Christmas Light Decorating Safety Tips

‘Tis the season (well, almost) to decorate your home with sparkling lights and inflatable yard ornaments. Of course, your vision for your holiday decor doesn’t always match reality when it’s time actually to do the work. Many things can stand in your way when it comes to stringing up your lights.

If you don’t have the right tools or skills for the job, not only will your lights not look great, but you could also injure yourself while installing them or create a dangerous situation for your entire house and everyone inside. If you plan on putting up your outdoor Christmas decor sooner rather than later, but want to ensure you do it safely, Nutri-Green’s Christmas light safety tips will help.

Ladder Safety

Choose the Right Ladder for the Job

A step ladder is meant for washing windows and doing other jobs at low or medium heights. An extension ladder may be needed to hang lights high up on your roof line. Double-check the ladder’s maximum load rating to make sure it can handle both your weight and the load of Christmas lights that you are carrying.

Set the Ladder Up on Sturdy, Level Ground

You want your ladder to be secure before you climb up to the second story of your house. Choose a spot that is level and where the ground is solid. Loose soil, uneven rocks, or a place on a hill are all areas to avoid when setting up your ladder. You should also avoid wet ground.

Follow the 4-to-1 Rule

A good rule of thumb is to place the base of the ladder one foot away from your structure for every four feet of height. So, if you plan to climb 20 feet, you’ll want the base of your ladder to be five feet away from the wall of your house.

Get a Spotter

When you’re ready to climb the ladder, make sure someone is there to spot you. They should stand at the bottom of the ladder and hold it in place to help prevent it from tipping. Step in the center of each ladder rung as you ascend and descend to prevent the ladder from leaning to one side. Never sit or stand on the top of a step ladder or pail shelf, as these areas aren’t meant to hold heavy weights.

Electrical Safety

Use GFCI Outlets

Only use ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets when plugging in your lights. These outlets shut down power when they sense an imbalance in the current, protecting you from electrical shock.

Only Use Lights Rated for the Outdoors

Make sure the lights and extension cords you use are rated for outdoor use. If they’re not, they won’t stand up to the elements, especially rain and moisture, which can be dangerous.

Don’t Overload Circuits

The last thing you want to do when making your house look beautiful for Christmas is to start a fire. If you plug too many lights into one outlet, that’s exactly what can happen. The lights can overheat, causing a fire.

Discard Damaged Lights

Inspect your lights before you put them up. Look for any signs of wear, including fraying and cracks. If you find anything damaged, throw it away and replace it with lights in good condition.

General Safety

Think About Placement

When deciding where to put your decorations, think carefully about their placement. You don’t want to run extension cords across your front walkway, where they’ll be a tripping hazard, or have light cords hanging in people’s faces as they try to get into your house.

Secure Decorations

If you love inflatables or have other decorations you set up around your yard, secure them with anchors. You’d hate to look out the window and see them tumbling down the road on a windy day.

Pay Attention to the Weather

Speaking of wind, paying attention to the weather when setting up your decorations is important. There’s no sense in making yourself miserable doing your setup on a cold, wet day. You’ll also want to pay attention to the weather after your decorations are set up. If a storm blows through, consider removing any decorations that could blow away or be a hazard.

Skip the Hassle With Nutrigreen’s Hook and Ladder Holiday Décor

If you’d rather not risk setting up your Christmas decorations on your own, you’re in luck! Nutri-Green Lawn Care offers professional Christmas lighting services by Hook & Ladder. Not only do we take care of all installation, maintenance, removal, and storage, but we’re staffed entirely by active-duty firefighters who know a thing or two about ladder and electrical safety. Make your holiday shine brightly (and safely) by contacting us today!

This blog was originally published on June 19, 2017, and has been updated to reflect the most up-to-date information.