Safety tips for hanging holiday lights from EDCA Roofing

November 7, 2021
Tips for hanging Holiday Lights

Nothing can put a damper on your holidays season like an accidental fall when putting up your outdoor holiday lights.  Here are some tips from EDCA Roofing that may help you stay safe this holiday season.

Hanging holiday lights:

Hanging outdoor holiday lights can be a dangerous task.  Make sure you are comfortable with the job and consider:

  • The weather. If the weather is windy, rainy, or extremely cold, you might want to wait until you have dry and mild weather to tackle hanging lights.
  • Make sure your ladder is strong enough to support you and in good condition. Ideally, ladders need to extend 3 feet over the top of your climbing destination.
  • Never set up your ladder near your power lines.  And never set up your ladder near your power source/lines. 
  • If your lights are on your roof, consider using a safety harness to keep you secured.
  • Use plastic clips to secure your lights in position. Do not use staples or nails.

Power concerns:

Managing your electricity connections once the lights are up is also important:

  • Recycle any lighting set that has frayed or stripped wires. Tighten all plug connections.
  • Test your lights by plugging them into an outlet to set first.  No reason to go to all the trouble to hang them only to have an issue with them working.
  • Outlets outside should have ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). This will prevent short circuits and electrocution.
  • If you plan to use multiple outdoor outlets for your holiday decorations, find out if they are all wired to the same circuit breaker.
  • Although it’s best to avoid using extension cords that come from inside your home, you can do so safely by making sure they’re not pinched or cut in windows or doors. Keep their connections sealed, dry, and off the ground – especially in areas where people could trip over them.

While you are up on your near your roof, take a look around.  If you feel like it’s time for a replacement, it’s always good to reach out to a roofing professional like EDCA Roofing.  We’d be happy to check out your roof this holiday season.

 

Posted in Blog