Almost 2/3rd of Americans decorate there home with some sort of electric lights during the holiday season. Over half require the use of some sort of extension cord and or power splitter during there holiday lighting decoration process. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Reports that Christmas tree fires alone cause on average an estimated $16.2 million in direct property damage, 16 injuries, and 6 deaths every year. This statistic does not include injuries or deaths due to outdoor lighting electric shock or fall injuries such as ladder work.
Our Top 10 Holiday Safety Tips!
Use a ladder correctly!OSHArules are the standard for the construction industry. Homeowners gain vast safety knowledge as well by checking the OSHAwebsite. Do not load ladders beyond their maximum intended load nor beyond their manufacturer’s rated capacity. Do not move, shift or extend ladders while in use. Face the ladder when moving up or down. Use at least one hand to grasp the ladder when climbing. Additional ladder safety tips can be found here.
Fake Is Safer! A modern artificial tree is fire resistant and much safer to use when compared to a real tree. Yes, I agree with you, nothing says Christmas like a freshly cut tree filling the air with pine freshness. However, a tree labeled “fire resistant” is a much safer alternative when compared to a real tree. If you do use a real tree inside your home please be sure to keep it watered! A dried out tree can easily catch fire and spread rapidly. Tree fires easily spread to nearby furnishings such as drapes and upholstered items like couches. Regardless if your tree is real or fake remember to shut off the lights before going to bed.
LED Or Bust! Incandescent lamps are more susceptible to filament damage, produce a lot more heat compared to LED, and are more expensive to operate. Incandescent lamps can more easily overload your electrical system. Having too many lights plugged into one outlet and or circuit can cause the wires in your home to get hot and possibly overheat. The less power your lights pull, the cooler the wires in your home will be.
Don’t Use Candles! Candles were pretty much the standard in holiday decorations at one time. They were even placed on real trees! Dramatically reduce the risk of fires in your home and DO NOT USE THEM! If you feel you really need the look of a candle there are artificial options on the market that produce the look of a traditional candle.
Modern LED Candle
Use The Right Extension Cords! If you must use an extension cord be sure to use the correct one. Only use UL listed cords. If your using the cord outdoors make sure its rated for outdoor use. Never use an indoor extension cord outdoors. The insulation covering the wires may not be rated to protect the cables or wires from moisture. Also, indoor extension cords do not always have UV resistant insulation. Even a short time outdoors can break down the cord insulation rapidly when exposed to the suns UV light. When using cords #12 gauge is the best rule of thumb. The lower the number the heavier duty the cord is. Many fires are started by homeowners using lightweight #16 or smaller extension cords. You will want to know the total amount of power you will be running through your cord and be sure to choose a cord heavy duty enough. Never choose a cord smaller than #14 gauge.
Don’t Overload! By now you should be using LED lighting exclusively in your lighting display. However, even with LED lighting, you will still need to be sure not to overload your homes electrical system.
Call In The Professionals! Many homeowners put themselves and their property at substantial risk while decorating there home. No lighting display is ever worth getting hurt over or catching your home on fire. Ladders are a leading cause of injuries even to professional contractors. Add in snow, ice, and windy conditions and you have a much greater risk of injury or even death. Most professional holiday lighting installers have programs were they will store your lights in the office season. One phone call for installation and they will automatically come out to remove your lights after the season and store them until next year! Currently, we do not offer this service but you can contact us anytime and we will be happy to provide you with a local reputable referral!
Custom Electrical Services provides residential and commercial electrician's services for the Des Moines area. We do new installations and wiring, service & repair calls as well as 24/7 emergency service.
