As we move closer to the holiday season, kids start getting excited about the toys they might receive. Even adults can’t help but get into the spirit when they see some colorful, decorative Christmas lights. If you feel like getting the party started on your block and filling everyone with a festive spirit, hanging lights should be at the top of your to-do list.
You may want to consider putting up permanent Christmas lights rather than temporary ones. Either way, you will certainly want to be wary when you do it, since you will be dealing with electricity. If you don’t exercise caution, you can easily hurt yourself.
With that in mind, let’s look at some electrical tips to keep you safe as you tackle this holiday-related project.
Know What to Do if Someone Gets Shocked
If someone gets shocked when they are hanging up Christmas lights, you should know beforehand what to do. Don’t touch them while they are still in contact with the electrical source. Instead, switch off or unplug the power first.
That might sound like common sense, but it’s easy to forget and to touch the person in the frenzied moment when you are trying to help them. Once the power is off, you can immediately call 911 to get professional medical assistance for them.
Know How to Handle an Electrical Short
If you experience a short while hanging Christmas lights, unplug all of the lights immediately if it is safe to do so. You should also have a fire extinguisher nearby that is rated for electrical fires.
Remember the acronym PASS, which stands for pull the pin, aim the hose portion of the extinguisher, squeeze the trigger, and then sweep it from side to side at the base of the flames to put them out.
Keep Your Lights Free of Tangles
To make it easier to install your Christmas lights and to make it less likely any of them will become damaged, wrap them around a sturdy spool or cardboard tube until the moment you’re ready to unspool them and hang them up. This makes it far less likely that you will have some defective ones that will ruin the effect when you plug them in.
Consider Using a Plug-In Timer
Rather than needing to turn on the lights yourself at a certain time of the day or night, consider using a plug-in timer. There are several styles of timer that fulfill this function that are relatively easy to use, even if you’re not a professional electrician or someone who knows much about these sorts of DIY projects.
You might think about setting the lights to turn on when the sun sets and to turn off when the sun rises. That way, you should get the best effect from them. Your neighbors and anyone walking or driving past can enjoy them as well.
Use a Power Strip or a Photosensor-Equipped Device
Another option would be to set up a power strip that is Wi-Fi enabled. This way, you can use a smartphone app to control the lights remotely.
A device equipped with a photosensor is another way to go. These will automatically turn the lights on and off according to how much light there is in the sky. These are safe and easy ways of conserving electricity.
Use Clip Cords
Using clip cords is a way to keep any loose wires away from kids or pets. If you have young children or a dog who like to play outside in the snow, any loose wire can seem especially enticing. You can also supervise any outdoor play if your kids are too young to know better than to stay away from the lights or their electrical sources.
Use GFCI Outlets
You should also make sure you are plugging your Christmas lights into GFCI outlets, which is shorthand for ground fault circuit interrupters. This kind of outlet is ideal because it gives you added safety in moist or wet conditions. A white Christmas might seem picturesque, but it makes your lights dangerous if you’re not using these kinds of outlets.
Test Your GFCI Outlets
You also want to test your outlets to make sure they’re working correctly. To do so, plug in a nightlight or a similar small device. Turn it on. There will be a “test” button on the GFCI outlet. Press it.
When you do, the nightlight should turn off with no issues. When you hit the “reset” button, it should turn on again.
If you don’t see this functionality from your outlet, then it’s probably time to replace it. Once you make sure they are all working properly, you can relax in the knowledge that a short or a blown circuit from your Christmas lights are not very likely.
Protect Your Electrical Connections
Protecting your electrical connections, particularly if they are outside, is a must. You can do that by installing weatherproof covers over them. You should be able to buy these easily enough at a hardware store like Home Depot or Lowes.
These should shield your plugs from rain or snow. You also want to elevate your connections whenever possible. If you leave them on the ground, there is a better chance that they will be damaged by the weather.
You can even find weatherproof cord connectors sometimes that seal junctions between two cords. That is an extra layer of safety that you will surely appreciate.
Use Outdoor-Rated Extension Cords and Lights
Finally, look at any cords or Christmas lights you buy to make sure they are rated for outdoor use. There are some that are specifically designed to be used indoors, and those are not appropriate to string up on the outside of your house.
You also want to adhere to the proper number of strands that you can safely connect. Doing so will prevent overloading your circuits.
With these tips in mind, you should be able to get the most enjoyment out of your Christmas lights and enjoy the holiday season.
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