Making sure your indoor and outdoor lighting runs reliably and safely isn’t just a concern for the lights you drape over your Christmas tree or hang from your roof. Having to keep your regular lights on for lengthy periods of time, thanks to short days and long nights, is stressful. You should consider the following factors when it comes to winter lighting safety.

Have an Electrician Check Your Lighting

If you’ve been heavily using not just your regular lighting but also festive lighting throughout much of the holiday season, you might want to consult an electrician to make sure that all continues to be well. The electrician won’t just check your lights, but also other devices and appliances served by your electrical system. Here are some things they’ll check.

• Outlets near sources of water, such as a fountain or pool
• Lightbulbs to make sure they’re the right wattage for their fixtures
• Wires to ensure they’re sound and away from places where they can be damaged
• Extension cords
• Power strips to make sure they’re not overloaded

The electrician also checks your circuit breaker and your GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupters. They’ll also use a digital multimeter to see if the voltage to your circuits is too high or too low.

What You Can Do

You can also check to make sure all the lightbulbs have the proper wattage and that wires and sockets are sound and connections are tight. If you’re using outdoor lights, make sure they’re plugged into GFCI outlets. Don’t overload your circuits. This means you shouldn’t plug more than three lighting fixtures into an extension cord. Make sure indoor and outdoor lights are rated for indoor or outdoor use.

Turn all the lights off inside your home before you go to bed and when you leave your house. When it’s time to take the holiday lights down, wind them neatly around spools as opposed to keeping them in a snarl. Then put them in a place that stays cool and dry.

Invest in LED Lights

LED lights not only last a lot longer than incandescent lights, but they are so cool that they greatly reduce the risk of fires. They also use a lot less energy, which brings down your energy bill even in the dark of winter.

In winter, it’s crucial that your lighting works safely. If you are experiencing problems with your lighting or just need it checked, don’t hesitate to call our professionals at We Care Heating & Air Conditioning, serving Central Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.