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Practicing Electrical Safety This Holiday Season with Little Sparkie Electric

Practicing Electrical Safety This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, homes and businesses alike light up with festive cheer. From twinkling string lights to powerful outdoor displays, November is the perfect time to bring warmth and sparkle to your space. But before you start untangling those cords, let Little Sparkie Electric, your trusted local electrician, remind you to keep electrical safety at the forefront of your mind and guide you with essential tips and services to keep your electrical systems safe and efficient.

Why Electrical Safety Matters This Season


The increased use of electrical decorations and heaters during the colder months can strain your home’s electrical system. Faulty wiring or overworked outlets are common culprits for accidents, which makes proactive care essential. With Little Sparkie Electric, you can ensure your home is not only merry but also safe for the holidays. To help you stay safe while creating a festive atmosphere, the Little Sparkie Electric team has put together a detailed guide to holiday electrical safety:

1. Inspect Decorations Before Use


Before you deck the halls, take a moment to examine all your lights and cords. Look for:

Frayed Wires: These can spark and ignite, creating a fire hazard.
Loose Connections: Damaged plugs or sockets can lead to electrical shocks.
Burnt-Out Bulbs: Replace any burnt-out bulbs promptly to avoid uneven electrical loads.
Pro Tip: Replace any damaged decorations immediately. It’s better to invest in new, safer options than risk an accident.

2. Use Outdoor-Rated Extension Cords


When setting up outdoor displays, always ensure you’re using extension cords designed specifically for exterior use. These cords are:

Weather-Resistant: Built to withstand moisture and temperature changes.
Durable: Equipped with heavy-duty insulation to handle outdoor conditions.
Never use indoor extension cords outside, as they lack the necessary protection from the elements.

3. Avoid Overloading Circuits


Holiday lights and decorations can draw significant power, and overloading a single circuit increases the risk of overheating or tripping breakers. To prevent this:

Plug decorations into different outlets to spread the load.
Use surge protectors to safeguard your decorations and devices from power surges.
Limit the number of strings connected together. Most manufacturers recommend no more than three light strings per outlet.
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether your system can handle the extra load, call Little Sparkie Electric for an inspection or panel upgrade.

4. Unplug Decorations Before Bed or When Leaving Home


Leaving lights or decorations plugged in unattended increases the risk of electrical fires. Get into the habit of:

Turning off all decorations before going to bed.
Using timers to automatically shut off lights at a designated time.
Ensuring any candles or flame-based decorations are extinguished.
Pro Tip: Timers not only enhance safety but can also save energy during the holiday season.

5. Upgrade to LED Lights


If you’re still using traditional incandescent holiday lights, consider upgrading to LEDs. Here’s why:

Energy-Efficient: LEDs use up to 90% less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
Cool to the Touch: Unlike traditional lights, LEDs don’t heat up, reducing the risk of fire.
Long-Lasting: LED lights can last up to 10 times longer, making them a cost-effective choice.
Pro Tip: Look for LED lights with the ENERGY STAR® label for the highest efficiency and safety standards.

Bonus Tip: Secure Cords and Lights Properly


Keep cords and lights away from high-traffic areas to prevent tripping hazards. Use insulated hooks or clips to hang lights instead of nails or staples, which can damage the wires and create a shock risk.

By following these tips, you’ll not only enjoy a beautiful and festive home but also ensure the safety of your family and property. Little Sparkie Electric is here to help with any of your holiday electrical needs, from inspections to installations.

How We Can Help This Holiday Season:

Electrical Inspections
Schedule a comprehensive inspection to identify potential issues before they become hazards. This is especially important if you’re hosting holiday gatherings or using extra appliances.

Troubleshooting and Repairs
Noticed flickering lights or tripped breakers? Don’t wait until the season is in full swing—call Little Sparkie Electric to address the problem right away.

Contact us at 301-606-5181 or visit our website at LittleSparkie.com.
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Don’t let your holiday sparkle fizzle

With the holidays fast approaching, homeowners and businesses will be decking the halls; often with strings of lights and lighted decorations. Those lights are glittering and cheerful, but they can also cause hazards if they’re plugged into extension cords!holiday lights

Before you untangle all of those light strings, consider that approximately 3,300 home fires originate in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring 270 more, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).

