Holiday lights are one of the best parts of the season, and one of the most common causes of tripped breakers and damaged cords this time of year. A few habits keep things safe.
Start with the ladder. Look up before you set it, and keep yourself and the ladder at least 10 feet from the overhead lines running to your house. Use a fiberglass or wood ladder rather than aluminum, set it on firm, level ground, and have someone hold it while you work. Never hang lights on or from the power line coming into your home.
Inspect before you hang. Throw out strands with cracked or frayed wires, broken sockets, or loose connections. Outside, use only lights and extension cords rated for outdoor use, and don’t run cords through doors or windows where they’ll get pinched.
Plug outdoor decorations into GFCI-protected outlets. Outdoor outlets are required to have GFCI protection because rain, snow, and wet ground create a shock risk. If your outdoor outlet trips constantly or is missing its weatherproof cover, have it looked at.
Don’t overload circuits. Follow the manufacturer’s limit on how many strands can be connected end to end, and spread large displays across more than one circuit. LED lights use a fraction of the power of old incandescent strings, which makes it much easier to stay within limits.
Turn the lights off when you go to bed or leave home, or put them on a timer. If you’re planning a big display and keep tripping breakers, we can add dedicated outdoor circuits and weatherproof outlets.
