December 10, 2024

Electrical Safety During the Holidays

It’s the time of year when homeowners are decorating and plugging a lot of different devices into electrical outlets. While decorations are pleasing to the eye, it’s also important to be safe so you don’t risk blowing a fuse or starting a fire.

Before you plug in any electrical decorations, such as string lights, make sure to inspect them for cracked or damaged sockets or loose wires.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends against connecting more than three strings of incandescent lights together as they could blow a fuse or start a fire due to overheating. Make sure to turn off your decorations before you go to sleep to prevent a potential fire hazard. This will also save on your utility bill. It’s recommended to keep decorations at least three feet away from home heat sources, especially fireplaces and candles.

With large holiday displays, you may be using several extension cords or adapters. However, extension cords are a common cause of home fires. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 3,300 residential fires come from extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring 270 others. The most frequent causes are short circuits, overloading, damage and/or misuse of extension cords. Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric recommends checking your system to ensure it can handle the excess power needs during the holiday season.  

The best gift you can give to you and your family this holiday is upgrading to Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter breakers or outlets. Almost half of the electrical fires that occur each year can be prevented by AFCIs. Applewood recommends a qualified electrician to help assess your electrical needs.

Trees are also a staple for the holidays, but it’s important to remember to take care of the tree. Make sure that you water the tree every day, because dry trees can be a fire hazard, especially when it comes to lighting. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 200 home fires each year start with a Christmas tree.

The holidays are fun, but it’s also important to put safety first. Celebrating safely is key for a happy holiday season.