Tis the season for filling your home with love, laughter, and of course, a Christmas Tree! But with great joy comes great responsibility, so make sure you brush up on your Christmas Tree fire safety before bringing home the perfect addition to your holiday decor.
Christmas Tree Fire Safety Tips
1. Don’t place the tree near a heat source
This tip seems like a no-brainer, but it can be easy to forget. Make sure you do not place your Christmas tree near any heater vents, lights, or even candles. As the tree dries out, the probability of it catching fire increases. It makes sense that your evergreen candle should be lit near the tree, but when your kids are horsing around inside and knock the candle into the tree, your house will smell more like a bonfire than your favorite Christmas time scent.
2. Make sure the tree is fresh
A fresh tree is less likely to catch fire. When hunting for the perfect tree, make sure it is fully green and that the needles do not easily fall off when tugged. Tap the tree on the ground to test the needles – if the tree creates a needle shower, it is too dry. The trunks on fresh cut trees are also typically sticky with resin. While getting it home may seem like a sticky situation, it means the tree will have a better chance of surviving longer.
3. Enhance the water absorption
You should treat your Christmas tree like a fresh bouquet of flowers. Once you get the tree home, cut off at least 1-2 inches of the trunk for better water absorption. Be sure to check the water level in your tree stand daily, heated/dry environments can quickly dry out the tree. The average Christmas tree can consume a gallon of water per day, so don’t leave your tree high and dry! Lowering your household temperature can potentially slow down the drying process.
4. Select lights that meet proper safety standards
All Christmas lights are not created equal. Avoid using lights that will give off an excessive amount of heat and make sure you do not have too many lights strung together. Your best bet is to invest in LED Christmas lights. You can connect 8 to 10 times more strands of LED lights, they give off less heat and they’re built to last longer. Check the tag/box to make sure your lights are safe for use on Christmas trees.
5. Don’t overload electrical outlets
The average home electrical outlet is rated for 15-20 amps of electrical current. The safe bet is to not load the circuit more than 80%. To avoid overloading the outlet, check the amperage on your Christmas lights box. If it only provides the wattage and does not provide the amperage rating, simply divide the wattage number by 120 to find the amp rating. On average, never load more than 5 strings into one outlet.
An indoor Christmas tree fire is far from delightful, keep your home safe this holiday season by following our safety tips!