Holiday lighting done safely; experts, homeowners weigh in

WEST ALLIS, Wis. - With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, it's time to decorate the outside of our homes for the holidays. But you should do so safely. 

When it comes to decorating for the holidays, Trish Welchman goes all out. 

"This year, we are at least 20,000 lights so far," Welchman said. "All the perimeter lights sing and dance to the music you hear."

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Welchman lives in the West Allis neighborhood known as Candy Cane Lane. 

"This morning I was out and put another 1,000 lights out." Just because it’s so much fun. It’s a lot of maintenance," Welchman said. 

Trish Welchman

She said maintenance and safety go hand in hand. 

"There’s so many extension cords, there’s so many timers, but you have to be safe. And that’s the biggest part," Welchman said. "All the lights we have in the front we have safety lights."

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That does not just apply to decorating outside. 

"Sometimes you find lights that are only able to be used outside. We want to make sure we are not plugging them inside," said Dan Tyk, North Shore Fire Rescue Assistant Chief.

Dan Tyk

Tyk said it only takes a few simple steps before decorating – to avoid a home fire. 

"Check each of the lights, and the entire light strand to make sure you don’t see any fraying, any cracked or broken bulbs," Tyk said. "The plug is missing, that increases the risk to cause a fire."

If you have not bought any decorates yet, Tyk said make sure any new lights or decorations are tested and factory approved. 

"There should always be some shiny noticeable sticker that has the logo with the UL," Tyk said.  "Want people to be careful."

You can still have fun while being safe. 

"Just enjoy it, take your time," Welchman said. 

We Energies tips

Safety

• Inspect your décor. Make sure there aren’t any exposed or frayed wires or other signs of damage on any decorations you need to plug in.
• Stay weather safe. Double-check that your extension cords and light strands are safe for outdoor use.
• Follow instructions. Don’t overload your outlets or string too many lights together — follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how many strands you can connect and how to do so safely.

Energy efficiency

• Switch to LED lights. They use less energy compared to incandescent lights and can last up to 20 years.
• Timing is everything. Put your holiday lights and powered outdoor decorations on a timer. That way, there’s no risk you’ll forget to turn them off when you go to bed.
• Reflect on your options. Rather than adding more lights to your tree, brighten existing lighting with tinsel, mirrored ornaments and other reflective items.

Before you make your own list and check it twice, compare your options with the We Energies holiday lighting calculator. For more energy efficiency tips, go to the We Energies website.