Christmas Light Safety: Do’s and Don’ts

For many families, one of the most memorable experiences of the holiday season is hanging up the Christmas lights. Outdoor holiday lighting can be a great way to spread joy and cheer. But it’s important to do it safely. This guide will go over some of the most important do’s and don’ts when it comes to installing and using your Christmas lights.

Make sure the electrical system in your Pennsylvania home is ready for the holidays with electrical repairs, rewiring, and more from Iddings Electric Inc. Call us today to schedule service in Lancaster, Berks, York, Lebanon, or Chester County.

Use LED Lighting

Older Christmas lights often use incandescent bulbs, which can be fragile, power-hungry, and expensive to operate. By upgrading to outside Christmas lights that feature LEDs, not only can you cut down on your energy usage and electrical bills, but you can also make your holiday lighting safer. LED lighting uses less than 25% of the power of incandescent bulbs. This means that they run cooler and will be less likely to cause burns, plus they also use less current, preventing the wires from overheating and causing fires.

Check for Broken or Missing Lights

Before hanging up your Christmas lights, check each string carefully for broken or missing lights. Broken lights or sockets can expose the bulb’s conductors, creating a risk of electrocution if a person touches the bare conductors, or short circuits if the conductors come into contact with anything metal. Also, inspect all the wiring on your lights and discard any strings that have frayed or damaged insulation.

Don’t Leave Lights on Unattended

Turn off your Christmas lights before you leave home or go to bed. This can be done by unplugging the light strings or turning off the outlet strip if they are plugged into one. To make your holiday lights even safer, consider adding a timer to switch them on and off automatically or using programmable holiday lights. Leaving your Christmas lights on all the time can increase the risk of a fire.

Use Extension Cords Safely

Extension cords may seem like an easy way to extend the reach of your holiday light strings, but they can be dangerous if they are used incorrectly. If they are not routed properly, the cords can become a trip hazard, and they can be damaged by sharp corners on things like siding, gutters, or trim, creating shock and fire hazards.

Before you buy them, make sure that any extension cords for Christmas lights are UL-listed and rated for outdoor use. Route each cord carefully without using metal staples or nails, and be sure that the total current draw of all the connected light strings does not exceed the extension cord’s current rating.

Use GFCI Outlets

All outdoor holiday lights should be plugged into a circuit that is protected by a GFCI device or ground fault circuit interrupter. This can be a GFCI outlet or GFCI breaker in the main electrical panel. GFCIs can detect ground faults or unequal amounts of current between the live and neutral lines, shutting off the circuit to prevent electrical shocks or electrocution.

GFCI outlets look similar to normal outlets, but they feature “Test” and “Reset” buttons between the receptacles that ensure the GFCI feature is working properly. GFCI breakers will look like normal breakers, but they feature a prominent “Test” button. You check that your Christmas lights are GFCI-protected by pressing the “Test” button on the appropriate outlet or breaker and making sure the lights turn off.

Choose Iddings Electric for Holiday Light Help

Talk to our team at Iddings Electric to ensure your holiday lights are as safe as possible. Our electricians can help with any electrical repairs you need to support your holiday lighting, from GFCI outlet installations or breaker replacements to rewiring or service panel upgrades. We have been serving the Susquehanna Valley region for over 20 years and feature upfront pricing, same-day service, great reviews, and excellent guarantees.

Call us today to schedule electrical services in Lancaster County, York County, or the surrounding areas!