The holidays are once more among us now that there is a chill in the air. So naturally, this entails hanging some eye-catching, vibrant decorations. Many landlords and renters feel the holiday season is incomplete without festive lighting and lovely decorations adorning their homes and yards.
Decorating for the holiday is a beautiful way to get into the spirit of the season and enjoy time with family and friends. Still, holiday ornaments can also pose a fire danger, which might bring tragedy to this festive season. Seasonal decorations, like Christmas lights, should be of high quality or professional grade says the team at Blingle! in Beachwood Ohio. That also applies to candles for the holidays, Christmas trees, dangling garlands, and fireplaces as these items can be dangerous if not carefully handled or if they are positioned close to something that could be dangerous.
Regardless, landlords can hire an experienced property manager to ensure property compliance and the safety of their tenants. Since most people aren’t thinking about fire safety during the holiday season, keeping your property safe from fire hazards is crucial. Journey with us as this article discusses the top fire safety tips for holiday decorations.
Top 6 Fire Safety Tips for Holiday Decorations
Install Smoke Detectors
It’s easy to envision the advantages of a functioning smoke detector. However, over five years, departments attended to over 350,000 residential fires in the US alone. Dwelling fires threaten the security of tenants, nearby residents, and emergency services, whether unintentional or deliberate.
Additionally, test your smoke alarms every month and replace them as advised by the manufacturer. Finally, landlords must abide by all smoke detector regulations to protect their properties and tenants. Therefore, becoming familiar with the current smoke detector laws is crucial if you still need to.
Trees should be kept from Heat Sources
If you purchase a natural tree, search for a young tree. Compared to older trees, fresh trees are less susceptible to catching fire. Christmas trees should be placed at least 30 feet away from heaters or fireplaces. Keep a fire extinguisher next to your tree. When live trees begin to dry out, they become pretty combustible. To ensure proper tree hydration, check the water level daily. Purchasing a fake tree might be preferable. And if you do, make sure it’s marked as “fire resistant.”
Although artificial trees cannot wholly withstand fire, there are several instances where they are safer than actual trees. A flame-retardant coating is applied on most artificial trees, which can assist lower the risk of a fire. Another reason real trees are so explosive is that they can dry out, which is impossible for artificial trees. From a fire safety perspective, artificial trees are typically safer than natural trees.
Keep the Fireplace safe
If there are fireplaces, you must give your tenants instructions when they move in and follow up with a reminder when the heating season starts in the fall. Many individuals might believe all that is required is tossing a log into the fireplace. But it’s crucial to understand how vital it is to keep the damper closed when not in use and opened otherwise.
Contemporary fireplaces are not intended to serve as the primary heat source. Instead, keep fires under five hours. A fire must always be dealt with. Keep the glass open when enjoying a fire to keep the flame oxygenated, but keep the screen covered to prevent sparks from falling into the fireplace. Glass-covering gas fireplaces should be closed.
Additionally, embers and coals from a fireplace must be frequently swept, although they can stay hot for up to three days! Before cleaning the ashes into a metal container, wait at least this long. Then, they should be placed outside until garbage day, when they can be disposed of after being moistened with water.
Check the Insulation and Cord of Power Cords Annually
Check the insulation and cord of power cords annually to ensure they are in good condition. Make sure your extension cables fit the power requirements for how they are being used by checking their rating. To avoid damaging the wires, hang lights with clips rather than nails.
Extension cords, outside lighting, and holiday decorations should all be plugged into GFCI-protected outlets or portable outdoor GFCIs. Also, before leaving the house or going to bed, turn off the lights on the Christmas tree, any light strings, and any other illuminated decorations. After the holidays, bring outside electrical lights inside to keep them safe and extend their lifespan.
Be Cautious when Using Candles
Lights, fireplaces, and candles. There are many fire risks during the holidays. Candles are the primary source of fire in over 33% of house decoration fires. They are frequently used to adorn houses for various holidays and seasons, and their soft, swaying light helps to generate a cozy, unwinding feeling. However, candles pose a significant fire risk and are to blame for yearly Christmas fires.
For this reason, it is preferable to use LED candles instead of real candles. Real candles should be kept far away from anything flammable, such as wrapping paper, presents, curtains, Christmas lights, and trees if you decide to use them. Before you sleep or leave the house, ensure they are completely out.
Avoid Blocking Exits
Keep all seasonal décor away from doors or exits. Encourage guests to congregate indoors at parties, away from the exits. If you have a Christmas tree decorated, place it in the middle or on the opposite side of the room from where people enter and exit. The same is valid for emergency exits, stairwells, and windows. Don’t compromise fire safety for aesthetics.
Conclusion
Although getting swept up in the season’s glitz is simple, safety must come first. It can be stressful to ensure that all of these safety recommendations are followed. According to FEMA, electrical issues that might have been avoided are the primary cause of one out of every four house Christmas tree fires. It’s crucial to keep your property free of fire threats if you want to spend the Christmas season with friends and family in safety, health, and happiness.
Make sure to change your fire alarm’s batteries regularly. Many homeowners leave this too late, until they start to make an annoying beeping noise. Then they are more likely to turn the alarms off altogether! So changing the batteries in time is a great way to save yourself from this hassle.