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String of Holiday Lights on Roof Edge

De-Light-ful Times Ahead

It’s almost time for the great Longmont traditions.

There’s the Thanksgiving dinner, of course, with all its surrounding gratitude and family. Time must be set aside for complaining about how cold (or unseasonably warm) it is, or wondering why certain places always seem to stay open on the day.  The inevitable football game may get cheered, or groaned at, or ignored entirely in favor of board games.

And then comes the moment.

You know the one.

When the first homes begin to put up their lights for the holidays. String of Holiday Lights on Roof Edge

It’s my favorite time of year. I’ve spent many a winter’s evening driving the streets of Longmont with Missy, checking out the decorations. It’s wonderful, it’s magical – and it also needs to be done carefully, so that everything stays fun.

Like anything with electricity, safety’s important. So when you get ready to decorate for the season, keep a few things in mind:

  • Lock your ladder in place, face it as you work, and follow any instructions from the manufacturer. (A past blog included a vivid example of how not to use a ladder to hang lights.)
  • Frayed wires start fires. Retire any decorations that have become well-worn.
  • Use indoor and outdoor extension cords in the right place, don’t overload them, and don’t pinch them in a door or window or under furniture. (And naturally, keep them away from standing water!)
  • If you have an unmetered porch light from the city, don’t plug your decorations into it – your gorgeous display can burn out the small fuse.
  • Keep your tree at least three feet away from any space heaters, fireplaces, or other heat sources.

     Pedestal Light Wrapped in Decorations

    For some homes, the pedestal light “lamp post” meter merits a few additional decorating reminders.

  • Never cover the meter window (it makes the meter hard to read!) or the photocell, which can cause the light to stay on in the day.
  • Wrapping lights around the body of the pedestal light can make it hard for our techs to open the door for repairs or maintenance.
  • Older pedestal lights may have outlets, which should have a locked or sealed flap protecting them. Please don’t open the flap or use the outlet.
  • Please don’t replace the lamp’s LED bulb with a tinted one. The bulbs are chosen for long life and effective illumination of the neighborhood.

So have fun. Enjoy Thanksgiving. And stay safe.

I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s bright ideas.


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