Holiday Lights and Your Home's Electrical System

Many homeowners get excited about the thought of putting up their holiday lights. While they are often beautiful displays, ensuring your electrical system can handle the load is crucial. If your electrical system can’t take it, you could be putting your home and family at risk. 

You don’t want to miss out on this time-honored tradition because of an overwhelmed system. Fortunately, there are several holiday lights electrical safety tips in Montclair, NJ, that every homeowner can follow to ensure their family remains safe.

Holiday Lights Electrical Safety Tips in Montclair, NJ 

Keep your yard merry and bright by following these holiday lighting tips. 

Use the Correct Type of Extension Cords

When setting up your outdoor holiday lights, you’ll want to know the extension cord (and lights) can withstand the elements. Use an extension cord rated for outdoor use. These cords have thicker protective coatings to block the wind, cold, and precipitation. Indoor cables are thinner, fray more easily, and pose a risk of electrical shock if used outside. MAKE SURE YOUR OUTDOOR HOLIDAY LIGHTING CORDS AND EXTENSION CORDS ARE PLUGGED INTO GFCI PROTECTED RECEPTACLES.

Thoroughly Inspect Your Lights 

You may think you put away your lights in an organized manner after taking them down. However, the lights always get tangled in storage. Inspect each strand of lights to check for loose or frayed wires and broken bulbs. If you find damaged areas, investing in a new set of lights is best.

Damaged Christmas lights are a fire hazard. Purchasing new lights could prevent you from experiencing an electrical fire that damages your property. 

Don’t Overload the Circuits 

Some homes keep their decorations to a minimum, while others like to light up the night sky with their displays. If you fall into the latter camp, you could be drawing a significant amount of current, causing the electric panel to struggle to keep up and become overloaded. 

Overloading the circuits means they have more electricity running through them than they can handle. When this happens, the electrical circuit breaker shuts off power to prevent the circuit's wire from overheating. Consider a panel upgrade to continue having a large holiday light display.

Learn What’s Best for Your Home 

The experts from Anderson Electric can provide holiday lights electrical safety tips in Montclair, NJ, and help you understand what your home can handle. Contact us today to ensure your home’s electrical system is equipped to handle your holiday lighting display!