As temperatures fall and the nights grow longer, your home will likely experience an uptick in energy demand. With this uptick comes a greater risk of overloading your electrical panel. Some possible consequences of overloading include power outages, sparks, and damaged electronics and appliances. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to practice electricity safety during the holidays if you follow these four simple rules.
1. Examine Wires, Plugs, and Bulbs for Damage
Your holiday decorations have been put away for almost an entire year, so there’s no telling what state they’ll be in when you take them out of storage. Before plugging anything in, examine the wires, sockets, and other components for signs of damage. If you do have a damaged product, plugging it in can cause a spark and possibly trip your power breaker. Some components, like cords and bulbs, can be replaced easily. However, it’s best to throw the entire decoration away if it’s not possible to replace its damaged parts.
2. Don’t Overload Outlets
Your decorations aren’t the only items requiring electricity this holiday season. Some of your holiday guests will come with chargers for their devices. Winter is also flu season, which means you’ll be dragging out space heaters and humidifiers. The average household outlet will have two ports, which means it can safely power two separate devices. As your household electricity demand goes up, resist the temptation to assign more plugs than a single outlet can handle. Instead, use outlets in different rooms or a power strip with surge protection.
3. Connect Maximum of 3 Strings of Light
If you’re decorating with strand lighting this year, keep in mind the “rule of three.” You should only connect a maximum of three strands of lights together to prevent overloading. The more lights you add, the higher the risk of triggering a power surge or electrical fire.
2. Turn Off Lights and Decorations Before Bed
Keeping your lights and other decorations powered on through the night will continue loading your home’s electrical system at a time when nobody’s awake to enjoy them. Doing this can also be potentially hazardous if something sparks, and there’s nobody around to mitigate the issue. To ensure you can enjoy your decorations and stay safe this year, commit to turning off all lights and decorations before bed. Alternatively, install a timer that will automatically do it for you.
Schedule a Maintenance Appointment
Before getting swept up in holiday merry-making, take a moment to put safety first. Talk to your family about the importance of electrical safety during the holidays, and follow these rules to make sure your festivities go off without a hitch. Then, schedule a maintenance appointment with an electrician to ensure all your bases are covered. For more information about electrical panels and other services near Hesperia, CA, contact the experts at JD Ensz Electric, Inc.
