Deck the Halls

​Deck the halls with boughs of holly… and a few lights while you’re at it! Tis the season to create a winter wonderland with twinkling lights and festive decorations. While Christmas lights bring a smile to our faces, unless you’re the Scrooge, there’s also potential risk that comes along with hanging them. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas lights cause 40% of Christmas tree fires, and overall decorations caused more than 15,000 injuries resulting in an emergency room visit – with falls being the highest at 34%, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Let’s take a look at the top 10 safety tips to ensure decorating your home goes without issue:

• Replace old or damaged Christmas lights. It’s important to check your light strings before plugging them for any cracked bulbs or frayed and exposed wires.
• Only use indoor and outdoor lights where approved. It is not safe to expose indoor lights to the elements and cold temperatures.
• Utilize GFCI outlets for outdoor lights. These outlets prevent injuries from shock and do not allow the circuit to overheat which can lead to electrical fires. They can also be exposed to rain and snow.
• As a rule of thumb, never plug more than three sets of lights into a single extension cord – depending on the wattage of your light strings and the max capacity of the plug.
• Always use your ladder appropriately and with great care. Make sure to place your ladder on level ground, move the ladder necessary to avoid over-reaching and never stand above the recommended safe-standing level marked on your ladder.
• Keep your Christmas tree hydrated. Dry tree needles can be cause for electrical fires.
• Use the proper tools and accessories to hang your lights. Nails or screws should not be used as they can damage the wiring leading to shock or failure of the lights. You should also secure loose strands with electrical tape or ground staples to prevent personal injury.
• Turning your lights off before bed or after long periods of use. Timers are a fantastic lighting control to make sure your lights are on during peak hours and are turned off each night.
• Make the switch to LED. They are cool to the touch, operate well in cold temperatures and use significantly less energy.
• At the end of the season, store your lights properly to avoid broken bulbs, frayed wires and damaged plugs. Use a container that seals well to prevent possible water damage and pesky rodents that may chew on the cords.

 
*As always, if you should have technical questions, please consult an electrician in your local area.
 
Lighting Supply has a great selection of Christmas lights including replacement bulbs, string lights, rope lights and more! With these safety tips in your back pocket and our stock at your fingertips, we hope you are able to bring the magic of Christmas to your home this holiday season! If you have questions about our Christmas light selection, please give our Customer Service Team a call at 877.231.2852 or leave a comment below.