The hanging of outdoor Christmas lights is what makes the early sunset these days seem more tolerable. Some folks go all out, whether they are in friendly competition with the neighbors, or simply desire to outdo their light display from the previous year. Nonetheless, the variety of outdoor light decorations available these days is remarkable. They come in virtually any size, shape, color, and form you could possibly think of, which makes it that much more fun to decorate your house each season.
Whether you’re a new homeowner and this is your first time hanging lights on a house, or if you’ve been tackling this task for years, it is important to practice safe and smart light hanging habits. The tips provided below will ensure that your efforts do not go to waste, and that your home will be ready to showoff afterwards.
1. Test – Before you even attempt to hang any lights outside, make sure to test every set multiple times and make sure the lights you have selected are acceptable for outdoor use.
2. Ladder – Do not assume that a ladder that is used indoors can also be used for outdoor purposes. The ladder that you use to hang lights must remain sturdy on the ground, must be able to reach desired heights, and must always be accompanied by a spotter. If you don’t own the proper ladder for light hanging, borrow one from a friend or neighbor, or purchase one of your own.
3. Outlet – Determine the location of the outlets available to you, and make sure they are safe, functioning, GFCI outlets. Extension cords can be utilized to help extend the reach of your lights, but make sure not to overload them and again, make sure that only outdoor extension cords are used.
4. Timer – Purchasing and installing a timer to assist with your outdoor light display is not only convenient for you and your family, but it also offers a tremendous safety feature. A timer allows you to keep the lights on after everyone in the house has gone to bed, and saves you money on the power bill on those nights when you would have forgotten to turn them off manually.
5. Ornaments – If you wish to display lawn ornaments, figurines, or other decorative items on your house or in your yard, make sure everything is secured properly. Certain kinds of hooks and adhesives work better than others, depending on the application material, and weight of the object. You must also take into consideration the outdoor factor to keep your holiday decorations from getting ruined.
