Why You’ll Never See an Extension Cord on One of Our Christmas Light Jobs
The Utah State Fire Marshal’s Office has been warning homeowners for years that extension cords “were never meant to replace permanent wiring” and shouldn’t be run under rugs, mats, or walkways. The National Electrical Code backs that up — outdoor outlets are required to be GFCI-protected specifically because electricity, moisture, and cold don’t mix well.
We designed our whole install process around that risk. Every job is custom-run with zip wire instead of a tangle of extension cords, so there’s nothing loose lying across your lawn or driveway. Roof runs and ground runs are kept on separate circuits, and the wire itself gets tucked into eaves and downspouts — most of it never even touches the ground, and none of it is visible once we’re done.
Because we install low-output LEDs, the whole system draws well below the capacity of a standard outlet, so there’s no overloading a circuit trying to light up a house. It’s a small thing homeowners rarely think about until something goes wrong — and it’s exactly why professional installation exists.
Thinking about lights this year? Book with My Hearthside / The Christmas Peddler.