Lighting is an important aspect of residential safety.  Especially during the holidays.  An inexpensive way to light your home from October 31st through January 1st is "Christmas lighting".  White lights can provide an inviting and safe pathway to your home.

For landscape lighting solutions, Crescent Lighting offers a vast array of quality outdoor products.  Placement is key to appropriate illumination.  An electrician can recommend the appropriate wattage for the capacity of your service panel.  It is recommended that all wires be set in conduit at least 12" below the surface.

Security

Rather than turning the lights on when you get home in the evening and then shutting them off in the morning, consider putting the lights on timers. More sophisticated systems will come on with photocells and/or with the detection of motion.  Combining lighting with cameras and web-enabled security system provides the ability to monitor your home in real time.

Safety

Landscape lighting provides illumination on uneven ground and steps that guests may be unaware of.  With lawsuits as rampant as they are, it is best to supply ample lighting to your front doorway from the street.  Back yard illumination is equally important for late night gatherings.

Holiday

When planning your holiday lighting scheme, First Choice Power recommends that you keep these safety tips in mind:

  • Be sure the strings of lights you purchase are approved by Underwriters Laboratories. The UL approval means that representative sets of these lights have been tested for safety.
  • Only use lights outdoors that are approved for outdoor use.
  • Check last year’s strings of lights for broken bulbs, frayed wires, damaged sockets or cracked insulation.
  • Unplug tree lights before watering the tree; do keep the tree watered, as hot bulbs may ignite dry branches. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
  • Be careful with holiday candles. Don’t place lit candles in unsupervised areas where children can play with them. Don’t go to sleep with candles burning.
  • Put your tree lights on timers, or be sure to turn them off before retiring for the night.
  • Turn on your tree lights only when you are at home.
  • Don’t overload circuits. If you are using extension cords, be sure to add up everything on one circuit: tree lights, lamps, appliances, and electrical equipment.
  • Make sure extension cords are approved for the specific use, such as indoor and/or outdoor. Do not try to bypass any grounded plugs by removing or rigging the plugs.