Decorating the house for the holidays is an age-old tradition. While having lights hanging on your home brings in the holiday cheer, it can be a pain to have those lights installed and figure out how to plug them in without a long extension cord! Not to mention the potential to overload your electrical system with lights, blow up holiday characters, and more! We recommend using dedicated outlets for holiday lights significantly reduces these risks and keeps your home safe.
Outlets specifically for holiday decor are designed to handle the increased electrical load, which drastically lowers the chance of overloading circuits in your home. Not only that, but they can make it easier to set up your holiday decorations every year.
Make Setting Up Holiday Lights as Easy as 1, 2, 3!
The first step is to take into account what you want your home to look like for the holidays! Do you want lights on the exterior of your home, 12 inflatable reindeer plus Santa and his sleigh, or do you want your lawn to look like the North Pole? Thinking through your vision for your holiday decor can help you calculate the number of outlets you need based on the power requirements for each light or inflatable decoration.
The next step is to think about where you want the outlets installed. Planning out the layout of your decorations will make it a breeze to set them up not only this year but for every holiday season to come! Be sure to choose outdoor-rated outlets or weatherproof covers to make sure water stays out of your outlet.
The last step is to invest in outdoor-rated, multiple-outlet power stakes or surge protectors to protect your home from potentially overloading the system. These surge protectors can help when you want Santa to see your decorations from the sky without hurting your home’s electrical system.
When you have this process in place, it makes it as easy as 1, 2, 3 to set up your holiday lights without sacrificing your festivity!
The Installation Process
Of course, we always recommend hiring a trusted electrician when changing or adding anything to your electrical system. Let alone outlets on the exterior of your home that could be exposed to the weather.
When you hire an electrician, here’s what the process will look like when they add exterior outlets to your home:
They’ll start by assessing the most suitable locations, considering weather exposure and how close they are to the areas you want to decorate. They’ll install weather-resistant outlets to ensure durability and safety, especially for outdoor displays subject to rain, snow, or varying temperatures.
Trusted and qualified electricians will follow safety codes and regulations, ensuring proper wiring, grounding, and appropriate circuit breakers to handle the increased load during the holiday season. They might utilize ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to protect against electrical shocks in wet conditions.
The process involves carefully running wiring to these designated outlet points, providing a reliable power source for your holiday lights.
Benefits of Dedicated Holiday Lighting Outlets
Dedicated holiday lighting outlets offer multiple benefits. For starters, they can streamline the process of setting up your holiday lights. Just think, instead of standing on a ladder in the cold for hours hanging up your lights, you can be inside, warm and toasty, eating holiday goodies around the fire! These outlets help to create a hassle-free and safe holiday season because they specifically help with the increased power demands of decorative lighting. Not only that, but holiday outlets can make setup easy and the process to take them down pain-free. These outlets also reduce the number of extension cords and adapters you need – which can easily be damaged in extreme temperatures or accidentally cut by snow blowers.
Separating the holiday lighting load can also prevent power disruptions and outages for the rest of your home. Imagine that your breaker trips because the electrical load on your panel was too high while you’re visiting your in-laws. You come home happy but tired and find your home ice cold because the power has been off for hours!
Cost Considerations
When budgeting for holiday lighting, consider the scale of your display, the type of lights, and potential installation costs. LED lights might be more expensive at first, consume less energy, and will last longer. This will actually cost you less in the long term.
Another thing to be mindful of is to factor in the cost of additional outlets or outdoor-rated power sources. Professional installation costs vary based on the complexity of the project. Factors that could change this price include the number of outlets needed, the layout of your home, and any specific electrical work required. While it might seem like an added expense, professional installation ensures safety, compliance with regulations, and a well-executed setup.
When you look at the long-term benefits, they far outweigh the short-term costs. You’ll have increased energy savings, less maintenance, and a safer electrical setup, which is priceless.
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Regularly maintaining your holiday lights and outlets is very important to keep your house safe and secure. It’s important to look for things like signs of wear, look at weather-resistant covers, and ensure they’re still watertight. Check for frayed wires, damaged sockets, or overheating during use. If you notice that lights aren’t turning on or you keep tripping a breaker, start by troubleshooting common issues and look for blown fuses, tripped breakers, or dimming lights, indicating loose connections or overloading.
If you’re still stuck, it might be time to call in a professional, especially if you’re noticing things like sparks or if outlets feel warm to the touch. You can give Northern Arizona Electrical Solutions a call 24/7, and we’ll come and take a look at it ASAP!
Make the Happiest Time of The Year Hassel Free
Adding dedicated electrical outlets for holiday lights helps keep your home safe, makes for an easy setup and tear-down process, and gets you focused on what really matters – your family.
Give us a call to set up your initial consultation!
