Decorating the outside of your home can bring joy and cheer throughout the holidays. If you are planning to use electrical decorations, make sure you accessorize safely with these instructions:
- Inspect Your Decorations: Before hanging up lights or plugging in extension cords, check for damage.
- Check Labels: When it comes to decorations, make sure you read labels and double-check for their proper use. When it comes to extension cords, they are usually labeled for indoor or outdoor use.
- Turn Off Decorations: Never leave outdoor electrical decorations on while you are sleeping or when you are away from the home.
- Avoid Overloading Electrical Outlets: Too many electrical cords and devices plugged into one outlet can overheat and lead to fires. Make sure to use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets, which is a type of outlet that will automatically shut off power if it detects an electrical fault.
- Exercise Caution Near Power Lines: If your home is near a power line, remember to keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away.