Do you plan on adding lights to the exterior of your home now that winter is finally gone? Now that you’re spending more time outdoors around your house in the good weather, (gardening, maintaining your lawn, etc.) you’ll appreciate having more lights when the sun goes down. Not only does adding outdoor lights make it easier to see at night in your yard but it also will add value to your home.

One of the easiest ways to add exterior lighting around your home is to use patio string lights. They are inexpensive, easy to install and use, and are available in many different varieties so you can use them anywhere you can possibly think of, and they will match your home’s exterior. But something that is often overlooked about string lights is how to use them safely around your home.

Here are a few safety tips for using patio string lights:

The first and most important safety tip for using exterior lights is make sure they are rated for outdoor use before you buy them. They will tell you on the box if they are for indoor use only and if they are, do not use them outside your home. Otherwise, they can short out when they get rain or snow on them, which can cause a fire. Did you know that most common cause of fires in people’s homes is faulty wiring? Don’t set yourself up to have an accident.

Another good thing to keep in mind when you are installing your lights is to plan ahead as to where you’re going to plug them into your homes power supply. This way you will keep from having extension cords all over your lawn, which will cause tripping hazards for your guests and family.

If you plan on using your outdoor lighting string lights to hang over bushes or tree limbs make sure that you aren’t using lights that will get hot when they are lit for a long time. Most people don’t realize that if a bush or tree hasn’t been watered for awhile the leaves and smaller branches become brittle and dry, which will cause a fire hazard if you place a hot bulb next to them for any length of time. For this reason, if you plan on placing your lights anywhere near something that could be flammable, you should use led string lights. Led lights don’t generate heat when left on for any period of time, which makes them ideal.

These few safety tips will make sure your home is not only well lit at night, but safe for many years to come as well.