Fire and Winter Weather Safety this season in Bronxville, NY 10708
Colder weather, festive decorations in our home or business, and spending time with family and friends, are all part of the holiday season. At Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon, we want to wish you and yours the best that the season has to offer as well as to offer some tips on staying safe this holiday season.
Pretty lights and decorations add to the mood of our holiday season, but if they’re not used properly, your holidays can go from festive to frightening fast.
Fortunately, the simple safety tips that follow will help you and yours to greatly reduce fire risks and frozen pipes in your home or business this holiday season.
CANDLE SAFETY
Candles are widely used and loved throughout the holidays for windows and Menorahs in Westchester County. December is the peak month for home candle fires. The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) statistics show, more than half of all candle fires start because the candles were too close to flammable objects.
Consider using flameless candles in your windows, near curtains, instead of the real ones. However, if you choose to use traditional scented candles this season, keep them at least 12 inches from anything flammable. Also, remember to extinguish them when you leave a room, or go to bed. Use sturdy candle holders and a hurricane lamp over them, or the versions in glass containers, so they are less likely to tip over. Place these hallmarks of the holidays on clear, uncluttered surfaces.
CHRISTMAS / HOLIDAY TREE SAFETY
The NFPA also reports that local fire departments respond to an average of 250 tree fires each year, with the majority cause by electrical problems with holiday lights. If you have an artificial tree, be sure that it is labeled, certified or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
If you choose a live or cut tree, pick one with fresh, green needles that do not fall when touched. Make sure that your tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lamps. That way, the tree won’t “dry out” as quickly – and, be sure to “water your holiday tree” as needed every day or so. The tree should also be clear of all exits. After the holidays, properly dispose of your tree. Dried-out trees can be a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage, but placed outside and away from your home or business.
DECORATIVE LIGHTS
When purchasing decorative and festive lights, make sure that they are properly labeled and been inspected by an independent testing laboratory. You may want to go "whole hog" with the exterior lights and up your wattage and home electric bill, but check those cords for wear before you plug in and take the grid down in the neighborhood!
It is also important that you have the correct type of lights: some are designed only for indoor use and others are for outdoor decorating, but rarely is one lighting strand safe for both locations. Carefully inspect light strands before placing them in your home or business.
Replace any string of lights that have worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Also, connect no more than the number of light strings recommended by the manufacturer.
***Remember to turn off outside lighting and your holiday tree lights before leaving the property, or going to bed. It may also be time to check the batteries in your Fire Detectors on upper floors where your family sleeps!
WINTER WEATHERS JOYS & THREATS TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Last, cold weather can have a huge impact on your home or business, if you are not properly prepared.
Whether we see heavy rain, snow or ice storms in the region this year, freezing temperatures, damaging winds, sleet and snow can all cause serious property damage. Check your pipes in February, when the El Nino is expected to end and we get back those cold temps from Canada and the Arctic...with possible polar vortes.
I know, it's hard to think about when it's almost 70 degrees in December !
So, while we can’t control the weather, you can take steps to prepare and help take the sting out of winter weather this year.
Stay tuned for my Winter Weather and Ice damage safety blog next time.
~ Forrest & Hillary & Team Servpro ~ ...helping home & business owners from Scarsdale to Mount Vernon, Yonkers & The Bronx!
Fire and Winter Weather Safety this season in Scarsdale, NY 10583
Comments (0)Subscribe to CommentsComment