Opal Enterprises Offers Tips For Safe Installation Of Holiday Decorations

As it seems to do every year, the holiday season has once again snuck up on homeowners. This year however, the early emergence of the holiday spirit, and the annual Hometown Holidays festivities in the area was, in part, motivated by the inaugural Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon that took place on November 10th. Town organizers moved up the date of the yearly Holiday Grand Illumination celebration to coincide with the running of the marathon and both events were a rousing success and have left the area with both a proverbial and literal glow.

With so much cheer, and a fair dose of chill in the air, one local business is providing local elves some sage advice about decorating their homes for the holidays. It’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of the season, but Opal Enterprises wants homeowners to think about these important safety tips while they deck their halls.

·         Be Sure To Check Gutters Before Hanging Lights – Winter can be a tough time for gutters as-is. Ice is one of the biggest hazards for gutters and the additional weight can cause damage or failures. Affixing lights directly to weakened gutters can cause further complications so homeowners should be sure to give their eaves troughs a full onceover before hanging anything from them.

·         Make Sure The Roof Is Safe For Santa – Some of the more elaborate holiday displays will include roof or chimney mounted lights or features, so it’s important to ensure that everything is structurally sound before adding any additional weight. Roofs and gutters should be carefully inspected annually and holiday preparation can serve as a perfect excuse. Be sure to check chimneys, shingles and flashing for overall integrity and, above all else, be sure to take the proper safety precautions while decorating those areas.

·         Don’t Overload Electrical Circuits – It can be all too easy to get carried away when putting up holiday lights. Lights on trees, bushes, windows, doors and roofs can add up to a significant load on a home’s electrical system. Be sure to know how many additional strands of lights can be safely powered and read instructions carefully to understand how many, and what types of lights can be chained together without causing an electrical risk.

·         Don’t Go It Alone – Anytime a ladder is involved a job should be deemed a two person venture. Make sure to have help when hanging lights on a home or the upper areas of trees. Hanging over or extended reaching from a ladder should be avoided and lights should be hung while off to avoid any risk of electrocution from a snagged wire or broken bulb.

·         Only Use Outdoor Safe Materials – It should go without saying, but all lights, decorations and extension cords should be approved for outdoor use. Indoor lights and cords are not designed to hold up to any weather, much less the extreme conditions of winter, so be sure to only utilize products that are specifically intended to be used outside.

With these tips, Opal Enterprises would like to wish all their neighbors in the Western and Southwestern Suburbs a happy and safe holiday season.