Keep Your Rentals Safe: Electrical Fire Prevention Tips for the Holiday Season
From dazzling lights to pleasant gatherings and the festive spirit, the holidays have a way of infusing our homes with light, joy, and gratitude. However, between decorating, staying warm, and Christmas cooking, your home’s electrical safety may not be a top priority.
According to the United States Fire Administration, more than 800 house structure fires start each year using holiday decorations. However, you can avoid it with a few easy habits. Continue reading to learn how this article answers common Christmas electrical safety questions and provides important details to help you have a happy and worry-free holiday season.
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Common Holiday Electrical Hazards in Rental Properties
Overburdened Circuits
The holiday period is also perfect for decorating festive themes and displaying beautiful lights. However, it can be quite hazardous when you connect excessive amounts of devices into circuits via electrical outlets. Although power strips are helpful to avoid creating additional outlets, you should refrain from using multiple power strips and connecting them together.
Also, never connect numerous devices that consume large amounts of energy from one electrical outlet. It is best practice to use quality power strips with surge protection. Bay Property Management Group Chester County suggests discussing holiday decor limits with tenants early to prevent strain on electrical wiring.
Lack of proper lighting practices for Christmas trees
Electric lights are still used to decorate Christmas trees in most homes, but careful attention to electrical safety is essential. Be certain that any light strings you use to decorate your tree are designed specifically for indoor use.
Make sure that the Christmas tree stays well-watered, to ensure it does not become a fire hazard. Do not use any broken or damaged light strings or leave them on for excessive periods of time. If you decide to use a real Christmas tree, do not place it near any heat sources and use Energy Smart LED lighting to reduce the potential for fire hazards.
Less Attention To the Kitchen’s Electrical System
The holiday season usually involves lots of cooking-related tasks, which adds more strain to the electrical system in your kitchen. Be sure not to overload your circuits by using too many kitchen appliances simultaneously.
Consider using heavy-duty extension cords to help prevent tripping hazards, and keep them in areas with less foot traffic. Check each of your kitchen appliances regularly for any signs of wear on their cords, and replace any damaged cords right away to prevent a potential electrical emergency while preparing your holiday dining experience.
Damaged Christmas Lights
Twinkling holiday lights can create a lovely atmosphere in many houses. However, if not handled properly, they might cause electrical risks. Follow fire safety prevention tips, and create a clear exit plan to be prepared in case. Before you decorate the halls with holiday lights, check for frayed wires, damaged sockets, and exposed conductors.
Water and electricity should not mix, so keep outdoor lighting away from moist surfaces. Choose LED lights that produce less heat, lowering the risk of overheating and fire. Turn off holiday lights before going to bed or leaving the house to reduce the danger of an electrical mishap.
Neglecting To Take Precautions Outside The Home
A light display and inflatable characters can enhance your property’s appearance during the holidays, making your property look festive. However, they impose additional electrical requirements. Use outdoor-rated extension cords and keep any exterior electrical connections weather-proof.
To avoid potentially harmful situations, keep decorations away from electrical lines. To guarantee a safe and pleasurable Christmas display, inspect and secure all outdoor electrical components on a regular basis, including extension cords and stakes.
Setting Clear Guidelines for Holiday Decor
If you are an owner of a rental property, you want to make sure that you have a clear set of guidelines regarding holiday decorating. Guidelines should include rules that assist tenants in being safe with their decorations, respecting the property they are renting, and also remembering not to disturb other tenants.
Safety rules should include specifying safe decorating practices, like no open flames and only using fireproof material for decorative items, to avoid creating hazardous situations. Additionally, rules should prohibit tenants from using nails or screws to attach decorations without first receiving permission from the landlord. Provide recommendations for using adhesive hooks or shelves for hanging decorative items.
Establish limitations on where tenants are allowed to place their decorations. Tenants should not block any stairways, hallways, or doors. Decorations may not be placed where there is an electrical hazard. Lastly, establish a clear period when holiday decorations can be displayed, as well as when holiday light displays can be in operation. Acknowledge respectful levels of noise and light when displaying holiday decorations.
For tenants and landlords to share responsibility for safe electrical practices, they must communicate effectively, define their responsibilities, and receive ongoing education to help prevent hazards and ensure compliance. First, landlords must ensure that all electrical systems, wiring, and outlets are safe according to safety standards and regularly inspect and maintain them to ensure they are safe.
Tenants should also study their lease agreements carefully to understand any restrictions. Before big holidays, landlords should send out a notice to tenants detailing their individual laws for each property. To prevent tenants from being taken aback by a notice requesting that they remove decor that is in violation of their lease, this establishes a clear line of communication. Landlords can also publish a public notification about decorating limitations in a common location in multi-unit rentals.
In addition, landlords should create a supportive atmosphere for tenants to feel empowered to report electrical safety concerns. Safety checklists, informational meetings, and safety tips included in property/tenant newsletters and communications can serve as an effective means to create an environment where the tenants feel responsible and confident about reporting unsafe conditions. Electrical safety is a shared responsibility among property owners, managers, tenants and is meant to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved, as well as the preservation of property.
Final Thoughts
The holiday season is a happy time for families. But it only takes one catastrophe to turn a happy and festive family gathering into a devastating nightmare. That’s why ensuring your electrical system functions properly, efficiently, and safely is vital to preventing fire threats. Additionally, according to rules for inclusive and intelligent decoration can assist in preventing risks for both tenants and property owners. Landlords and tenants can collaboratively maintain electrical safety by communicating regularly and prioritizing proactive safety measures.
