Four Holiday Hints to Safely Decorate Your Home

Safety should be a top priority when decorating your home for the holidays. The good news is there are some things you can do to manage or minimize risks, especially fire or electrical accidents. Here are four top tips to avoid a decorating disaster.

Carefully choose where to set up your tree

Real or artificial, your Christmas tree can quickly become a fire hazard. Avoid placing your tree within three feet of any major heat source such as a fireplace or space heater. A live tree can easily become kindling with each passing day, while a plastic version can go up in toxic smoke.

Besides preventing heat from properly circulating in your home, setting a tree on top of a vent is risky, as debris could fall into the vent and catch fire. Also, avoid having a tree under a vent as it can quickly dry your tree, making it prone to catch fire.

Keep your tree hydrated

A dry tree is a thirsty tree, making it more likely to go set on fire. Check the water level daily as a tree can absorb one to two litres of water a day depending on its size and the heating in your home.

Choosing the right lights

Before you trim the tree, make sure you’re using the correct type of lights. Outdoor lights are made to withstand cold and moisture while indoor ones are safety tested to ensure they’re not a fire hazard.

If you’re going for a Griswold-level light show, don’t overload your electrical outlets and blow a circuit. Extension cords should be used temporarily and not run under rugs or across doorways. Replace or repair any damaged electrical cords and unplug your tree lights before going to bed or leaving the house.

Secure holiday inflatables

A giant blow-up Santa on your front lawn creates a merry mood, but make sure you follow the labels to ensure they don’t blow away. Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet to avoid the chances of getting a shock as it shuts off power if it detects an electrical fault.

Review your policy

To ensure your home has the proper coverage, speak with a licensed CAA Insurance Agent by visiting CAA Home Insurance.

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