Holiday Lights Safety Tips
Take a few moments to run through a quick safety checklist and keep your home safe this holiday season!
Useful Tools/Materials:
- Ladder
- Extension Cords
- Power Stakes
- Handy Hook
- Replacement Bulbs
- Electrical Tape
- Outdoor Light Timer
Tips:
- Before hanging, carefully check cords for cracks, frayed ends or loose connections.
- Replace old, non-fused lights with newer safer lights.
- If bulbs have burned out, replace them right away, but make sure you use the correct wattage bulbs.
- Make sure outdoor lights are plugged into a grounded outlet as water and debris can get into outdoor sockets and cause shorts and shocks.
- Keep an eye on extension cords, as they can overheat. Just touch-test the cord. If it’s hot, unplug it.
- Don’t use tacks, nails or screws to hang lights, these can pierce the cable and become electrified. Use insulated hooks instead.
- When running extension cords along the ground, make sure to elevate plugs and connectors with a brick to keep snow, water and debris out of the connections. Use the electrical tape and tape connectors for extra protection.
- Not all lights are rated for outdoor use. Indoor lights often have thinner insulation, which can become cracked and damaged when exposed to the elements.
- Don’t leave Christmas lights running when you go to bed at night or when you leave the house. You can purchase a timer to help with this.
