Holiday Electric Safety

Cold, crisp days and long winter nights are upon us, filled with the glow of holiday lights, warm homes, and higher electric usage.

With higher usage comes the need for greater electrical safety. Keep your holiday season merry and bright with these electric safety tips.

• Own a real Christmas tree? Keep it watered and use LED lighting for decorations to reduce fire hazard. 
• Use the correct size extension cords for your decorations. Don’t use cords that are too thin or too long. Don’t connect extension cords end-to-end.
• Do not overload outlets. Plug in only a few strands of lights at a time. 
• Inspect light strands for frays, cracks, or breaks!
• Ensure you use the right holiday lighting! Are the lights designed for indoor or outdoor use?
• Use a powerstrip for lighting. A powerstrip makes it easier to turn off multiple light strands and features a built-in circuit breaker.
• Turn off lights or use a timer for lighting when you go to bed or leave the house.
• Any space heater should be UL-tested and feature a tip-over safety switch.
• Never plug a space heater into a powerstrip. Space heaters use large amounts of energy and can melt a powerstrip.