The holidays are coming, and the weather is getting colder. There are plenty of ways to keep your home warm and festive, but there are dangers to be aware of too in order to keep a safe home. Here are a few tips to help you ensure you have a safe home this holiday season.
- The 3-feet rule. One way to make it feel like the holidays is to light a few candles. For safety, consider battery-operated tea lights instead of open flames. However, if you do choose to light real candles, give them at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides, keeping them away from anything flammable such as paper, cloth, and especially your Christmas tree.
- Turn things off. If you light candles, blow them out before going to bed or leaving the house. Likewise, if you use a space heater, don’t forget to turn it off rather than leaving it unattended. If you use a gas furnace, you can leave it on, but adjust the thermostat settings to save energy.
- Ovens. A bit of holiday baking can warm the house on cold days. However, some people simply turn the oven on and leave it open for heat. Particularly if you have a gas oven, don’t do this, as it poses a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which would not make for a safe home. Just rely on your regular heating system instead.
- Space heaters. Space heaters get very hot and use a lot of power, so never plug them into a power strip or an extension cord, as this can overload them and cause a fire hazard. Also, be sure your heater has a fail-safe switch that automatically turns it off if it tips over.
- Light inspection. Holiday lights sit for 11 months of the year, aging and corroding, which makes them safety risks. If you use lights, whether inside or outside, be sure to inspect them for any damage, fraying, or exposed wires, as well as cracked bulbs or broken sockets, and discard them if you find anything.
To ensure a comfortable and safe home at any time of year, contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We provide Yuma with quality heating and cooling solutions.
