Prioritize Holiday Electrical Safety
Decorative lights use electricity, which increases the risk of electrical shortages, house fires, and other electrical accidents.
Special lighting and decorations are inseparable parts of holiday celebrations. However, several of these decorative items use electricity, which increases the risk of electrical shortages, house fires, and other electrical accidents. As electricity usage rises significantly during holidays, it becomes mandatory to take proper precautions and make electrical safety the top priority.
Hundreds of residential fires are reported every year during the season due to holiday décor and electrical issues with the Christmas trees. Here are some electrical safety tips for homeowners who love to deck up their homes with twinkling lights during holidays:
Inspect everything properly
The first step is to inspect last year’s holiday decorations for safety and proper functioning. Look for loose or frayed wires, broken sockets, loose connections, missing or faulty bulbs, and other damages. Then, when buying new decorations, opt for fire-resistant varieties from reputable manufacturers.
Avoid overloading the circuits
Overloaded circuits are a common problem and a leading cause of electrical fires during holidays. Avoid plugging a cord with too many decorations into an outlet or use more than one high-wattage appliance for a single outlet. Distribute the lighting among different power cords and use power strips with surge protectors.
Stay careful with the holiday lights
Failure to use decorative lights properly can create a lot of trouble. Do not string too many incandescent Christmas lights together to prevent a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker or increase the fire risk due to overheating. Avoid hanging exterior lights too close to the power lines. Read the instructions carefully and use outdoor lights for outside and lights labeled for indoor use inside. Use only GFCI outlets to plug outdoor lights and other decorations.
Use extension cords safely
Check the extension cords for damage before using them, and only use power cords rated for the intended use. Do not run extension cords under rugs; put them near the heat source, attach them with nails, or place them running across walkways, and keep them away from kids’ reach to prevent any harm.
Minimize the use of candles
While candles look lovely as a part of the decoration, they are the culprits behind several home decoration fires. If you want to burn candles, never leave them unattended. The better and safer option is to use battery-operated candles.
Ensure proper clearance around heat sources
Do not keep anything that can easily catch fire near heat sources, like a fireplace or heater, to minimize the risk of accidental fire. Gifts, wrapping paper, Christmas trees, curtains, paper, and cardboard are some flammable materials to be kept away.
Use LEDs
LED bulbs are perfect for holiday lighting. They last longer, emit less heat, save money on energy bills, and significantly lower the chance of fire.
Christmas tree care
Christmas trees can become a severe fire hazard if not handled correctly. Purchase a fire-resistant artificial Christmas tree as they are less prone to overheating, and the fire is much easier to put out. If buying a real tree, keep it well-hydrated, and use fire-resistant materials for decoration.
Turn off the lights
Keeping the decorative lights on at all times is not safe. Instead, turn off and unplug the decorations and extinguish candles before going to bed or out of the home.
Contact a local electrician if you have more questions about ensuring electrical safety during the holidays.
Zimmerman Electric is here to serve your residential and commercial electrical needs throughout the Phoenix Valley metro area. Call us today if you need electrical work performed 602-497-3365.
