Decorating the exterior of your home for the holidays is a joyful tradition, but it is also one of the most hazardous tasks a homeowner undertakes all year. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), thousands of individuals visit the emergency room each holiday season due to falls, electrical shocks, and lacerations related to holiday decorating [1].
In Colorado, where late autumn weather can bring ice, snow, and high winds, the risks are significantly amplified. At Holiday Light Professionals, safety is our absolute highest priority. Here is a look at the hidden dangers of DIY holiday lighting, and why hiring a professional is the safest choice you can make for your family.
The Danger of Ladders and Rooflines
The single greatest risk of DIY holiday lighting is falling from a height.
- Improper Ladder Use: Many homeowners use ladders that are too short, forcing them to overreach or stand on the top rung—a major violation of safety protocols. Furthermore, placing a ladder on uneven, frozen, or snow-covered Colorado ground is a recipe for disaster.
- Icy Roofs: Walking on a pitched roof is dangerous under the best circumstances. In November or December, morning frost or a light dusting of snow can turn asphalt shingles into an ice rink.
- Lack of Safety Gear: Professional installers wear specialized roofing boots and utilize OSHA-compliant fall protection harnesses when working on steep pitches. The average homeowner does not have access to this life-saving equipment.
When you hire Holiday Light Professionals, our insured, highly trained technicians take on the physical risk so you don’t have to.
Electrical and Fire Hazards
Beyond physical falls, the electrical components of holiday lighting present significant fire and shock hazards if not handled correctly.
- Overloaded Circuits: Plugging too many incandescent light strands end-to-end can overload a circuit, causing breakers to trip or, worse, wires to overheat and start a fire [2]. Professionals calculate the exact amperage load of your display and use commercial-grade LED lights, which draw a fraction of the power of consumer-grade lights.
- Damaged Wires: Pulling old lights out of the attic often reveals frayed wires or cracked insulation caused by rodents or poor storage [2]. Using damaged wires outdoors in wet conditions is a severe shock hazard.
- Improper Fasteners: One of the most common DIY mistakes is using a staple gun or nails to attach lights to the fascia [3]. A metal staple can easily pierce the wire’s insulation, creating a direct electrical short against the house [3]. Professionals use specialized, non-conductive plastic clips that secure the lights without ever compromising the wiring.
The Safety of Permanent Lighting
If safety is a primary concern, the ultimate solution is to eliminate the annual installation process entirely.
By investing in a permanent lighting system like the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro, the lights are professionally installed once and left up year-round. You never have to climb a ladder, check a frayed wire, or brave the freezing Colorado wind to hang lights again. You simply open an app on your phone and turn on your holiday display from the safety and warmth of your living room.
Protect Your Home and Your Holidays
An injury can instantly ruin the joy of the holiday season. Don’t risk a trip to the emergency room or electrical damage to your home just to save a few dollars on installation.
Trust the experts. Contact Holiday Light Professionals today to schedule your safe, professional, and stunning holiday light installation.
References
[1] CNET. (2023). Christmas Light Safety Guide: 16 Tips to Avoid a Decorations Disaster. CNET. https://www.cnet.com/pictures/christmas-light-safety/
[2] FEMA. (n.d.). Holiday Fire Safety. USFA.FEMA.gov. https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/holiday/
[3] Home Electrical. (n.d.). Holiday Lighting Safety Tips: The Do’s and Don’ts. Home Electrical Blog. https://www.homelectrical.com/holiday-lighting-safety-tips-dos-and-donts.6.html
