How to Avoid Blowing a Fuse This Christmas

December 13, 2021 10:47 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The winter holidays are fast approaching—are you feeling a little stressed yet? While holiday stress can get to us all, that actually isn’t the type of fuse-blowing we’re referring to here—instead, we’re talking holiday lighting and electricity.

Everyone loves the look of holiday lights all over homes and businesses, but they can present their own challenges. It’s easier than you think to overload your building’s electrical system, so learning how to properly light your house this Christmas without blowing a fuse is critical information. Read on for some tips on how to keep both the lights and the holiday cheer going this season!

Double-check the packaging

Not all lights and extension cords are created equal. There are a variety of ways in which they can be graded (with these grades usually printed right on the cord itself), and most of these criteria are meant for professional electricians.

In order to properly light their house this Christmas without blowing a fuse, most homeowners just want to make sure any light strands or extension cords they use are rated for outdoor use—it’s easiest to look for a “W” printed on the cord near the plug. Using outdoor cables and thus preventing water infiltration can go a long way towards preventing your Christmas lights from blowing a fuse.

Check your lights

One of the most common causes of holiday light danger is using damaged equipment. Every year when you haul out those boxes and start the process of getting your strands untangled, make sure you also check for any damage to the bulbs or the wires. These can cause a strain on their power use while also presenting quite a safety hazard. Making sure your equipment is in top shape is a great way to safely light your house this Christmas without blowing a fuse!

Don’t use too many strands

Using the right number of lights is a critical way to lessen the strain on your electrical system and ensure you can light up your house this Christmas season without blowing a fuse in the process. Linking too many strands together that all rely on the same outlet can really contribute to overloading a circuit, meaning your home’s electrical system may need some attention thanks to a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. Avoid this by spacing out your light strands along multiple outlets throughout your house.

Consider efficiency

If you haven’t done so already, consider upgrading to LED lights. They use much less power than traditional holiday lighting and are a great way to properly light your house this Christmas without blowing a fuse. Typically, the limit for strands of incandescent lights on a single outlet is around four, but with LED lights there really isn’t that sort of limit, thanks to the reduced consumption of power.

In the end, when you’re planning your holiday lights this season, you’ll learn that it’s actually quite simple to prevent your Christmas lights from blowing a fuse, so long as you consider the strain on your system and make sure you never use anything but the right equipment for the job. If you have any questions about how to make your home more energy efficient, contact Duke Electric Co. today for more information and tips on how to save power and money.

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