Winter Electrical Guide · Updated November 2026
Every December we get calls for outdoor outlets that won't stop tripping and circuits overloaded by inflatables and light displays. A few simple rules keep your display bright and safe all season.
Call (610) 897-0560Lights, timers and extension cords used outside must be rated for outdoor use. Indoor cords crack in the cold and let in moisture. Keep plug connections off the ground and wrap them in weatherproof covers.
GFCIs trip when they sense current leaking to ground, which happens when water gets into plugs and old light strings. That's the GFCI doing its job. Fix it by drying and covering connections, replacing damaged strings, and fitting an in-use (bubble) cover on the outlet. Never replace a GFCI with a regular outlet to stop the tripping.
Add up the wattage on the packaging. A standard 15 amp circuit handles about 1,440 watts of continuous load. LED strings use a fraction of what old incandescent strings did, so switching to LED is the easiest fix. Spread large displays across more than one circuit.
If you decorate big every year, an electrician can add an outdoor GFCI circuit, a switched or timer-controlled outlet at the roofline, or outlets near the yard. It's safer and much neater than a tangle of extension cords across the lawn.
Moisture is getting into a plug, connection or damaged light string. Cover connections, keep them off the ground and replace worn strings.
Follow the maximum printed on the package or tag. It's usually far higher for LED strings than for incandescent.
Yes. A switched, GFCI-protected outlet under the eaves is a common install for holiday lighting.
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