The holiday season is a magical time, filled with warmth, family, friends and the beautiful glow of festive decorations. As we transform our homes into cheerful sanctuaries, it’s easy to overlook a critical tradition: electrical safety.
Each year, holiday lights and decorations are unfortunately linked to hundreds of home fires, often due to overloaded circuits and improper usage, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NES wants to help you keep the cheer high and the risk low.
Here are your essential tips for a safe and bright holiday season.
- Prioritizing Product Integrity and Inspection
Safety starts before you plug anything in. Be discerning in your product choices: only purchase decorations for indoor and outdoor use that have been tested and bear a label from an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Products lacking this certification have not been vetted and pose an unknown hazard. If you opt for an artificial tree, be sure to check for a “flame-resistant” label.
Thoroughly inspect any decorations you plan to reuse from previous years. Immediately discard cords or light strands that show signs of damage, including cracked sockets, bare or frayed wires or loose connections. Never attempt to repair damaged cords with electrical tape—replacement is the only safe measure.
- The Safety Advantage of LED Lighting and Smart Placements
Upgrading your lighting choice provides a significant safety advantage. NES highly recommends choosing LED holiday lights. Not only are they far more energy-efficient, but they are also much safer because they do not get hot to the touch, dramatically reducing the risk of igniting a dry tree or other materials. The reduced energy draw also lessens the strain on your outlets, which is key for preventing overloads.
When positioning cords, always uncoil extension cords completely before use and place them away from heat sources, water and areas of high foot traffic. Do not run cords under rugs, through doorways or secure them with staples or nails, as they can easily get pinched and create a fire hazard. Remember that two-pronged cords are for indoor use only, while three-pronged cords can be used safely inside and outside.
- Preventing Overloads and Recognizing Electrical Warning Signs
Overloaded electrical outlets are a leading cause of holiday fires. To prevent this, avoid connecting multiple strands together and plug only one high-wattage appliance or device into a single wall outlet at a time. Your electrical system will often provide clear warning signs before a fault occurs.
Familiarize yourself with these indicators of an overloaded or faulty circuit: flickering lights, audible crackling or buzzing sounds coming from outlets, cords that are warm to the touch and burn marks on wall plates. If you observe any of these hazards, immediately unplug the devices and check your breaker box for tripped circuits.
- Maintaining Full Home Safety Readiness
Beyond your decorations, ensure your home’s foundational safety measures are current. A functional smoke detector is your most critical line of defense. Test all units monthly and replace batteries every six months. Never disconnect your smoke detectors, even when holiday cooking creates temporary smoke.
Additionally, the holiday season coincides with winter weather, making power outages likely. If you have a standby generator, make sure it is properly maintained and ready for immediate use.
- Establishing the Essential Nightly Unplug Routine
The greatest risk occurs when lights and flammable decorations are left unattended. Make it a strict habit to unplug all tree lights and decorative outdoor lighting before leaving the house or going to bed. Automatic timers are an excellent and reliable tool to enforce this nightly disconnect.
Opt for safe, battery-powered candles over open flames. The NFPA confirms that unattended candles are responsible for one in five home candle fires, with half of home fire deaths occurring between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, and by taking a few safety precautions from NES, you can ensure your decorations only add to the cheer. Whether it’s choosing fire-resistant trees or switching the LED holiday lights, small steps go a long way. With these holiday decorating safety tips, you’re set for a safe and festive season.
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