Before you hang your Halloween lighting, remember these tips for electrical safety.
If your family is excited about the upcoming Halloween holiday, you may be preparing to set up your favorite decorations and lighting. If you are decorating any part of your home, it is important to familiarize yourself with a few essential Halloween lighting safety tips. By following these simple tips, you can ensure safety for your family and anyone who visits your home for treats.
Never Overload Extension Cords
Extension cords can be handy for providing flexibility in your lighting design, but overloading extension cords can cause overheating and fires. There are two types of extension cords: indoor and outdoor. Using these cords with the wrong items increases the likelihood of fire or malfunction. The best extension cords will be “UL-rated,” approved by the Underwriters Laboratory, and built for safety.
Additionally, make sure that the cords are not running through doorways or across walkways. You don’t want anyone to trip over these cords, as this could lead to physical injuries as well as cord damage.
Inspect Your Halloween Lighting Before Plugging In
Once-a-year holiday decorations tend to sit on a plastic bin in the attic or shed until they are pulled out again. While it is fine to reuse these decorations, we recommend inspecting any lighting for frayed or loose wires, loose connections, broken plugs, and other damages. This wear may have formed over time and is another serious fire hazard.
Use GFCI Outlets
For added shock protection for your outdoor Halloween lighting decorations, plug them into a GFCI outlet. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are designed to cut off the power before anything disastrous occurs.
Never Nail Down Halloween Lights
If you are hanging lights on your home, trees, or anywhere else, do not use nails to hang the lights. You should always use insulated staples or hooks, making sure not to staple through the strings. These techniques ensure that your lighting remains intact and easy to remove.
Cover Outdoor Outlets
Any outdoor outlets should be covered and protected from anything that could get them wet. This includes rain but also lawn sprinklers. A weatherproof cover for your outdoor outlets can protect them from moisture. Even if you have overhang protection over your porch, it is best to use a weatherproof cover for guaranteed protection.
Turn Off Your Lights at Night
Keeping lights on when you aren’t at home or are sleeping is a fire hazard because they are running without supervision. Make sure to turn off all Halloween lighting whenever your household goes to sleep, or no one is at home. If you are worried you will forget to turn the lights off, you can set the lights on a timer and schedule them to turn off before bedtime.
If you are unsure about the safety of your extension cords, outlets, or Halloween lighting, you can reach out to your Maryland electrician at TriStar Electric for assistance in keeping your home safe.
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