Another year has come and gone, the holidays are upon us, and holiday cheer is on full display. From November through January, the Mile High City is known for its festive lighting and winter extravaganzas. And you may be tempted to bring a little of that cheer home with you. Whether you want to turn your front yard into Santa’s workshop or keep it a bit more simple, some parts will be trickier than others. Like hanging Christmas lights.
In this article, you’ll discover how to hang Christmas lights around your garage door safely and effectively.
Choose your lights
Designing your winter wonderland boils down to 3 T’s — time, taste, and technology.
With enough of each (plus a little planning and elbow grease), even your most ambitious holiday lighting dreams can come true.
But not so fast! If hanging Christmas lights is a tradition for your home, your first step is evaluating whether it’s time for an upgrade.
Using old lights could result in an unattractive final result or safety hazards like an electrical short or a fire. Examine your light strings and replace them if any of these are true:
- You’ve had your lights for more than six years
- The wires are damaged
- You want to lower your energy bill
The two most popular holiday string lights are incandescent and LED. LED lights are eco-friendly, so they use less electricity and last 7-10 years. Some modern versions are programable with your smartphone, giving you an assortment of colors and flexibility. So whether you’re decorating your entire home exterior or just the garage door, you’re sure to wow your neighbors.
Give ‘em some juice!
What’s light without a power source? Expensive bits of glass and plastic.
Before your hang your lights, determine how’ll you’ll plug them in. Newer homes with trendier garage designs likely have multiple external power outlet options. But no matter where your source is located, this can quickly turn into a vine of extension cords snaking around your home.
Here are a few options for powering your holiday lights:
- Using an outlet adapter that can screw into an external light socket
- Battery-powered lights or outdoor battery-powered outlets.
- Outdoor, heavy-duty extension cords plugged into an internal outlet
- Use Solar powered lights
Remember to exercise an abundance of caution when working with electricity. Never overload your outlets, and always use materials that are safe for outdoor use. Follow all instructions on your Christmas lights packaging.
The most important thing to remember for hanging lights around your garage door is to choose a power source that lets you easily arrange your lights but won’t get in the way of opening and closing your garage.
Hang them up
As we mentioned before, safety first! When hanging lights around your garage, avoid placing them where they can be damaged. Specifically, you want to avoid wrapping cords or wires on the moving parts of your garage door. Doing so could damage the mechanisms causing the door to malfunction resulting in a costly repair, severe injury, or even death.
Enlist the help of a partner whenever possible, especially if a ladder is required. Wear a pair of comfortable rubber-soled shoes to protect from slipping if you’re hanging on a snowy day.
Plastic clips are best for hanging lights because they won’t damage your wires. Some homeowners choose to nail roof and gutter clips into the trim of their garage and then hang string lights on the clips. This makes it easier to hang lights year after year. If nails aren’t for you, try damage-free adhesive clips made for outdoor use.
Whether you’re decorating your garage door or your entire home exterior, the holidays are about building memories with the people you love. So make those memories with love, care, and safety a top priority. And like always, American Garage Door is here to help. We are available for 24-hour emergency repair and services throughout the holidays to help you stay safe and warm all season long. Contact our expert team today to get started.
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