As the holiday season approaches, many of us are eager to get our homes set up with holiday decorations (especially before cold temperatures make it an unbearable chore). But before you go all-out, it's worth asking: Can your home's electrical system handle it?
Overloading your electrical outlets with tons of light strings and decorations could lead to tripped breakers or, worse, potential safety hazards like electrical fires.
Understand Your Home's Electrical Capacity
Before plugging in your boxes of lights, it’s essential to understand the power requirements they have and the limits of your electrical system. Dan Mock, Vice President of Operations at Mister Sparky, advises caution when using circuits that are already powering heavy-duty appliances. "Consider [the circuit rating] and what is already plugged into the circuit you’ll be plugging in your lights and decorations," says Mock. “If you have an appliance like a refrigerator or deep freezer in your garage, adding the lights might cause an overload.” Combining high-energy appliances with a lot of holiday lights on the same circuit can trigger a circuit overload, which may cause the electrical breaker to trip and cut off power supply to the circuit.
Here’s a quick rundown on assessing your electrical load before you start powering up your light strands during the festive season:
- Identify high-demand circuits: Circuits with appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, or washing machines are already under a heavy load. It’s best to avoid using these for holiday lights.
- Check your electrical breaker ratings: Most households have 15 to 20-amp circuits. If your light display is particularly ambitious, spread the load across additional circuits.
- Opt for LED lights: The LED type of lights have better energy efficiency and consume significantly less amps of power than traditional incandescent lights. Switching to LED string lights reduces the risk of overloading circuits and also lowers your energy costs.
Exercise Your Circuit Breakers
Circuit breakers are essential for protecting your home and keeping your family safe from electrical hazards. To make sure they work properly, Mock suggests "exercising" your electrical breakers by turning them off and on before installing holiday lights, particularly if your home has older breakers. "Like any mechanical device, the components need to move regularly to stay operational", he explains. If a breaker doesn't cut off power when flipped off, it’s likely in need of replacement by a qualified electrician.
Mock emphasizes the standard circuit breaker’s role as a safety feature, adding "A breaker’s primary job is to cut off power, not to allow electricity to flow haphazardly." A tripped breaker might be inconvenient, but it's often a sign that the breaker is functioning as intended to keep your home safe.
Holiday Lighting Tips to Keep Your Home Safe
A little planning can help you avoid electrical issues while still achieving a festive holiday lighting display. Here are some quick tips to keep your yard decorations and holiday lighting sets safe and manageable:
- Use dedicated circuits when possible: This minimizes the risk of overloading a single circuit.
- Consider outdoor-rated extension cords: If your display involves outdoor decorations, invest in heavy-duty extension cords rated for outdoor use.
- Limit the number of lights per outlet: Overloading single outlets can lead to overheating, so follow manufacturer guidelines.
- Inspect lights before installation: Check for frayed wires or broken bulbs, as damaged lights can pose a fire hazard.
- Set a timer: Timers not only save energy but also prevent lights from running all night, which reduces strain on your system.
Can I use extension cords for holiday lights?
Yes, but make sure to check the product label and use electrical cords that are rated for the power current of your strands of lights, and ideally use ones designed for outdoor use if lights are outdoors. Avoid daisy-chaining multiple single extension cords together, as this can create excess heat in the light cord. But, no matter what kind of cord you have, if it's a frayed cord, ditch it.
How do I know if my holiday decorating is overloading a circuit?
If your circuit breaker trips, it's a sign that the load is too much. This often happens if larger power, high-energy appliances share the circuit with your holiday lights. Try plugging some of the lights into a different circuit or reducing the total number of lights or type of lighting.
Keep it safe, Clark
Whether you're putting up indoor lights, inflatable decorations, or outdoor holiday lighting strands, make sure you have adequate power, the right electrical products, and a healthy approach to safety.
If you have any safety concerns you should reach out to a residential electrician and have them do a safety inspection.
