Holiday Electrical Problems: The Top Issues Texas Homeowners Face (and How to Prevent Them)
The holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year — but it’s also one of the busiest times for electrical service calls across Texas. From overloaded circuits to outdoor lighting mishaps, December brings unique electrical challenges that many homeowners don’t expect.
⭐ Schedule a Holiday Safety Check
Serving Denton, Frisco, Little Elm, and North DFW, Copper & Willow Electric is here to help make your holidays bright — and safe with Experience You Can Trust.
Online: Request a quote today or Call: (940) 217-5880 Ask for James
At Copper & Willow Electric, we routinely help families across Denton, Frisco, Little Elm, and North DFW keep their homes safe, powered, and holiday-ready. Here are the most common holiday electrical issues in Texas — and how to prevent them.
1. Overloaded Circuits From Holiday Lights & Décor
Holiday lighting can draw a surprising amount of power — especially older incandescent strands. When multiple decorations share the same circuit as appliances, space heaters, or entertainment systems, circuits can overload quickly.
Signs you may be overloading a circuit:
Lights flicker when something turns on
Breakers trip when plugging in décor
Outlets feel warm
Power strips get hot
How to prevent it:
Use LED holiday lights (much lower wattage)
Spread décor across different circuits
Avoid daisy-chaining extension cords
Know which rooms share circuits
When to call an electrician:
If breakers trip repeatedly — that means the circuit is overloaded or the wiring is failing.
2. Extension Cord & Power Strip Hazards
During the holidays, many Texas homes rely on extension cords to power trees, inflatables, projectors, and indoor décor. Unfortunately, overstressed cords are a leading cause of electrical fires in December.
Common hazards:
Running cords under rugs (a fire risk)
Using indoor cords outdoors
Multi-plug adapters overloaded
Old or cracked cords
How to stay safe:
Use outdoor-rated cords outside
Never run cords under carpets or doors
Use grounded (three-prong) plugs
Replace cords with visible wear
If you find yourself needing multiple extension cords every year, it may be time to add permanent outdoor outlets.
3. Outdoor Lighting Malfunctions
Texas weather is unpredictable — cold fronts, wind, and moisture create issues for outdoor displays.
Most common outdoor problems:
GFCI outlets tripping when it rains
Loose or exposed wiring
Lighting blowing fuses
Moisture infiltrating connections
Outdoor outlets must be:
GFCI-protected
Weather-resistant
Covered by in-use rated outdoor covers
If your outdoor lights trip repeatedly, it might be a sign your outlet is old or improperly installed.
4. Space Heater Overload
With winter temps dropping, many Texas households use space heaters — often on the same circuits as TVs, lights, or decorations.
Important safety notes:
Space heaters should ALWAYS have a dedicated outlet
Never plug them into power strips
They draw 12–15 amps alone — almost a full circuit
If breakers trip when a heater turns on, that’s a sign the circuit is overloaded and needs evaluation.
5. Electrical Issues With Christmas Trees
Real or artificial, Christmas tree lighting can pose risks if not used properly.
Common issues:
Old light strands overheating
Loose indoor extension cords
Too many items plugged into a single outlet
Pets chewing wires
Safety tips:
Replace old incandescent strands with LEDs
Turn off tree lights when leaving or sleeping
Keep real trees watered to reduce ignition risk
Tape or conceal cords where pets can’t access them
6. Tripping GFCIs in Kitchens During Holiday Cooking
Holiday cooking means more appliances running at once:
Crockpots
Mixers
Air fryers
Coffee makers
Roasters
Electric griddles
Most Texas kitchens only have a few 20-amp circuits serving the countertop outlets, so it’s easy to overload them.
Signs your kitchen needs an upgrade:
GFCIs trip frequently
Outlets stop working mid-cooking
Appliances struggle for power
If your kitchen has holiday cooking chaos every year, consider adding new circuits.
7. Heater, AC, or Furnace Electrical Issues
Texas HVAC systems often struggle with seasonal transitions — warm days, cold nights — leading to:
Capacitor failures
Blown fuses
Tripped breakers
Thermostat wiring issues
Some of these are HVAC-specific, but many times, the electrical circuit feeding the system is the problem.
If your system loses power repeatedly, an electrician can help determine whether the cause is:
Circuit failure
Overload
Faulty breaker
Wiring issue
8. Older Homes Straining Under Holiday Loads
The holiday season places extra demand on aging electrical systems.
Homes built before:
1990 often have outdated grounding
1980 may have aluminum wiring
1970 may have cloth wiring
1960 may have fuse boxes
Holiday lights + kitchen appliances + heaters = overloaded service.
A panel inspection can help prevent mid-season outages or hazards.
⭐ How Copper & Willow Electric Keeps Your Holidays Safe
Copper & Willow Electric provides:
Circuit troubleshooting
Panel upgrades
New dedicated circuits
Outdoor outlet installation
GFCI repair and upgrades
Safe holiday lighting setup checks
Emergency electrical service
Led by Master Electrician James Henry, we bring decades of experience across:
Residential
Commercial
High-security facilities
Remodels
EV and solar integration
We keep homes safe, code-compliant, and holiday-ready.
⭐ Holiday Electrical Safety Checklist
Before you plug anything in, make sure:
✔ Lights are LED and in good condition
✔ Power strips aren’t overloaded
✔ Outdoor cords are weather-rated
✔ Space heaters have a dedicated outlet
✔ GFCIs work properly
✔ Cords aren’t under rugs or doors
✔ Breakers aren’t tripping repeatedly
If something feels off — trust your instincts.