Tips for Electrical Safety With Lights and Decorations
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more are holidays where many people decorate with lights and festive decor. To make all this possible, homeowners rely on their home's power. Unfortunately, doing so can present some hazardous situations when safety isn't prioritized. In this article, discover some electrical safety tips to help keep the holidays safe.
Inspect Decorations Before They Go Up
Electrical and fire hazards can occur during the holiday season when damaged holiday lights and electric decorations are used. Before decorations go up, it's crucial to inspect them for damage, and if damage is found, they shouldn't be used.
Inspecting lights and decorations doesn't take long and can prevent serious problems. When putting up decorations, take a moment to stop and look for things like:
- Damaged wiring, cords, and bulbs
- Brittle wire insulation
- Signs of overheating, like scorch marks
- Abnormal operation
Strategize
One thing to keep in mind when decorating is the power availability of circuits to prevent an overload that can present electrical issues and hazards. So, homeowners should take the time to plan their lights and decoration displays.
Planning can allow for an attractive display while also practicing electrical safety and avoiding an overloaded circuit. Determining which outlets belong to which circuits can help people spread the electrical load of lights and decor.
Extinguish Flames and Lighting Before Bed
Candles are a festive way to decorate during holidays. However, candles can cause house fires when unattended, so it's crucial to blow them out before bed or before leaving the home. Turning off holiday lights and decor every night and before leaving the house saves energy and also helps reduce the risk of electrical hazards.
If candles are still too tempting for holiday decorations but homeowners don't want to deal with the fire hazard, battery-operated LED candles make a great substitute. These small, battery-powered devices can flicker and give the ambiance of candles without the hazard. Some also have timers that shut off after a certain amount of time.
About Hunter Service Group
Hunter Service Group has a trusted staff that provides electrical service to their community. Their trustworthy teams offer flat-rate pricing and take pride in being on time and ahead of schedule. Call today for electrical services in San Antonio, TX.
