Safety tips for lighting up your home for the holidays

Conquering the task of stringing up holiday lights can be a challenge, but for many it’s the key in making the season merry and bright.

Rocky Mountain Power reminds you how to stay safe while tackling the feat of lighting up your holiday season.

Look up. When placing outside holiday lights on a house or in trees, locate any overhead power lines, and keep all objects such as ladders and extension poles more than 10 feet away. Replace any worn or frayed cords on strings of lights. Plug in lights before stringing them to identify any damaged bulbs. Don’t forget to power down. Unplug lights before hanging them, and again when you are out of the house and when you go to sleep. Don’t attach too many light strings together and avoid plugging them into just one outlet. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for recommended maximum number of strings per outlet. Keep lights away from anything flammable, including draperies. Keep lights off metal railings, banisters and aluminum siding. The metal can become energized if the wire has a short circuit. Make sure rooftop decorations are secure and don’t block vents or vent pipes.

Additionally, Rocky Mountain Power said using LED holiday lights will save money on energy costs. They use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lights and are cool to the touch.