Safely Decorating Your Home for the Holidays

Safely Decorating Your Home for the Holidays

Decorating for the holidays can be a great time to spend with your family; putting up lights, wreaths, lawn ornaments, and everything else your kids want. For many, the winter holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and tradition. Decorating your home, yard or office is a fun, festive way to celebrate the season. But there are risks involved every year when continuing your tradition

The following are some tips from Travelers Risk Consultants to help keep your family and friends safe around your decorative displays.

Planning your Holiday Display

• Plan your display according to the number and location of available outlets, and avoid overloading electrical outlets.
• Use lights that have been tested for safety – look for a certification mark from UL, CSA, ETL or other nationally-recognized laboratories. Consider using LED lights when possible – they run cooler, use less energy and last longer than incandescent lights.
• Never exceed the maximum number of strings or devices that may be linked together, as indicated on decoration packaging.
• Carefully inspect all lights and decorations for cracks, damaged sockets, and loose or bare wires before use – these defects can cause a serious fire or shock.

Decorating Safely

• When decorating the outside of your home, keep yourself, your decorations and equipment at least 10 feet from power lines. Make sure decorations are well-ventilated, protected from weather and a safe distance away from flammable items.
• Use wooden or fiberglass ladders when putting up electrical décor and lights outside as metal ladders conduct electricity.
• Unplug electric lights, devices, and decorations before installing or replacing bulbs, changing parts or attempting other repairs.
• Plug all outdoor lights and decorations into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to reduce the risk of electric shock. Portable GFCIs for outdoor use can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold.
• Secure lights, decorations, and cords to prevent wind damage. Never staple, nail through or fasten electrical wires or extensions cords in any way that might damage the wire or insulation. This could cause electrical shock or fire.

United Rentals

These tips are here to help you safely put up and display your families decorations to enjoy. Not only will these helpful tip help, but so will the right equipment. At United Rentals, we offer a variety of rental equipment to help you achieve your goal. We have anything from lifts, ladders, generators, hand tools, and heaters. You can rent daily, weekly, and monthly, whatever is convenient for you. Stop by today or visit us at www.unitedrentals.com for all your equipment for rent in Abilene.