Hello World! Welcome Friends! The Christmas season is the period that all homeowners are looking forward to, as they’re finally given the chance to provide their houses with a magical look by employing various means of decoration. One of the dearest decorating elements is undoubtedly Christmas lights, as they provide homes with a special charm while lighting up the whole neighborhood.
However, as much as you’re eager to finally hang the bulbs on the exterior of your house, you should never forget about the necessary precautions that accompany the procedure. Start by purchasing the right type of bulbs, such as the ones presented in this Christmas Light Guide, test them and install them safely.
If this is the first year of decorating the house on your own, the following tips in this article will certainly be helpful.
Select the Right Type
When it comes to selecting Christmas lights, the most prominent types to choose from are definitely the incandescent and the LED variants. The former ones have been on the market for much longer, but are known for becoming warm too quickly and then increasingly getting hotter.
Conversely, one of the greatest benefits of the latter ones is their ability to remain cold, regardless of the amount of time being used. Therefore, the LED variant is also considered to be a safer one, since the chances of causing a fire are almost unthinkable. You can find Permanent smart christmas lights which are a great option for long-term use and also offer a variety of lighting options. Plus, they can be controlled through a smartphone app, making it easier to turn them on and off or change settings.
One more thing that goes to LED lights’ advantage is their cost-effectiveness. Although they may be costlier to buy than the incandescent bulbs, they’re certainly more cost-effective in the long term. This is an important factor, since they are on during the whole festive season, significantly increasing your power bill.
Another aspect take into consideration is whether the Christmas bulbs are intended for indoor or outdoor use. Make sure you carefully inspect the label, which is supposed to be red if they’re to be used outside and green if they’re designed to be used inside. Visit this page for tips on how to tell the difference between the indoor and the outdoor type.
Moreover, you aren’t advised to purchase the indoor type, as it isn’t designated to withstand the winter weather conditions. On the other hand, the outdoor variant will not demonstrate any faultiness regardless of the amount of snow, rain or wind, typical for the winter period.
Use the Right Outlets and Tree
Apart from selecting the right type of Christmas bulbs, you’re supposed to buy the right kind of outlets, as well. What you need are ground electrical outlets that minimize the chances of power faults. Also, it’s of essential importance to use various outlets, based on the overall wattage of the bulbs. Calculate the exact wattage amount and decide on the number of outlets you’re supposed to use.
Furthermore, make sure you plug in the lights to different circuits and take note of which strings are plugged into which circuit. You are also supposed to pay attention to which household appliances are part of the circuits. By analyzing everything in details, you’ll know the exact source of the problem in case of a fault.
In terms of the tree, make sure the one you choose isn’t dry. The tree is supposed to look fresh, as being dry increases the chances of starting a fire. In case you’re more of an artificial Christmas tree fan, then it should be equipped with fire-resistant properties.
Perform Necessary Tests
Prior to climbing on a ladder and hanging the bulbs, you should initially inspect them for any damage, as it’s very common for them to break or demonstrate insulation problems. It’s also a wise idea to inspect the condition of all the sockets in your home, as although the lights may be in good condition, they can easily get damaged if plugged into a faulty socket. During the process of your holiday lights installation, an inspection of your bulbs is required. The process of bulbs’ inspection is particularly important when using the same ones from the previous years.
After checking all the lights and sockets, it’s time to see if all of them are functional. Upon plugging them into a socket, look for any dysfunctional or glimmering bulbs, as you don’t want the strings to look disrupted. Also, make sure you place them on an optimal distance, both for aesthetic and fire-precaution reasons.
Use Safe Installation Techniques
Although the installation of your Christmas bulbs probably seems like a piece of cake for you, there are certain safety techniques you should employ in order to reduce the chances of any kind of accident. For instance, never use a metal ladder for reaching the higher places, as metal is known to be one of the greatest electricity conductors. Instead of metal, choose a ladder made of wood, as there’s no chance of electrocution.
Another thing to avoid, is putting the wires in places where they’re obstructed by windows or doorways, as it means they will be stepped on or moved a lot, which is extremely damaging for their insulation. Also, make sure the hooks you use to hold the bulbs are made of plastic, not of metal. You’ll find plenty of Christmas hooks on the internet to purchase.
During the process of lights installation, never forget to unplug them. After performing the test procedure, unplug them, install them and afterwards plug them in. The chances of electrocution in this situation are significantly lower, but you aren’t supposed to take any risks. Visit the following link: https://www.wikihow.com/Put-up-Christmas-Lights-Outside, for more detailed installation tips and tricks.
As much as you want your Christmas bulbs to be on all the time, it’s not beneficial both for your power bill as well as for their condition. Therefore, you’d better turn them off once in a while, like when there’s no one home. Forgetful homeowners may purchase a timer to remind them of when is the time for the bulbs to take a break.
Wrap Up
Choosing the right lights and using the right installation techniques, will make your home the best-looking one in the neighborhood!
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
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