We care about keeping you and your family safe for the holidays! Keep the festivities going by following a few simple tips we provided below when decorating your home this season.
Do’s
- Make sure all lights, extension cords, timers, and connective materials are safe for their intended location: outdoor/indoor
- Secure lights with hooks or clips.
- Connect only 3 strands of lights together (Consumer Reports, 2009).
- Monitor the state of your lights and throw them away after 3 years of usage
- Use timers or turn off your lights when you’re away from your home or the sun’s out to prevent overheating.
- Store lights in a safe and dry environment.
- Use exterior GFCI outlets (TWUA, 2021).
- Prior to setting up a large-scale light display, have an electrician check your system (How To, 2011).
Don’ts
- Use any materials meant for indoor use only outside
- Don’t attach your lights with nails or staples
- Use too many extension cords or plug them into one another
- Use old lights with strained or live wires, dead bulbs, or open sockets
- Leave lights on for a long duration of time, lights can overheat. If you have a dry Christmas tree or an artificial one, it can be a fire hazard (TWUA, 2021).
- Leave lights on or blow-up displays out during a storm (it may destroy your lights).