Log in Subscribe

Light 'em up

Jim Boxberger - Correspondent
Posted 11/27/20

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now we counting down the days till Christmas. Since I was a kid, I can remember driving around at night to see all the lights displays. Of course as a kid, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Light 'em up

Posted

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now we counting down the days till Christmas. Since I was a kid, I can remember driving around at night to see all the lights displays. Of course as a kid, I wasn't driving, I was a passenger. This week even before Thanksgiving, houses were lit up with lights, blow-ups and figurines and my house was no different. Vicki got out the decorations early while the weather was still warm. With the nights getting darker earlier, I get to see a lot of displays on my way home from work, but I now we will make a few nightime trips around the area to due some lightseeing this season. When social distancing seems to be the norm these days, lightseeing is a good way to safely get out of the house and enjoy the holiday season.

When putting out your lights this year there are some Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now we counting down the days till Christmas. Since I was a kid, I can remember driving around at night to see all the lights displays.

Of course as a kid, I wasn't driving, I was a passenger. This week even before Thanksgiving, houses were lit up with lights, blow-ups and figurines and my house was no different. Vicki got out the decorations early while the weather was still warm.

With the nights getting darker earlier, I get to see a lot of displays on my way home from work, but I now we will make a few nightime trips around the area to due some lightseeing this season. When social distancing seems to be the norm these days, lightseeing is a good way to safely get out of the house and enjoy the holiday season.

When putting out your lights this year there are some safety issues that should be considered when deciding on lights. I've noticed and mentioned before the heat the that typical mini bulbs throw off.

I'm not talking about those monster C-7 and C-9 type bulbs, but just those little bulbs that we use inside and out. After feeling of hot these bulbs get after being on for an hour I can see how they can ignite dry Christmas trees and I'm sure they can do some damage to outside evergreens as well.

During cold weather in December your evergreens are dormant and want to stay that way. They can get damaged by great changes in temperature like a day that is only 20 degrees and then having Christmas lights turn on that are at about 90 to 100 degrees. It's that swing in temperature that can cause scorch in your evergreens.

One way to prevent damage and decorate safely for Christmas is to use newer L.E.D. Christmas lights. L.E.D. stands for light emitting diode and they don't give off practically any heat because they use practically no electricity. Ten strings of L.E.D. lights use less electricity than one string of conventional mini bulbs.

This will really help when you get that electric bill at the end of the month, so you can decorate even more. And with the lack of heating they won't cause any scorch on any of your plants outside in the cold weather.

They are also a lot safer for live Christmas trees as well. As with any new technology, when they were first introduced a few years ago the price was quite high, but now that they are becoming more available and the price is less now, then they were just five years ago.

But the greatest reason to buy L.E.D. Christmas lights is that there are no bulbs to get loose and kill the whole set. L.E.D.'s last about twenty years, how long has your oldest string of Christmas lights survived? In the last few years, Halloween had surpassed Christmas for the most decorations, but since Halloween was all but called off this year, I think Christmas decorations are going to make a strong comeback.

Don't let your neighbors or your hard work go to waste, take a night drive and do some lightseeing this Christmas season.safety issues that should be considered when deciding on lights. I've noticed and mentioned before the heat the that typical mini bulbs throw off. I'm not talking about those monster C-7 and C-9 type bulbs, but just those little bulbs that we use inside and out. After feeling of hot these bulbs get after being on for an hour I can see how they can ignite dry Christmas trees and I'm sure they can do some damage to outside evergreens as well. During cold weather in December your evergreens are dormant and want to stay that way. They can get damaged by great changes in temperature like a day that is only 20 degrees and then having Christmas lights turn on that are at about 90 to 100 degrees. Its that swing in temperature that can cause scorch in your evergreens. One way to prevent damage and decorate safely for Christmas is to use newer L.E.D. Christmas lights. L.E.D. stands for light emitting diode and they don't give off practically any heat because they use practically no electricity. Ten strings of L.E.D. lights use less electricity than one string of conventional mini bulbs. This will really help when you get that electric bill at the end of the month, so you can decorate even more. And with the lack of heating they won't cause any scorch on any of your plants outside in the cold weather. They are also a lot safer for live Christmas trees as well. As with any new technology, when they were first introduced a few years ago the price was quite high, but now that they are becoming more available and the price is less now, then they were just five years ago. But the greatest reason to buy L.E.D. Christmas lights is that there are no bulbs to get loose and kill the whole set. L.E.D.'s last about twenty years, how long has your oldest string of Christmas lights survived? In the last few years, Halloween had surpassed Christmas for the most decorations, but since Halloween was all but called off this year, I think Christmas decorations are going to make a strong comeback. Don't let your neighbors or your hard work go to waste, take a night drive and do some lightseeing this Christmas season.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here