How To Protect Your Home From Electrical Fires This Holiday Season
Despite all the safety mechanisms in place for electricity, there’s no reason to take any chances. The decorations many homeowners put up during the holidays can put a strain on a home’s electrical system. While electrical fires are somewhat rare, there are simple things everyone can do to make sure their home is safe all through the holiday season. The following are easy ways to ensure that electrical safety is no longer in doubt this winter.
Check Decorations
Sometimes warding off electrical fires is as easy as checking decorations. Most homeowners test their lights and other decorations to make sure they still function properly, so it’s easy to add one extra step to this. Look for frayed wires, broken bulbs, loose wires, or any damaged components. If they can be safely and effectively fixed, it’s best to do so. Otherwise, discard the damaged decorations in favor of new ones. Many major hardware stores have recycling programs for old holiday lights and decorations.
Those homeowners who have older incandescent lights may want to consider LED lights this year. LEDs are generally considered safer, and they are also more energy-efficient. Some estimates suggest that LED lights use 80% less energy than incandescent lights. Although LEDs are generally more expensive, the cost is usually recouped in a single holiday season, making them an ideal choice for energy and safety-conscious homeowners.
Inspect Smoke and CO Detector Batteries
If the first line of defense is checking decorations for damage, the second is inspecting smoke and CO detectors. Make sure the batteries haven’t gone out or simply replace them when unsure. The holidays are also one of the best times of year to thoroughly test the detectors, as well. These are essential pieces of technology that are hopefully never needed, but they can save lives if they are. Homeowners can sleep better knowing that their guests and loved ones have a warning system in place in case the unthinkable happens.
Unplug Decorations When Out of the House and at Night
The third and final thing homeowners can do to keep the holidays safe is to unplug all decorations when they’re not in use. This means both at night and when they leave the house unattended. Luckily, this is usually pretty easy for most homeowners since the decorations are ultimately plugged into 2 or 3 outlets. Not only does this provide an added layer of safety against electrical fires, but it also helps homeowners save money. After all, leaving the lights on all night can cause the electric bill to skyrocket quickly, especially for those using incandescent lights.
When added together, checking decorations, inspecting detectors, and unplugging both indoor and outdoor decorations when they’re not in use can help ensure a safe and joyous holiday season.
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