Stay Safe This Winter With Our Top Christmas Light Safety Tips
With the holiday season quickly approaching many families are scrambling to put up their Christmas decorations. Before you rush into the winter decoration frenzy make sure to stay safe with our top Christmas light safety tips in 2020.
1.) Make Sure to Water Your Christmas Tree!
Believe it or not Christmas Trees are a top cause of house fires during the winter months right along side overheated Christmas lights. One tip to mitigate this risk is to water your Christmas Tree daily. A dry tree is much more likely to spontaneously burst into flames then a well hydrated one.
An ever better option if you aren’t to attached to having a real tree is to buy an artificial Christmas Tree made from fire-resistant materials.
Don’t let this happen to you…
2.) Use LED Lights Over Incandescent Lights
LED lights produce far less heat then older incandescent lights. (They also use less electricity saving you money on your electric bill) The combination of incandescent lights with a dry Christmas Tree is a recipe for disaster and should be avoided at all costs.
Even LED lights can overheat, so we strongly recommend that you turn off your Christmas lights before you go to sleep and every-time you leave the house for an extended period of time. If you want to take the hassle out of turning off your Christmas lights you can install a light timer or purchase a wireless control system to shut off lights through your phone. If you want to learn more about wireless control systems check out VPC Electric’s home automation services.
3.) Install Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter Breakers or Outlets
Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters or AFCIs play a massive role in preventing house fires. These AFCI breakers or outlets can detect when there is a short in your circuit and automatically shut off the electricity before your wires overheat and start a house fire.
To learn more about Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters contact VPC Electric and meet with a certified electrician in the Spokane & Coeur d’ Alene area.
For more holiday season safety tips check out this safety video below from ESFI.
4.) Indoor and Outdoor Lights Are Not Interchangeable
This one might seem like common sense but unfortunately many people try to use interior lights on the exterior of their homes. These interior lights typically aren’t sealed against the outside elements and the moisture can seep into the wiring causing a host of problems. If you’re unsure if your Christmas lights are suitable for outdoor use check the label or just play it safe and purchase new outdoor lights.
Water + Electricity + Your Home = Bad Christmas.
5.) Don’t Overload Your Electrical Outlets & Circuits With to Many Lights!
If you ever find yourself in a Christmas light decoration showdown with your neighbors make sure you don’t overdo it without contacting a licensed electrician to make sure your electrical system can handle the increased power load. If your breaker starts tripping after you installed your Christmas lights, you hear crackling noises, or smell burning plastic you should call an emergency electrician right away before you or your home gets seriously damaged.
6.) Be Careful With Extension Cords
Extension cords are a great tool to move electricity far away from an outlet. However, when it comes to the winter months make sure to keep extension cords off the ground and out of potential pools of rain and melted snow.
We also recommend having a surge protection system in place to minimize the damage caused by fluctuating voltage levels in the winter months.
7.) Keep Decorations at Least 3 Feet From a Heat Source
Having holiday decorations within three feet of heat sources such as fireplaces, baseboards, and electrical wall heaters will greatly increase the chances of your favorite festive fern will bursting into flames.
It’s EXTREMELY important to make sure your Christmas tree isn’t to close to a heat source as it’s typically one of the most flammable holiday decorations.
Contact VPC Electric for a Free Holiday Safety Evaluation for Homeowners
We hope you found these 7 Christmas light safety tips for 2019 helpful and we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Safety is a top priority for the communities and customers we serve at VPC Electric. That’s why we are offering free electrical safety evaluation for homeowners in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area. Contact us today for your inspection!
