It’s the most wonderful time of the year – time to get those holiday decorations out and go to town decorating! There’s lots to be excited about, but don’t get so excited you forget about potential electrical hazards that are also common this time of year. We’ve listed a few common electrical hazards you should be sure to watch out for, and how you can avoid them so your holidays stay jolly all season long!
Oh, Christmas Tree
Make sure your Christmas tree is safe this holiday season!
Fake or fresh, no matter which you pick, you’re gonna want to make sure it’s safe in your home this season.
The most common cause of holiday fires is electrical failures with tree lights. Be sure to not connect more than three strands of mini strings together to avoid any electrical hazards. If you have an artificial tree, don’t plug it into an overloaded electrical socket or it could go up in flames.
While you should be aware of holiday lights, you should also watch out for a dry Christmas tree. A dry tree will not only catch fire but will burn faster than newspaper. Keep it well-hydrated throughout the season and you’ll not only have a happy tree but a safe home!
Checkin’ Them Twice
Santa does this to check who’s been good and who’s been naughty. Y’all should do this to see which electrical decorations are safe and which are not.
Your decorations have been sittin’ in your attic or garage since last year, and only the dust bunnies know what’s happened to them since then. Before bringing them all out and plunging them all in, check them for any damage. Look for damage or cracks around the plugs, loose connections, or bare wires. All of these things could not only cause you a serious shock but also a fire.
Toss the ones deemed unfit, and take the lights that have passed and get to decorating!
Underneath the Tree
We’re not talking about the presents (though we wish we were). You’re going to be plugging in a lot of things before the month is out, so make sure you’re doing it the right way to avoid electrical hazards.
You should be using extension cords if you’re plugging in lots of decorations. Oh, just as a reminder, please y’all, don’t plug an extension cord into an extension cord. That’ll get you on our naughty list. Anyways, your extension cord will be doing a lot of heavy lifting in terms of power, and if it overheats, it can blow or cause a fire. Make sure to touch the cord every once in a while to check its temperature. If it’s running hot, unplug it.
These Christmas Lights
Decorate your house with safety in mind this holiday season!
Outdoor Christmas lights certainly are beautiful! And making sure you’re putting them up the right way is essential when it comes to the safety of you and your family.
Just like indoor decorations, outdoor lights can give you a shock or set off a fire. To avoid that, purchase outdoor indicated Underwriters Laboratories (UL) lights and extension cords. UL-listed means that those Christmas lights have been tested and approved before being sold or installed. Having outdoor specific lights and extension cords will just make sure they are waterproof.
And to All a Good Night
Heading off to bed while your Christmas tree and front lawn lights are still twinkling away might seem like something out of the movies. Yeah, there’s a reason that’s only a movie thing.
If you leave your decorations all night, not only will it add up on your electricity bill, but it’s a huge safety issue. Before heading off to bed, make sure decorations are turned off and unplugged.
Stay Merry With Speck Family Electric
With so much electricity being used for the holiday season, problems are sure to pop up, especially at the worst times. Speck Family Electric is here for you this holiday season to help fix any problems and get you on your merry way again. We’re always here to help our beloved Tennessee homeowners. We service those in Sparta, Chattanooga, Cookeville, Crossville, Gallatin, Lebanon, McMinnville, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro, and Smithville.
