For homeowners and renters alike, the holidays would be a rather dim time of year without an infusion of festive lights, both indoors and out.
But since hanging lights is a task that most people undertake only once a year, they often take shortcuts and overlook some basic safety tips. At least that's our best guess as to why holiday lights are involved in so many accidents and fires each year.
In fact, the National Fire Protection Association says that decorative lights are involved in about 150 home fires a year, resulting in more than $8 million in property damage. The NFPA says that “electrical failures or malfunctions” were factors in nearly two-thirds of the fires involving decorative lights.
You shouldn't have to worry about lights causing a mishap or fire in your home, either while you're there or away. So put your mind at ease by following some general, indoor and outdoor lighting tips from the NFPA, Electrical Safety Foundation International and the Consumer Product Safety Commission and safely illuminate your home for the holidays:
General Lighting Tips
- Use only lights that carry the safety endorsement of Underwriter's Laboratory.
- Inspect lights and extension cords for damage, including cracked or broken sockets, bare or frayed wires and loose connections. Don't take chances; throw out lights and extension cords that look the worse for wear and purchase new ones.
- Match the power need of each decorative light (the amperage) with the amperage rating of your extension cords.
- Follow the “rule of three”: String together no more than three sets of lights and plug no more than three sets of lights into one extension cord to reduce the risk of overheating.
- Turn off all decorative lights before you go to bed or leave your home. It may be heart-warming to return to a home that's bathed in soft light, but force yourself to think in terms of dramatic, worst-case scenarios: You can't unplug a smoldering extension cord if you're not home to do so.
Indoor Lighting Tips
- Purchase LED lights, which use less energy and run cooler than traditional incandescent lights.
- Invest a little time in planning before you hang holiday lights. Try to plug as many as possible into an outlet or a power strip and minimize the use of extension cords.
- Ensure that cords are not pinched by doors, windows or heavy furniture, lest the insulation becomes damaged and becomes a fire hazard.
- Never hang electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree could become so charged with electricity that anyone who touches a branch could risk electrical shock or even electrocution. Place a spotlight next to the tree instead.
- Always unplug a string of lights before replacing a bulb or fuse.
Outdoor Lighting Tips
- Check that your lights and extension cords are clearly marked for outdoor use.
- Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder to hang lights since metal ladders conduct electricity. Inspect the ladder's integrity – especially its screws, hinges and bolts – before climbing it.
- Fasten lights securely to trees, shrubs and other structures, not only to enhance their look but to reduce the risk of wind damage.
- Avoid hanging lights within 20 feet of power lines.
- Ensure that spotlights are well ventilated and protected from outdoor elements. Position them a safe distance from potentially flammable objects.
- Keep lights and extension cords far away from standing water, such as where water may puddle from a downspout.
Still,
- Plug outdoor lights into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). You also can purchase portable outdoor GFCIs, which are simple to install and require no advanced electrical skills.
It always pays to err on the side of caution. If you're unsure about how or where to hang holiday lights to minimize the risk of fire, or have stumbled upon an outlet that needs repair, contact Experts In Your Home. A licensed Chico electrician will inspect your home to ensure that it glows properly – and that you glow with pride and confidence in its safety.
For more electrical safety tips around the home download the free eBook below!
