There is something magical about a home aglow with lights. Long winter nights give homeowners an opportunity to decorate with light: radiant icicles dangling from awnings, tiny lights twinkling from hedges, bright bulbs crisscrossed up lamp posts, and shimmering edges around walkways and archways. Outdoor lights aren't just for the holiday season anymore! Turning your home into a winter wonderland can be safe and relatively cost-efficient by keeping the following tips in mind.

Some of us may remember the large lights commonly used up until the 1970s; each bulb was a 5- or 10-watt bulb about the size of a modern nightlight bulb. These bulbs have become less popular mainly because they use a lot of power: a strand of fifty 5-watt bulbs consumes 250 watts! These bulbs also generate a great deal of heat, which is an inefficient use of electricity and a fire hazard. Mini-lights are far more common today; they tend to be less expensive and use less energy.

Each bulb in a strand of mini-lights typically operates at 2.5 volts. The power used by a strand is typically 120 volts, which is equal to 48 lamps multiplied by 2.5 volts each. The power consumption for such a strand is only 25 watts - one tenth of that used by old-fashioned large lights.

Mini-lights offer great cost savings, however, loose or missing bulbs can wreck havoc on your displays. Most mini-light strands operate on a closed circuit; if any bulbs are removed or loose, the circuit is broken and the set will not illuminate. Plug in each strand and check for unlit bulbs. If you find any unlit bulbs, unplug the strand from the outlet, then replace the bulbs. If a bulb is not functioning due to a cracked socket, discard the strand as it poses a fire hazard. Ensure all bulbs are firmly screwed or pushed, as applicable, into their sockets.

Occasionally, bulbs will come loose during the process of hanging the strand. You may find you've spent an hour decorating, only to turn on the power and find nothing happens! In that case, one of the easiest ways to find the problem is to buy a tester. Testers work by detecting the alternating electromagnetic waves given off by any wire carrying power. Simply plug in the strand of lights and point the end of the tester at each bulb. If the bulb is getting power, the tester will indicate that it is working. If the bulb is not getting power - because a bulb upstream is loose - then the tester will indicate a malfunction. Testers are available at hardware and home decorating stores.

Older models of mini-lights also fail to light up when a single bulb burns out. These strands lack the shunting devices available in newer models. A shunting device is a wire inside the bulb, which completes the circuit when the filament burns out. The shunt allows the current to continue running through the bulb so that the rest of the strand stays lit. When buying new lights, read the fine print to be sure each bulb has a shunting device. Replace burnt-out bulbs to prolong the life of the other bulbs. Check the manufacturer's instructions or the cord itself to ensure you are using bulbs of the correct wattage. Replacing a low-wattage bulb with a higher-wattage one increases the risk of sparks.

When buying lights also look for the CSA symbol and ensure that they are labeled for outdoor use. Indoor lights should never be used outdoors.

Securing Outdoor Lights

There are two hazards when hanging outdoor lights: contact with water and damage to the cord.

Most people hang their outdoor lights on fair-weather days. As a result, they may not realize they are placing lights in areas that collect rainwater or melted snow. When securing strands of lights to your home, keep the strand clear of roof gutters, indentations in the earth below trees (tree wells), or any other recessed area. If the strand rests in a pool of water there is a significant risk of a short circuit and sparks, which may result in a fire.

Decorating the outside of a home usually requires two or three strands of lights connected to make one long strand. The point at which one strand connects to another is vulnerable to water penetration. Try to position plug connections in dry areas such as underneath roof awnings. In areas where your home does not offer protection from the elements, you can weatherproof the connections by wrapping them with plastic bags, then sealing with all-weather tape.

When securing lights to your home, use plastic or rubber clips to keep the wires from touching metal objects. These clips are very inexpensive and reusable. Insulated staples are another option, however, it's important to ensure the staples do not pierce the cord.

Regardless of how you attach a strand, make sure the bulbs are facing down so precipitation won't get into the sockets.

Maintenance

Check over the strand of lights carefully for signs of wear. Outdoor lights are designed to withstand rain, snow, and cold temperatures. However, over time, cords may become cracked or worn. Outdoor light strands have an outer plastic layer surrounding the insulated wires. If the cord has any worn patches or cracks in the outer casing, the result could be a short circuit or sparks. Rather than trying to repair the strand, it is safer to simply replace it.

Following these tips will help to protect your home by ensuring that your outdoor lights are safe, giving you peace of mind and pleasure to all who see