The holiday season is upon us, bringing decorations, festivities, holiday cheer – and tips from PECO to get in the holiday spirit while staying safe.
Holiday Lighting Safety Tips
- Only decorate with lights approved by the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL).
- Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for the number of lights that can be safely connected together.
- Check all lights for cracked or broken plugs, loose connections, frayed insulation or exposed (bare) wires.
- Discard damaged sets of lights.
- Turn off all decorative lights when going to bed or leaving the house.
- Consider using energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lighting products. These products produce about 75 percent less heat, and are safer to operate than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Outdoor Lighting Safety Tips
- Ensure decorative lights used outside are approved for outdoor use.
- Hang outdoor lights with insulated staples or hooks rather than nails or tacks.
- Always be aware of all power lines when decorating outdoors.
- Never work near overhead power lines or anywhere there is a possibility of contacting an overhead power line, either directly or indirectly with a ladder or other piece of equipment.
- Do not string lights on outdoor trees that are growing into or near power lines.
Indoor Lighting Safety Tips
- Ensure cords inside your home do not pose a tripping hazard.
- Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords.
- Do not place cords under rugs, furniture or other appliances. Covered cords can overheat or become frayed and can cause a fire.
- Keep all electric cords and extension cords out of the reach of children.

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