DAZZLE WITH HOLIDAY LIGHTS THIS YEAR

As the holiday season approaches, the urge to decorate the exterior of your home with festive holiday lights is strong. While it can be a great way to spread some holiday cheer, it’s important to practice proper safety when hanging outdoor lights. From checking the condition of your lights to using the correct tools and materials, there are several steps you need to take in order to ensure that your holiday decorations are both beautiful and safe. By following these safety tips for hanging holiday lights outside, you can have a worry-free holiday season.

INSPECT YOUR LIGHTS

Before you get started with hanging your lights, it’s important to make sure that they are still in good condition. Some factors that can negatively affect the condition of your lights include:

• Age
• Weather
• Proximity to trees or other objects that can break the strands

Meanwhile, it’s important to check your lights for:

• Fraying or breaking strands
• Broken sockets
• Dented bulbs

Some lights have lifespan information printed on the packaging, which can be helpful when determining if your lights are still usable. If you’re not sure about the condition of your lights, you can always purchase a new set. Your first concern should be the safety of your home and family – not aesthetics. If your lights don’t meet the safety requirements, don’t use them.

USING THE RIGHT MATERIALS AND TOOLS

Before you get started on your holiday light installation, you’ll need to make sure you have the appropriate materials and tools available. You’ll need a ladder, a bucket to catch any materials that fall from your ladder, and appropriate wiring tools.

You may also want to purchase a tarp to protect your driveway or sidewalk from any materials that may fall while you’re working. You should also make sure that you have an appropriate extension cord to connect your lights to an outlet.

Furthermore, you should never use indoor lights outside. In addition to being a fire hazard, indoor lights are also not rated for outside use.

SAFETY TIPS FOR HANGING HOLIDAY LIGHTS

If you’re hanging lights on the exterior of your home, you need to take certain precautions to ensure that the job is done safely. Here are some precautions to consider:

• The first thing to do is check your roof and gutters for any damage or debris that may cause the lights to tangle.
• You should also check your power source to ensure that there isn’t a disconnection that may cause your lights to stop working.
• If your lights are close to trees, you’ll want to take precautions to ensure that the trees don’t break the wires.
• You can use a plastic tree guard to wrap around the lights and protect them from nearby trees.

PLACEMENT OF LIGHTS

You may want to start by deciding where you want to place your lights. In addition to the front of your house, you may want to string lights across your roof or along your gutters. You should avoid hanging lights too close to your roof, as they can pose a fire hazard.

Meanwhile, also avoid placing lights too close to your windows, as they can create a fire hazard and make it difficult to see out of your windows.

USE CAUTION WHEN HANGING LIGHTS ON TREES

When hanging lights on trees, you need to be careful that you are not surrounding the tree with too many lights. Excessive lights around a tree can cause it to overheat and put the tree in danger.

Additionally, you should not use lights that have metal hooks to hang around trees, as they can cause damage to the bark. Instead, you should use non-metal hooks or string to avoid any damage to the tree.

LIGHTING UP YOUR ROOF

You may want to string lights along the roof of your home. Although it can look very festive, you need to be careful that the lights are not in contact with the roof, as they can cause damage to the roof surface. You can use clips or hooks to keep the lights away from the roof. Be sure to check the roof surface for any damage caused by the clips or hooks before you use them.

ILLUMINATING YOUR YARD

Another idea is to hang lights around your yard. While this is a great way to add some extra festivity to your yard, you should be careful with where you place your lights. You should avoid placing lights near bushes or plants, as they can be damaged by the heat of the lights. Avoid putting lights in areas where they can cause trip hazards.

ENSURING ELECTRICITY SAFETY

When it comes to electricity, you need to make sure that you are following proper safety precautions to avoid electrical fires or other electrical issues. In order to protect yourself and your family, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for your lights.

In addition to following manufacturer safety recommendations, you should also avoid overloading your circuit. You can do this by turning off other appliances or lights that are connected to the circuit that your outdoor lights are on.

You should also avoid using an extension cord with outdoor lights, as they are not designed to handle the extra voltage that outdoor lights need. If you need additional power, have an electrician come out and add another circuit.

TAKING DOWN YOUR HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Finally, you also need to make sure that you are taking down your lights when they are no longer usable. If a strand of lights breaks or burns out, you need to take it down and replace it with a new strand of lights. It’s important to take down lights that are broken or malfunctioning because they can cause fires.

If you have lights that are still in good condition but that you don’t plan on using next year, make sure that you dispose of them properly. You can either take them to a recycling center or contact your utility company to see if they take lights for disposal.

DISPOSAL OF LIGHTS

Some lights can be recycled or disposed of in the trash, but others cannot. Before you throw away your broken or unneeded holiday lights, make sure that you know how to properly dispose of them. There are certain lights cannot be recycled, like older incandescent or halogen bulbs.

Before throwing your lights in the trash, make sure that they are properly disposed of so you don’t cause any problems for your local waste management facility.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TO HANG HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Of all the safety tips for hanging holiday lights, this is perhaps the safest route to follow. Hiring a professional to hang your holiday lights is a smart move. Not only is it safer and more efficient than tackling the job yourself, but you’ll also be free to enjoy the holiday season worry-free!

ReadyClean can make sure that your lights are hung properly, so you don’t have to worry about them falling or needing to be replaced. We can also provide advice for the best way to arrange your lights for maximum effect. And if you need something different from your usual set-up, we can help with that too.

Best of all, professionals know how to hang your lights safely and securely, which is especially important when it comes to outdoor displays. With a professional team on the job, you can rest assured that your lights will be hung with care and precision. So this year, let the pros handle the job, and you can focus on what really matters: making memories with your family and friends.

GET HELP HANGING HOLIDAY LIGHTS WITH READYCLEAN

As you can see, there are several important things to keep in mind while hanging holiday lights outside. You need to make sure that your lights are in good condition, that you are using the right materials, and that you are following appropriate safety precautions. Once you have your lights hung, you can enjoy the festive decor for several weeks leading up to Christmas.