HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON!

Holidays are coming fast! We are so preoccupied with the preparations, decorations, and organizing gatherings for family and friends that we tend to forget the essential, our security! Doucet Power & Controls has put together some practical Christmas tips that are important to follow to stay safe during this holiday season. 

Electric decorations;

Before using decorations, they have to get inspected. You should check for any broken or damaged outlets, bare electrical wires or loose connections. These defects are potential hazards and could cause electric shock or fire.

Always verify that your decorations have a label stating that they have been inspected and are certified by an accredited organization (see the list on the ESA website, https://esasafe.com/ ). Always buy your decorations from reputable sellers, whether they are purchased online or in physical stores.

Unplug or turn off decorations when handling and installing them, and unplug or turn off the breaker before replacing bulbs or fuses.

Evaluate and analyze your electrical needs to avoid overloads;

It is imperative to plan your decorations ahead of time and estimate the number of electrical outlets and circuits to use. Evaluate what’s being added to your circuit, and ensure that it does not present a risk of overload. Make sure that the value of the circuit is more significant than all the connected loads. We advise loading the circuit at no more than 80% of its maximum allowable load.

Christmas trees;

If you use a real tree, it is preferable to use fresh trees while using non-combustible decorations and light garlands that produce low heat, such as LED lights. These lights will improve your tree’s electrical efficiency and reduce the risk of fire since they hardly give off heat.

When buying a Christmas tree, make sure it is fresh and is not losing needles. To improve the tree’s ability to absorb water, cut it off at the base and be sure to water it regularly to prevent it from drying out.

However, if you decide to use an artificial tree, buy one that is labelled as flame retardant or fire-resistant.

If artificial trees have metallic needles, avoid decorating them with electrical decorations or string lights since the needles can accidentally contact live electrical wires or light bulbs and create a short circuit.

Always keep trees away from all sources of heat such as fireplaces, electric heaters and candles.

Use insulated hooks;

You should use insulated hooks to hang your lamps instead of enclosures, screws, or tacks. Damaging the electrical cable will present a risk of electrical shock or fire.

Put away your decorations at the end of the holidays!

Use sealed containers to store your Christmas decorations to avoid possible water damage and to prevent rodents from damaging them. These decorations are not made to be used and displayed all year round; even after having them put away correctly, it is still imperative to inspect them before their next use to ensure they are not faulty. Replace them as needed to avoid an electrical fire.

For more advice on the exterior and interior decorations, extension cords, the use of candles, protection of external circuits with ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), please visit the electrical safety blog during Halloween (https://www.doucetpowerandcontrols.com/fr/prevenir-les-risques-electriques-et-les-incendies-pendant-lhalloween/ ).

Doucet Power & Controls wishes you a safe and happy Christmas!