Preparing for the Holidays: Decorating with Christmas Lights

11/19/2019 (Permalink)

The holidays are upon us once again. With more people living a hectic lifestyle, decorating for the Christmas season tends to happen earlier within the year. Whether you decide to be several festive months in advance by putting up your tree or the week leading up to Christmas, it is always good to remember how to keep your home safe against unexpected fires.

These are some helpful suggestions offered by the Christmas Tree Association:

• Fresh trees are less likely to catch fire, so look for a tree with vibrant green needles that are hard to pluck and don’t break easily from its branches. The tree shouldn’t be shedding its needles readily.
• Always place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights, and keep the tree base filled with water to avoid a dry out.
• Make sure all your indoor and outdoor Christmas lights have been tested in a lab by the UL or ETL/ITSNA for safety and throw out any damaged lights.
• Any lights you use outdoors must be labeled suitable for exterior placement and be sure to plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter protected receptacle.
• Keep all your holiday candles away from your Christmas tree, surrounding furniture and décor.
• Bedtime means lights off! ­ Don’t forget to turn your Christmas tree lights off each night.

Do keep in mind, the earlier you display your freshly cut Christmas Tree, the more maintenance is required to keep your evergreen looking full and lively. Water should be added to the tree stand every day. Gently shake the tree to see if any needles fall off; if many do, the tree isn’t getting enough water. Let the needles and the branches be your guide on whether your tree is too dry and needs more watering.

An unwatered Christmas tree can set an entire room ablaze in less than 20 seconds, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  

At SERVPRO of West Brown County, we know a fire can be one of the most devastating events a homeowner might face. Flames often start suddenly, move quickly and cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. We also understand how a fire can throw a person’s entire life into chaos. That’s why our team is prepared to help in your time of need.

If a fire devastates your home, give us a call at (920) 434-8224.

As always, our goal is to make it, “Like it never even happened.”