Decorations that require electricity are very common during
the holiday season. Many people decorate indoors and outdoors for holidays like
Halloween and Christmas. Often, electrical problems can occur because of these
decorations. People run the risk of encountering overloads, blown fuses, and
even fire.
How Can You Avoid Electrical Problems?
We all want to keep our home safe and festive during the holiday
season. Here are some helpful tips from WikiHow to minimize the risk of running into
electrical problems:
1. Choose non-electric holiday décor whenever possible. Reducing energy consumption will drastically minimize the risk. Think about using candles or battery-operated décor instead of that huge, inflatable pumpkin to put on the front lawn.
2. Hang up fewer strings of lights. Using less strings of lights or similar décor will reduce problems. Rather than tracing the outline of your house, every tree, bush, and window, you could choose one focus point to hang lights on.
3. Switch to LED lights. By replacing incandescent strings of lights with more efficient LED lights, you will reduce energy consumption. Again, reducing consumption is best way to avoid electrical problems. LED lights generate less heat which can lower the risk of fire or electrical overload. A perk to making the switch is that you won’t be replacing the lights every other year. LED’s last much longer.
4. Do not overload one circuit. Sure, we could plug-in items end-to-end and then use just one outlet but that’s not very safe. It is best to use multiple outlets. Spread out your energy consumption through the house. Avoid using one circuit or one area of the house to plug-in items.
5. Buy new décor when older items show signs of damage. We tend to make vivid displays outdoors by often using the same décor every year. Outdoor exposure could cause wear and tear that damages the insulation of electrical items. It is best to replace these items right away because their damage could lead to short circuits and/or fire.
6. Keep electrics away from heat sources. Heat sources like the stove or candles can melt wire insulation and lead to electrical fires. It might be best to not put any electrical décor around the fireplace.
7. Water your Christmas tree. A dry Christmas tree can catch fire from the heat generated by the lights on it. Don’t forget to water your tree regularly!
If you need help setting up your holiday display safely or installing features that can safeguard your home from electrical issues, contact a local electrical repair service company.
