Holiday Light Safety

12/4/2019 (Permalink)

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

It’s an exciting time of year as the holiday season is here.  Many families use decorative lights to hang throughout their homes inside and out to add a bit of extra joy!  With all the festivities going on, it is important to remember that holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire

You don’t want any type of fire damage to affect your home during this festive time of year. To avoid any hazards from happening here are a few precautions about holiday lights that can help keep your holidays jolly!

It’s important to keep Christmas trees at least three feet away from any heat source (fireplace, space heaters, candles, etc).  As lights go on the tree, be sure to be careful opening a new package.  Take the time to inspect each strand in case of any fray or lose wires and broken sockets.  If you come across these things, consider to return them to the store or throwing them away. 

Do not put more lights around the tree then recommended.  If the tree or outlet is overloaded by lights, it can potentially cause a fire.  Unplug lights or use a timer to help turn them off when no one is home.

If you want to hang lights outside, don’t use nails or staples as they can damage the wiring. Invest in quality hooks or hangers. Once the holidays are over, take down all outside lights. Small animals, like squirrels, may start chewing on the wires if you leave them up all year.

SERVPRO of Victoria is here to help when disaster strikes.  We want to help our community stay safe around the holiday season!