That’s because extension cords can overheat and cause fires when they’re used improperly. Keep these important tips from the ESFI and Little Sparkie Electric in mind to protect your home and workplace.

  • Don’t plug extension cords into one another.
  • Make sure extension cords are properly rated for their intended use, indoor or outdoor, and meet or exceed the power needs of the device being used.
  • Keep all outdoor extension cords clear of snow and standing water.
  • If used outdoors, cords should be GFCI-protected, either by plugging them into a GFCI-protected receptacle or by having GFCI protection themselves.
  • Do not overload extension cords. A circuit overload SHOULD trip the breaker or blow the fuse, but it isn’t guaranteed. If the breaker or fuse is rated higher than the circuit wiring, the circuit may not open in an overload.
  • Inspect cords for damage before you use them. Check for cracked or frayed sockets, loose Power stripsor bare wires, and loose connections. A break in a hot wire will not trip a standard circuit breaker or blow a fuse, and is thus a fire hazard.
  • This should be obvious, but do NOT nail or staple extension cords to walls or baseboards.
  • Do NOT run extension cords through walls, doorways, ceilings, or floors. If a cord is covered, heat can’t escape, which may result in a fire hazard.
  • Never use three-prong plugs with outlets that only have two slots. Again, this should be obvious, but never cut off the ground pin to force a fit, which could lead to electric shock.
  • Buy only cords that have been approved by an independent testing laboratory.
  • Do NOT use an extension cord or power strip with heaters or fans, which could cause cords to overheat and result in a fire.

Remember that extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis. They’re not intended as permanent household wiring, so put them away when the holiday decorations come down!

If you need additional outlets, always have a licensed electrician install them. This isn’t the time to be a DIYer! 

Celebrate Safely this Holiday Season!

This isn’t just the time of year when we eat more than usual, it’s also when we have the most household accidents and fires, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, Inc. (ESFI).

With multiple strings of lights, electrical holiday decorations, candles and lots of cooking, it’s easy to see why. To keep your holidays from going from merry to scary, remember these ESFI Holiday Safety Tips:

1. Keep decorations at least three feet away from heat sources – especially those with an open flame, like fireplaces and candles. And remember to blow out your candles when you go to sleep or even leave the room.
2. When decorating, don’t run cords under rugs or furniture, out of windows, or across walkways and sidewalks.
3. If you have a natural Christmas tree, water it well to keep it fresh and safe. holiday safety for Christmas treesReal trees can dry up and turn into kindling in no time at all. Get rid of the tree after Christmas; dried out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left in the home or garage.
4. Always turn off your decorations when you leave home and when you’re sleeping. Most deadly fires happen while people are asleep.
5. Don’t overload electrical outlets. Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are a common cause of holiday fires. Avoid overloading outlets and plug only one high-wattage into each outlet at a time.
6. Be mindful of how you are using electrical outlets. If you’re using extension cords or adapters that add receptacles, consider having a qualified electrician add more outlets to your home. Extension cords are a common cause of home fires.
7. Only use electronics in dry areas. As tempting as it may be, don’t decorate your aquarium with icicle lights!
8. Keep your phones and tablets on your nightstand. We all love falling asleep to the muffled crooning of Bing Crosby and Michael Bublé, but overheated electronics under pillows and blankets are dangerous.
holiday safety space heater9. Invest in a heater with safety features such as automatic overheat protection, cool touch exterior, a self-regulating ceramic element or a tip-over safety switch that turns it off in the event of it being knocked on its side. Read manufacturer’s instructions and any warning labels before first using it. Do not leave heaters unattended; turn them off before you go to sleep.
10. Inspect electrical decorations for damage before use. Cracked or damaged sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire.
11. Keep batteries stored safely in their packaging and out of reach of anything that might try to eat them, like small children and pets. Eating a battery can be deadly.

Our best wishes for a safe and blessed holiday season,holiday safety
Catherine and John Nazarene