The holidays usually bring a lot of cheer, but they can also increase the risk of home electrical hazards. There are plenty of reasons to be especially alert this time of year, from overloaded circuits to faulty equipment and old wiring. Before you’re done with all your shopping, think about your family’s safety and call your electrician in Rosemont for a home inspection.
Keep Your Family Safe
Holiday lighting is responsible for an estimated three-quarters of residential fires between December and February. Lights on the Christmas trees account for more than half of these fires, and faulty extension cords account for nearly a quarter. Holiday lighting is responsible for more than $53 million in residential property damage annually. Plus, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), over 60 electrocutions happen every year due to faulty consumer electrical products, including extension cords.
To avoid holiday electrical hazards this time of year, follow these safety tips:
- Only use three-wire extension cords that are UL listed for outdoors when installing holiday lights.
- Make sure all outdoor lights are either approved for exterior use or have weatherproof sleeves covering the wiring.
- Keep electrical cords and holiday lighting away from sources of water.
- Unplug all lights before leaving home.
- Install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in residential areas like kitchens and bathrooms to prevent electric shock.
A Trusted Electrician in Rosemont
When it comes to safety, your family is our top priority. Contact Tim Kyle Electric to schedule a residential electrical service by one of our experienced electricians. Call us at 410-876-9404 or contact us online. For most people, it’s hard to determine the source of an electrical problem. It can be dangerous for the inexperienced homeowners to go poking around in wiring and other areas, too. Fortunately, that’s where we come in: our skilled technicians can work with you to identify the issue and to quickly and safely address it. No job is too small here at Tim Kyle; we take every case seriously, whether it’s a burnt-out light bulb or updating the wiring in your house.