Electrician Tips: Prepping Your Home For The Holiday Lighting Season And Avoiding Unsafe Electrical Practices | Grapevine, TX
Today, it’s not uncommon for people to begin outdoor holiday decorating in time for Halloween. Whether you enjoy setting up spooky lights and sound machines or Christmas lighting displays that illuminate your block, you’ll need to rely on your electrical system. For elaborate holiday displays, you may not have the capacity to power your outdoor displays. Working with an electrician from Tioga Plumbing & Electric is the best way to safely install your Grapevine, TX, outdoor decor. We feature certified electricians and a wide range of electrical solutions for area customers.
Assess Your Electrical System
Inspecting your electrical system before the holidays and the added stress additional lighting will put on it is a good idea. Early fall is a good time to check out why a certain light fixture flickers now and then or why a breaker has been tripping. You want to ensure that your electrical system is in safe working condition before you set up your exterior holiday and lighting displays. It’s best to let an electrical services professional inspect your electrical system. Let them know if you’ve had any issues with any aspect of your electrical system.
During your inspection, you can also share your decorating plans with your electrician. Today, there are many different types of outdoor holiday decorations that use power to operate. If you want to set up a Halloween bouncy house at your home for a kids’ party or you intend to install an illuminate Santa and sleigh on your rooftop, talk to an electrician from Tioga Plumbing & Electric about your current electrical capacity and whether or not you may need additional wiring and exterior outlets to safely power up these fun features.
Exterior Outlets
How many exterior outlets does your home have? One of the most common outdoor electrical services is the installation of outdoor outlets. Ideally, you should install exterior outlets where you can easily access them for your displays. Running extension cords a long distance isn’t safe as it’s a trip and fall risk. However, it’s also not safe to run multiple extension cords from inside of your home through a window to power an outdoor feature or to string multiple cords together. Discussing your plans with an electrician is the best way to determine where to install an outdoor outlet.
Your electrical services professional can install GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupters) in your exterior locations. These are outlets designed for outdoor use or in areas of the home like the bathroom or kitchen where water is present and could accidentally wet the outlet, causing damage or even electrocution. Exterior outlets are safe for use providing they’re a GFCI outlet and have the proper cover. A cover protects the outlet from rain, dirt, and debris. When not in use, your outdoor outlets should always be covered to protect them and your electrical system.
If your GFCI outlet does get wet, it cuts off the power immediately. It’s best to let a certified electrician install these features and test them to ensure they function properly. Tioga Plumbing & Electric can supply all of your outdoor lighting needs.
Don’t Overtax Electrical Features
Each breaker of your home can supply about 15 amps of electricity. If you exceed what the circuit can handle, you’ll trip the breaker. Overtaxing your electrical system can cause damage. That’s why it’s important to consult an electrical services professional about the best ways to power your home’s outdoor lighting and other features. Stringing too many lights together is never a wise idea. Again, adding a circuit may be the ideal option for your home. In addition to powering your holiday displays, they can enhance your fun during the warm season when you entertain outside or simply need to power up electric yard tools.
Consider Alternatives
These days, you can purchase solar-powered and battery-operated decorative features that don’t rely on your home’s electrical panel. You can decorate your Grapevine, TX, home using solar lights and battery-operated lights set on timers. If you’re concerned about reducing the electric draw on your home’s electrical panel, consider LED lights that use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. If you have any questions or concerns about which products might be ideal for your home, you should consult your electrician.
Electric Cords / Extension Cords
Be careful to choose electric cords or extension cords that are rated for outdoor use for your exterior decor. Using the wrong type of cord can be a fire hazard. Also, you should inspect your cords carefully before using them. Don’t use any cords that have been spliced or are in disrepair. As mentioned, you don’t want to run extension cords and power strips together to reach a distant outdoor location. This is a fire risk and also a trip and fall risk.
Once your cords are in place and you begin to use them, inspect them periodically. Winds can knock them out of place. Animals can also disturb the cords. Keep an eye on your electrical decorative features to ensure that they’re undisturbed and safe for continued use.
Prepare for Problems
If something goes wrong with your exterior display, don’t minimize potential risks. If a breaker keeps tripping or an outlet stops working, contact an electrical services professional from our team to inspect the situation. You never want to take chances with your electrical system and safety. Sometimes the added stress of exterior and interior holiday lighting can lead to a problem. Fortunately, an experienced electrician can make the repair you need.
If you live in Grapevine, TX, and need a skilled electrical services professional to inspect or repair your electrical system, choose Tioga Plumbing & Electric. We have a reputation for excellent workmanship and fair pricing. Let our electrician help you design your exterior holiday lighting displays. We’ll make sure you can operate your outdoor features safely.
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