Outdoor and Holiday Lighting Safety in North Idaho

Outdoor lighting makes a home look great, whether it is holiday displays in December or landscape lighting year round. Doing it safely is mostly about using the right outlets and cords and not asking a single circuit to do too much. Here is how to keep it safe.

Use GFCI protected outdoor outlets

Any outlet outside should be GFCI protected. GFCI outlets sense moisture and shut off power before it can cause a shock, which matters a lot when snow, rain, and electricity are in the same place. If your outdoor outlets do not have the test and reset buttons, or you are running cords out through a window because you have no outdoor outlet at all, that is worth addressing.

Use cords and lights rated for outdoors

Indoor extension cords are not built to sit in snow and sun. Use cords and light strings rated for outdoor use, and check them for cracks or damage before you put them up. Damaged cords are a common cause of trouble.

Do not overload the circuit

It is easy to string together more lights than a circuit can handle, which leads to tripped breakers or worse. Spread displays across more than one circuit when you can, and lean toward LED lights, which use a fraction of the power of old incandescent bulbs and let you run much longer runs safely.

Consider a dedicated outdoor circuit

If you decorate every year or want permanent landscape or soffit lighting, a dedicated outdoor circuit with switches inside makes life easier and safer. No more cords through the window, and no more guessing which breaker will trip.

Plan it once, enjoy it for years

We can add GFCI protected outdoor outlets, dedicated circuits, and switched exterior lighting so your displays are easy and safe every season. We serve Hayden, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Dalton Gardens, Liberty Lake, and Spokane Valley. Call or text 208-352-0662 and we will help you feel safe and informed.