Safely decorate your home exterior this holiday season

A person doesn’t have to drive far or look too closely to be inspired by holiday decor come the month of December. Enthusiastic celebrants go to great lengths to express their holiday spirit, and that typically includes decorating their home exteriors.

Home holiday decorations are a tradition in millions of households. Though the tradition helps make this special time of year even more festive, decorating a home exterior for the holidays is not without certain safety risks. Homeowners must prioritize safety when decorating their home exteriors for the holidays. These tips can ensure the holiday season is as safe as it is special.

• Never decorate alone. The buddy system should be employed when decorating a home for the holidays. No fewer than two people should decorate a home. A second person can ensure a ladder remains steady while hanging lights and can help lift potentially heavy lawn decorations, thus reducing the risk for injury.

• Use the appropriate decorations and tools. The American Red Cross urges individuals to use only decorations designed for outdoor use when decorating their home exteriors. Indoor lights should never be strung outdoors, even on small spaces. In addition, the Red Cross recommends homeowners who intend to use nails or hooks to hang decorations first confirm they are insulated, which can help to avoid electrocution and reduce fire risk.

• Plug decorations into the correct outlets. The energy experts at FirstEnergy note that outdoor lights and inflatable decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Older homes may not be equipped with such outlets, particularly on their home exteriors. Replacing existing outlets with GFCIs is a quick and relatively inexpensive job that a professional electrician should be hired to handle before decorating for the holidays

• Utilize a timer for exterior lights. Lights should be not kept on overnight, which can be costly and pose a safety hazard. Utilize a timer so lights come on at night and turn off around bedtime, if not earlier.

• Inspect decorations. Exterior string lights and other plug-in decorations should be inspected at the beginning of each season to ensure there are no frayed or cracked wires. Damaged wires pose a significant fire hazard, so any damaged strands should be discarded and replaced.

• Pick the right day to decorate. Consult the weather forecast prior to decorating the exterior of a home. Pick a day when efforts to decorate won’t be compromised by wind, rain, snow, or other inclement weather. If it’s already snowed, avoid decorating until the snow has melted, as there could be ice lingering beneath the snow. It’s also unsafe to work on a snow-covered roof. Decorate on a day with ample daylight and pause decorating if weather takes a sudden, unexpected turn for the worse.

It can be fun to decorate a home’s exterior for the holiday season. But homeowners must prioritize safety and take every step necessary to reduce their risk for accident or injury.