4 Electrical Safety Tips For The Holidays

The holidays can be a stressful time for many. There are parties, gatherings, family meals, gift buying, and usually decorating that all come with the Christmas season. While Danville isn’t known for having light-themed neighborhoods, Lexington, KY, on the other hand, does. We want to make sure you’re prepared for any issues that may come up from decorating.

There are simple precautions you can take to prevent fires, electrical overload, outages, and costly repairs. 

Common Holiday Issues

Overloaded outlets and power strips can overheat and trip breakers. In fact, plugging too many decorations into a single outlet is one of the biggest holiday hazards. Daisy-chaining cords (plugging multiple cords into each other or using adaptors to fit more cords on a single outlet) also increases the risk and should be avoided.

Damaged or old holiday lights can have cracked wires, loose bulbs, or frayed cords. All of which can lead to an increased risk of shock and fire. 

Indoor lights aren’t designed to handle moisture of any kind. Using indoor lights outside can lead to shock hazards and short circuits. 

Holiday Electrical Safety Tips for Using Lights

1. Choose the right lights

Holiday Lights come in two types: LED and incandescent

• LED lights are energy-efficient, longer-lasting, and produce very little heat.
• Incandescent lights are older and often cheaper. They consume more energy, run hot, and are more likely to pose a fire risk. 

When using lights for decorations, you should always check that they are UL certified or have a comparable safety certification. This certification ensures your lights comply with regulations and have passed safety tests for risk of fire and shock. 

For outdoor displays, ensure your lights and inflatables are labeled for outdoor use. Outdoor-rated products are designed to withstand moisture, temperature changes, and wind. 

2. Inspect before you decorate

Inspect your decorations before hanging or inflating. It’s important to take the time to examine the plugs and sockets. 

Check for:

• Loose sockets or missing bulbs
• Frayed wires
• Damaged insulation

Even minor damage increases the risk of overheating or having a short in the system. Replace any questionable items before decorating. Our technicians are ready to help you with any wiring needs.

3. Follow proper wattage and amperage guidelines

When connecting lights together, find the wattage of a strand of lights. Most indoor circuits are 15 amps and can handle 1,800 watts, while a 20-amp circuit can handle 2,400 watts. To be on the safe side, you should only use 80% of your maximum watt capacity. 

When using incandescent lights, it’s suggested to only use a couple of strands at a time since they have a higher wattage and heat output. When using LED’s, you can connect more strands since they’re much more efficient. 

4. Turn lights off late at night and during the day

To prevent any overheating, it’s suggested to give the lights a break. Most homeowners turn the lights off during the day. But you can give them a longer break by turning them off late at night.

You can save additional energy by using timers to turn the lights off late at night. 

Outdoor Decoration Safety

When using lights or inflatables outside, it’s important to use a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets help protect you from common electrical problems, such as shock and fire, that have an increased risk outside due to the weather conditions. It’s usually a legal requirement for outdoor outlets to be GFCI-rated. You should also protect all connections from the weather to ensure they don’t get wet.

You should also use heavy-duty outdoor-rated cords since they’re safe to use outdoors and can be exposed to the elements. Always secure your wires safely. Avoid using metal nails or staples, as they can damage the wires.

Trust The Professionals

Electrical safety during the holidays is incredibly important. Holidays can be a stressful time without the added stress of electrical hazards. Remember to check your lights, ensure you’re not overloading circuits, and that your decorations are rated for outdoor use, should you decorate the outside of your home. If you need help with any electrical problems in your Lexington home, give us a call at 859-365-2599!