Stay Safe When Putting Up Christmas Lights at Your North Shore Home

This is the big weekend when many North Shore residents are putting up their holiday decor which, most often, includes outdoor Christmas lighting.

Whether you put a small display of traditional white lights or go “all out” with tons of colored Christmas lights, be sure to follow these Christmas light safety tips.

Ladder Safety: When adding lights there is always a ladder (or many) needed to get the job done. Be sure to practice ladder safety when you are putting up Christmas lights at your North Shore home.

What to Look for When Buying Lights

• Smaller lights burn cooler than the traditional larger bulbs. Consider this when buying new lights.

• When buying new lights, make sure they have been tested and deemed safe. This information will be included on the packaging and will state which lab tested the lights. The best are UL or ETL.

• Make sure the lights have fuses in the plugs.

Things to Check Before Installing

• Inspect all lights – old and new – for any damage. Return or throw out any sets that have cracked sockets, frayed cords or loose connections. Light sets can be purchased fairly inexpensively.

• Replace burned out bulbs with new bulbs, always making sure the wattage remains the same.

• Make sure you are using Christmas lights that are labeled for outdoor use.

Precautions to Take for Success

• When plugging in all your lights, use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). You can buy portable ones for outdoor use or have them permanently installed around your house and yard by an electrician.

• Extension cords can be used outdoors, but remember that the thicker the cord the better. However, do not overload your extension cords as they may overheat. Instead, use more extension cords if needed.

• Use insulated holders when securing lights to your North Shore house. Never use tacks or nails or run the lights through hooks as this can fray the cords over time.

• Never pull your string of Christmas lights; it stresses the cord and can lead to fraying.

• ALWAYS turn your Christmas lights off before going to bed!

If you are selling your North Shore home this winter, The Marla Schneider Team can help you sell quickly and for the best price possible. It may be considered a slow time to sell, but with our years of expertise selling in the North Shore area, we can help you in any season.