Carlsbad Christmas Coming
Mark Stone, of our Sterling/Stone,REALTORS® real estate company, sent me some great advice about being safe this Christmas. It’s such good advice that I thought I’d pass it on so you can be safe too!
Holiday Lights
Electric holiday lights and displays sparkle and wow children and adults alike. But because too many homeowners don’t know how to perform safety checks on light strings and ornaments, they’re also potentially dangerous. In fact, last year 1,114 people suffered injuries by mishaps related to electrical holiday decorations, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Typical injuries like electric shock or burns result from too many light strings strung end to end, low-wattage ornaments burning high-wattage bulbs or overloaded extension cords. As part of their Operation Decoration, the CPSC and the National Fire Protection Association have composed a safety-watch list for this holiday season. Key points include:
• Before stringing lights, inspect for cracked sockets, frayed, loose or bare wires or loose connections. Unplug light strings before replacing bulbs or fuses.
• Replace damaged ornament parts with manufacturer-specified items. Bulbs with too-high wattage are a fire hazard.
• Check light strings to see how many strings can be safely joined end to end. As a rule of thumb, don’t string together more than three midgets (push-in bulbs); strings with screw-in bulbs (C7s and C9s) should have a maximum of 50 bulbs total.
• Never run extension cords through water, even those labeled for outdoor use.
• Always turn off electric decorations before leaving home or going to bed, and be sure all smoke detectors are in working order.
• Brown or brittle needles are prone to fire, so always buy a fresh wreath or tree. Place the tree in a no-tip stand, and keep it watered. With an artificial tree, make sure it’s flame-retardant. Place your tree at least 3 ft. from the fireplace or any other heat source.
Mark has been in the real estate business in North County for more than 20 years, and has seen previous ups and downs in the real estate market. He can answer your questions about what to do in this kind of market. He can be reached at stonemail@earthlink.net, and he adheres to the policy of not revealing your information to third parties. You can also call him at 760-415-3251 for a “no obligation” consultation.