How To Safely Light Up Your Home For The Holidays
The holidays are when many homeowners brighten up their houses using festive lighting both inside and out. While this can be exciting, it’s essential to note the possible associated hazards and how to prevent them. Hiring a professional light decorator can let you safely turn your home into a spectacular showcase.
Here are some ways to ensure maximum safety when putting up holiday lighting.
Outdoor lighting
Outdoor lighting is a great way to bring some holiday cheer to your neighborhood. And doing so should be a safe process. Follow these tips to guarantee safety when installing outdoor lighting.
Any lights you place outside need to withstand any weather conditions. When purchasing outdoor lighting, be sure to keep an eye out for the UL or ETL outdoor rating on the package.
Do not make the mistaken assumption that any plastic-coated wires are safe to use outdoors. Always make sure that outdoor use is specified on the package.
Use a ground-fault-circuit-interpreter (GFCI) for all outdoor lighting. In the event of a ground fault, these are designed to switch off electrical power automatically.
Make sure the lights are securely fastened to your home to prevent wind damage.
Indoor lighting
Each year, holiday lighting is responsible for 150 home fires across the nation, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. This figure is mainly due to faulty lighting equipment and electrical distribution. There are several ways to ensure that your indoor lighting experience follows safety protocols:
Make sure the lights have been safety tested.
Check for any broken bulbs before hanging anything up.
Do not use nails, staples, or tacks to hang lights. Instead, consider clips or plastic holders.
Make sure extension cords are not overloaded. Also, please put them in non-traffic areas to avoid any tripping hazards.
Hire a professional
Having your holiday lights installed professionally can save you a lot of time and cut many potential accident risks associated with hanging them. Not only that, but doing so also significantly reduces your overall holiday workload while ensuring the house gets decorated to a high standard.
What’s more, when the holiday season ends, you won’t need to go through the hassle of taking down the holiday lights alone. The light installation experts can do this for you.
It may also be wise to seek the help of a professional electrician to conduct a thorough electrical safety test on both indoor and outdoor lighting.
Additional tips
Switch off all lighting before leaving home or going to bed to minimize the risk of a fire.
Consider using a programmable timer if you forget to turn the lights off. This is also a great way to save energy.
Limit your wattage use by ensuring that your lights aren’t all plugged into the same receptacle.
Consider the use of LED lights. They save more energy and produce less heat than regular lights, so they can significantly reduce the risk of a fire.
Follow these tips to enjoy a safe, brightly-lit, and festive holiday season!
Zimmerman Electric is here to serve your residential and commercial electrical needs throughout the Phoenix Valley metro area. Call us today if you need electrical work performed 602-497-3365.
