As the holidays are fast approaching, we are surrounded by cheerful decorations that help to keep us smiling. From fresh cut Christmas trees, to glowing wreaths and shining Menorah's, these decorations are a wonderful addition to our homes. But do you know how important it is to use them responsibly to avoid a potential holiday disaster?
Each holiday decoration or activity can pose its own hazard; and many of these items may carry a serious risk of fire. I won't bring you down with statistics of how many fires and injuries are caused each year; if you do want to read those, follow this link, National Fire Protection Association Statistics. Instead I will talk about how to safely avoid these problems and make sure your holiday is filled with cheer!
Each holiday decoration or activity can pose its own hazard; and many of these items may carry a serious risk of fire. I won't bring you down with statistics of how many fires and injuries are caused each year; if you do want to read those, follow this link, National Fire Protection Association Statistics. Instead I will talk about how to safely avoid these problems and make sure your holiday is filled with cheer!
Outdoor Lights:
Many of us enjoy hanging lights on our roofs, gutters, trees and bushes outside. While these are some of the safest places to hang lights, there are a few precautions you should take.
1. Check each string of lights before using: Make certain there are no broken bulbs, and more importantly, make sure the wires themselves are in good condition. Look for cracks, frayed wire, and even chewed wire! Sometimes our furry woodland friends will chew on the wires!!
2. Use a timer: Always use a timer (rated for outside) and have your lights turn on and off automatically. Not only will this save you money on your energy bill, but by having the lights turn off after 10 or 11 at night, they will not pose a fire risk while your family is sleeping!
3. Watch for sharp edges: When hanging lights, be cautious about lights near metal gutters or trim that may slice into the insulation and cause a short or fire. Never let the wire lay against a sharp edge!
4. Be careful running cords through doors: Often an outside outlet is not available, so the common fix is to run an extension cord under a door. Be extremely cautious and avoid this if at all possible. While some doors may have the gap to do this, most do not. An extension cord is not meant to be pinched between a door and door jamb. This can cause wires to short, fray, cause fires or even electric shock on a steel door. It is better to run a longer extension cord that will reach a proper outlet.
5. Don't overload!: While it is fun to play Clark Griswald, putting 40,000 tree lights on your home could seriously overload your home’s electric service. ALWAYS follow instructions that limit how many lights can be strung together, and never plug too many lights into one outlet, or even one circuit. An overloaded circuit can easily cause a house fire!
Christmas Tree Lights:
Trees and lights go together like toast and jam. If you have a tree in your home for the holidays, you likely have lights on it! There are a few simple things you can do to make sure your tree doesn't start a fire.
1. Water: This is one of the most important steps. Keep your tree watered! Check your tree several times per day to make sure that it ALWAYS has plenty of fresh water. Once we cut the tree down it begins dying. The more moisture you can keep in the tree, the less dry it will become, and the less of a fire hazard it poses.
2. Cut your own tree: Instead of buying from a lot, you can cut down your own tree. Not only can you make it a fun experience, you will be sure your tree has not spent days or more being shipped around, waiting on a lot to be bought - all without being watered. Cutting your own tree and getting it in water the day you cut it, is the best way to ensure your tree lasts as long as possible.
3. Be reasonable with lights: It is great to see a well-lit tree. Just remember you don't have to land a plane with your tree. Lights produce heat; and the more heat, the more it will dry out the tree and the more of a fire hazard it poses.
4. Use a timer: Just as with the outside lights, use a timer that only has the tree lights on when you are home and awake.
Candles / Menorah's: The warm glow of a candle often seems to provide just the right ambiance for a winter evening. Whether it is for ambiance or religious celebration, being extra cautious with an open flame is always important.
1. Never leave a burning flame when you are not in a room! We often light scented candles to make our home smell good. But after one blackened wall in our bathroom, we always extinguish them when leaving a room.
2. Be cautious of pets: While "most" pets are smart enough to not burn themselves on a flame, they can easily knock a candle over. It could be a cat knocking over a Menorah or an excited dog bumping into an end table. Always put your candles on sturdy surfaces and away from other flammable items.
Wreaths: While these may seem like one of the most non threatening decorations, we do have one tip about proper placement of these decorations. The most common place to put a wreath is most often on your front door. There is just one small thing to check. I noticed it this year when the doorbell rang and I went to look out the peep hole to see who was there. Turns out all I could see was a giant holly leaf from the wreath! So, when hanging your wreath this year, take an extra second to make sure you can still see out of your peep hole!!
We know these tips may not keep you 100% safe, but they will go a long way in helping keep your holiday safe and secure. As always, thanks for reading and from our staff at Expert Home Inspections we want to wish you a happy holiday season!
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