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Holiday Lighting Safety A recent survey showed that a large number of homeowners may be overlooking serious issues while hanging holiday lights in and on their homes. "There's no question that many people like their holiday displays to be the talk of the block," said David Lupberger. Lupberger is the home improvement expert for ServiceMagic.com, the nation's leading Web site connecting homeowners to pre-screened home service professionals. "But those who live in older homes without updated electrical systems really need to be cautious. It can cause an overload that could lead to an outage," Lupberger said. More than 1,000 people responded to the ServiceMagic.com poll: 86 percent said they plan to put up some sort of holiday lighting this year, but only 34 percent said their home's electrical capacity is on their minds when decorating for the holidays. "It's definitely something everyone should think about," Lupberger said. "As much at issue is that 74% of the people responding said their house is at least 15 years old," Lupberger said. "Homes built today might have the capacity to handle 200 amps of electricity. Older homes may only be designed only for 100 amps or even just 50. With so many people plugging in complete home entertainment systems and upgraded appliances, their electrical boxes might already be maxed out." The lights themselves may pose dangers if the bulbs are broken or the wires are frayed. "Homeowners need to inspect each strand thoroughly every year," said Lupberger. "And if others are hired to hang the lights, it's important to make sure they're taking the necessary precautionary measures." The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends limiting the number of light strands to three per extension cord.
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