In our last post, we shared some ways to get any home’s electrical system in shape for the upcoming winter months. As you well know, whenever you’re dealing with electricity, safety always comes first. And unfortunately, the holidays are prime time for electrical issues to pop up. Our decades of experience with residential electrical supplies have taught us that having the right equipment and making sure it’s in good shape can make all the difference. Here are five safety tips to help your home’s electrical system get through the holidays.
- Check your decorations. Only purchase lights and lighted decorations that have been certified by a testing lab like UL, CSA, or ETL. If it doesn’t have one of these labels on it, don’t buy it—or continue to use it.
- Inspect them, too. Look for exposed wires, loose bulbs, or sockets that have been damaged. Replace them to reduce the risk of fire or shock.
- Watch those outlets. Don’t overload your circuits by piggybacking multiple strands of lights. Buy power strips to add outlets and protect against fire.
- Give cords their space. Electrical cords need room. Don’t set anything on top of them, cram them into windows, or attach them using nails or staples. (This goes for any cord, not just at the holidays.)
- And give your lights a rest. Unplug any decorations before you leave home or go to bed. You never know what could happen.
If you need to update or replace any type of residential electrical supplies, come to CESCO. We hope these tips help you have a happy and safe holiday season!