As homeowners begin pulling holiday decorations out of storage, Dr. Electric is encouraging residents to inspect every strand of lights and plan how decorations will be plugged in before anything goes on the roofline or the tree. The contractor, one of the Colorado Springs Electricians serving Monument and surrounding communities, said the weeks before the holidays are when many homes add extra temporary electrical load.
The timing matters because the risks are well documented. The U.S. Fire Administration notes that almost one-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems, citing National Fire Protection Association data. The agency advises inspecting holiday lights each year before putting them up and throwing away strands with frayed or pinched wires. It also recommends reading the manufacturer's instructions for the number of light strands that can be safely connected together.
"Most of what we see this time of year isn't the lights themselves, it's how they're plugged in," said Rick Rost, owner of Dr. Electric. "Strands get chained together past what the box says, cords run under rugs, and everything ends up on one outdoor outlet. A few minutes of checking before you decorate goes a long way."
Rost noted that outdoor decorations should be plugged into GFCI-protected outlets, which electrical code already requires for outdoor receptacles. Homeowners who want permanent exterior or landscape fixtures can plan lighting installation colorado springs co projects with dedicated, properly protected circuits.
If breakers trip repeatedly when decorations are turned on, the company recommends having the home's electrical capacity checked. Older homes may need an electrical panel upgrade colorado springs to handle today's seasonal and everyday loads. The same planning applies to households adding an electric vehicle this winter. The company handles ev charger installation colorado springs co, including a check of whether the existing panel can support the new circuit.
"If a cord feels warm, a breaker keeps tripping, or lights flicker when something else turns on, those are signs to stop and have it looked at," Rost said. "It's a lot easier to sort out in November than on Christmas Eve."
The implications extend beyond one household's display. Seasonal lighting and new EV charging circuits both draw on the same panel capacity, so a few minutes of inspection and a capacity check before the holidays can reduce the chance of overloaded circuits and the fire risk that comes with them.
