Merry, safe, and bright
LED holiday lights use 85 percent less electricity than incandescent lights, are cooler and safer, and last three times as long. And as the industry evolves, they’re looking brighter and warmer every season! Switching to LEDs is a great first step, but safety doesn’t end at the outlet. IMU strives to help everyone stay merry and bright with these outdoor lighting safety tips.
Get ready to shine
As with any major undertaking, preparation is key. You don’t want to already be up on the roof when you realize you forgot something important!
Beware broken and burned out bulbs
A missing or broken bulb can lead to shocks, fires or nasty cuts, especially the popular vintage incandescent bulbs. They can also keep your whole string from lighting. Do yourself a tedious favor you’ll never regret - check all your strings before you start installing them and replace any missing or broken bulbs. Most lights come with replacement bulbs and fuses, but you can also buy them at your local home improvement store.
PRO TIP: How to fix busted string lights
CNET offers a handy guide to fixing Christmas lights, including repairing bulbs and changing out fuses. Find it here.
Use a GFCI outlet
Only plug your lights into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet, which shut the circuit down if there is too much current flowing through, preventing fires. If your outlet is a GFCI, it will have a reset and test button in the center. You can purchase a portable GFCI outlet from your home improvement store.
Use outdoor cords outdoors
Always use an extension cord that is rated for outdoor use. Indoor-use extension cords aren’t meant to be used in cold or wet environments.
Light up the night
You’ve got your light show planned out and everything is in working order. It’s exciting, but stay focused on safety now to avoid falls, shocks, and fires. You’re almost there!
Use the right ladder
If you decorate your home’s exterior, you know you need a ladder to reach those high-up spots. Metal ladders conduct electricity, which can lead to electrical shocks. The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends using a wooden or fiberglass ladder when hanging lights to avoid electrical shocks.
Hang ‘em high and dry
Don’t let your cords or light strands sit unprotected on the ground. Make sure that the junction where your light and extension cords meet stays out of puddles, damp soil, snow or ice. An inexpensive cord protector can help keep your cords dry. Even outdoor-rated cords can malfunction when they sit on wet ground continuously for weeks.
Prevent tripping hazards
Use anchoring pins or ground staples to secure extension cords to the ground on either side of a walkway to prevent tripping hazards. Thread your cord through the middle and push the ends of the pin or staple into the dirt. If you have wire hangers, a pair of pliers and wire cutters lying around, you can make your own staples in a pinch. Just cut 8 inches (20 centimeters) of wire and bend it into a U-shape.
Don’t overload your outlet
A grounded (GFCI) outlet has its limits. Never use more than two outdoor-rated power strips for any outlet, even if all your bulbs are LEDs. If your display trips a breaker, figure out what else is drawing power and don’t run everything at once. Even better, consider moving your outdoor outlets to their own breaker.
Keep it to three strands - sometimes
The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends connecting no more than three strings of incandescent lights together. If you’re using LEDs, most UL-labeled lights will tell you on the package how many strings of lights you can safely string together.
Don’t put cords through doors and windows
Don’t run your extension cords through window or door cracks. The cord could become pinched, which can ruin the insulation around the wires and lead to a nasty shock, or even a fire.
Know when the party’s over
All good things must come to an end. Many lights, including smart lights, aren’t meant for long-term use. Be sure to check the light’s box for information on just how long you can safely leave your lights up, and don’t exceed the recommendation.
Outdoor lights indoors?
The difference between indoor and outdoor lights was more important in the days of incandescent bulbs. Those were bigger and brighter, therefore much hotter and an indoor hazard. Many of today’s LED string lights are interchangeable, so focus on the dampness rating when purchasing.
Look for the UL seal
The UL (Underwriters Laboratories) seal means that the lights meet the national industry standards of the American National Standards Institute. When a product is UL listed, every part and function has been tested and verified to work together in that product. It seems like a small thing, but it’s incredibly important for avoiding dangerous malfunctions. Plus, peace of mind.
Why should I care about the UL listing?
The UL listing will also include a weather rating, representative of the bulb’s ability to withstand damp or wet conditions. Use the UL listing to determine the difference between indoor and outdoor light bulbs. UL listing categories include:
- Dry Locations. Never use dry location bulbs outdoors. They cannot withstand damp or wet.
- Damp Locations. Can be safely used in bathrooms, including in the shower, indoor pool areas, utility rooms, and unfinished basements, as well as fully covered outdoor areas like covered porches and gazebos.
- Wet Locations. If you have an open patio or landscape lighting around your home, these bulbs will need to be wet location rated. Needless to say, this will include all your holiday lights. If you’re not sure whether a fixture will need a damp or wet location rated bulb, it is always best to err on the side of caution and choose the wet rated bulb.