Strings of lights along the roofline, a glowing tree in the window and a lit wreath on the door are part of what makes the season feel special. They also put more demand on your home's electrical system than almost any other time of year, often through extension cords and outlets that were never meant to carry that much at once.
A little planning before you decorate goes a long way. The tips below will help you enjoy your display without tripped breakers, damaged cords or a fire risk hiding behind the tree.
Don't Overload Outlets and Cords
Most holiday lighting problems start with too much plugged into one place. A single outlet with a power strip, a splitter and several strands chained end to end can draw more than the circuit behind it was designed to handle. When that happens, you may see lights flicker, a breaker trip, or a plug that feels warm to the touch.
Spread your decorations across more than one circuit when you can, and check the packaging on each light set for how many strands can safely be connected together. Never plug one power strip into another. If an outlet feels hot, looks discolored or holds plugs loosely, stop using it and have it looked at, because those are signs it may need outlet repair before it carries another season of lights.
Use Outdoor-Rated Cords and Lights Outside
Cords and light strands are labeled for indoor use, outdoor use, or both. Indoor products are not built to stand up to rain, snow, freezing temperatures or the sun, and using them outside can lead to cracked insulation and exposed wiring. For anything on the porch, the shrubs or the roofline, look for products clearly marked for outdoor use.
A few more habits help outdoor displays stay safe:
- Keep connections off the ground and away from puddles, gutters and downspouts.
- Use plastic clips made for hanging lights instead of nails or staples, which can pierce the cord.
- Don't run cords through doorways or windows where they can be pinched, or under rugs where heat can build up.
- Choose a cord heavy enough for the load you are plugging into it.
If you find yourself wanting more than the season allows, permanent outdoor lighting installation can give you a lit home year round without a tangle of cords every December.
Make Sure Outdoor Outlets Have GFCI Protection
Outdoor outlets should be protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI. A GFCI watches for current leaking where it shouldn't, such as through water or a person, and shuts the power off quickly. In most homes, outdoor outlets are either GFCI outlets themselves (with Test and Reset buttons on the face) or are protected by a GFCI outlet or breaker elsewhere.
Before you plug in your display, press the Test button on the GFCI and make sure the power cuts off, then press Reset. If the outlet doesn't trip or won't reset, don't use it for decorations. A GFCI that trips over and over once the lights are on is often telling you there is moisture in a connection or a damaged strand somewhere in the run.
Put Your Display on a Timer
Leaving lights on all night or while you're away adds hours of heat and wear for no one to enjoy. A timer rated for the load, and for outdoor use if it lives outside, turns everything on at dusk and off at bedtime without you having to remember.
Inside, make it a habit to switch off the tree and any indoor strands before you go to sleep or leave the house. This is especially important for older incandescent strands, which run hotter than LED sets, and for any tree that has started to dry out.
Inspect Old Strands Before You Hang Them
Lights that spent a year in a box in the attic or garage deserve a careful look before they go back up. Plug each strand in on a table first and check it from end to end.
Throw away any strand that has frayed or cracked wiring, broken or crushed sockets, loose connections, or plugs with bent prongs. Replacing a set of lights costs far less than dealing with the damage a failing one can cause. If you are buying new, look for lights that carry the mark of a recognized testing laboratory, and consider switching to LEDs, which draw less power and stay cooler.
When to Call an Electrician
Some issues are a sign that the problem is bigger than a bad strand. If a breaker trips every time you plug in your display, it may be overloaded, or the breaker itself may be wearing out and in need of circuit breaker repair. If lights flicker in other rooms, outlets go dead, or you smell something hot or burning, unplug the decorations and call for help.
An electrician can also add what your home is missing, such as a dedicated outdoor outlet near the spot where you decorate every year, so you are no longer running cords across the yard. When the cause isn't obvious, professional electrical troubleshooting can trace the problem back to its source so it doesn't come back next season.
Enjoy a Safe and Bright Season
If your holiday setup has you worried about an outlet, a breaker or a circuit that can't keep up, the licensed electricians at Bretco Electric Company can help. We serve homeowners in Winston-Salem and across the Piedmont Triad. Call us at (336) 774-1223 or request service on our contact page.
