Christmas Decorating Safety Tips

Yeah, that’s right… Christmas decorations are harmful. That is, if they aren’t used properly.

Just the other day I tried to change a broken lightbulb in a string of Christmas lights… while they were plugged in. Yes, I’m admitting that momentary lack in judgment. My finger got a little zinger and no real harm done.

But, what if it had been worse? There are many ways that carelessness and oversight when dealing with Christmas decorations can have really terrible results. Electrocution, burns, a trip to the hospital, starting a fire – these are all possibilities if you’re not careful.

Using a Real Tree

They’re certainly beautiful, but real Christmas trees require extra care to prevent a fire. First, make sure the tree is fresh. If you can’t get to a tree farm to cut one down yourself so you know how fresh it is (the closest one is Cole’s Tree Farm in Lebanon – another is King Tree Farm in Ozark, but the trees are pre-cut), then there are few ways you can check:

• Needles resist being pulled off
• Needles do not snap when bent
• Bottom of the trunk has resin
• Only a few needles fall when you shake a limb

It may sound like a bit of common sense, but don’t place your real tree near the fireplace, heating ducts, space heaters or radiators. This is a fire waiting to happen. Also, be sure to water the tree daily to keep it from getting dry. Know that, if the water falls below the trunk, then a resin seal will form over the opening and the tree will no longer take on water. In which case you will need to make a fresh cut in the bottom of the trunk (the outside rings are where the most water is absorbed). If you can cut the bottom, mist the branches with water twice a day.

If the water reserve stops going down each day, then the tree isn’t taking any water on and is drying out. It would be best, at this point, to remove the tree. With proper watering and care, your tree will last three to four weeks. Find answers to more real Christmas tree questions on the Pfaff Christmas Tree website.

Christmas Lights

Before you string sets of lights together, check the instructions on the packaging – it should tell you how many of the same sets can be put in one string (usually three to five). Be sure to follow this rule because otherwise you may overload the circuit and start a fire.

Speaking of circuits, because of the mass quantity of outdoor lights most people like to put up, you need to make sure they are plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) plug. If there is overcurrent, a GFCI will shut that circuit down, which can prevent fire. If you need one (or several) installed outside, HA Construction can help you. And it’s not a bad idea to use a GFCI for your tree either.

And, you know, check for frayed wires and broken lights before plugging the lights in… so that you don’t accidentally shock yourself. A little extra caution (and common sense) will go a long way toward protecting your family while you enjoy a festival holiday home.

Prioritizing Repairs | Personal Safety Projects

As a follow-up to our What Projects First? post, we’re going to look at personal safety issues when considering what repair and renovation projects needs your attention in a fixer-upper.

That old adage “you can never be too careful” certainly applies when it comes to your safety in an older home. Start by bringing in a certified home inspector to look for problem areas. Home inspectors will find things you never thought to look for, but be sure that you mention these specific areas so you know they’re addressed.

Electrical

If your home is one of those eclectic structures built before 1930, then there are probably some remnants of outdated wiring still hanging around. Old electrical systems are not equipped to handle the output of today’s modern conveniences, and an overload can spark a fire. Additional electrical issues that are of concern include:

• Missing breaker panels
• Outlets located in the bathroom, kitchen or exterior that are not GFCI
• DYI electrical alterations done incorrectly
• Junction boxes left open in the attic
• Improperly sized wiring

If you have any of these issues within your home, don’t try and take on the repairs yourself. Only a licensed electrician can properly address such concerns and drastically reduce the risk of fire. By trying to fix these problem areas on your own, you may actually increase that risk.

Carbon Monoxide Leaks

Until units are updated, older homes have older furnaces, water heaters and stoves, many of which may be gas powered. According to CNN, common sources of carbon monoxide in the home include:

• Poorly vented kerosene and gas space heaters
• Leaking chimneys and furnaces
• Back-drafting from furnaces
• Gas water heaters
• Gas stoves, wood stoves and fireplaces
• Generators and other gasoline powered equipment

A leak in one of these units, even a small one, or ventilation problems can produce lethal amounts of carbon monoxide over time. Additionally, carbon monoxide poisoning can result from gas appliances failing to burn correctly or an incomplete burning, which is evident with a yellow flame, rather than a blue flame.

As such, another top priority when you purchase a fixer-upper is to replace a furnace, water heater or stove that’s more than 15 years old. And even if the units don’t quite hit that benchmark, you should have them checked for leaks. Also, just as you have smoke detectors, every home should have carbon monoxide detectors installed near stoves/furnaces and bedrooms.

Structural Integrity

When you hire a certified home inspector to look at the place, he’s going to tell you when something is not built to suit the local building code. The City of Springfield, Missouri adopted the International Building Code 2012 for residential and commercial structures. The City of Nixa, Missouri has its own building code regulations for single and two family residences. It’s important to note that, before you have anyone make changes to the structure of your home, you need a permit from whichever municipality you reside in.

Suffering structural integrity may also be the result of water or insect damage, which an inspector would likely discover also. Everything needs to be examined, including a deck – make sure its attached to the home properly and the boards are sound. The last thing you want is your child’s leg going through a board that looked okay, but turned out to be mush from years of water damage.

Next week we’ll address protecting your home from future damage. In the meantime, contact HA Construction for assistance if you need to get started on the personal safety issues you need to address in your home.