Outdoor lighting is not only beautiful and tranquil, but it is a functional necessity to keep everyone safe while enjoying outdoor gatherings. We add outdoor string and twinkle lighting over fences and pergolas to add a soft and welcoming atmosphere — outdoor lighting spans more than the holidays of Halloween and Christmas.
Outdoor lighting lights paths and protects our homes, and with outdoor lighting, usually involves power chords and wires required for their function. At Brighter Homes Lighting, we not only want your outside lights to deter crime, but we want it to be safe and wired correctly. Follow along in today’s post as reexamine the best safety tips for outdoor lighting.
Safety Lighting Tips
Whether your lighting is temporary or not, people tend to look past whether the electrical is up to code or not, and this can get dangerous very quickly. There are special guidelines for both temporary and permanent outdoor lighting, find out more about it here. Safety is always the number one thing to consider when installing outdoor lighting — get that squared away — and then tackle where and what lighting to place.
Safety First – Implement Outdoor Rated Lightbulbs
It makes sense to use an outdoor rated lightbulb when it comes to exposed lighting such as a flood light, but when you use them for all your outdoor lighting you will save energy and money. Outdoor lighting is equipped to withstand extreme weather changes — so you will avoid having to replace it after a snowstorm or sizzling summer day. 
Safety First – Use Outdoor Rated Lighting Fixtures
With outdoor lighting fixtures, you, unfortunately, cannot just use any old fixture that you like — it must be specifically for the outdoors, and further, specific to the place it is going to be installed. So, if you are going to install a light under your roof or beside your garage, it needs to be able to withstand moisture or labeled as an “outdoor” lighting fixture. Outside lights that that are not covered need to be rated even higher for extreme weather that are also waterproof or water-resistant.
Safety First – Follow the Fixtures Instructions
Once you find an outdoor fixture you like, it will indicate the maximum wattage it requires such as 100W, 70W, etc. Ensure you stick with exactly what it recommends and don’t exceed the listed maximum wattage. If you place a higher wattage it not only burns out more quickly, but it can overheat and damage the wiring, subjecting you to a fire hazard.
Safety First – Check Your Extension Cord
There are both extension cords for indoor and outdoor use, so make sure you have an outdoor-rated extension cord. The difference is that indoor extension cords are lighter and made to stay out of the way, whereas outdoor extension cords are more durable and heavy-duty and made to withstand the elements.
Outdoor lighting is as only as safe as how it is connected, so ensure you are investing in outdoor-rated light bulbs and fixtures and adhering to the instructions on the lighting fixture’s packaging.
There are many more tips to safe outside lights, so stay tuned for part two!