It's that time of year again! The Christmas season is upon us, and that means it's time to break out the Christmas tree. You can start decorating any time you like. While putting up a Christmas tree can be a fun and enjoyable experience for the whole family, it's important to keep safety in mind.
We’ve collected a few tips that will help your Christmas tree stand tall and allow the family to have an enjoyable holiday season.
Our Top 7 Christmas Tree Safety Tips
- Choose a fresh tree. A fresh tree is less likely to catch fire than a dry, dead tree. To test if a tree is fresh, give the trunk a firm tap on the ground and avoid trees where needles fall off easily.
- Place the tree away from heat sources, including fireplaces, radiators, and heating vents. The heat from these sources can dry out the tree, making it more flammable than it already was.
- Water the tree regularly. A dry tree is a fire hazard, so make sure to keep the tree stand filled with water.
- Use lights that have been tested for safety. Before putting up your Christmas lights, make sure they have been tested for safety by a reputable laboratory. If all else fails, use LED lights because they produce no heat.
- Don't overload electrical outlets. Overloading outlets can cause them to overheat and potentially spark or start a fire. To prevent these occurrences, use surge protectors and distribute lights evenly among several outlets.
- Turn off the lights before leaving the house or going to bed. It's important to make sure that the Christmas lights are turned off when no one is home or when everyone is sleeping. You’re simply preventing the lights from overheating when you’re not watching.
- Keep the tree away from exits. In the event of a fire, you want to make sure that you and your family have clear, unobstructed exits.
How Long Should Your Christmas Tree Stay Up?
Everyone has their own idea of how long their Christmas tree should stand. Some folks put up the tree after Halloween. Some handle the tree the day after Thanksgiving. Some wait until they get a little closer to Christmas. However, you should keep in mind that your Christmas tree is a temporary fixture. At the very worst, you should take your tree down on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. You will have time to take the tree down, and you will have all those lights and ornaments out in the open where they could be damaged even more easily as the family’s routine returns to normal.
Reach Out to Radosevic Insurance for More Information on Christmas Tree Safety and Home Insurance
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your family has a safe and happy holiday season. Enjoy your Christmas tree and reach out to our team at Radosevic Insurance at any time if you have questions about home safety or your homeowner’s insurance policy.