Safety Tips for Installing and Using Halloween Lights for Outside

What comes into your mind when you think about Halloween? Witches, sweet treats, carved pumpkins or spooky characters. Though all these things play a vital role in creating a spooky ambience, lights have their unique ability to send shivers down the spine. People who decorate their houses from inside and outside with high-end LED lights every Halloween are extra careful because risks are associated with installing light decorations. However, if this is your first time decorating your house with Halloween lights, here are some safety tips for you.

1. Ensure ladder safety

Consider changing your metal ladder with wood or fibreglass, as metal is a great conductor. Also, exercise caution while climbing the ladder and manoeuvring tools for hanging lights. Some useful ladder safety tips for hanging spooky lights this Halloween are as follows.

• Check all the bolts, screws and rungs in the ladder before climbing on it.
• Do not use the top rung of the ladder for standing.
• Place the ladder on a non-slip, flat surface.
• Carry a tool belt to avoid climbing up and down the ladder.

2. Invest in weather-resistant devices

Electronic lights create stunning scenes in your outdoors and indoors, but one thing that you need to remember is that they need a power source. So, first, ensure that everything from cords to lighting is graded for outdoor use. Also, consider installing weather-resistant power strips at home by a registered electrician. This is because a wet power strip can pose a risk of electric shock to anyone who touches it. It can also trip and damage all your holiday decorations. So investing in proper lighting and power strips can save you from all these problems.

3. Don’t overload your extension cords

While we all want to hang Halloween lights indoor and outdoor, we must not overload our extension cords because they can catch fire. Also, ensure that the extension cords on which you are plugging the lights are rated for it. Broadly, there are two types of extension cords- outdoor-rated and indoor-rated. Outdoor rates are suitable for outdoor decorations, while indoor rates are suitable for indoor decorations.

4. Inspect your old lighting before hanging them

Many people use the previous year's Halloween lights for decorations, which is not bad as it helps save money. But before hanging them, check out for any broken sockets and loose connections. You must not take this lightly as it can start a fire, which is a highly hazardous situation. If you find any issue with your old lighting, invest in new Halloween lights- don’t risk your life to save a few bucks.

5. Turn off the lights as you head to bed

Turn off Halloween lights when you are not at home or sleeping, as it can lead to overheating and start a fire. So, ensure they are turned off when you are not using them. If you can’t remember to turn them off before sleeping, consider using a timer.

6. Don’t use nails

Many people use nails for hanging Halloween lights for outside decoration on trees and walls, which is not a good practice. Consider using insulated hooks to hang lights, but ensure you do not staple through the light strings. 

7. Safely carve the pumpkin

Halloween spirit is incomplete without a jack-o’-lantern carving, but it can hurt your children's fingers. So, don’t let your little ones carve on pumpkin; You also need to be extra cautious while doing it yourself. Here are some tips for safe pumpkin carving.

• Wash and dry your hand, knife and pumpkin before cutting to avoid slipping.
• Don’t let the children do it; Instead, give them the responsibility to draw the pattern on the pumpkin.
• Use a pumpkin carving tool to carve on the pumpkin. You can also use a plastic jack-o’-lantern with LED lights to avoid all the trouble of cutting the pumpkin yourself.

Final thoughts

So, now you are ready to decorate your home safely. With these safety precautions, you will have a delightful and spooky Halloween with your family and friends.