Holiday Lighting Tips

Lowell Fuher, Benton PUD employee, is an extreme Christmas display designer and it shows at his home in Kennewick. His computer knowledge that helps employees on a daily basis is an important component in his annual light show.  Lowell says safety is first when it comes to lighting displays and has these tips to share when installing your lights this year. 

  • Never overload extension cords. It’s tempting but not safe. Don’t plug more than three sets of lights into one extension cord.
  • Use lights and extension cords designated for outdoor use to ensure they are weather proof and safe when they get wet from rain or snow.  Household extension cords come in several varieties; Indoor, Outdoor, Outdoor heavy duty.  You should always use the proper cord for the application. Only use lights and extension cords that contain the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label, which means they meet UL safety standards. 
  • Whenever possible try to place outdoor connections in a dry location such as behind the drip line from your roof.  Most homes have a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) which is designed to help prevent electrocution in wet conditions, if you home has an outdoor GFCI protected outlet it is highly recommended for safety reasons to connect your outdoor lights and devices to this outlet.
  • If your cords or lights are frayed or damaged it’s a good bet they may be unsafe and should be replaced.
  • Putting lights on a timer is a great way to save energy and it will help you save money on your December electric bill.  Lowell recommends setting timers to turn your lights on about 4:30 p.m.  and off about the time you go to bed.
  • When purchasing lights, LEDs come in all shapes and colors and are 80 to 90 percent more energy efficient and are designed to allow you to safely connect many sets of LED lights together on the same cord.
  • Be careful with the ladder when installing lights on a high roof. Look up at all times while handling the ladder to make sure you don’t get close to an overhead power line. 

Lowell’s idea of Safety First is the most important part of any lighting project.  An accident involving electricity could really overshadow the wonders of the holiday season.  Be safe – have fun.