It’s that time of year: When every house on the block is decked in Christmas lights from the driveway to the rooftop. Hanging lights is a great way to light up your neighborhood, and add cheer to this festive season. It might seem simple, but it’s important to make sure you hang your lights the right way. Here’s my insight as an electrician on how to hang Christmas lights the right way!
Don’t Blow a Fuse or a Circuit
When you string too many lights together, and plug them into the wall, you’re more likely to blow a fuse, and your lights won’t stay lit. It’s also a fire hazard. The best way to avoid any Christmas disasters, and keep your lights shining bright is to run multiple outdoor extension cords from different areas, to make sure you don’t blow a fuse. Another tip is to plug your extension cords into outlets that aren’t being used by large appliances or other items.
Going All Out? You May Need Extra Circuits
If you’re installing a lot of lights on your home, you may need to install new circuits to handle the usage. If you don’t pay attention to how many amps your home and the lights are drawing, you could create a fire hazard. In fact, according to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), around 860 home fires are started each year because of incorrectly installed holiday lights. So, before you trim the windows and deck the halls, take a moment to determine how many amps you’ll be using, and whether or not you need to install new outdoor circuits.
How to Hang Christmas Lights: Call an Electrician to Keep Your Home Safe and Festive
If you’re planning a big light installation this year, don’t make a mistake and end up putting your home in danger. Call an experienced electrician at Electric Doctor to discuss installing extra outdoor circuits to handle the load. We are dedicated to making sure you have a safe and merry Christmas!
