With Christmas coming up, and everyone starting to decorate for the holidays, here are some safety tips:
- Before starting to decorate, inspect for loose connections, or frayed wires
- Replace damaged electrical cords, ornaments, plugs
- Avoid overloading circuits with extension cords and plugs
- Never run extension cords under carpets or rugs
- Ensure you are using the right lights for the job (i.e. outside for outside only and indoor for indoor only), even for extension cords
- Ensure outdoor lights are protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device
- When hanging lights, use insulated or plastic holders or run strings with hooks installed, don’t use tacks, nails, or staples
- If have a live tree in your house, make sure it is watered at all times. A dried tree is a fire hazard
- If buying an artificial tree, make sure you buy one that says “fire retardant”
- Check your lights before putting them in the tree. Plug them in and see if they are all working. Unplug and replace any burnt out ones
- Only hang 3 strings of lights together
- Ensure you turn off all Christmas lights when you are going to sleep
- If your breaker keeps tripping, don’t ignore it. It may be over loaded or the breaker itself may be wearing out, call an electrician
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
