The holiday season is just around the corner! If you’re like the many homeowners who have put decorating off as long as possible, you might feel a little intimidated by this fact. We’re here to tell you there’s a quick and easy way you can decorate your home’s exterior. Whether you’re determined to have the best lights on the block or you simply want to spread a little holiday cheer, follow these tips to safely make your home merry and bright.

Follow the instructions

When it comes to outdoor electronics, it’s important that the manufacturer’s directions for installation be followed. Never string more than 3 standard-size sets of lights together – doing so could cause a fuse to break or an electrical fire to start. Generally speaking, incandescent lights can typically only connect 3 to 6 strands. If you’re using LED lighting, you can connect up to twenty-five strands together. Learn more about keeping your home safe during the holidays by visiting our FAQ page.

Conduct a light test

Before installing any exterior lighting, check to make sure that all of the bulbs are intact. If a bulb is burnt out, replace it immediately. No matter what the voltage is, it’s best practice to replace bulbs that don’t work. If none of the lights work when you plug them in, check for fuses that might have blown and replace them immediately. Always plug exterior, electrical holiday decor into GFCI outlets. These Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters help prevent shock. In the event that the outlet comes into contact with water, electrical power to the outlet is cut off, preventing damage. Keep in mind when decorating indoors that surge protectors should be used to avoid issues with overloading circuits. For more home maintenance tips, check out our exterior services.

Save on electricity

Use a timer on your indoor and outdoor holiday decor. Doing so gives you full control of when your decorations turn on and off. You’ll never have to worry about your decorations staying on longer than they should be, whether you’re home or not! Discover energy-saving tips on our energy-efficient windows page.

Hang or mount lighting properly

Doing so will ensure you prevent damage to your holiday lights and be able to use them in the years to come. If you’re mounting lighting to your gutters or roof, use plastic hooks that are specially designed to hang lights without damaging your home. For more tips on maintaining your home’s exterior, visit our gutters page.

Measure the distance to the power source

The last thing you want is to string all lighting to your house only to find that you can’t plug them in. To avoid issues, measure the areas where you want to install lights as well as the distance these locations are from a power source. This way, when you’re installing, you know how much slack you’ll need to leave