Tis the season to decorate your home for Christmas and show the neighborhood your jolly spirit.  It also happens to be a season when emergency services see surges in accidents and home fires.  To make sure you are not part of this dangerous trend, follow these guidelines for safely decorating the outside of your home using Christmas lights. 

Untangle and Inspect 

If you are going to use lights that have been stored, be sure to inspect them closely.  Don’t leave tangles in the wires.  If you find breaks or cracks in the coating of the wires, you should repair the coating or replace the lights.  Bare wires are a shock and fire hazard.  Older, pre-LED lights can put off significant heat, so replacing them with new LED lights can avoid problems.  LED lights are also more energy efficient. 

Buy Safe Lights 

When buying new lights, look for lights that have been inspected by an independent safety laboratory.  Counterfeit lights can use cheaper components that are not rated for the load on them.  They can short out and start fires or shock the unwary.  In general, the lights at major big box stores are safe.  Some discount stores or online sites may sell unsafe lights.  Make sure that any decorations are intended for outdoor use.  Indoor lights are not intended to get wet or really cold and can malfunction or start a fire. 

Avoid Trip Hazards 

Never run electrical cords across sidewalks or driveways.  It’s especially dangerous during inclement weather when the surfaces can be very slippery.  No one wants to see a family member take a trip to the emergency room during the holidays.  If you have to cross a path tuck the wires near a step riser or place an outdoor mat over the top to keep the cord down and avoid those nasty falls. 

Plug In Safely 

Plug your outdoor lights into a weatherproof outdoor socket.  These outlets contain ground-fault circuit interrupters, which turn off the circuit if they detect a ground fault.  This is the same type of protection included in plugs near the sink in your kitchen.  These safety outlets also include weatherproof covers that snap shut to keep the water out.  You don’t want to get shocked because you touch a string of lights when it is damp outside.  Do not plug outdoor lights into indoor plugs at all, but especially not by running an extension cord through a door or window.  Do not link more than three strings of lights together, either. 

Use the Buddy System 

Bring a friend or other responsible person outside while you hang your Christmas decorations.  In addition to being more fun, your buddy can call for help in the event of a mishap.  If you do not have a buddy, at least make sure someone knows you are working outside and can come check on you if you are gone too long. 

Ladder Safety 

Ladders can be a major hazard.  Inspect the ladder and observe the weight limit for it.  Stay off the top two rungs of the ladder.  Use a longer ladder if necessary to avoid those rungs.  For every four feet of height, the base of the ladder should be one foot farther from the wall.  Make sure the base is set on firm ground and won’t slip.  It is best if your buddy holds onto the ladder while you climb it. 

Ladderless Hanging Tips 

Some people do not do well with ladders.  Telescoping painter’s poles can be used to hang hooks off the gutters around the outside of your house.  You can then use the pole to hang the lights from the hooks.  You never have to leave the ground.  This also avoids damage to the wires that stapling or nailing them to the house causes. 

Lights Out at Bedtime 

Turn your lights out when you leave the home or go to bed.  You don’t want to wake up to a fire in the middle of the night.  The easiest way to automate this is to use an outdoor rated timer where you can have it come on at dark and shut off 4, 6, or 8 hours later.  

Happy Holidays 

Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping wishes you and yours a very happy holiday season.  If you need help getting your property cleaned up and ready for Christmas, don’t hesitate to let us know.  Give us a call at (816) 825-2524 or schedule a consultation today.