Electrical
Electrical safety in Lenexa, KS

Electric usage typically increases during the holiday season thanks to many people putting up decorations like Christmas trees and outdoor lights. Although it might seem like second nature if you’ve been doing it for years, it never hurts to have a refresher course and learn new information in the process. Let’s talk about some electrical tips to keep in mind this holiday season.

Evaluate Cords Before You Use Them

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that cords won’t be damaged simply because you had them still packed up from last year or that you don’t need to look them over because they came fresh out of the box from the store. Various unexpected situations could make them unsafe for use. For example, a mouse could have gotten into the box at home and chewed on the cord, or the cord from the store might be defective or have broken bulbs.

Look the cords over thoroughly, ensuring they’re intact all along the line. If you’re checking out holiday lights, do the same, and make sure all the bulbs are intact with no signs of chips or cracks.

Check for any signs of problems, such as exposed wires, rusting on the pins, frayed wires, cracked bulbs, and burn marks. If you notice any damage on the ones you’ve had for a while, toss them out instead of using them, but if you spot problems with newly purchased cords, contact the store to see if you can get a refund or replacement. Before throwing the cords right into use, plug them in, and let them sit on the table (while you’re home) for about 30 minutes to make sure they operate safely and correctly. Make sure there are no signs of potential problems, such as the cords getting too hot, they start smoking, or they emit a foul odor.

Don’t Put Candles in Front of Electrical Wires

Lit candles in front of twinkling Christmas lights is a lovely setup, particularly on a table or mantel, but it’s certainly not the safest. For starters, the candles could easily heat up the wires or catch them on fire. Another issue is that one accidental wrong move of the wire could send the lit candle flying and catch anything on fire that it lands on, including carpeting, wrapping paper, and the Christmas tree.

One option is to avoid using traditional candles in your decorating and use battery-operated candles instead. If you choose to use traditional candles, make sure they’re nowhere near electrical wires, they’re stable on a flat surface, and there’s no risk of tipping over.

Don’t Overload Power Strips

Just because a power strip has several outlets doesn’t mean you should plug items into all of them. It’s important to adhere to the voltage guidelines on the power strip; otherwise, you not only risk tripping your breaker but could put your home at risk for a fire. For your safety, keep the items you plug in to a minimum.

Keep Cords Away From Pets and Kids

Many people already know how important it is to keep cords away from pets and kids, but considering how vital it is, it must be mentioned. This can be especially crucial if you have a child who recently started to crawl or walk or a new pet that’s discovering and exploring your home for the first time.

Christmas decorations stray from the everyday decor in the home and are bright and shiny, certainly interesting for both kids and animals. Avoid looking at things from your angle, but instead, look from their perspective, including if they climb. If it’s possible for them to get access to the cords, you might want to relocate the decor to a safer area.

Use Indoor and Outdoor Lights Only in Their Respective Areas

Indoor and outdoor holiday lights may seem like the exact same thing, but they’re actually different and are designed for use in their respective areas: indoor lights inside and outdoor lights outside. There are some marked as being safe for indoor/outdoor use.

Outdoor lights usually get hotter than indoor lights, so bringing them indoors could pose a fire risk. However, they’re also designed to hold up to the elements, which indoor lights aren’t. It might seem tempting to use each type in the opposite place, especially if you need only one or two more strands of lights, but for safety purposes, it’s better to purchase additional lights instead.

Don’t Leave Christmas Lights Plugged On / Plugged In

Christmas lights can get hot the longer you leave them plugged in, creating a potential fire risk if you leave them on and plugged in while you fall asleep or if you go out somewhere. Make sure you turn them off when you’re not home and before you go to bed, or at the very least, put them on a timer. Another option is to unplug them completely.

It can be lovely to wake up in the middle of the night and see Christmas lights or return home to see them illuminating the night, but if you’re sleeping or not home and something goes wrong, it’s a dangerous situation you won’t be able to try and stop early in its tracks.

Get Vintage Decorations Evaluated

Vintage holiday decorations are beautiful and have a charming appeal, but they can also be a fire risk. Fire codes have changed over the years, and the decor may not meet current standards. There’s also no telling what they’ve been through, such as if they encountered water damage at some point.

You can strictly use the vintage holiday items as decor without turning anything on or plugging them in. However, if you want the ability to do so, you could contact a local electrician to see if they would inspect the items and advise you if they’re safe to use.

Only Use Approved Holiday Lights

Look for information on your Christmas lights, including the ones on pre-lit decor like trees, that the lights meet current safety standards. It will typically be on a tag on the lights and feature a marking such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL). You’ll also notice the marking on the packaging. If the lights don’t have this (or a similar) marking, forgo using them.

Be Mindful of Where You Put Extension Cords

Extension cords are designed for durability but can easily get damaged if put in certain situations. For example, don’t put them anywhere where they might get run over with a vacuum or shove them into a door frame where the constant opening and closing can cause wear and tear over time. Put them in safe areas away from heat sources and where there’s no risk of them getting wet or damaged or where someone could trip over them.

Don’t put yourself, your family, and your home at risk due to preventable electrical issues this holiday season. Contact MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric in Lenexa, Kansas, for help with everything from inspecting your wiring and installing smoke detectors to installing new outlets and performing maintenance on your circuit breakers. We also handle HVAC and plumbing services. Call us to schedule standard or emergency services, or you can send us a message through our website for more information on electrical repair.

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