As we move into November, days get cooler. Heaters are brought up from the basement and holiday decorating becomes top of mind. This article is a quick read – and may cause less stress as we move into winter.
- Lights. Inspect any string of lights that you decide to display – Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Make sure the wires haven’t become frayed or pinched. Read manufacturers’ instructions to know how many light strands you can connect to one another. And plug them into a socket first, before hanging them. (You’ll be thankful you didn’t take the time to hang a “dead” string)! Finally, avoid using nails to hang lights.
- Extension Cords / Power Strips / Surge Protectors. Consider the following:
- How far the equipment is from the nearest wall outlet.
- Are your cords certified?
- If buying new ones, check that they are certified and have an on/off switch.
- Don’t plug extension cords together.
- High wattage appliances, such as space heaters, should never be plugged into extension cords or power strips.
- And finally, unplug any cords before bedtime – or before leaving home during the holidays.
- Battery-operated candles look like the real ones – and are much safer. If you insist on lighting a real candle, make sure it’s at least 12 inches from anything that can burn.
- Holiday decorations. If you are buying new decorations, make susre they are labeled as flame resistant. Place directions a good distance from fireplaces, space heaters, heating vents or candles. And make sure you hang decorations securely.
- Space heaters. Place these on a hard, level surface. Keep them 3 feet away from anything flammable. Don’t use them in a workshop or garage. Turn the heater off when you leave the room. And unplug it at night or before leaving the home.
- Pay attention to warnings. Flickering lights, circuit breakers, burning smells and buzzing sounds often signal an alert that something’s not right. Pay attention to it and find the source.
- Holiday trees. Honestly, we’d rather you have a fire-resistant fake tree than a real one! If that’s not your style, than make sure to keep your tree watered, and away from any heat source. Then take it down as soon as it dries out.
Be safe. Have a fire extinguisher handy and save our phone number – just in case.