Most people love the holidays; it’s a time of the year for gifts to be exchanged, family to get together, decorations, and just overall happy vibes. However, the risk of having a house fire is much higher during the holidays than it is during other times of the year. This is because people often put up lights that use electrical cords and have fires in their fireplaces. Even though the holidays are bound to bring cheer and joy to your household, you still need to be sure that it’s not at risk of catching fire. The last thing you want to deal with during such a joyful time of the year is a house fire that’s sure to put a damper on everybody’s uplifted moods.
Before you go hanging up lights and chopping firewood, it’s a good idea to take some precautionary measures that will ensure your home is as safe as possible. Here are some simple things you can do that will decrease the risk of a house fire dramatically:
- Check the flue in your fireplace and ensure that it is wiped clean and doesn’t contain any debris. A clogged flue can cause a number of problems for your home–from smoke damage to actual fires.
- Be sure that your Christmas lights are used in moderation. Excessive lights on your Christmas tree can heat it up to well over 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is going to make your home uncomfortable and dangerous.
- Only burn wood in your home that is deemed safe for fireplaces. It may be tempting to pick up some free wood you find on the side of the road, but different trees are going to burn differently. You don’t want to light your fireplace with logs that are going to sizzle, pop, and throw sparks all over your living room.
- Before using your fireplace, ensure that there are no cloth materials anywhere near it. It’s classic to hang stockings over the fireplace, but try putting them on the wall above it instead. A hot-burning fire may provide enough heat to ignite one of those stockings and start a fire inside your home.
If you take care to fire-proof your home, then you won’t need to worry as much about any surprises happening during the holiday season. Also, you should make sure to purchase Christmas lights that come with safety fuses in the plugs that prevent electrical circuits from becoming overwhelmed. Some people tend to load up their Christmas tree with lights, which is fine in most cases, but only if the right type of lights are being used.
It may be tempting to leave your Christmas tree in the front window where everybody can see and admire it, even during the night, but you should unplug the lights from the wall before going to bed. Taking these simple steps before jumping into the holidays will ensure that you and your family members can truly enjoy the holiday season with peace of mind.
