Decorating, Cooking, & Leaf Cleanup: 3 Electrical Safety To-Do’s for Fall
Thousands of house fires are reported on both Halloween & Thanksgiving Day, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. With Ting, plus regular electrical home maintenance, you can greatly reduce the chances of an electrical fire occurring in your home this fall.
The fall season can be busy and full of festivities. Preparing for trick-or-treaters, cleaning up the yard, and hours of cooking and baking – it’s easy to “fall” behind and forget to keep fire safety in mind.
That’s what we’re here for!
Your Ting sensor is continuously monitoring your home’s electrical system and prevents 80% of electrical fires, but you can play an active part in helping to ensure your home stays safe from all fires with the change of season.
Here are three to-do list items to check off this fall to help protect your home and family.
Your Fall Fire Safety Checklist
#1: Inspect Your Outdoor Decorations
Giant skeletons, flickering jack-o-lanterns, inflatable ghosts, and maybe even some early holiday lights – decorating your home for Halloween and the upcoming holiday season can be such fun! But with it comes the potential for a variety of fire hazards. Here’s how to decorate safely:
- Ensure outdoor cords do not sit in standing water.
- Check all cords for fraying, bare wires, or other damage before plugging them in.
- Don’t penetrate cords with staples or nails, or cinch too tightly, when putting up string lights, which could damage the protective insulation and the wiring beneath it.
- Unplug & deflate decorations before going to bed.
- Don’t overload your power strips, extension cords, or outlets – follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, and keep the load on any given circuit to within its designed limit!
I look around at all of my Halloween decor, some of which was my mother’s, and I am so grateful that you saved us from a fire! Thank you for keeping us safe!
– Maureen B. in Rio Vista, TX
#2: Safeguard Your Kitchen
Comfort food and baking are at the heart of the fall season. With Thanksgiving approaching, your kitchen may become busy and you may become distracted – unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires. Protecting the heart of your home involves just a bit of mindfulness:
- Turn off the stove burner if you must step away.
- Don’t overcrowd outlets. For example, if you’re using an air fryer and blender at the same time, avoid plugging them into the same outlet/circuit. And unplug as you go!
- If a plug sags in your kitchen outlet, it is time to replace the outlet. Sagging plugs cause poor connections, which can lead to arcing, heat buildup, and a fire.
- Keep the kitchen clean to avoid fire hazards from grease or debris buildup in outlets.
- If frying your turkey, be careful and research safety tips before beginning.
Hazard Spotlight: Crock-Pots, slow cookers, and pressure cookers. Though handy, they can draw a lot of electric current. Never use an extension cord and make sure the plug is plugged in ‘snug’ to the outlet. Keep it plugged in an out-of-the-way spot to minimize the risk of it being snagged and spilling its hot contents.
#3: Rake Those Leaves Away!
With all the fall fun comes the fall chores, which may include cleaning up your yard of leaf piles, sticks, and other debris before winter. Fall cleanup not only keeps your yard looking beautiful, but it’s also a good time to inspect and protect the outside of your home:
- Rake dry leaves away from the foundation of your house, cords, lights, heating/cooling units, and outdoor outlets.
- Check your leaf blower and other fall electrical for fraying or wire damage before using them and avoid running over cords when in use.
- Store your spring/summer equipment safely in a dry place, properly stowing the cords away to avoid wear and tear on them.
- Use weatherproof outlet covers to prevent rain and dust infiltration, and inspect them for cracks, chips, or overheating.
If at any point you detect an electrical hazard this fall, or if something doesn’t seem right, notify us! We can help you verify the hazard and figure out the next steps to get it fixed with a licensed electrician. And as you check these items off the list, enjoy the comfort that comes with knowing your home is safe & fall-ready, and Ting has your back.