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Deck the halls with safety during the holidays

Safety during the holidays is important to us here at SRP. You may have seen our recent post on holiday safety tips for lighting and decor.

We’re back with some additional tips to help you keep your HO-HO-home and family safe this holiday season.

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Safety during the holidays – with the lights aglow, make sure you’re in the know

Do you know the difference between outdoor and indoor extensions cords? Or how frayed is too frayed when it comes to electrical wires? What about the warning signs of an overloaded electrical system in your home? You’ll know all the answers after reading the following safety tips!

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How frayed is too frayed?

It’s simple. If ANY wire is exposed or the protective rubber casing is cracked or peeling, the entire cord should be discarded. Avoid electrical and fire hazards by paying attention when hanging lights. Make a safe call on throwing out damaged decorations.

What’s the difference between indoor and outdoor electrical cords?

Extension cords come in handy when decorating for the holidays. Did you know there are major differences between ones used for indoors and outdoors?

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Did you know? Two-pronged extension cords are only safe for indoor use.

One of the easiest ways to tell is outdoor extension cords have three-prongs. These are safe to use both inside and outside. Keep in mind though, two-pronged extension cords are only meant for indoors and should never be used outside.

What are the warning signs of an overloaded electrical system?

The rule of thumb here is: never plug more than two appliances into the same outlet at once. To avoid a potential electric and fire hazard this holiday season, familiarize yourself with the warning signs of an overloaded electrical system.

Warning signs include:

  • flickering lights
  • audible crackling sounds emitting from the outlets
  • cords that are warm to the touch
  • burnt wall outlet plates
  • loss of power from the outlet

If this happens, unplug your devices and check your breaker box for tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses.

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This is not the way to roast those chestnuts.

How many appliances can be plugged into one power strip?

Surge protectors, AKA power strips, are designed to protect plugged in devices by dissipating electrical surges. However, using all of the available outlets can still overload the circuit.

Low prices might mean low quality, check your labels!

Are you a fan of online shopping? Comparing prices and deals have never been easier. Be sure that you’re not sacrificing quality for a lower price.

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Any product with the UL stamp on the label is always a safer choice.

It’s important to check for UL (Underwriters Laboratory) stamp when purchasing electronics. This is a nationally recognized standard. It ensures rigorous testing of each component of the product for electrical safety and long-term use.

We hope that you learned a thing or two from these electrical safety tips that can be applied year-round!

Looking for more tips? The National Safety Council has a great article on other ways to practice safety during the holidays.

We wish you a happy and safe holiday season. Remember: Unplug your lights before you say goodnight!

1 thought on “Deck the halls with safety during the holidays”

  1. Pingback: Save energy this winter with these quick tips | SRP Connect!

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