How to Prep Your Business for Holiday Lighting
If you’re like us, you look forward to admiring the lights that go up each December. With more hours of darkness ahead of us, holiday lights are a bright spot that brings joy and excitement to many. Unfortunately, these lights can be expensive and even dangerous if not installed correctly. Before you start getting your business ready for the upcoming holiday celebrations, consider the following safety tips and tricks and contact Custom Electrical Services for any commercial electrical installation you may need!
General Guidelines
Safety Check
First, make sure that your lights have a UL Safety Certification. This verifies that your lights meet industry standards and are safe to use. Before you start plugging in old lights, do a scan to verify that they are still in good working order. This includes looking for broken bulbs and frayed wires. If you have broken bulbs, replace them or remove them. If you have frayed wires, it’s time to invest in new lights.
Upgrade to LED
If you need (or want) new lights, LED lights are the best option. They use less electricity, saving you money, and are less likely to overheat, making them safer to use. Additionally, they last longer than conventional lights do and require less maintenance over time.
Rule of Three
Even though the wattage capacity of different lights and extension cords can vary, you can protect yourself and your building from overheated plugs by limiting the number of strands you plug into a single extension. Stick to three or fewer per extension cord.
Trust the Breaker
If your circuit breaker cuts off, even if you don’t believe you have overloaded it, trust it. Reassess how you have put up your lights and consider calling Custom Electrical Services for an electrical installation upgrade and advice on how to safely decorate for the holidays.
Indoor Lights
Watch the Greenery
If you have a live tree or other plants inside, especially if you decorate with lights, be sure to keep everything watered. Most trees need to be watered once a day. For other decor that can’t be watered, like wreaths, watch that they do not get too dry and are not placed near lights. Dry plants mixed with electricity are a deadly combination and one of the most common causes of fire during the holidays.
Outdoor Lights
GFCI Outlets
Ground-fault circuit Interrupter outlets (or GFCI outlets) are critical for any electrical products being plugged in and utilized outdoors, no matter the time of year. The changes in weather and exposure to the elements, especially water from humidity, rain, or snow, make a dangerous combination with electricity. GFCI outlets are designed to automatically shut off and cut power when they come into contact with moisture. Custom Electrical Services electrical installation can install new GFCI outlets for you in no time!
Use Light Clips
Nails can puncture wires and damage your lights. Use light clips instead to save your lights and preserve your building’s appearance during the rest of the year.
Bring in the Experts
If you’re looking to win some decorating contests this year or want to really stun with your beautiful lighting display and think you might need some additional power, Custom Electrical Services is your trusted resource for electrical installation. We can help you upgrade your power and outlets and generally verify that your decorations are not just the best around but also safe. Contact Custom Electrical Services today for a free consultation!
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