Safety Tips for Holiday Decorating
Now is the perfect time to start decorating for the holidays. What better way to increase holiday anticipation than spending a few days preparing the home for festivities? While decorating can be fun, it can also increase the risk of damage to the home. Every year, holiday decorations harm people and property, either directly or indirectly.
Every owner should take action to avoid electrical problems during the holidays. Here are some tips from local electrical experts to help make the holidays exciting without the risks.
Incandescent vs. LED Holiday Lights
Learning mundane details about different types of lighting doesn’t help set the tone for the holidays. However, discussing this is necessary for owners who wish to lower their power bills, enhance their decorations, and prevent accidents.
Previously, all holiday decorations were made with incandescent bulbs. Some homeowners may still have a few strands lying around since they tend to last a long while. However, most modern lighting is made from LEDs, and chances are that if decorations were purchased in the last few years, they would be made with LED technology.
Most safety problems originate from incandescent bulbs. Incandescents produce a lot of heat as they burn, increasing the fire risk. Because they waste energy by outputting heat, they also draw a lot of power, making them expensive and increasing the likelihood of damaging electrical systems.
On the other hand, LEDs use much less power and produce little heat. Upgrading holiday lighting to LEDs can save owners a lot of money on energy bills while reducing the risk of problems.
Designing a Safe Holiday Display
Holiday decorating takes place indoors and outdoors. Decorating indoors carries fewer risks since there are no environmental factors to worry about. When decorations start going up outside, homeowners should take note of a few things.
First, all decorations should be inspected before they are installed. Owners should check for damaged or exposed wiring, and damaged decorations should be replaced instead of installed.
Secondly, outdoor decorations will be designated as such. Outdoor lighting strands will be double-insulated to protect against the weather and wear and tear.
Third, pay special attention to the number of lighting strands that can be connected. Break up large groupings and distribute them to different outlets or circuits. Finally, never use extension cords to plug outdoor decorations into indoor circuits.
Electrical Safety Tips
One of the most common problems associated with holiday decorations is fire and electrical problems. Taking time to learn the dos and don’ts of electrical safety can help lower the risk of fires and shocks and reduce the work on the electrical system. For holiday decorating:
- Do:
- Inspect all decorations
- Test outdoor GFCI devices for proper function
- Only plug outdoor displays into GFCI outlets
- Minimize the use of extension cords
- Only use one extension cord per run
- Call electricians to install extra outlets if necessary
- Don’t:
- Overload outlets with outlet extenders or power strips
- Overload circuits
- String together too many lighting strands
- Leave decorations on all night- use timers instead
- Bypass safety precautions for convenience
About Southwest Florida Electric Inc.
Southwest Florida Electric Inc. specializes in electrical services for homes and businesses. They can quickly enhance holiday decorating by installing outdoor lighting or adding outlets. Call today for electrical services in Fort Myers, FL.
