It’s Gettin’ Hot in Here

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

A single lit candle in a cathedral.

The holidays are here but SERVPRO Greater Waco is still on alert for your mistletoe mischief, since according to the National Fire Protection Association, Christmas lights cause an estimated 40% of Christmas tree fires.   To fend off the resting Grinch face, we’ve compiled a list of holiday saving tips to keep your holiday season merry and bright.

• Make sure to only purchase UL-listed lights with UL being the industry standard in safety certifying products
• Be careful not to overload extension cords. Before you start plugging in, find out the wattage rating of your extension cord, as well as the power requirements of any lights or decorations you’re planning to plug into it. A wattage rating is the amount of electricity that an extension cord is built to carry, and if the combined power requirements (or “pull”) of your lights and decorations exceed that rating.
• Always turn off all Christmas lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving the house.
• If you’re planning to decorate outdoors, make sure that you use lights and decorations that are rated for outdoor use. Indoor products exposed to the elements can cause a shocking surprise and fire hazard.
• If you need to replace a bulb in a string of Christmas lights, make sure that the wattage rating of the replacement bulb you’re using matches that of the light strand. Using a bulb with too high a wattage can cause the light string to overheat, creating a fire risk.

• Make sure to not run chords or lights behind furniture
• Make sure to throw away damaged lights or chords with wires showing
• If using a real tree, make sure to water it daily to prevent drying out and increasing a fire hazard

• Blow out lit candles and turn off all light strings and decorations when leaving the room or going to bed.