Wintertime means additional electrical usage to stay warm and light our homes. The holidays bring candles, decorative lighting and displays. All can create unsafe situations if our home’s electrical is not operating 100% correctly.

Each year more than 50,000 fires are attributed to electrical malfunctions in your home. At this time of the season it is incredibly heartbreaking to read about preventable home fires.

Please ready our Holiday Safety List — and check it twice to make sure your holiday and home will be merry and bright!

  1. Water your tree daily so needles don’t dry out. Discard tree as soon as possible after Christmas. One spark coupled with a dry tree can quickly create a fire.
  2. Make sure your smoke detectors and CO2 detectors are operating properly and compliant with new MD safety laws. Perform monthly checks.
  3. If an outlet feels hot, or you hear buzzing, turn off power to that outlet immediately.
  4. If you are experiencing flickering lights, you may need more power. With electrical usage increasing with space heaters and lights, you could be putting too much demands on your home’s existing power. Consult an electrician.
  5. If you are experiencing a repeating tripped circuit breaker, consult an electrician. This means an unsafe condition or overload of electricity.
  6. Funny or burnt odors can indicate an imminent problem. Seek help and possibly an electrician.
  7. Exposed wires without their insulation are a major hazard, indoors or outdoors. Whether holiday lights or from appliances it is time to replace if wiring is exposed.
  8. Make sure your outdoor lighting and décor are plugged into GFCI outlets. This way if an unsafe situation occurs with the lights, the outlet will turn off power.
  9. If you travel to visit relatives or go on vacation, unplug as many items as possible, try to leave lights off, or keep limited lights on timers. Do not leave any lights on trees “on” for long periods of time.

While these ideas are great for your home, know that they also may be perfect for gift giving around the holidays. Walter Electric is ready to help you navigate your smart product installations for you or your family. Call 410-590-5959 to schedule your smart service now.