4 things to do for better Christmas light safety at home

Christmas lights are one of the many joys of the season. Whether you use LED or incandescent lights, they light up your home and neighborhood, spreading cheer far and wide.

But here’s the thing, you want your Christmas lights to stay merry and bright, but not to become a danger to your home and loved ones. Lighting and electrical equipment is involved in 45% of Christmas fires, so as you’re decking your halls and your yard this year, let Christmas light safety be front of mind.

To provide guidance on how to keep your home safe this holiday season, Chris Alexakis, a certified building contractor in Florida, and Michael Dean, a 25-year veteran of the swimming pool and yard industry have shared their expertise that homeowners may not consider this holiday season.

From start to finish, you don’t want to cut corners when putting up your holiday decorations. These Christmas light safety tips for indoor and outdoor lights may just save you a trip to the emergency room or a call to the fire department.

Carefully inspect your lights

From the moment you get the lights out of storage, be thinking about safety. The first thing you should do: inspect your lighting strands.

Alexakis says, “Problem lights can still conduct electricity, and depending on the material the lights sit on, they can act as conduit, so you should make sure they're working in good conditions.”

Dean echoes the statement noting that exposed wires and faulty bulbs are a major fire hazard.

“All it takes is one broken bulb to start an electrical fire,” he says. “If you do notice your Christmas lights are broken, cover the wire or bulb with some duct tape, or simply buy a new set altogether.”

This is where those back up bulbs—that you hopefully didn’t throw out—come in handy. If they’re long gone, you can find replacements online. Just make sure to check the correct size and wattage of the lights. For any exposed wire, keep some electrician’s tape, like this set from Amazon, on hand to protect any frays that may have happened since last year.

At the end of the day, investing in a new set of lights is the best idea for overall Christmas light safety. A fresh set will save you the headache of missing lights. PS: don’t forget to keep the spare bulbs this time. It’s also a good opportunity to upgrade to LED lights. You’ll save a bundle of energy and money.

Amazon Electrical Tape

Electrical tape can protect exposed wire on string lights.

$10 at Amazon

Avoid tripping hazards

No matter where you’re hanging lights—outdoors or around the Christmas tree—keeping wires in check is crucial.

“This is so you can avoid any tampering caused by pets, and to mitigate the risk of anyone tripping and injuring themselves” advises Dean.

When hanging Christmas tree lights, do so as close to an outlet as possible. If not, run any long, loose cords along the wall.

If for any reason you need to run a cord across a major walkway in your home, consider taping it down. This can prevent major injuries from little ones tripping while chasing each other or an unsteady loved one’s walker getting caught. Investing in some cord covers, such as the D-line cord covers, may save you a trip to urgent care.

When running cords outside, a brightly colored cord, like this waterproof one from Southwire can alert you to a tripping hazard. No one needs a fall while shoveling.

D-line Cord Cover

A cord cover is a great way to avoid tripping hazards.

$15 at Amazon

Southwire Outdoor Extension Cord

A brightly colored extension cord makes it easy to see against grass and snow.

$35 at Amazon

Install the lights safely

Do you have major envy over the house in the neighborhood with extravagant lights? If so, you need to exercise caution when installing lights.

Basic Christmas light safety precautions are always important. Lock the ladder securely in place, make sure the steps aren’t icey, and always have a spotter. You may want to consider what kind of ladder you’re using as well.

Deans says, “When hanging lights outdoors, make sure you use an electricity-safe ladder, as opposed to one that can conduct electricity.” A sudden shock paired with a metal ladder can be lethal. Plastic, wood and fiberglass are other non-conductive materials to look for but avoid anything constructed entirely out of metal.

This ladder from Werners is made from fiberglass, so it's non-conductive.

Werners Fiberglass Ladder

When hanging lights outside, use a wooden or fiberglass ladder.

From $165 at The Home Depot

Ensure all your gear is waterproof and weather-proof

When you’re out browsing for new lights this season, read the details on every box carefully, and consider what you need for where you’re located. You don’t to avoid buying indoor lights for your outdoor light display.

Dean says, “If you live in a location that has heavy rain or snowfall, try looking for weather-proof lights.” While many boxes note they’re approved for outdoor use, verify that they are waterproof to ensure that they’ll hold up through all the elements.

But don’t stop at your lights. Consider the extension cords they’ll be plugged into, as well. We like the US Wire and Cable outdoor extension cord, which is a great value if you're hanging lots of lights this year.

Alexakis says, “When it comes to outdoor use, it's very easy to fixate on making sure the installation and the lights are waterproof, but completely overlook the extensions and outdoor outlets.”

While you may be checking the lights to make sure they’re safe for outdoor use, the extension cords and outlets they’re connected to are equally important.

US Wire and Cable Outdoor Extension Cord

A waterproof extension cord prevents electrical outages and fires.

$42 at Amazon