CHARLOTTE – What would Christmas decorations be without the lights on the outside of your home? Setting these up is undoubtedly more time-consuming, but you can stay safe while doing it by following these simple tips. If you have already hung the lights you can consider the safety tips below and easily make any adjustments necessary to prevent electrical mishaps.

• Check to make sure your extension cords are rated for outdoor use. Some are designed to only be used indoors, and they won’t function as well if they’re plugged into exterior sockets.
• When you’re hanging lights on the house, avoid using metal things like nails or staples that could split the coating. When electricity travels through them they can come into contact with the metal, sparking a fire. Use plastic light clips instead.
• Avoid overloading circuits. The circuit includes all outlets and fixtures that share the same breaker switch. While calculating, be sure to factor in the wattage of all devices that share the same circuit. When choosing lights, bear in mind that LEDs use significantly less power than any other bulb type. Most household circuits are either 15 or 20 amp circuits.
• Lastly, double-check that all of your outdoor outlets are GFCI-rated. These outlets are designed to protect vulnerable outlets from short-circuiting. That makes it all the more important to ensure they’re powering your lights.

From all the folks at Metrolina Mulch Premium Landscape Products we want to wish everyone a very Merry (and safe) Christmas and a Happy New Year!