Safety Tips for Hanging Holiday Lights

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As a child, there’s something so magical about riding around town to look at all the homes decorated with twinkling holiday lights. For that matter, it’s an annual tradition that delights the senses of people of all ages.

Yet adding that holiday cheer to your front yard doesn’t come without risks. Follow these simple guidelines when hanging holiday lights to prevent personal harm. After all, a trip to an urgent care center isn’t on anyone’s wish list.

Create a plan.

Before filling your cart with lights, take a good look at the exterior of your home and decide which areas can benefit from holiday lighting. Consider adorning pillars, posts, eaves, windows, and doors. Don’t forget window boxes and planters, trees and bushes. And finally ask yourself what you can realistically and safely do yourself, and what task you may need to outsource.

Keep balance in mind.

Many homeowners gravitate toward the roofline but don’t think to add lights below, as well. Lighting around windows, the front door, and on bushes will make the result look more thought-out, festive, and proportioned.

Don’t ignore the backyard.

String lights along a deck railing, pergola, or out-of-season structure. Add lights and hang outdoor-grade bulbs from a tree. Or consider an outdoor Christmas tree complete with lights and decorations.

Have enough lights on hand.

Before you begin, measure the length of anything you plan on decorating with lights, such as windows, doors, the roofline, etc., and take note of the locations of power sources. If you plan to hang strands from a fence or wrap around posts, you’ll need more strands. Also, take note of bulb count – the brighter you want your house to shine, the more bulbs per strand you’ll need.

Inspect the lights.

Never use strands with frayed or damaged wiring and always follow manufacturer’s instructions on how many strands can safely be plugged together. Remember, not all lights are rated for outdoor use.

Plug in safely.

Outdoor lights should only be plugged into circuits protected with GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters).

Use plastic clips to secure lights.

Instead of using a hammer and nails, try plastic clips to safely and securely attach lights to roof shingles, gutters, window and door frames, and railings. Once the holiday season is behind us, simply remove and reuse them next year.

Keep safety first.

Never decorate trees that touch power lines. If using a ladder, make sure it’s properly sized for the job and only place it on solid, stable ground. Do not climb up higher than recommended. And remember, if you aren’t up for the job, especially when it comes to reaching the roof line or second story windows, hire a pro to safely do it for you.

As the year winds down, we at Zaman Roofing want to thank you for another successful year and wish you and your family a bright, safe, and happy holiday season.