The holiday decoration season is almost here, and whether you go all-out decorating your home for Halloween or wait until December, you need to make sure that your decorations are all safe to use. Electrical fires caused by holiday lights account for roughly $8.9 million in property damage every year, so holiday decoration safety is no laughing matter.
The good news is that staying safe when decorating your home isn’t all that difficult. All it takes is to remain vigilant and follow these safety tips when putting up your holiday decorations.
1. Inspect Your Decorations Before Putting Them Up
Before you put up any of your decorations, inspect them thoroughly to make sure that they’re still in good shape. This primarily applies to older decorations that stay in storage for most of the year, but you should still inspect new decorations that you’ve just bought. Problems such as frayed wires, broken sockets, and damaged plugs can cause electric shocks or even fires if strung up on or around your house.
You may be able to repair some of your broken decorations, but it’s best to replace anything that is too damaged. If there’s any question about whether a decoration is unsafe, err on the side of caution and don’t use it.
2. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
It’s always best to start decorating your home for the holiday season early. This will give you time to inspect and test your decorations and come up with a solid plan if you want your display to be particularly elaborate. If you wait until the last minute, you might get careless and make a costly mistake.
3. Only Use Outdoor-Rated Decorations Outdoors
Some decorations are designed to be used outdoors, while others should only be used indoors. Never assume that any of your decorations are safe for outdoor use. Your decorations should be clearly labeled as indoor or outdoor use on their packaging, so hold onto your old boxes and bags. If you don’t have the original packaging for any of your outdoor decorations, label them yourself and store them with your other outdoor decorations. If you need to use an extension cord for any of your outdoor lights, make sure the cord is designed explicitly for outdoor use.
4. Follow All Manufacturer Instructions
All your holiday lights and decorations come with manufacturer’s instructions and safety guides, so follow them closely. Do not throw these instructions away, either.
5. Do Not Overload Your Electrical Outlets
Plugging too many lights and extension cords into an outlet is a good way to overload your circuits. At the very least, you’ll likely trip a circuit breaker or blow a fuse. At worst, you could start an electrical fire. Only plug one or two electrical devices into an outlet if you can. Use a power strip with a surge protector if you need more outlets. Be mindful of the total wattage that you’re using as well. If you blow a fuse or trip a circuit breaker, you have way too many decorations and lights plugged in and should scale back your extravagant holiday display.
6. Never Connect More Than Three Strands of Lights
If you have strings of incandescent lights, never connect more than three together. Any more could trip a circuit breaker or cause a fire.
7. Use LED Lights
LED lights are more energy-efficient and generate less heat than incandescent lights. They also last much longer, less likely to overload your circuits or cause a fire. If you’re in the market for new holiday lights, consider them. They do have a higher upfront cost, but they are still a worthwhile investment.
8. Keep Decorations Away From Flammable Materials
When you set up your holiday lights, keep them away from flammable materials such as curtains, paper decorations, or dry foliage. Even if your home’s wiring is up to date and in good condition, a hot lightbulb in the wrong place could be enough to start a fire.
9. Keep Your Christmas Tree Watered
If you have a real Christmas tree in your home, keep it watered. Not only will it keep it alive through the holiday season, but it will prevent it from drying out. A dry Christmas tree can quickly become a fire hazard if it’s strung with hot lights or damaged wiring.
10. Use Battery-Powered Candles
Candlelight can add a lot to your holiday decor, but having open flames near a dry Christmas tree or your curtains is a bad idea, as we just discussed above. Instead of lighting candles in your home, invest in battery-powered tea lights. They provide a similar ambiance to actual candles, but they won’t create a fire hazard. They can also be a great option if you don’t trust your electric decorations or if you want to save money on your electric bill.
11. Be Careful With Your Cords
Whether you have lights inside or outside, you need to be careful with your cords. Don’t use any extension cords if they are damaged, and don’t connect one extension cord to another. If one extension cord is too short, find one that’s long enough.
If you have cords inside your home, be careful where you put them. Don’t leave them too close to chairs or table legs that could kink them up or otherwise damage them, and try not to leave them in the middle of a walkway. Not only could they become an obvious tripping hazard, but they could be damaged if someone steps on them.
12. Turn off Your Decorations at Night or When You’re Away From Home
Finally, don’t leave your electric holiday decorations on all the time. Turn them off when you’re away from home or when you go to bed at night. It will reduce the chances of one of them becoming an electrical hazard and keep your electricity bills manageable during the holiday season.
Call Huft Home Services for Assistance With Home Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing
The holiday season can be hard on your home’s electrical system. Even if you don’t have any serious problems during the rest of the year, the extra lights and decorations could strain your home’s wiring and reveal problems you didn’t know you had. If you suspect any issues with your home’s electricity or you’re interested in an electrical panel upgrade, don’t hesitate to contact Huft Home Services. Huft Home Services provides electrical services to homes in Sacramento, CA, and the surrounding areas. Since 2004, we have been dedicated to the complete satisfaction of our customers, whether they require our electrical, HVAC, or plumbing services. We are also accredited by the Better Business Bureau and certified by the NCI.
To learn more about our electrical services or to schedule service for your home in Sacramento or the surrounding area, contact Huft Home Services today. Our team will be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you might have.
