Electric Fire Prevention For The Winter Season

12/9/2019 (Permalink)

Christmas lights hanging on the roof of a house.

The holiday season is in full swing and homeowners will decorate their homes inside and out with an assortment of lights and decorations to contribute to the overall atmosphere of your residence. With the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it is very easy to lose track of everything going on; forgetting the finer details that will keep you, your family, and home safe. Increasing the electrical utilization of your home inevitable increases the likelihood of your residence catching on fire and following these tips may equip you to fully enjoy this holiday season. 

All electrical equipment purchased or utilized is required to have a statement on the box stating this equipment is acceptable to use by the federal government. Utilizing government-approved equipment for your decorations is a key step and not doing so can put your family at risk. If the equipment instructions specify for indoor or outdoor use it is paramount that you follow those instructions and not just take it under advisement. 

Be sure when setting up your lights and decorations that they’re placed away from any standing water or snow to reduce the risk of causing an electrical fire to your residence. The placing of electric equipment near any standing water may also cause electrocution. Also, keep any Christmas decorations away from community power lines to reduce the likelihood of over-usage.  

Lastly, turn off the Christmas decorations or unplug them completely when sleeping or leaving your residence for an extended period of time. Although an inconvenience the inability to respond immediately if a fire was to occur when the amount to more damage overall.