Holiday Lights Safety
It’s that time of year when we all do our best Christmas Vacation impersonation. Excel Roofing cares about your safety when you are hanging holiday lights on your roof and gutters. So here are our 5 safety tips to ensure nothing goes wrong and you make it down in one piece.
Tip #1: Propper ladder safety is very important while installing and removing holiday lights.
Every year around 164,000 people go to the emergency room and 300 people die in the U.S. from falling off ladders, according to the World Health Organization. Make sure to prop your ladder on a flat surface both on the ground and against your house. You can use either an extension ladder or and A frame to install. When using an extension ladder use bungee cords to attach the ladder to the gutters for more stability. The A frame is better because you aren’t having to lean the ladder against the surface you are installing the lights on. It’s always a good idea to have someone holding the ladder below to ensure maximum stability.
Tip #2: Make sure that you are using the correct materials.
You will need the correct lights, clips, ladders, and extensions cords. When picking out your electrical equipment make sure you choose outdoor lights and extension cords. This is essential in climates that get wet and snowy weather conditions. When installing the outdoor lights, use plastic clips if you are placing the lights on your roofline and gutters. The clips are the best option to avoid damaging the paint and finish on the gutters and avoid putting unnecessary penetrations in your roof. The clips for hanging the lights can be found at any hardware store near where the holiday lights are located. You also want to make sure that you have the lights properly connected so that you don’t overload 1 outlet. Typically, it is about 9 strands per outlet. Outdoor outlets are tied to a special circuit, GFI, that will trip the electricity off if it senses any moisture. Most people believe that when their electricity turns off, the solution is to go to the breaker box. However, there are 2 buttons on the outlet in the main floor bathroom that usually turn the electricity back on, even to the outdoor outlets.
Tip #3: If you are installing or removing your holiday lights from your roof, make sure that you use a tie off.
Excel does not recommend you hanging your lights from the roof for a few reasons. First you can damage the shingles and second you are putting yourself at higher risk of a fall. If you do not have the proper harness for a tie off, it is probably best to not be on your roof.
Tip #4: Pick a day with good weather.
Weather in the winter months is usually cold and snowy. Pick a sunny dry day to install or remove your holiday lights. Double check to make sure that the place where your ladder is set on the ground is clear of ice and snow. You do not want your ladder to slip out from underneath you. If you will be installing or removing your lights from the roof, make sure that the roof is clear of ice, so you do not slip off the roof.
Tip #5: Check to make sure your gutters are clear of debris.
When installing your holiday lights, it is important to have clean gutters and downspouts. With full gutters, it will be more challenging to install the clips to the edge. When you have clogged gutters, you also increase your chance of having ice damning and gutter overflow. If you get up on your ladder to install or remove your holiday lights and notice your gutters are filled with leaves, call Excel Roofing. For more information on gutter cleaning check out our other blog post all about gutters here.
