How to Weatherproof Your Outdoor Decorations
First of all, make sure you buy items rated for
exterior use to withstand all that Mother Nature dishes out.
When hanging outdoor Christmas lights, protect strands from strong gusts of wind by securing them with plastic zip ties (100 for $5) or reusable light clips (100 for $10) spaced every 12 inches.
For a ground displays,
pick wire-frame sculptures over decor made of painted wood so that wind
passes through; drive the stakes the entire length, ideally, 6 to 8
inches, into the ground.
Moisture and electricity don't mix. A ground-fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) prevents shorts and shocks, and most city regulations require
their use with outdoor lighting. Portable units cost under $30. Cover
the male and female ends of light strands with electrical tape or encase
them in plastic freezer bags to help keep water out.
If rain- or snow-covered decorations freeze over, it could be lights out
for your display. To allow moisture to evaporate before it turns to
ice, position the connections between light strands in a way that lets
air circulate around them. For lights hung on trees, use electrical tape
to secure connectors to the trunk a few feet above the ground to keep
them out of runoff that might pond there.
via This Old House
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