Home Safety For Halloween

Three Ways To Prevent Electrical Hazards While Decorating

Halloween is a unique holiday for home safety. Halloween decorations often involve hanging or blinking lights from multiple sources in the home. When families are out trick-or-treating it is often difficult to monitor electrical safety.

Identify Faulty Decorations

Not all decorative lights are safe to use, even if they work. Before hanging string lights or plugging in automatic goblins, it’s important to check their electrical components before leaving them on.

One should check each strand of lights for broken sockets. Damaged plugs and frayed cords can cause house fires. If each strand is securely covered without faulty wiring, one can hang them on top of a nail. Homeowners should never nail through an electrical cord.

Strategic Placement

Electrical cords should not be left in the middle of a room. High-traffic areas can cause wires to tangle and potentially spark. Cords that run along doorways or outdoor steps may be tripped over or stepped on. Each cord needs enough room to function safely, even on a large power strip. 

An electrical overload occurs when there is not enough electricity to power an appliance. This typically happens when power strips are used for three or more devices. Overloading outlets is dangerous for electronic devices, houses, and households.

Depending on the device, some appliances use more electricity than others and may need a separate outlet. A toaster, for instance, will not need as much electricity as an entire lawn full of Halloween inflatables.

When circuit wiring overheats due to an electrical overload, the wiring begins to melt. Damaged cords are preventable even before plugging a device into an outlet. Since not all home outlets have the same electrical capacity, leaving at least two outlets unused is recommended for power strips. 

Use Surge Protectors This Halloween

The standard power voltage in most houses does not exceed120 volts. Additional volts can potentially damage electronic devices from high pressure. A surge protector passes some electrical currents from one outlet to another. 

One can find a joule rating on the surge protector. This measures how much energy it can absorb without malfunctioning. A higher joule rating means one can safely power more decorations on the strip. 

Surge protectors may block electrical devices from damage, but they cannot prevent all fires. Surge protectors are not meant to be used outdoorsThe moisturere of any type can create problems with wiring, including if moisture is indoors. One should keep power strips out of bathrooms and ceiling outlets. 

For Halloween yard decorations, alternative electrical options are available. Batteries can be used as well as indoor outlets. Depending on the size of the yard, a high-voltage surge protector may be viable. 

If a power strip feels warm, it should be immediately disconnected from the wall to prevent electrical fires. After thirty minutes, one may use the strip again, but witfewerss devices. Testing to see if the strip or cords are warm is a responsible way to keep tabs on high-voltage electricity.

Certain surge protectors can help save homeowners money. An advanced power strip does not use electricity when a device is switched off. Regardless of new technology, safety precautions are still advised.

Albritton Service Co

Albritton Service Co is a family-operated business that hires only trained and licensed professionals. Their electricians offer top-rated service backed by years of expertise and training. Call Albritton Service Co today for electrical service in Ruston, LA.

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