Putting up Christmas lights this year? Know these safety tips to protect your home

JACKSON, Tenn. — The holiday season is kicking off in West Tennessee which means bringing out your Christmas lights to start decorating. We have some tips about Christmas lights and safety reminders when you began to decorate.

Christmas lights are a huge part of decorating for the holiday season, however it is important to keep in mind how to install these lights properly and safely.

Professionals recommend purchasing led lights because they last longer and are cool to the touch which reduces the risk of fires.

Chris Parham, with Parham Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric says to make sure your lights can be used outside and what receptacle these lights need.

“Anything that is going to be outside, it needs to be plugged in to a GFCI receptacle. What this does is protects any current from reaching you or your house it stops the current from flowing if it ever senses that,” said Parham.

When setting up your lights, it is suggested not to plug in to many strands of lights together and to use heavy duty cords.

“You never want to plug in over three strands of lights at a time unless the manufacturer says it’s okay to. Also, when you are using extension cords, bigger is always better. The bigger the extension cord, the more power it can carry and the more lights it can supply power to,” said Parham.

When mounting lights to your gutters or shingles, always use plastic mounting clips instead of staples.

“Never use staples because they can penetrate the installation on the wire and can energize your home at that point in time,” said Parham.

Old lights should be thrown away because it will save you on power and energy as well as being safer for your home.

It is also recommended to contact a local professional if you have any trouble with your Christmas lights.

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