Avoid These Hazards When Hanging Holiday Lights On Your Home
Holiday lights are fascinating and beautiful to look at. However, in some instances, holiday lights can also be quite problematic. Whether it's the safety hazards that come along with hanging lights or an electrical hazard, lights can cause a number of problems when not done correctly.
Running A One-Person Show
When everyone is driving by your home to bask in the beauty of the lights – you want everyone to know it was all your work. While there's nothing wrong with wanting to take all the credit for your effort, trying to hang lights by yourself can be a serious safety hazard.
When traveling up and down a ladder, it's always important to maintain at least three points of contact; both feet and one hand. When you are trying to maintain this stance, carry the lights and you're your balance, you can easily slip, fall and seriously injure yourself. Hanging lights isn't a task you want to attempt without a spotter or some other assistance.
Overloading The System
Wall-to-wall lighting and bulbs that literally cover every inch of your roof seems like a great idea. However, make sure you aren't overlooking the fact that you have to power all these lights. If you don't consider this, an increase in your bill will be the last of your concerns.
If your home's normal electrical load coupled with the power needs of the holiday lights exceeds your electrical system's capacity, you could cause a devastating home fire. It's always important to ensure the lights won't cause an electrical overload.
Hanging Damaged Lights
At the end of the previous season, most people store away their lights and pull them right out to hang them the next year. Make sure you aren't making this mistake. It's important to always check the condition of each bulb and wire that supports the light system before hanging them on your home.
A frayed wire, burnt out bulb, or other sign of wear should not be ignored. If you don't repair the issue and go ahead and hang the damaged lights, this can also increase the risk of an electrical fire. If the lights are damaged beyond repair, it's time to replace.
You can have the best of both worlds—beautiful holiday lights while also avoiding these safety hazards—by enlisting the services of a professional. A light installation expert won't just come up with an attractive design, but they will also inspect the safety of each bulb and ensure that your home's electrical system will be able to accommodate the design. Contact a company like Artios Painting to learn more.