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How to Keep Safe with Your Christmas Decor

It's almost the holidays, people, that most anticipated time of the year when millions of families across America resurrect decors, flickering lights and electronic Santas from their basements and garages, and prepare for that favorite December activity: decorating.

Although holiday decorating is mainly about creating a warm and fun atmosphere for a very special season, you have to remember that a lot of our favorite decorations run on electricity. Keep a totally avoidable accident at bay by following the holiday decor and lawn fertilization safety tips below: 

> Stick to UL-listed electric decorations, lights and extension cords.

 

> If the plan is to decorate outdoors, don't use lights and decorations that are not rated for this type of use. Exposing indoor-only products to the weather can cause to electric shock and or fire.

> When in doubt about whether or not light strings are rated for outdoor or indoor use, inspect the product's package and look for the color-coded UL mark - green for indoor and red for both indoor and outdoor. You can also make sure that your surroundings are clean with the help of lawn care services.

 

> Old or new, always inspect all kinds of electric decorations and extension cords before putting them up. The bulbs, wire insulation and plugs should be examined carefully. If you see any problems, have them professionally checked and fixed first before using the d?cor. Some damages though may be irreparable, usually those that involve the cords and plugs. In such a case, simply discard the d?cor.

 

> Lights should be unplugged before changing bulbs or fuses or doing any type of repair. 

 

> Should you have to replace a bulb on a line of Christmas lights, first check if the new bulb's rating is a match to the light strand's. If the bulb's  wattage is too high, the light string can overheat and cause a fire.

 

> To avoid electrocution, use ladders made of non-conductive materials (for instance, fiberglass or wood) when hanging Christmas lights outdoors to avoid electrocution.

> Never use lights and decorations beyond manufacturers' instructions.

> Know the safe number of light strands that can be connected end-to-end (3 is the norm) before you begin decorating.

> Be conscious about overloading extension cords.

Always check your extension cord's wattage rating, making sure the combined power requirements of your lights or decors do not exceed it. Otherwise, the cord can overheat and cause a fire.

> Check your Christmas light wires every now and then to make sure that they're not warm to the touch. Again, a fire can occur otherwise.

> Lastly, turn off all your lights and decorations before you retire for the night or leave the house.

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