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: 

1. Ladder
2. Extension Cords
3. Power Stakes
4. Handy Hook
5. Replacement Bulbs
6. Electrical Tape
7. 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.

Know before you go! Download our full materials checklist: 

Download Checklist