Lighting Tips

Is your house a festival of lights during the holidays? Here’s how to celebrate safely.

Plug in the light set before you decorate. Inspect each light carefully, whether it’s an old set or it’s brand-new. Check for cracked or missing bulbs or frayed wires.
If you remove a bulb, replace it—don’t leave an empty socket.
Make sure each set has the seal of Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a recognized testing laboratory. If the set or its wires feel warm or hot, don’t use it.
Don’t decorate a metal tree with electric lights.
Don’t connect more than three strings of lights together or attach more than three strings to an extension cord.
If you’re decorating outside, make sure your lights are approved for outdoor use. Don’t run any part of a cord through water or a place where water tends to collect, even if the package says the lights are waterproof. Make sure the cords are secured firmly to the house.
Don’t string lights where people could trip or get clothing caught on them.
Never leave lights unattended. Turn off all lights before you go to bed or leave the house. Be sure to keep them out of the reach of children and pets.