There’s already Christmas music playing in the malls, seasonal peppermint hot chocolate drinks are back and the air is crisp and chilly. This can only mean one thing—the holidays are approaching! But while this special time of year is best known for bringing happiness and cheer, it is also notorious for a high number of residential electrical issues, including fires. So as you head up in the attic to bring down all those boxes filled with Christmas decorations, you should be pondering over safety concerns to discuss with your family. Safety first—especially during the holidays!
On that note, let’s take a look at a few tips your local electrician in Comal County, TX wants you to keep in mind for a safe holiday season.
Avoid electrical outlet overload
Christmas lights and other light-up decorations are not the only things that use electricity this time of year. Add in your daily energy usage—including running the washer and dryer, dishwasher, hair dryers, the television and computers—and whatever your overnight holiday guests are contributing, and your breaker could be at risk. To avoid overloading a single outlet, don’t plug in too many cords, and have an electrician in Comal County, TX ensure that your home has a quality surge protector.
Water your Christmas tree
Every year, many households across America pick out a fresh Christmas tree in celebration of the holidays. You probably decorate your tree with beautiful ornaments and little lights without considering the possible dangers. Electric lights that are strung over dry tree branches pose a fire hazard; in fact, dry Christmas trees top the list of causes of house fires during the holidays. Keep your tree watered so its branches are always healthy and lush.
Don’t run cords under carpeting
Extension cords and Christmas light cords are ugly, and they’re also trip hazards for people and pets. We get it—using them is often unavoidable—but don’t try covering them up with carpets or rugs. Should the outlet overload to the point of sparking, the fabric could catch fire, which would be easy since the hot cords are right underneath. Instead of running cords all over the place or connecting several cords together, choose an outlet that’s closer to where you need to plug in.
Plan for being gone
If you won’t be around to monitor your holiday lights, but decide to leave them on anyway, you may be putting your home and family in danger. Whether you’re just leaving the house for a few hours or going to bed, remember to unplug indoor Christmas lights and switch off outdoor lights as well. Leaving for vacation? Turn off all electrical devices and Christmas lights to avoid fires caused by an electrical malfunction while your gone.
Make sure your Christmas is filled with sparks gleaming in the eyes of your loved ones, not electrical sparks flying out from an overloaded wall outlet. If you have concerns about your home’s electricity, want to add residential surge protection or need emergency services, call the team at Lowry Electrical and a professional electrician in Comal County, TX will assist you.