Safety in Outdoor Christmas Decorations

The holidays are a time when neighborhoods are brightly lit with the sights (and these days sounds) of the season. Rows after rows of glowing homes are seen in most neighborhoods, and in some cases, can cause traffic to line up for a free light show. There are, however, some safety precautions to observe when making your home a beacon for the holiday season.

First of all, make sure that all the electric cords and decorations are rated for outdoor use. If you are not sure, don't use it. If the item doesn't specifically advertise outdoor use, then it should not be considered safe for outdoor use.

Next, be sure that your power comes from an outdoor safe receptacle. Using indoor receptacles is a dangerous practice, even though the extension cord may be rated for outdoor use, you can put a strain on the indoor power receptacle. The outdoor receptacles are built for the heavy electrical use that the holiday decorations demand.

All power cords are rated in gages. The smaller the gage, the more power it can transfer through the cord. It seems that it is backwards, but that is the way it works. If you are not sure of the gage strength, don't fret about it; the smaller gages are the larger cords. If you use the standard rule of always going from the larger diameter cords to the smaller diameter cords then you safe.

When using a power stake - a device that splits the power into three or more receptacles and stakes into the ground - always use same gage or a larger gage (smaller cord) from the stake to the decoration. This reduces the electrical stress on the wires and prevents shorts, circuit breaker failure, or in the case of older homes, blown fuses. Be sure to keep the wires lying on the ground by using a holding stake, a small piece of metal with a bent top that lays flat over the wire or holds it down like a croquet wicket. Either way, it will keep people from tripping over the cords (usually colored green to blend in with the yard).

As for the decorations themselves, be sure to read the box before you buy. You will want to purchase AC or Alternating Current decorations over the DC or Direct Current decorations. While it is true that the DC decorations are cheaper, there is a reason for that. When a light does go out on a DC decoration, they all tend to go out. On the AC decorations, a light can go out and the others will stay on. Some decorations have a variation of AC and DC where a bank of lights will go out if one goes out, but not all the lights on the decoration will fail. Looking for that one bulb can make your holiday decorations a pain rather than a joy.

Placement of the decorations is also of primary importance. While it is always good to have an aesthetically pleasing scene in your yard, you may have to compromise for the safety factor. Does the property get a lot of foot traffic from the neighborhood kids? You know your yard, and if there are concerns about flooding and other weather related problems. Remember, it's winter time, so expect that your decorations will have to survive some harsh weather conditions.

You may consider keeping your outside decorations on the house instead of the yard. In that case the obvious safety concerns are using a ladder to reach the roof. Untangle those lights before you venture to the roof. Only use a ladder that is rated for outdoor use and is able to easily extend to the height you need. Use those plastic light hangers for roofline lights, but know that they are not designed for staying on your roof year after year. Expect to purchase a new set each year.

One item I use that has nothing to do with safety but everything to do with convenience is a photosensitive timer. It turns on the power at sundown and keeps it on for 2, 4, 6, or 8 hours. It also has a setting for dusk to dawn, and they run about $10.00. For a little less, you can get a clock type timer that will run your lights from a certain time to a certain time. Those timers come in mechanical type or digital type. For about $5.00, you can get a remote control device that will turn your outside decorations on. I use this type on my back porch when we entertain.

However you decorate, remember to apply these simple safety tips to your decorations and make sure that your holiday memories are happy ones.