Ten Tips to quickly and safely install Christmas Lights

We hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and are looking forward to Christmas. Thanksgiving weekend is the typical time to start planning on getting those Christmas Lights put up, so we offer you our top ten tips for hanging your Christmas lights quickly and safely. If you are looking for additional tips and tricks to get ready for the Holiday’s we kindly suggest checking out some of our prior posts on De-cluttering your home for the holiday’s and the Holiday Master Planning Checklist.

As always, please stay safe; if you feel uncomfortable, do not understand how to complete a task, etc… please call in a professional.

1. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for installation, as a general rule though you should not string more than three standard-size sets of lights together.
2. Look at each string of lights carefully. If there are any cracked or damaged wires, you should buy a new set of lights. If you buy new lights, make sure they are UL tested and approved for outdoor use.
3. Plug the lights in before you start hanging them – for any bulbs that are not working, try pushing them in fully to make sure the bulb is not loose. If the bulb is burnt out, mark it with a Permanent Marker. After you have marked all the bad bulbs, start replacing them.
   • Low voltage sets generally do not require that you unplug them to replace a bulb but it is a good practice.
   • On some sets once you pull a burnt out bulb or one comes loose / is not firmly seated –a whole strand goes dark, so if you leave the burnt out bulb by its replacement it may help you get them up and running quicker
   • Occasionally you might have a strand that will not light up – check for an inline fuse that might have blown & replace it.
   • Extracting a broken bulb – first make sure the strand is unplugged, put on a pair of gloves and use a pair of needle nose pliers to help pull it out / unscrew it.
4. Verify you have enough lights – nothing beats installing the lights and finding out you need just one more strand.
5. Indoor Power – you should always use a surge protector, being careful not overload the circuit. As another quick reminder, never run the cords under a rug or where people walk.
6. Exterior Power – you should always plug outdoor decorations into outlets protected by a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) to prevent shock and use an appropriately sized extension cord if required.
7. Setting up your ladder (Just a few quick reminders & tips – an article on Ladder Safety will be coming shortly )
   • If the ground is level enough and your eaves are low enough, a step ladder might be a good option for you to use – do not stand or sit on the last two steps & never leave tools sitting on it
   • Extension ladders – remember the 4 to 1 rule – for every 4 feet in height the ladder should be pulled out 1 foot from the wall or edge
   • For all types of ladders – do not over-extend, your belt buckle should never go past the edge of the ladder
8. Use an automatic light timer to ensure that the lights come on around dusk and turn off automatically around bedtime saving you electricity.
9. Many groups recommend that your Christmas lights are left off while you are gone, but that is a sure sign to burglars that you are on vacation or at a show. We recommend a variable automatic timer that gives your house that lived in look.
10. Hang or mount your light strands carefully to prevent damaging the cord
    • Mounting your lights off the gutter or roof – they have specially designed plastic hooks / clips allowing you to hang your lights without damaging the trim or walls
    • Mounting your lights vertically or to the trim – they have specialty clips made for this but it requires an exterior grade screw or nail be used approximately every 12 inches.

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