Holiday Décor Electrical Safety

27 Oct Holiday Décor Electrical Safety

Whether you are lighting up pumpkins, featuring an electric menorah, or decorating a Christmas tree, holiday seasons can become dangerous times for electrical safety. Christmas trees alone cause hundreds of home fires each year due to electrical failures or nearby open flames. We want to help you keep your home and family safe and jolly this holiday season, which is why we are providing you with our top tips for holiday décor electrical safety.

Check for Damage

Before investing hours into hanging up lights or decorations, check each one to ensure that they are in proper working order. Do not use anything that has frayed wires and cracks. Also, make sure that there is a light bulb in each socket!

No Touch

All decorations that use electricity should be kept well away from everything else; be especially careful of any fabrics, such as rugs, drapes, table runners, etc. If the decoration gets too hot, it may cause the adjacent item or material to catch fire.

Cord Placement

Cords crisscrossing the floor can be a hazard, not only for tripping but electrically as well. A cord that gets kicked and scuffed can end up twisted or bent out of shape. When this happens, it can become a fire hazard.

Use a Timer

Whether you are the type of person who forgets to turn off the lights or not, a timer is a valuable asset. Using a timer to turn off the lights when you are asleep or away at work will help to prevent accidental fires and keep your electricity costs down!

Clips, Not Nails

You NEVER want to run a nail through a cord or wire. Even if you are trying to hang it up, don’t do it. Use clips instead! There is a vast array of specially designed décor clips to make this job simple, easy, and safe!

Outdoor Safe

Your outdoor decorations need the same attention to detail when it comes to safety as your inside décor. First, you need to check that your decorations are rated to be outside; they should be marked with a red “UL” to signify that they are both indoor and outdoor safe. Ensure that this includes any cords, switches, or other devices that you use to get them hooked up.

Second, when decorating (especially if you have items on the roof), make sure that they are all away from power lines, including the ladder you use to set them up! You don’t want anything getting tangled up!

Lastly, make sure that your outdoor decorations are plugged into circuits protected by grounder fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent electric shock.

When was the last time that you had an electrical inspection? It is recommended that you get one at least once a year. Give yourself an early holiday present and ease of mind by calling your local electrician today to schedule an inspection!