Holiday lights can transform your home into a festive wonderland, creating a warm, cheerful atmosphere that brings joy to family, neighbors, and passersby alike. However, installing holiday lights can be trickier than it looks, and it’s easy to make mistakes that can cause frustration, wasted time, or even safety hazards. To help ensure your decorating goes smoothly, here are some common mistakes people make when hanging holiday lights and how to avoid them.
1. Using the Wrong Type of Lights
One of the most frequent mistakes is using the wrong type of lights for the wrong location. Outdoor lights are designed to withstand weather conditions like rain, snow, and wind, while indoor lights are not. If you accidentally hang indoor lights outside, they may short-circuit, cause a fire hazard, or stop working altogether.
How to Avoid It:
Always check the label before purchasing or installing lights. Look for outdoor-rated lights for anything you plan to hang outside. Similarly, use indoor-rated lights for your indoor spaces. Outdoor lights can be safely used indoors, but never use indoor lights outside.
2. Overloading Electrical Circuits
Holiday lights, especially older incandescent bulbs, can draw significant amounts of power. If you connect too many strands of lights into one outlet or extension cord, you risk overloading your circuits, leading to blown fuses, tripped breakers, or worse.
How to Avoid It:
Calculate the total wattage of your lights and make sure it doesn’t exceed the rating of your electrical outlet or extension cord. A safer option is to use LED holiday lights, which consume far less energy and allow you to safely connect more lights together without the risk of overloading circuits.
3. Skipping Ladder Safety
Many holiday light-related injuries occur due to improper ladder use. Whether you’re reaching for high rooflines, trees, or second-story windows, using a ladder can be risky without proper preparation.
How to Avoid It:
Make sure your ladder is stable and on solid, flat ground. Always maintain three points of contact (two feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot) while climbing. Avoid overreaching—if you need to move to another section, climb down and reposition the ladder. It’s also a good idea to have someone assist by holding the ladder steady.
4. Improper Fastening of Lights
Many homeowners make the mistake of using nails, staples, or other metal fasteners to secure lights to their home’s exterior. Not only can this damage your home, but it can also damage the wiring of your lights, creating a safety hazard.
How to Avoid It:
Use plastic clips that are specifically designed for hanging holiday lights. These clips are affordable, easy to install, and won’t damage your home or your lights. Plus, they allow you to hang and remove lights without leaving unsightly holes or marks.
5. Using Old or Damaged Lights
It’s easy to pull out last year’s lights without inspecting them, but using old or damaged lights can lead to malfunctions, short circuits, or even fires.
How to Avoid It:
Before installing your lights, inspect each strand for frayed wires, broken bulbs, or any other damage. If you find any issues, it’s best to replace the strand altogether. LED lights last longer and are more durable, making them a safer option than older incandescent lights.
6. Neglecting Proper Weatherproofing
Outdoor lights are exposed to rain, snow, and wind, which can cause them to short-circuit if not properly weatherproofed. Additionally, outdoor plugs and connections need to be protected from moisture.
How to Avoid It:
Use waterproof extension cords and connectors specifically designed for outdoor use. Ensure all electrical connections are off the ground and, when possible, covered with weatherproof housing or protectors to keep moisture out. You can also use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets for an added layer of safety.
7. Hanging Lights Without a Plan
It’s tempting to jump right in and start hanging lights, but without a clear plan, you might end up with uneven lighting, empty spots, or an incomplete display. Worse, you might run out of lights before finishing the job.
How to Avoid It:
Before you start, take the time to measure the areas you want to light. Plan out where each strand will go, how many lights you need, and where you’ll plug them in. This will help ensure you have enough lights, extension cords, and clips to complete your design.
8. Not Testing the Lights First
Imagine going through all the work of hanging your lights only to find that some sections don’t work. It’s a common frustration that happens when lights aren’t tested before installation.
How to Avoid It:
Always test your lights before you hang them. Plug them in to ensure they work, and if you find any burned-out bulbs, replace them before you start. It’s much easier to test and fix lights when they’re still on the ground.
9. Not Considering Energy Costs
Holiday lights can add to your energy bill, especially if you’re using older incandescent lights. Many homeowners forget to factor in the impact of keeping lights on for extended hours each night.
How to Avoid It:
Switch to energy-efficient LED lights, which use a fraction of the electricity compared to traditional bulbs. Additionally, consider using a timer to automatically turn your lights on and off at specific times, reducing energy consumption without sacrificing festive cheer.
10. Ignoring Maintenance Throughout the Season
Once the lights are up, it’s easy to forget about them. But neglecting maintenance can leave you with burned-out bulbs, tangled wires, or lights that stop working altogether.
How to Avoid It:
Periodically check your lights throughout the holiday season. Replace any burned-out bulbs or malfunctioning sections as soon as you notice them. This will help keep your display looking its best and avoid larger issues down the line.
Installing holiday lights doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. By avoiding these common mistakes and following a few simple best practices, you can create a beautiful, festive display that’s both safe and visually stunning. And if you’d rather leave the heavy lifting to the professionals, consider hiring experts like PDX Premier Softwash to ensure your lights are installed safely and with care. This holiday season, focus on enjoying the magic of the lights rather than worrying about how to hang them!
