Outdoor Christmas lights: What you need to know

Many homeowners take great pride in their distinctly crafted Christmas lights display. Therefore, they create protective plans for these displays when rain looms.
* The easiest and most common way to protect a light display, aside from turning it off and unplugging the wires, is to cover the lights. Large light-up displays, such as Santa and his reindeer, can be moved inside. Strands of lights that are strung along a home’s awning can be covered by throwing a large tarp over the roof.
* Buy lights that are waterproof or rain-resistant. Many environmentally friendly lighting alternatives are widely available and more durable than traditional incandescent bulbs. Light-emitting diode (LED) lights use electricity, making them susceptible to water damage, but they are more resistant to leaks than traditional incandescent bulbs.
* Solar lights are another alternative. They remain cool to the touch, meaning that cold rain will not cause the bulbs to burst as hot bulbs might.
* If your outdoor light display is plugged into outlets inside the home or garage, this doesn’t guarantee that the lights are safe from the outdoor elements. Check the ceiling, floors and walls around the outlets to ensure that they are not leaking or pooling water.
* Information obtained from www.ehow.com