We always want a few things for Christmas – spending time with family, cozy nights in front of a warm fire.
One thing that is normally left off the wishlist is an electrical fire caused by Christmas lights.
You are watching: Can Outdoor Christmas Lights Get Wet?
I kid, but you might have concerns about whether Christmas lights are safe to be used outdoors if you live somewhere that gets a lot of rain or snow.
After all, water and electricity are always a bad mix, right?
As long as you buy Christmas lights that are properly rated for outdoor use with a high IP rating, they will be safe to use outdoors. Just make sure they’re either plugged in indoors or into a protected outdoor outlet.
There’s a little more to explain, so let’s dive deeper into:
- Whether Christmas lights are safe to use in the rain
- Whether it’s OK for plugs to get wet
- How to protect Christmas lights from the weather
Are Outdoor Christmas Lights Safe In The Rain?
There are three main types of Christmas lights – those only suitable for indoor use, those that could be used indoors or outdoors, and – you’ve guessed it – those only for outdoor use.
The outdoor use-only lights are perfectly safe to use indoors. It’s just that these lights will be designed to be much brighter than you need indoors.
So really, you can simplify it to two types – those only for indoor use or those that can be used outdoors. And the difference is in waterproofing.
Outdoor lights are designed to be waterproof – both the bulbs and the wires are properly sealed against the elements to prevent any water from getting in.
And what you’re looking for is the IP rating.
IP (Ingress Protection) is the rating that tells you how sealed an electrical item is against both solid particles and liquid.
The rating is made up of 2 numbers – the first is the protection against solid particles like dust, and the second is liquids.
That second digit ranges from 0 (totally unsafe) to 9K, which is protected against powerful, high-temperature water jets.
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For Christmas lights hung up outdoors, you just need an IP rating ending in a 4 (likely to be IP44), which is protected against splashing of water.
Many will be rated to IP67, though, which is even more secure – this means it’s protected from total immersion up to 1 meter in depth for up to 30 minutes.
As long as you buy Christmas lights that are rated IP44 or better, they’ll be perfectly safe to use in the rain and snow.
Can Christmas Light Plugs Get Wet?
So, if a set of Christmas lights is rated as waterproof, does that mean the plug is too, and you don’t need to worry about that?
Absolutely not.
The plug is still a vulnerable part of the circuit, and it is definitely not acceptable for it to get wet unless you want Christmas to go with a (literal) bang and a pretty large fire.
Instead, you’ve got two options:
- Plug your lights in indoors
- Use a sealed outdoor outlet
Plugging the lights indoors is the easiest option; as long as you’ve got an easy place, you can run the wire and an outlet that’s not too far from the access point.
If you have an outdoor outlet already, you can install a weatherproof cover to make it sealed and safe to use.
They’re really simple to install and, once in place, will keep any water from getting into the plug or connection.
Just make sure you install it on a dry day.
The only other consideration is if you need to run an extension cord.
Again, this has to be waterproof. You can also buy extension cord safety covers to add IP44 protection to the point where the lights are plugged into the cord.
And the last tip for extension cords and Christmas lights wiring is to avoid having it on the ground – for lights away from the front of your home, aim to drape the cables on any bushes.
That way you avoid leaving the wires in standing water and make them as safe as possible.
How To Protect Christmas Lights From Rain
As long as you are buying waterproof Christmas lights, there aren’t too many extra steps you need to worry about when it comes to your lights.
If you’re buying standalone lightings such as inflatable Santas or wicker reindeer, and you know there’s a bad storm coming, you can either bring them indoors ahead of time or cover them with a tarpaulin.
Make sure they’re powered off if you do cover them.
Otherwise, the only advice you need to follow is to hang your Christmas lights away from the ground where possible, avoiding the chance of them being left in standing water and minimizing any risk.
Finally, one helpful recommendation is to always plug Christmas lights into an outlet with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
All outdoor outlets must have one, but not necessarily indoor ones.
If you don’t have one, consider getting one installed – it might use up a good chunk of the Christmas lights budget, but it’s a worthwhile safety investment.
GFCIs are devices that can detect any fluctuations in the current, such as if wires were to come into contact with water or were damaged in any way and began to short.
The GFCI kicks in and cuts power to the circuit as soon as that spike is detected, preventing severe consequences.
Waterproof Christmas lights should be fine during the rain and snow, but a GFCI just gives you that extra peace of mind.
Final Words
Enough is happening at Christmas to cause you stress without worrying about your Christmas lights’ safety.
Never cut corners – always make sure any lights you’re using outdoors are IP44 or better, and keep them away from potential standing water.
And if you have a GFCI outlet or can get one installed, make sure you use it.
Have you ever had any Christmas light nightmares?
Maybe a winter storm meant you accidentally gifted your lights to a neighbor instead?
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
