Care Urged When Installing Holiday Lights To Home’s Exterior

EL PASO — Fire officials are urging city residents to take precautions when installing decorative lighting to their homes. The dangers include possible electric shock to persons installing lights and fires in the homes.

To ensure a safer holiday season, the local fire department is urgingthe public to take a few extra moments to examine their lights visually, while they are unplugged, for the possible defects described. These few basic safety precautions can help residents reduce the risks of fire or electric shock from defective bulbs, light sets and worn extension cords.

Many light sets use standard size Christmas bulbs. For these sets, before inserting replacement bulbs examine them as follows:

Examine each light bulb for improper assembly. If the glass readily separates from the bulb’s base, the bulb should not be used. Check each light bulb for protruding wires from the solder tip at the bulb’s base or at the side of the bulb where the glass meets the base. If wire protrusions are detected, consumers can repair the defect by cutting as much of the protruding wire off as possible. Check each light bulb for excessive or irregular solder at the bottom and side of each bulb base, which may prevent complete insertion of the bulb into the socket. If this condition is found, the bulb should not be used. Inspect the interior of each light socket carefully. Sets that use the standard size bulbs often have lamp holders with two metal tabs inside each socket. With the set still unplugged, check to see if tabs are used. If they are, there should be a side tab and a center contact at the bottom. If these two metal parts come together when a bulb is inserted, or if these two parts are both upright, a short circuit will occur when the set is used. If you are not sure that the tabs in the socket are correctly located, have a knowledgeable repairperson check the set before you use it.

Any set of lights to be used outdoors should be specifically constructed and labeled for outdoor use. Do not use indoor lights for outside lighting, crews say.Remove outdoor lights as soon as the season is over; they are not designed for prolonged exposure to the elements, especially in winter weather.

To avoid the possibility of a dangerous electric shock, do not insert or remove bulbs with the set plugged in, especially if outdoors, authorities said.

Always unplug Christmas lights when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire, crews said.