Christmas Light Safety Tips
Kachi Realty
Christmas Light Safety Tips
Christmas Light Safety Tips
Beautiful, glittering Christmas lights make the whole neighborhood look festive and happy. Lighting up your home for the holidays is fun, but it’s important to make sure you do so safely. Stick to these Christmas light safety tips to ensure a safe and happy holiday season for all.
Extension Cord Safety
Extension cords are often used to allow lights to reach all areas of the home and yard. It’s important to be careful and cautious in their use, however, to avoid fires and a tripping hazard.
Make sure you use appropriate extension cords for outdoor use. Indoor cords are not designed to withstand the elements and can become damaged, creating a danger. Be sure that you don’t attach too many cords together either, as each attachment point is a potential danger. Buy the right length extension cord rather than connecting multiple cords.
Place extension cords carefully so that no one trips on them when approaching your home. Tape them down and keep them out of walkways and driveways.
Watch For Wear
Check your light strands and cords for any signs of wear each year and discard any that show any fraying or other damage. A damaged cord or wire is a serious fire hazard as well as an electrocution hazard. Look for broken bulbs as well.
Be sure everything is in good working order before you set it up for the holiday season to keep your home safe.
Caution With Kids And Pets
Using Christmas lights around kids and pets requires a little extra caution. Be sure to keep wires and plugs hidden from babies who might be curious. Keep a close eye on babies and young children when they are exploring their colorful new lighted world.
If you have a pet who might chew on wires, cover the wires or keep them off the ground as much as possible. In some cases, it might be best to keep the lights outdoors and away from young children and animals.
Talk to older children about electrical safety and make sure they don’t try to unplug or plug in the lights on their own. Using a power strip with an on/off switch is a good way to allow kids to be able to turn the lights on and off without the danger of touching an outlet.
You can enjoy your Christmas lights safely with a little caution and pre-planning, and so can your entire family and neighbors, too. Simply make sure everything works and is set up safely for a happy holiday filled with bright lights and cheer.
Useful Information from Kachi Realty LLC
Cut your energy costs with easy home tips. Learn how smart lighting, efficient appliances, and simple thermostat tricks can help you save energy and money year-round.
WAYS TO GO GREEN IN THE KITCHEN Start a garden. Whether you opt for a full-out vegetable garden or a small window of fresh herbs, the taste of freshness will be unmistakable! Shop locally! Visit local farmers markets or choose locally produced produce whenever possible. Bring your own bags when you visit the grocery store. Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. Save time and energy by cooking a double portion and setting half aside in the freezer for a quick meal at a later date. Get energized and leave the appliances alone. Whenever possible, mix and beat ingredients by hand, cook multiple items at the same time, and avoid washing dishes unnecessarily. Use energy-efficient appliances such as the slow cooker or toaster oven, which can use up to 30% less energy. Be aware of energy wasters such as excessive pre-heating or simmering. Ditch the wraps (such as saran wrap or foil) and make the switch to reusable containers for lunches and leftovers. Put a lid on it! Did you know that cooking with lids could save up to three times the energy? Keep all that steam inside the pot for a more energy-efficient (and faster!) meal. Go fresh—say goodbye to excessively packaged foods, which are often produced using processes that are harmful to the environment. Cooking meals from scratch using fresh ingredients is not only healthier, it’s often less expensive and better for the environment. Decide what you are looking for before you open the fridge, and never keep the door open longer than absolutely necessary.
Water Features For Your Yard A water feature can make a major change in your yard, and there are plenty of different ways to go about adding one. From a simple and small fountain to a koi pond or waterfall, you can use water to create a peaceful sense of a real escape from life in your yard. Small Water Features For small yards or for those looking to add something simple, a basic fountain is easy to add. They come in a variety of types, shapes, and sizes and can fit into any landscaping. Your fountain can be a centerpiece for the yard or can be placed near the patio. You can even get a small tabletop fountain for the patio table. Most fountains are easy enough to install by yourself. They use a pump system that circulates the water and keeps the fountain running. Follow all of the instructions for set-up, use, and care that come with the fountain and you can enjoy the sound of trickling water for many years to come. Adding A Pond A pond is a really eye-catching and special addition to any yard. You will need some space for it, but even smaller yards can manage one. Koi ponds are a very popular choice, as the fish are lovely and create an ambience in the yard. They fit in well with any sort of Japanese or other Asian landscape design, but really extend into other styles as well. Make sure your pond has a system for keeping the water circulating and clean; standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and it can get quite dirty over time. It’s best to have a professional install the water system for your pond. Waterfalls You may not be able to have Niagara Falls in your yard to enjoy, but you can get a waterfall added as a feature of your yard. These can be falls that descend over a rock wall, a small stream that runs over consecutive drops in a sloped yard, or something in a corner where water falls down into a small pond. A waterfall adds the sound of moving water to the air all the time. Be sure you have proper drainage for the water system. Water features are a beautiful addition to any yard, and your imagination is really the only limit. Many professionals can help you to design the water feature that is right for your yard and your needs.