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Stringing beautiful outside holiday lights is one of the most pleasurable Christmas undertakings. However, putting together and hanging a Santa-worthy display takes time. Christmas lights are beautiful to look at over the holidays, but if not installed or stored properly, they can be dangerous to your home, family, and surroundings. This isn’t a minor issue.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NPFA), faulty Christmas lights cause roughly 800 residential fires each year, while Christmas trees cause another 170, resulting in over $23 million in property damage. Even more alarming is the fact that one out of every 45 Christmas tree fires ended in death.
Fires aren’t the only thing to be concerned about. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, almost 10,000 people are treated in emergency departments each year for accidents incurred while putting up Christmas lights and decorations (ESFI).
Falls from ladders, as well as fractures, lacerations, sprains, and contusions from tripping over an electrical cord, are examples. Take the time to learn about Christmas light safety, including how to choose, install, and remove lights each holiday season, to avoid such disasters.
Take the time to learn about Christmas light safety, including how to choose, install, and remove lights each holiday season, to avoid such disasters.
Choosing the Right Lights
Christmas lights do not last indefinitely. Even if you consider older lights to be family heirlooms, they may not only lack current safety features but also fail to fulfill the National Electrical Code’s criteria (NEC). Check for cracked or frayed cords, as well as loose or broken sockets, before installing outdated lights. If this is the case, it is preferable to dispose of the lights rather than attempting to repair them with electrical tape.
Things to keep in mind when selecting lights:
- Choose products that have been tested and approved by a respected certifying authority like Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or the Electrical Testing Lab (ETL). On the box, the certification will be written.
- In general, LED lights are the best option. They utilize a lot less energy and don’t produce any heat.
- If you don’t have LED lights, utilize the smaller, cooler-burning tiny lights instead of the bigger bulbs. The heat from older-style bulbs can easily ignite dry tree needles and other combustible items.
- If you’re installing Christmas lights outside, be sure they’re weatherproof. The same can be said for extension cords.
Putting Up Christmas Lights
The first rule of Christmas light installation is to never do it alone. If you don’t have much experience with roofing, keep your lights to the eaves, gables, and roof edge. Lights and wires should be kept away from metal. Overheated wiring, metal gutters, and ironwork ornamentation should all be avoided. Call a professional Christmas outdoor lighting service specialist if you want more lights on the roof itself.
- Check that the lights work before installing them. When you’re on solid ground, it’s much easier to replace the lights.
- Hanging Christmas lights on a metal tree is never a good idea. The tree can be electrocuted if it becomes charged with electricity. It can potentially start a fire by shorting out the lights.
- When the weather is terrible or windy, don’t put up outdoor Christmas light
- To avoid shorts and shocks, make sure the lights are hooked into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet because water and debris can get into outdoor outlets. If you’re not sure what that is, you might want to hire an electrician.
Taking Down Christmas Lights
Take the same care when removing Christmas lights as you did when putting them up. Among the factors to examine are:
- Pulling the lights down by yanking them is never a good idea. Pulling on the cords will only cause them to break.
- Before putting the lights back in their box, replace any burned-out bulbs. You can also inspect the cords and sockets while doing so.
- Wipe the fixture clean with a damp towel if there is any moisture or debris. No part of the Christmas lights should be submerged in water.
Storing the lights
Storing the lights for the next usage is one of the most important things to be considered.
- Keep Christmas lights away from the furnace and other sources of high heat. Doing so can melt and damage the insulation or light sockets.
- Tossing the packaged lights into a box is not a good idea. If you do, you’ll have to spend a lot of time next year untangling them and possibly injuring them.
- To keep the lights safe from moisture and rodents, string them neatly in their original box and store them in a sealed plastic container.
Conclusion:
Christmas is unique in that it allows us to reflect on how we lived in the preceding year and consider how we will live in the days ahead. Ensuring safety first, celebrate Christmas in a big way!
