extra set of hands to reach things so that you don’t have to make so many trips up and down the ladder.
Secure Lights Properly
When you’re up on that ladder rushing against darkness and cold, it may be tempting to pull out the staple gun and start popping those lights onto the siding. Find a different strategy. It’s too easy to damage wires with a staple gun, and this creates a serious shock and fire hazard.
Most stores now stock simple plastic clips that go on gutters and other surfaces to hold lights without damaging them. This is a perfect solution that keeps your lights securely where they need to be without creating a shock hazard. They’re easy to pop into place with one hand, and they won’t damage your house’s exterior.
Get Electrical Help for Your Winter Wonderland!
Not every house is 100% light-ready when the season arrives. You may need extra circuits, additional outlets, or more significant upgrades to make sure that your house can handle the added demand of Christmas lights. If you have any concerns about your home’s ability to safely power your decorations or need any other electrical services, contact our team of expert electricians at Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical.
You can also reach out to us when you need plumbing, HVAC, indoor air quality, and ductwork services in Glendale and surrounding areas.
